Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/June 2006

See Wikipedia:Reference desk archive/Miscellaneous/June 2006 part 2 for the archives of June 16 to June 30 2006.

June 1

Vandalism...

Any bad tools to help with vandalism reversion? Heh, that damn Tawkerbot beats me to it every time....

See WP:TOOLS and there are some linked off of Wikipedia:Vandalism at the top right hand side of the page. Dismas|^(talk) 01:33, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Centennial events

The Mallard Song is performed only once every hundred years. Other than anniversaries, are there any other centennial events involving human participation - or any similar regular events which are even less frequent? Warofdreams talk 00:49, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

To my surprise, Googling Wikipedia for "once every hundred years" throws up 25[THOUSAND -ED] hits... --Shantavira 08:53, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

The Scottish town Brigadoon appears but one day every hundred years. --LarryMac 14:40, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

What about goggling Wikipedia for "2000" - "59,800,000" hits ? That's 59 times the number of WP articles ? Also, one in every 10 page in WP is linked to 2000, how is it so ? other years do not score so much. (source : Wikipedia:Most_Referenced_Articles) --DLL 22:25, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Flies

Hello, I heard that every time a fly lands, it poops. Is that true? Thanks --Zach 01:51, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

• Sounds like a myth to me. Biologically, there's no reason for it to do that. - Mgm|^(talk) 07:38, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Sounds as if you are mixing up the fact that they spit on food to liquify it and can also throw up and reeat their food. See Housefly for the disgusting little things. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 08:18, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

On the other hand, doing so just before takeoff makes sense, so they don't have to carry the extra weight while flying around. --Serie 19:51, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

TV program Deal no Deal

TV program Deal or no deal airing now 8:49 pm thurs gave a web site to visit to join in with the people useing text message, to interact and possibly win money for guessing the case in whitch there is 1 million dollars. It was only menshioned once. Where is it? Any clue? I thought It said www.dnod.com Please reply back anytime to --email removed--

I have removed your email address to prevent it being grabbed by spambots. It's always helpful, when asking a question at the reference desk, to let us know which country you're in. Wikipedians are an international community. Our article on Deal Or No Deal contains links to the official websites of most of the national shows. The number you're looking for is probably there. Howard Train 04:17, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

...Deal? Or...No Deal? Cernen Xanthine Katrena 12:11, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

To deal or not to deal ? --DLL 22:21, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

A prendre ou a laisser? --Howard Train 05:20, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Is that your final answer? Er, wait... --Optichan 14:36, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

I'll take Jimbo Wales for the block, Tom. 12.72.251.78 16:14, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Jimbo, is there anything lower than absolute zero?

human resources management

what are the advantages and disadvantages when an employer permits employees to work flexible hours

They have more time to 'do their own homework'. Check out Flextime plan, which may be of help. Howard Train 04:20, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

What is Series A, B financing?

I keep hearing these terms but don't know what they mean. There may be a Series C financing, too. They are related to venture capital but I don't see the terms mentioned in either the article or the discussion page. Thanks. --Duozmo 04:21, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Here's a link [1] It refers to the various stages in the startup of a company. --Zeizmic 11:45, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

HIV AIDS

So far how many people died due to HIV AIDS in sub sahara Africa? How many people are also infected with HIV AIDS virus in sub sahara africa? I want also to know, in the whole africa, the first three countries which have more HIV AIDS infected persons & less HIV AIDS infected persons?

See AIDS in Africa. --Robert Merkel 12:13, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Intersetingly, though this may not make scence to you,(do some research if not) No one has ever died of aids in africa. An ex girlfriend of mine has it and is dying, but because aids affects the imune system and thus stops ones body from fighting desease, it is the desease that kills you. For example, you get hiv, a few years later it develops into Aids, then you get a cold, that cold does not go away, and you get neumonia, that neumonia kills you. Therefore most peolpe who die of aids in africa, have thier deaths recorded as either unknown cause or other. this is also because of the stigma attached to aids in africa.

I've heard this argument before, but it seems to me to be the equivalent of saying that firing a gun has never killed a person, they die of blood loss or organ damage. While strictly true, it's kinda irrelevant. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 09:22, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Looking for movie /series about kids in camp [* SPOILER: *] one drowns!

{{spoiler}} Hi,

I have been looking for this movie for ten years. It could also be a tv movie or even a mini series.

The language was English

I remember some kids (I think three), two of them about the same age, and a third little one, arriving in a camp (they could have been siblings, and orphans just as well). The camp could have been in Australia. There were Asians among the caretakers. There was one mean Asian caretaker and he was allergic to bees. The kids actually caught a bee and tried to get it to bite him when he was under the shower. The little kid thought that some nearby pond was a pool and insisted on swimming in it. When it was raining a lot , he actually does it, and I think the mean Asian guy actually went out wondering if anyone was in there. The little kid eventually drowns. Then there was a funeral (of the little kid) and the older boy is looking at the grave with a priest (old man) or something, and it is raining, and all of a sudden the priest puts his hand between the boy's legs!(So there was child abuse going on there as well...) Now maybe child abuse was the whole point of it all, but I missed parts so is quite surprised to see that happen...

Trust me, I really saw this on TV! Anyone who can help me find it will have my undying gratitude!!

Evilbu 08:30, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

You're not thinking of The Leaving of Liverpool, are you? It was a miniseries. It's available on DVD from the ABC shop in Australia if you're interested. --Robert Merkel 10:34, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Fare thee well, my own true love ... --DLL 22:19, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah that is probably it. Can you please explain some more? I still don't get why the kids were taken there? How many child abusers where in the film. Why did they do that with the bee????

They tried to get the person stung by a bee because he had been stung before and was allergic. They had been told if he was stung again that he'd probably die. They did this because he was a bully and was thought to be the one abusing one of the boys although it turned out to be someone else.

this Australian parliamentary webpage explains the factual background. The plan was a combination of a desire to "populate the colonies with good white British stock", and dumping Britain's excess unwanteds (in a weird echo of why Australia was settled by the British in the first place). I can't recall the specifics of the bee. By all reports, there was sexual abuse in some of the orphanages, and many child migrants (and other removed children and orphans - see the Stolen Generation for an interesting parallel) found the orphanges loveless, the discipline harsh, and many miss knowing their family and cultural background.

On another note, I do remember thinking at the time (and I was only 14 when I saw the telemovie, so I was entitled to) that the girl was pretty damn hot :) --Robert Merkel 11:17, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

By the way, we should have an article on child migration, it's an interesting historical footnote with some important parallels to contemporary issues. --Robert Merkel 11:18, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm surprised we don't have an article on Orphan trains. In US history, the big Eastern cities would empty their streets of child orphans and send them out West on trains, ostensibly to be adopted, but in reality, to be treated as unpaid help. User:Zoe|^(talk) 02:06, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

The Orphan article is a bit unloved, itself. --Robert Merkel 02:18, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/therottersclub/christine_tremarco.shtml You mean her? Evilbu 11:48, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Success Analysis of Industry(Project)

Dear Sir Iwanted to do the succes analysis of industry while, using the quality tools like (a) PEST Analysis, (political,economic, social,technological Trends)& then analyzing industry using these tools. (b) Then SWOT Analysis of organization. Analysis of industry by using (c) McKinsey's seven "S" (Strategy, Structure, System, Skills, Style, Staff,Shared values). Another tool is by using (d) Vaue chain analysis, under sub heading of Inbound Logistics, Operations, Outbound Logistics, Marketing & Sales, Services, Human Resource Management, Technological Development & procurement analysis. These are four requirement of the project to carry out the subject analysis.

I don't think anyone would stop you from doing a success analysis of industry that way. How can the reference desk help you? Or to put it another way, you don't seem to have asked a question. Thanks, Notinasnaid 11:29, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Dear Sir

Iwanted to do the succes analysis of industry while[...]

Permission granted.

Yet again, we see how the academics have drummed into his poor little absorbent head all the tools of political, economic, social and technological analysis techniques, whilst at the same time have patronisingly tacked Procurement onto the end as an inconvenient afterthought. You buy something, you process it into something more valuable, you do all your other analysis techniques to work out how desirable it is , and what it costs to manufacture it and merchandise and market it and distribute it, and then you decide what to charge for it, and in doing so remain highly competitive, innovative and profitable. But never lose sight of the first principle - YOU BUY SOMETHING. Doesn't that suggest that Procurement should be much higher up the food chain????? MCIPS.

HELP!!!

I am gonna tear my hair out! I seriously cant login, create an account or more importantly create an article on Ishmael Lo. Every time i try it says there is an error of one sort or another. Pease oh pretty please will someone create an article, it is done, and just needs to be cut and pasted. He is a truelly phenomenal artist.

Ismael Lo, originally from the Senegal/Gambie region in Africa, is the Baladeer of africa, often called the African Bob Dylan for his use of harmonica and acoustic guitar. Having lived in both Spain and Africa. He paints sings and acts.

His greatest hit to date is called Dibi dibi Rek.

He is not scared to tackle serious issues in his music, known as Mbalek, in which he discusses topics as varied as HIV/AIDS famine warfare, and the superficial/materialistic attetude of African woman to thier men.

One of the greatest figures of the modern African renaisance. He has recored with artists such as Marian Faithful among others.

The spelling of his name is Ishmael with an : on its side above the e, Lo with a ^ above the O.

Thank you wiki

Done. See Ishmaël Lô. Now please make it say something encyclopedic (wikify it, make it NPOV etc.)

Thank you sooo verey very much. i will try to add more, but this raises another question, how does on get the pronunciation symbols seen in his name, on a normal key board? thanks

I was starting to edit this new article when I realized that Ismaël Lo already existed so I went ahead and redirected to the existing article. Feel free to add information to it. --Cam 04:09, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

When editing a Wikipedia article, the easiest way to insert special characters is clicking on the special character in the box below the "Save page/Show preview/Show changes" buttons. More generally, on a Windows machine, you can enter special characters by using the Alt code for that character: hold down the Alt button while typing the correct number on the keypad (must be the keypad, with "Num Lock" on, not the digit keys above the letters): ë is Alt-0235, and ô is Alt-0244. You can also insert special characters--as well as find out the Alt codes for characters that have them, at Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Character Map. Chuck 14:59, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I saw that two or three days ago when running through the recent changes but now I can't find it. Not even a deleted version. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

sounds like a paragraph from a junior high grammar text o_o' You might want to consider writing an article in your native language, although I doubt the artist you chose is well known in other countries. --Froth 21:02, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

wiki

what does wiki mean or stand for? is it wiki like wickan religion or is it an accronim?

Wikiwiki is Hawaiian for fast. Try Googling, or using the search box to the left first. Daniel (‽) 14:01, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Starting Wiccapedia should be fun. Be bold. Or : Why I kill insects, W. is kinda idiot, &c.--DLL 22:15, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Try using the search box at the left first, all the info you need about wikis is at Wiki. Wizrdwarts 23:07, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Given the speed at which Wikipedia oppertates, I would have assumed Wiki was Hawiaian for Slow Or run by Low-lows,dude.*makes hand signal*---Hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 08:35, 2 June 2006 (UTC)) Also,yes please,Wiccapedia,I volunteer an article on catching and using your first frog.---hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 08:35, 2 June 2006 (UTC))

Regulatory and self-regulatory bodies in the media

Hey, im really confused and would like some help, im not sure what Regulatory and self-regulatory bodies mean id be grateful if you could help. 213.122.96.222 14:50, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

in order:

Regulatory: Noam Chomsky is the only thing close to being a regulatory body in the media. (See any of his books. Our wikipedia article isn't very good unfortunately). You might also try Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.

As for self-regulatory: try Fox News

Hope this helps. 82.131.190.181 21:40, 1 June 2006 (UTC). p.s. in a different sense the FCC is "regulatory", but of "broadcasting" more than "the media".

Now, the previous contribution was apparently in jest, so I'll try again.

A regulatory body, most commonly, is an authority that tries to ensure that corporations and businesspeople follow some specific laws in the conduct of their business. For more info, see regulation and e.g. Competition regulator. Mostly this is done by government authorities, but sometimes the corporations or businesspeople also form a regulatory body of their own to police themselves, as it were. This is self-regulation.

For the media specifically, the situation varies very much from country to country. In authoritarian or totalitarian countries, you usually have a censorship or propaganda authority that just orders the media what to say or not to say. In the free world, the media tend to be lightly regulated (apart from having to obey the laws that apply to everyone, of course), but various countries have ombudsmen, publishers' associations, codes of conduct and such that try to address perceived media excesses and shortcomings. Of course, the media also self-regulate themselves in a way by reporting about each other, and in particular about the shortcomings of their competitors. Hope this helps. Sandstein 18:09, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

GNU GPL permanency?

I thought I read somewhere that, once something was licensed under the GPL, it could not be un-GLP'd, even if the author/creator attempted to revoke the GPL licensing. However, I can't find anything saying that now. Is it true, or no? -Mystaker1 15:07, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, I know you can re-license things which you put under GPL. I don't know offhand if you can completely un-GPL something. I've looked over the license again and don't see any obvious reason why the copyright holder couldn't just say they don't want to use it anymore (other than estoppel coming into play). --Fastfission 15:24, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I'd assume that if you can re-license it, the previous versions would still be covered by the GPL. It would be impossible to go to the people using the software and any derivatives and say "You can't use or modify this program under the GPL any more." How would you know who's using/modifying it? --Optichan 19:30, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

It wouldn't be impossible at all -- it's often pretty easy to see where various GPL software have floated into other GPL code. (I know, for example, that OpenOffice.org is using a GPL database backend in their Base application, for example.) I've gone over the GPL once again, and don't see anything about it being unrevokable, which I find a little odd. It seems like an important question (i.e. whether someone could turn around and declare all of their previously GPL software to be proprietary -- seems like the sort of thing Stallman of all people would be worried about explicitly due to the whole gossmacs incident). --24.147.86.220 22:33, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

The GPL specifically indicates the conditions for the license to obtain. It's a contract, and a contract can't be revoked by one party unless the other party violates the terms of the contract. EdC 02:28, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually it's a very interesting legal question. I once attended conference linux.conf.au (Perth 2003) where the issue was discusssed (Jeremy Malcolm, Problems in Open Source Licensing). The main point of contention is whether the GPL constitutes a valid contract. This is in doubt because there appears no obvious consideration. Further questions arise as to whether the legal doctrine of estoppel has any bearing on the situation. Cedars 14:10, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

ducks

I noticed the ducks lading on the lake outside work during a smoke break, they seem to use thier feet as breaks on the water, now my questio is can they land on solid surfaces such as concrete, if they can, does this not hurt thier feet?193.115.175.247 15:15, 1 June 2006 (UTC)Anton

Ducks can certainly land on solid surfaces without injury. In effect, they land running rather than skidding as they can into water. This is, in fact, the same technique used by some human skydivers when landing. Since ducks aren't trying to slide to a stop on land, their feet are unharmed (again, consider a person running versus sliding on concrete). — Lomn Talk 16:10, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Somebody should talk to those ducks about the hazards of smoking though. --205.143.37.68 18:30, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Ducks landing on wet ice, however, look very silly. There's not enough friction for a running landing, and not enough water for hydrodynamic braking. --Serie 19:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

two penguins on vacation are driving through the Sahara. One of them looks at all the sand on either side of the road and says: "Man, they must get one hell of a winter here!"

I dont get it?

They're driving. They see sand piled up besides the road. They say "They must get one hell of winter here." (They're driving.)

I still don't get it --Froth 21:18, 2 June 2006 (UTC)w

At a guess, it relates in some way to icy roads having grit speread on them to improve grip. I imagine that someone is suggesting that the sahara might be such a pile of grit. But I've never seen loose sand used in this fashion so maybe I don't understand either. -- SGBailey 22:41, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

They're Driving? --Howard Train 05:23, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

The Golf theme with the sahara as a giant bunker is obviously a possible part of a joke, however what has winter got to do with anything. For a joke to be funny it has to have rationale (and even the best jokes are no longer funny after this amount of analysis). However Why penguins? Why winter? As yet no-one has explained what the joke is - let alone why it is (meant to be) funny. What I have heard so far is "Penguins are playing golf in the sahara and think it to be a big sand trap - Thus they say 'big winter'" - That can't be it. -- SGBailey 06:51, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

What's the difference between a bicycle? One of its legs is both the same. Skittle 13:54, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Okay, let's try this again. Why are there no salmon in the Sahara? Because the locals took care of Winter but good.

! Now we introduce salmon... Anyway the previous link is to Duluth's winter road salting strategy. Now salt is not something mentioned in the jokes. However the link has a brief mention in a table at the end of applying sand in very cold weather. Could it be that the penguins think thet the sahara is a heavily sanded road preparing for a very cold winter. I suspect that this is the joke. But what has that to do with Golf and where have the salmon come from? -- SGBailey 20:49, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

you put GRIT (Like sand) on the road to IMPROVE GRIP (at least thats SGBailey says) and also salt to melt the ice seeing piles of grit and penguins who do NOT KNOW about the saharas climate may take it as piles of grit to improve traction and melt ice from TONS OF SNOW(as there is so much sand)...no one is even reading this anymore...sigh...I'm to slow)

Which is what I suggested about 6 paragraphs up. But that has nothing to do with Golf or salmon. But thaankyou, anon, for confirming my first guess. -- SGBailey 07:42, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

It's a little known fact that there is enough sand in North Africa to cover the entirelty of the Sahara Desert. Grutness...wha? 08:16, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

And 40% of officeworker's sickdays are taken on Mondays or Fridays :-O Skittle 13:54, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Palace in Rome

Hi, don't you know where this picture was taken? Thanks [2]

That looks like Berlusconi sitting in front of a flag. No palace in sight. Are you sure it is the right picture? David Sneek 16:20, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

No, but I guess in Italy, as the capital "U" you can see behind appears as a "V", as in Italian Roman-style spellings in palaces. Cthulhu.mythos 16:22, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

The Palazzo Chigi's press room. The painting is famous. You can see it here.

I do not understand. The Chigi link does not work. Also, the flag pic shows "EUROPA" and it could be anywhere. --DLL 22:12, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

The Chigi link does work; it's some sort of streaming media. Realplayer picked it up on my machine. At a glance, I was satisfied the original picture was taken in the same room as the Chigi links shows. YMMV. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Perplexing Delimia

According to Wikipedia "Uncyclopedia, "the content-free encyclopedia that anyone can edit,"[1] is a parody of Wikipedia, though Uncyclopedia claims the reverse (and correctly claims that Wikipedia claims the reverse, and vice versa ad infinitum)." But, Uncyclopedia, claims the same thing. How do I know which is the true encyclopedia, and which one is filled with nonsense?

Read both and figure it out for yourself. --Nelson Ricardo 16:45, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm too subjective. I've made contrubutions to Wikipedia and am therefore emotionally invested in it. I fear that all my contributions may have been in vain. I need an objective way of figuring this out.

The ambiguity it's part of the joke, but Wikipedia is clearly the fake. --Sam Pointon 16:47, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

If Wikipedia were the real one, then you, being a Wikian, would answer honestly saying that Wikipedia is real, and Uncyclopedia is fake, but if Wikipedia is fake, then you would most assuradly not tell me it is fake, but instead would insist that Wikipedia is real--as a continuation of the pardoy of Wikipedia. In either case, the only logical answer is "Wikipedia is real", except for the fact that you are likely pointing out the logical falicy in my question, for which any answer would be inconclusive, by providing an answer that makes no sense.

Well, sometimes you just have to be completely honest at the Reference Desk. Wikipedia is definitely fake, despite what other Wikipedians might tell you. --Optichan 19:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

If I'm in a room with doors "A" & "B", with the knowledge that one door leads to eternal paridise, and the other leads down into the dephts of dispair & misery, and a computer with two browsers open, one going to Wikipedia, and one going to Uncyclopedia (both with entries on each door), how do I know which door to take? 199.201.168.100 19:01, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Take the easy way out. Always. --Optichan 19:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for that perspiring dilemna. --DLL 21:50, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia couldn't have an article on the doors - by definition, noone can come back from either, so any information about the doors would be original research and promptly deleted. --Sam Pointon 21:59, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia has articles on heven & hell, and no one has been to either. Well, I have, but that was only because I was flying Northwest Airlines, and they screwed up big time, sending me to the wrong hub. 12.183.203.184 02:22, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

....The Doors were always too stoned to answer correctly dude....Hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 08:47, 2 June 2006 (UTC))

considering that wikipedia is a very helpful site, and one can easily go to another if they dont like it, there are millions of doors rather than two, which one can travel in and out if at will, is this not intellecual vandalism?

but working under the presumption they both are right, even if only one exists (and no one has explicitly stated that the parody is untrue), either one would tell you the right answer.

Just look, wikipedia has more than a million articles in English now, whereas Uncyclopedia has 18000. Do you suppose a community could really have writen a million real articles and provide it all to you for free? Nah, that sounds impossible. Now creating a million dummy articles and distributing them for free and infecting people's minds with them is much more easier. Also look at their slogans: Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia, while Uncyclopedia is content-free. So, both are free, but Uncyclopedia also has real content. Thus, obviously, Wikipedia is fake. – b_jonas 12:55, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Videogames

What skills would I have to have if I wanted to become a videogame tester or a videogame designer?. --Cosmic girl 16:56, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Check out:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digipen

So, Cosmic girl, A/S/L? Wikipedia is not a dating service

• What good is the sum of human knowlege if it can't help me get laid?
• There's more to life than getting laid. In fact, the sum of human knowledge is very useful when you need a doctor. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

This question is about me wanting to be a videogame designer not about some guy wanting to get laid...lol. thanx for the link!!! :D --Cosmic girl 15:30, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

In modern times, how do soldiers get to war?

Like, how do they get from America or Britain or Australia to, say, Iraq or Afghanistan? I used to be under the impression that they took ships, but after watching Jarhead it seems that they fly there? This seems implausible. Surely there aren't enough regular airlines to transport hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers. Battle Ape 16:56, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Hello Battle Ape. The Armed Forces of the United States of America come in three branches. The Army. The Navy. The Air Force. And the Marines. This bears repeating:

 The Army.  The Navy.  ---->The Air Force<----.  And the Marines.

The army don't use regular airlines. They have specially designed cargo planes to carry troops and equipment. A C130 Hercules can carry hundreds of soldiers over thousands of kilometers, so to deploy, say, 100,000 troops over several weeks with 100 or so Hercules aircraft wouldn't be impossible. --Sam Pointon 17:05, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Luckily, our boys are trained to manage without lemon-scented paper napkins. (Hell, I can't believe we don't have an article on those.) --Shantavira 17:36, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

We do now. XM 19:10, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Heh, that didn't last long. Anyway, here's the article on wet wipes. — TheKMan^talk 01:20, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The regular airlines are involved too. During the Gulf War, at least, the U.S. chartered commercial jets (and provided them with "war insurance" in case something bad happened).[3] Rmhermen 19:12, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Not anymore... Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 20:19, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Evidence for that? This page from March 2006 still talks about the CRAF program. We may not be using in this war but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist anymore. More details at this page. Rmhermen 22:19, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

British navy personnel (and maybe soldiers too) sailed to the Falklands War in 1982. --Richardrj 19:33, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines sailed to the war on a commandeered cruise ship, RMS Canberra. The U.S. also still uses some sea-borne marines in Marine Expeditionary Units. Rmhermen 19:42, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm curious, when you pictured us waging war via Virgin Atlantic, how did you think tanks would get there? If I count 200 pounds check-in per passenger (let's say the army gets to check in more than we do), it would take dozens of trips for a soldier to get one tank across. Is that what you were picturing, a squadron disassembling a tank and checking it in piece by piece?

Moving tanks around the world poses great difficulties for the US Army (or any army, for that matter, but the US is the only one that tries it in large numbers on a regular basis). For all practical purposes, they can't be moved by plane, you have to move them by ship. So while the troops can be there in a day or two, their tanks can't get there very quickly. There are a number of ways that have been proposed to ameliorate this problem; faster tank transporting ships, more US bases with tanks around the world, lighter armoured vehicles to replace tanks in some situations (the Stryker was the result of this thinking - however, Iraq has demonstrated that there are many jobs which an MBT is still much better at), or even relatively out-there ideas like massive airships capable of carrying five or ten tanks at a time at 200mph. --Robert Merkel 01:04, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I think they use a C-5 Galaxy or C-17 Globemaster III to move tanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 01:06, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, but they can only move them one at a time. Not even the US can shift a substantial tank force (remember, you have to take along a whole bunch of auxiliary gear as well) by aircraft. --Robert Merkel 05:44, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The Vietnamese,notably at the seige of Khe Sahn, took heavy artillary to pieces and transported them up the surrounding hills on bicycles!The American troops were a little surprised by this...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 08:51, 2 June 2006 (UTC))

Forth Road Bridge - Scotland - Lost Population

I once read in some Scottish Statistical Report that when the toll booths operated on both the northbound and southbound carriageways, there were some 10,000 cars fewer returned South than had crossed to the North in the previous year. Given that the bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1963, that shortfall would amount to some 430,000 cars, and their occupants, up to the present day, not taking account of the increased traffic on the bridge. The question is, where did they all disappear to? As far as I am aware, the population census returns for Scotland, consistently record that the Scottish population has fallen dramatically over that intervening period. Of course nowadays it would seem impossible to measure the difference between the number of cars travelling in both directions as the tolls now operate on the northbound lanes only.

Taking a guess. I would suggest that some of the cars were tourists who returned to their departure point by a different route, having done that myself. Such as going up to Abeerdeen, cut across the country and back down via Glasgow. As to counting the vehicles in the southbound direction it's easy enough to have electronic devices in the road to count them. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

It's the Killer-cars taking over from Sawney Bean...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 08:54, 2 June 2006 (UTC))

I think a lot of them might have taken the Kincardine Bridge rather than the Forth Road Bridge on the way back. AllanHainey 10:45, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

PYTHAGORAS

Hello. Im doing a report on Pythagoras and I dont understand something. I need help with the following. What does this following line mean:

The Pythagoreans discovered that musical notes were able to be expressed through the ratios of small whole numbers.

^^Can someone explain that to me in kid language? Thanks so much

-anon

Did you see Pythagorean tuning? SCHZMO ✍ 20:24, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, but I don't really understand what that means. Do you think you can translate the meaning of it into junior high words? Thanks you for the above link by the way.

The above linked article (excellent, Schzmo!) is very good, but if you really want to start with baby-steps remember that if you pluck a string of any length and get a sound, then at exactly half-length the sound is exactly one octave higher (and because of physics, half-length at the same tension/of the same material means twice the frequency, ie number of vibrations per second. If you keep raising the frequency after a while you stop hearing it [only whales can, etc] and if you keep lowering the frequency it becomes a rumble and after a while you can't hear it at all again). The notes in between the octaves are a different question, but open a piano and you will notice that every eighth string (twelfth counting the black keys) will be half the length of the one eight keys down. Thus my primitive observation is that "octaves can be expressed as ratios of very small numbers: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 lengths". <--- SOMEBODY COPYEDIT THIS PARAGRAPH KTHX 82.131.190.181 20:46, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Wait, let me try again. "How can you get a really low, I mean a rumbling sound, on a violin? Answer: you can't, because the longest string on the violin isn't very long. If you want to be able to get a lower sound, try a cello, because it's strings are longer. However, the range of the two instruments overlap, because if you make a higher note on the cello (by holding down a string against a fret, so that it becomes shortened), it's the same as not shortening the string on a violin (which are shorter anyway): the exact PLACEMENT of the frets [see a picture of a violin/cello/guitar/etc neck] reflects ratios. In Western music we use a logarithmic scale, and therefore the ratio isn't simple integers. However, for example, an interval of one octave is exactly half the length (ratio 2:1). So if an open string on a stringed instrument is tuned to "G" then if there's a fret for the next higher "G" it will be exactly half-way down the string. If there's a fret for the "G" still one octave higher, it would be at the 3/4 down the length of the string, leaving 1/4 remaining. However, in western music it's not just simple ratios. If you measure the space between frets with a tape measure, you won't end up with values that are simple ratios (since logarithm is involved). make sense? <--- SOMEBODY COPYEDIT THIS PARAGRAPH KTHX 82.131.190.181 20:46, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

The talk page for Py tuning gives a link to a featured article in the French WP [4] : "Une gamme pythagoricienne est toute gamme (ou échelle) musicale fondée uniquement sur des intervalles d'octaves et de quintes acoustiquement justes (ou purs) (sauf une) - les quartes, renversement des quintes, le sont alors aussi. Une propriété importante - et même fondatrice - d'une telle gamme est que douze quintes équivalent « presque » à sept octaves : on va considérer que ces intervalles sont équivalents. Toutefois il y a un écart résiduel que l'on appelle « comma pythagoricien »."

I agree with you who asked for something simple for a kid! The question is related to pure maths (number theory, and could figure in Ref Desk /Math). You have both the underlying theory and an awful jargon to digest. As for the theory ... We are trying to put twelve sounds (dodecaphonic muzak) in an octave interval (between grave C and medium C, or between medium C and high C - each sound has twice the frequency or the former).

Those sounds Must be in harmony ... meaning they must have specifical frequences the ratio of which is simple enough (2/1, 3/2, &c.) to vibrate together. For this notion, imagine daddy walking one yard paces and little baby making three paces in the same time ... they start again together regularly. When you hear two sounds together, if they "start again" together, you hear harmony.

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The calculus itself is warped because of hard facts pertaining to ratios, but the idea is there : "douze quintes équivalent presque à sept octaves" means that twelve fifths and seven octaves are quite the same. Here, the formula is : (3/2)^12 ~= (2/1)^7 (129.746338 ~= 128).

Py's school was a very hard and rewarding one. See Mathematical beauty and cry aloud. --DLL 21:38, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

(just for the record, violins, violas, 'cellos and double basses don't have frets) Mrplastic 00:32, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Just for the record, there's no need to put an apostrophe before cello. It was originally an abbreviation of the Italian word violoncello, but has since become a complete English word in its own right. :--) JackofOz 02:54, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

No need to be snarky JackofOz. I was just trying to clarify. Furthurmore, I have a degree in music and know for a fact that many people use an appostrophe before 'cello. It is commonly accepted as one correct way to write it. Mrplastic 08:24, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Hermesetas sweeteners in the 1980's

Hello! I'm trying to find out where or if I can get hold of either a) a specific Hermesetas sweetener t-shirt that my best friend wore in the 1980's or b) a picture or photo of the image that would have been used around this time. I have tried contacting Hermesetas direct and a history of advertising site, but have had no luck. I am trying to locate this as my best friend is getting married this year and, as a surprise, I want to make tshirts for her & some friends to wear on the wedding day. I would be really really grateful for any help you can give me, thank you in advance. Justine Bishop --84.64.87.23 20:57, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Mercury Stick Barometer

I have recently purchased a mercury stick barometer from USA, it is 45 inches overall dimension, to ship it to Australia the mercury was removed and packaged in a seperate container, would you please advise me the steps to replace the mercury

Does it not have directions for this? I would think that if the company went to the trouble of removing it for shipment, that they would realize that you would need to know how to get it back in. Right? Dismas|^(talk) 23:37, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

The directions are probably in American, which can be a nightmare to translate into proper Queen's English; it no doubt refers to strange things like "color" and "realization". The person posting the question may have to invest in a suitable dictionary to decipher said instructions. --Roisterer 03:38, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

• Whatever you do, don't spill any mercury and make sure you don't inhale the fumes. It might be a good idea to invest in some medical gloves, a mouth cap, a funnel and some good ventilation. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:53, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Nahh, I use to play with mecury when I was a kid, and look at me! snorfl-splurtz --Zeizmic 12:18, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

June 2

What does "Pension/401k" mean?

Hi, I was just looking for a job online and see that some companies offer "Pension/401k". I am unfamiliar with finance lingo and I know very little about pensions. Can anyone shed some light on this term please? Thanks, Mrplastic 00:29, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

A pension means that if you work for the company a certain number of years, after you retire and hit a certain age (usually retirement age of 65), they will pay you a certain fixed amount every 2 or 4 weeks until you die.

A 401k is a special tax-free retirement plan - they take a part of your paycheck, and stash it away (sans tax) into stocks or bonds. Presumably, they are offering a combination of the two. Raul654 00:31, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, Mrplastic 01:39, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

More and more companies are eliminating pension plans (especially defined-benefit ones). I am lucky to have a pension plan and a 401(k) (with firm match). Click the links for more info. --Nelson Ricardo 07:25, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Half-Life 2: Episode One - help needed

Does anyone know if there is a patch/addon to make Alyx nude/topless?

Yes. There's always a nude patch. --67.185.129.168 04:38, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

An alternative method would be to go to Google Image search and type "porn". Battle Ape 06:29, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The gaming event of the year, probably the most highly anticipated expansion pack to a game ever, and it all comes down to the nudity... Uh, short answer, probably not yet, but eventually. Sum0 11:55, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The game just came out. Give the hackers some time, dammit! --Optichan 14:54, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

the?-------------------------^(us)

Ask these guys. TheMadBaron 12:43, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

umm...I'm almost afraid to ask where you found that...

Small business loan

Let's say I have a business plan, a good loan proposal, etc. And let's say I go into a bank Monday morning. and I'm in the USA.

What is the soonest I can reasonably expect to get the money? --Golbez 04:03, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Banks will almost never loan, unless you put up your house. --Zeizmic 12:14, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

THAT DOES NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION. Please answer the QUESTION. --24.172.77.138 18:26, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I would agree - the previous response does not adequately answer the question posed. Having been in this situation myself, not in the US I hasten to add, but in the UK, the soonest you could reasonably expect to see your money, would be shortly after you had put your house up as collateral.

and after a reasonable delay of about a month (irritated that MY reply was removed) --Froth 21:44, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

What's the difference?

What's the difference between a horse, a donkey, a pony, and a jackass? --67.185.129.168 04:37, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The first three don't post questions on the reference desk? ;) -- Ferkelparade π 06:46, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Unbelievable as it sounds, Wikipedia so comprehensive that it even has articles on these: horse, donkey, pony, jackass. These should answer your question :) If you're still unsure after reading through the articles, feel free to post here again! — QuantumEleven 08:10, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The difference between a horse and a pony is basically size.Ponies are 14.2 hands(a hand is 4 inches) and under,a horse is anything over.HOWEVER Arabs are sometimes under 14.2 but are always horses.Falabellas are minature horses and are measured in inches,they are the size of large dogs.Dales ponies and Welsh cobs may be a little over 14.2 but they are still ponies.True wild American mustangs may be under 14.2 but they decreased in size through harsh conditions from full sized horses so they are horses.The rule of thumb however is under 14.2 pony,over a horse.There are some differences in temperament and stuff but I won't go into that.The donkey is a totally different animal,but comes from a common ancestor so close the two can interbreed and produce mules,which though sexually capable are infertile.Jackass is an American word for a male donkey(Ass is another word for donkey) The Brits use "donkey stallion"instead.Donkey Kong--well you've beaten me there!Hope this helps...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:12, 2 June 2006 (UTC))

Donkey Kong? Stubborn Ape, badly translated from Japanese. --Howard Train 05:34, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

It seems highly likely to me that by "14.2 hands" is meant not "14 and one-fifth hands" but "14 hands 2 inches". If this is the case ought not the pony article, for one, to say so? 18.150.1.81 05:37, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry,hands are counted x.1,x.2,x.3 which is one inch,two inches and three inches after the "decimal" point--hotclaws**--(hotclaws**== 11:04, 3 June 2006 (UTC))

Southern Elephant Seal

What is the main diet of the southern elephant seal and where exactly do the breed and how often do the breed. eg yearly...Also how do they behave and how old do they usually live to.Could you please add some interesting facts eg. scientific name, oldest seal, do they breed in captivity.

Thank You for your much needed help

No sooner said than done. All sorts of interesting facts on Southern elephant seal. Notinasnaid 07:27, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

a military question

hi.pls i need materials on the following topic:

"Infantry/Armour manoeuvre in Low Intensity Conflict Environment".

pls if u can get me any material(s) on the topic,i would be extremely grateful.

thanks so much.

No email addresses, or spam be onto you. You can find information for your homework at low intensity conflict. Cthulhu.mythos 08:36, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Unanswered question about Aids

Yestrday i rose a question related with HIV AIDS.However I didn't get satisfied with the answer I get. Hence I am raising the question again. So far how many people died due to HIV AIDS in sub sahara Africa? How many people are also infected with HIV AIDS virus in sub sahara africa? I want also to know, in the whole africa, the first three countries which have more HIV AIDS cases(infected persons) & less HIV AIDS infected persons.

I'm guessing that 2006 Report on the global AIDS epidemic from UNAIDS will be your friend, as also to a lesser extent will be AIDS in Africa. Patience is also quite a good article. --Tagishsimon (talk)

• From the top of the page" Be patient. Questions are answered by other users, and a user who can answer may not be reading the page immediately. If you do not recieve a response within a few days, consider rephrasing your question. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:50, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The graph in the article gives number of deaths per year, it still doesn't give total number of deaths for sub saharan africa, unless you want to find the area under that graph. I'm sure this can't be that hard to find out though no? TastyCakes 19:06, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Fastest Lens

What are the fastest (photographic) lenses ever made?

Thanks --helohe (talk) 09:06, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I assume by "fast" you mean shutter speed? I'm a bit confused, as that's generally a feature of the camera, not of the lens :P Anyway, the fastest commercially available I've ever seen are 1/2000th, although there are probably faster cameras for specialist applications. Our article on high speed photography leaves a bit to be desired, unfortunately... -- Ferkelparade π 09:25, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

No, a "fast" lens means a large aperture lens. For example, Stanley Kubrick shot a candle light scene in Barry Lyndon using a huge Zeiss lens built for NASA. -- Toytoy 09:31, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

For 35mm Cameras, there are a few f1 lenses still being made, but the fastest ever is the Canon 50mm f0.95. It's about 40 years old - I know because my sister has one - and no-one has since made a faster production lens. I would have to look up for faster lenses for other camera formats. --Seejyb 01:26, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

What is that film called

The question about the film with the drowning kid above, brought to mind another film. In it, a boy is talked into jumping of (I think) a railway bridge by his older brother and his brother's friend, but when he jumps, a log comes from under the bridge and he lands on it on his back.

He would've drowned if it wasn't for the kids saving him, but he ends up paralyzed in a wheelchair. The rest of the story involves the older brother's feelings of guilt, a doctor who examines the kid for the possibility of a risky operation falling in love with his mother.

I think the older brother may have been played by Brendan Fletcher or Kevin Zegers, but it could be someone else entirely. Has anyone got an idea which film I'm talking about? - Mgm|^(talk) 09:07, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

playboy data

What is the phone number of the Playboy Enterprises Corporate office in Chicago, Illinois? Their address is on 680 North Lake Shore Dive. Can you help? Thanks very much.

Their contact information, including the phone number, is right there on their website, which I've only visited for the articles. -- Ferkelparade π 10:32, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

's what they all say. --Ouro 17:49, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

tv show late 80's

at around the same time that Mcgyver and Hardcastle and Mcormack came onto South african television, there was a third show that centered on a man who had been a wild child brought up by wolves, when he got angry his eyes would change to orange. what was this show, and do wolve's eyes change colour? as this was the premis for his own eye oddity.

I'm virtually certain that the program you're talking about is Lucan, which aired on ABC in 1977 and 1978. I'm afraid we don't have an article on the series right now (I'm working on it) but you can get some information about it from tv.com at http://www.tv.com/lucan/show/9980/summary.html and several other sites on the net. Badbilltucker 14:45, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

watermelon

How did they get the name?

To quote from the watermelon page, the watermelon is 'loosely considered a type of melon' and is 'is 92 percent water by weight, the highest percentage of any fruit' These two facts would probably explain the name --iamajpeg 14:20, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

watermelon

what is africa's history on the watermelon such as how did it get its name why they grew it ex.

ohmygod, not the watermelon schtick again! --Zeizmic 12:46, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

:p having looked at the article and links this time, it does actually seem like we don't seem to have all the answers to the question there (gasp). Today though watermelons are grown for food and water, originally in grew wild in the Kalahari Desert --iamajpeg 14:09, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

All you need to know about the watermelon is contained on the B side of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band 1966 single "My Brother Makes the Noises for the Talkies" and the info is here. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:09, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

And if you really want to know more about watermelons, watch the movie The Wayward Cloud. Images: [5] [6] [7] (Not safe for work.) David Sneek 18:21, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

NO STOP AIR FLIGHTS

i've been told to go to Wikipedia to get lists of NO STOP AIR FLIGHTS. where would i start to look for that information. thanks.

What country and where do you want to fly? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:58, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Are you sure they didn't mean Expedia? Notinasnaid 15:12, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

It might also help to know that we generally spell this "non-stop". But what does "a list of non-stop air flights" mean? Potentially any two airports within a "tank of gas" of each other can be a non-stop flight. Even if you exclude private/corporate planes there are a huge number of flight paths, counting all the different commercial airlines all over the world. I think if you're thinking of something specific more specific you'd better mention it here. 82.131.189.233 20:36, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

If you want to know the longest scheduled commercial flight in the world, this one is current the longest, I think. --Robert Merkel 01:36, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

One match loan

A while ago there was a small story in the media about a (Brazilian?) footballer who went on a one-match loan to an Asian club for a cup final. Does anyone know any details, for example the footballer's name etc, so it can be put in the loan (football) article? --iamajpeg 14:15, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

You could mean the Barcelona striker, Samuel Eto'o who is going on loan to Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia during that summer to compete in the Asian Champions League. He's going due to Cameroon not qualifying for the World Cup Finals.

Pendragon

I just bought the book Pendragon: The Never War, which is the third in the series. Could I read it now, or should I read the books in order? Thanks. Reywas92 15:04, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I haven't read them, but I would think if you're going to read them all it would be best to read them in order. Of course you won't want to invest in the others until you know they're your sort of thing, so you could try reading just one chapter, which won't spoil it too much. Reading our article on Pendragon series might help you decide. --Shantavira 15:43, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Read it and see if you like it. Then it's fun to imagine what came before and to be disappointed or surprised. --DLL 19:41, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Of course, you could also get completely confused. See if the library has the first book, and if it does, start with that.

I humbly submit that it is possible to be "completely surprised" only if the author had no clue his books would appear in separate volumes. If he had even an inkling that there would be a possibilty of the text appearing in more than one volume, then it should not be possible to be completely confused (though you might need to be more alert, and may miss out on some connections/character background/story background. I think it's always fun to wonder in these cases whether the author wrote the things in the past that are mentioned, or whether it's taken for granted that at that point in the character's lives/careers/etc it had "already" happened.). Go ahead and read it. -82.131.189.233 20:34, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Looking for the name of a movie...

Never would have thought to ask here, 'til I saw someone else looking for a film a few questions up. I saw this movie on TV years ago, and don't remember nearly anything about it, but it's been bugging me ever since that I can't prove it even exists. All I remember is there were two brothers, twins I think, and I believe one of them killed somebody, and the other was blamed. The most distinguishing bit was that some critical clue was hidden in a pot, which they figured out with the help of a Chinese proverb, "look in the pot". Yeah, it was a stupid movie, not the point >_>. Anyone know what it's called? -Goldom ‽‽‽ ⁂ 15:24, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The question makes me think of The Good Son. It wasn't a very good movie either if that helps... Dismas|^(talk) 03:06, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't think that's it, but there isn't really a lot of info there or on imdb, so I can't be sure. Thanks anyway. -Goldom ‽‽‽ ⁂ 03:49, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry to edit an archive, but in case anyone else is searching and wonders, I found it, it's "Mystery Date", (1991). -Goldom ‽‽‽ ⁂ 04:06, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Music

Where is the page for the music group called "311" ? I can't find it.

It's at Three eleven, although the article title shows up at "311 (Band)." There should probably be some disambiguation and/or redirects in place, but I'm afraid I'll have to leave that to someone more experienced. --LarryMac 17:10, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

• That redirect should be at 311 (band) (with a lower case 'B'). Let me see if I can fix it. - Mgm|^(talk) 17:38, 2 June 2006 (UTC)
• It appears to be fixed already. - Mgm|^(talk) 17:39, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

My bad on the upper case "B". Thanks for fixing the redirect at the 311 page. --LarryMac 19:54, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

player nationality

totti belongs to which national football team

If you mean Francesco Totti then the article says he is Italian. --Ouro 17:46, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

small business loan try 2

Let's say I have a business plan, a good loan proposal, etc. And let's say I go into a bank Monday morning. and I'm in the USA.

What is the soonest I can reasonably expect to get the money? --Golbez 04:03, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

And I want an answer on the TIME ONLY, not the LIKELIHOOD. PLEASE. Thank you. --24.172.77.138 19:00, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Loans usually take a month or more to process..

"Be courteous. questions are answered by humans, not computers. " --LarryMac 19:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Humans are useless. They can only give you questions. 82.131.189.233 20:20, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

What are you, the anti-Picasso? --LarryMac 20:53, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Aren't they those doily things people put on the backs of their loungechairs to stop them being stained with hair oil? (lol) JackofOz 01:14, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

That's not true. They sometimes give you loans. But only after you have put your house up as collateral.

I see that this is "try 2" but I don't suppose it would help to ask the same question with the exact same wording again. – b_jonas 12:45, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Why don't you email the bank and put that message in caps too. I'm sure they will get right back to you...

Printing lots of money

I know that when poland did it money became toilet paper, but I stil don't understand the practical dyanamics of it:

If some government department head wants a castle for an office, why can't he just go down to the federal mint (assuming he has the authority of course) and tell them to print him up a big roll of money? How does that make the price of a soda go up? It seems to me that if everyone had more money, there's no reason for the value of money to drop. Just make a law to make it so you can't charge more for goods just because people have more money.. basically I don't understand why inflation happens, and specifically why the government can't just print up more money to pay off its debt, and just not tell anyone so inflation doesn't go up.

Public knowledge seems to be the problem; in one of the Odyssey books by arthur c clarke, there was a conspiracy to secretly recover the solid-diamond mountain on europa and sell it off slowly on earth.. this gradual increase in the diamond supply of old ladies and collectors would hardly change its monetary value... so why does the gradual increase in money supply change its goods value? If there really wasn't any gold in fort knox - if america secretly used it to pay britain to print a zillion dollars of paper money for the US government's use - and nobody knew about it, would it make any difference?

When looking around wikipedia, instead of seeing a straight answer, I see words like "phenomenon" and vague ideas of gold being money not currency, and "according to some financial theories" .. can somebody just lay it out for me? --Froth 19:05, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

One problem is that a government can only pass laws that affect its own people. Yes, in a closed society the government could control prices and print as much money as it wanted; I can't visualise the effect (except to think that if you have an oversupply of money, people can buy everything they want until there is a shortage). But if the government of country A starts printing money, word will get out, and the value of A's currency on the exchange markets will plummet. That means that everyone in A will have to pay much more for imported goods. If shops can't put up their prices to cover increased costs, they will stop selling imported goods. This will vary from an inconvenience to a catastrophe: many countries cannot grow enough food to feed their population (the UK hasn't been able to for over 100 years). The other alternative is that a secondary economy will start up based on some stable currency; many goods might only be available in return for dollars. If you mean just the guy in charge printing money, generally there are more than enough ways for them to get practically unlimited wealth without needing to mess with the money; anyway, if the guy in charge is so smart, he will want money he can't print (i.e. dollars). But indeed, as long as you can keep it a secret, you can print more money, but as long as you can keep that kind of secret, you probably don't need to. Notinasnaid 19:20, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

One thing: why would the foreign exchange values plummet if "word got out" that such and such a nation was printing too much money? Naughty nation, we gonna punish you by starving your citizens? -Froth 19:25, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Supply and demand. If demand remains stable, and supply doubles, then the price will halve. Your dollar will be worth half of what it was. You cannot stop this. --24.172.77.138 19:32, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

You're thinking that there's someone in charge of currency rates, if you are thinking that someone will make a decision to "punish". There isn't: it is a free market. People buy foreign currency because they think there is a chance that its value will go up, just like any other speculation; or because they must (e.g. to buy goods that are only available in that currency). The speculators will expect that the value of A's currency will go down, based on past experience of what happens when someone prints money. So they will start to sell. As more people want to sell than buy, so the seller has to drop the price until a buyer appears. Prices of currencies drop like a stone when the confidence goes, just like stocks. The price of currencies and stocks are based only on confidence, nothing else. So the punishment is automatic, and based on self-interest among currency speculators (which can be taken as read). Notinasnaid 19:35, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

You trade wealth. When I give you $1 for a Coke, that's because I've created about $1 of wealth. If not for the cash money, I would be trading, say, a pair of socks for that Coke. Money is supposed to be a representation of the wealth created by society. So when you print money, you dilute that wealth. Fiat money has no value in itself whatsoever, so if you print more, and say "you can't charge more", your economy will ironically go bankrupt very quickly. I will get $1 for that Coke, I will pay the distributor to get the Coke, they will pay to get the metal for the cans, but --- production of raw materials has not accelerated with the printing of money. They're out of metal, since everyone else who has more money bought it already, since there was no increase in actual wealth. The society grinds to a total halt.

OK that helped a bit.. but since we're using such a specific example, how about this: people can only consume a certain amount of coke, and anyway I doubt financial concerns over the loss of $1 are preventing people who want a coke from buying one, so everyone who wants a coke is already getting one. But away from this useless example, much of the economy isn't really grounded in practical concerns like the earth's metal supply, and in most cases -with the exception being Food i suppose- I don't think "coke" would have any trouble meeting the "aluminum" demand.. Is it really grounded in practical restrictions or is it more based on (potentially inaccurate) assumptions made by investors, as Notinasnaid pointed out? I think I'm starting to think like a communist --Froth 20:02, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Which is why price fixing never works. Ever. --24.172.77.138 19:29, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

What you are describing is not price fixing. Price fixing is when companies conspire to all charge a similarly high price for something, rather than compete with each other. It most certainly does work, particularly if it is a required good or service which the combined company have a near monopoly over. It is however illegal, in most circumstances anyway. TastyCakes 19:39, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Price fixing means fixing prices. It doesn't matter who does it, you think the government never does this? Bullshit. And prices are being fixed in this case - you're saying that, even though the amount of money in the system is growing, that the prices must remain the same. How is that NOT price fixing? --Golbez 20:23, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Well I've never heard price fixing being used to label anything other than private companies. I suppose that's because it's legal when the government does it (utilities and such). To me it seems he's describing more of a command economy, a different scale entirely. In any case saying it "never works" is inaccurate in any definition that includes private companies. TastyCakes 00:26, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Froth, it really is as simple as more dollars chasing the same number of goods. You have a fixed amount of goods and services in any given economy. You also have a fixed amount of money. The markets then decide how much each good and service is worth relative to each other, and expresses that in a dollar value. If you printed off a bunch of money and kept it in a bank vault somewhere and didn't tell anyone, of course nothing would change because no money has been added to the economy as a whole. As soon as any of that money is spent, however, the number of dollars has increased while the amount of goods and services remains the same. Therefore each dollar is worth less. Controlling all the prices throughout the economy would be impossible from a practical standpoint. Even attempting it would mean abandoning the capitalist economic system, which has always spelt economic disaster when done in the past. TastyCakes 20:01, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

OK well back to my original question (I guess I didn't make it very clear) what's the mechanism by which the price of pants or food goes up because a senator's contractor spends $100 billion on a city-sized castle? Yes he's "adding money to the system" but it seems unlikely to me that the economy really is so interconnected that making construction companies wealthier will force farmers or chinese sweatshop operators to charge more for their goods or services. Why would a small business owner for example charge more for his services (lets say they're non consumable like a shoe shiner) even if foreign investors do lose confidence in American currency? I'm beginning to understand the theory, but it seems rather unbelievable in practice. --Froth 20:08, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

It really is. How is it not? The construction companies have $100 billion extra to buy food and clothes with. You think no one else buys food and clothes? Or cars? Or houses? --Golbez 20:23, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

So they buy 3 billion pairs of jeans, the jeans businesses flourish, the cuban denim farmers or whatever put food on the table and everyone's happy... It might seem like i'm denying the principle of inflation and saying "it's all in your heads, there's really no depression" to all those 1930s orange salesmen, but I'm still craving that perfect answer --Froth 20:39, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

They buy 3 billion pairs of jeans, the jeans businesses flourish, and want to put that money into houses. Whoops, there are no more houses, you bought those too. All of the goods are gone, but there's still this massive amount of money around the system, because while the amount of money rose, the actual production did not. All this money, nothing to do with it - and THAT is what causes massive inflation. The amount of money cannot exceed the amount of goods. --Golbez 20:47, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

But then the house business flourishes and wa-la there are a million new houses on the market. It seems that wherever the money is thrown around, production increses to meet the demand. Only when practical problems arise, like the lack of home-grown food in Britain, does the lack of goods become a problem. Like I said, I have no problem with the theory, but I have a hard time seeing the continutiy between financial theory and fact. Financial theorists (the speculative investors above) who control the market just make their theory fact, eh? --Froth 20:57, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm no economist (thank God), but is it not the case that all capitalist economies have to maintain a balance between their circulated currency, and their reserves (as in gold bullion or other tradeable currencies)? If some governmental official decides to print loads of paper that cannot be underwritten by an equivalent amount of equity, does not the international tradeable value of the prime currency devalue, as happened in pre-war Germany and post-war Britain?

No, they don't. Since the mid-70s, the United States at least has been completely off the gold standard. Every major currency now is fiat money - its worth is only what the government says it is. There is no reserves backing it up. The price is entirely what the international markets say it is, not what the price of gold is. --Golbez 20:47, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm more asking about the reason this occurs and the practical reasons why the financial advisors think it should occur. And hasn't the value of the dollar been inherent since they did away with the "underwriting" of gold-redeemable bills decades ago? --Froth 20:45, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

OK Golbez. It may not be gold bars, but if as you suggest there is no system of collateralising the issued currency in a typical capitalist economy, are we in the western world not exposing ourselves to the vagaries of political whims and thus the possibility of a repetition of say, the Wall Street Crash, when people bought paper on the basis of greed, and faith in an ever increasing market value of their stocks and shares? And that per se being the case, would I not be wise to liquidate my investment assets and buy a cellar full of canned food and beer against the day when the inevitable chickens come home to roost - again? I cannot believe that the World Bank does not regulate the issuance of spurious paper currency without some internal and external controls of that particular govenment's ability to honour any debts held in that particular currency.

• blink* --Froth 21:25, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

What we have here is a misunderstanding of terms. The World Bank is not a bank. First you must learn your terms, then you may actually be able to debate with them. --Golbez 22:04, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Froth, resources are more limited than you seem to think. There really isn't space for 100 million new houses, say, in Boston where I live and where many people want to live close to the downtown core. But maybe it'll make more sense to you if we talk about labour. Let's say mint chair guy prints himself a few trillion dollars and starts to build his huge castle. He wants to build it quickly, and hey, he has tons of money so he hires a lot of workers. The only way he can lure the local workers away from their jobs building other people's houses is to pay them a little more. And then his competitors lure some of them back... blah blah blah the construction workers all become rich. Fine, ok. But some of the construction workers are tired of doing their own vacuuming. So a few of them start a trend of hiring a housekeeper, now that they can afford it. Soon all the construction workers have housekeepers and gardeners and personal secretaries and whatnot, and they're fighting over the best ones by giving them higher wages. So people are leaving their jobs at Coca-Cola to become housekeepers to construction workers, or hey, construction workers themselves. Coca-Cola raises their wages to bring them back. Doctors quit their jobs to work at Coca-Cola. And those wages creep into the price of the can of Coke. moink 21:44, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

OK, so a large, localized increase in money supply makes everybody rich, including Coca-Cola which has the money to attract those doctors because everyone's rich and Coke can charge more for a can of... Ah. Thanks =D --Froth 22:42, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Of course, not everybody agrees that it has to be this way. Read the article on post scarcity economics and related topics. -- EdC 21:57, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm not an economist either, but perhaps I can help explain the phenomenon with a little fable.

Aelfrid the peasant was quite happy. The duke of the island estate had, by discarding gold and silver for fiat money, found a way to buy whatever he wanted. The duke decided to build a castle of amazing grandeur. Aelfrid was hired at an unheard-of wage of 10 thalers a day to work on the new residence. He decided he would use his earnings to build a new house of his own.

First he went to the quarryman to buy the stone for his new house. He was shocked to find the price for stone had shot up from 1 thaler a ton to 30 thalers a ton almost overnight. The problem, the quarryman said, was that the castle contractor needed far more stone than the quarry had available. The quarry could only mine a few tons a day, so to buy any stone, Aelfrid would have to outbid the castle and everyone else looking for stone.

Aelfrid decided instead to build his house out of wood. So he went to see the lumberjack, who told Aelfrid a cord of wood was now 20 thalers, up from 1 thaler last week. Seems the duke has already bought half of the timber in the forest for his new castle, and some has to be left standing for the future. So there's hardly any timber left for anything else.

Aelfrid managed to scrounge up enough materials to put together a house, reserving 15 thalers to pay other villagers to help put it together. That should be enough for 30 man-days of work, he thought. But then he realized -- with the castle paying 10 thalers a day, who is going to work for 1/2 a thaler? Even labor was now impossible to buy at a reasonable price!

Aelfrid finally figured it out. The duke was not a genius but a trickster. Printing more money without an increase in productivity or resources did not mean more wealth. It was a way to transfer more of the island's wealth to himself! He got a castle, but no one else benefitted. Sure, Aelfrid got a job, but the increase in prices meant it wasn't worth his while.

Mwalcoff 00:30, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

But then what happens the next year when the castle is done, the quarry finds that it's got a thousand tons of stone left over, and every worker on the island is out of a job? Of course, all the other workers will want new houses and there will be competitive wages and stone prices still high, but if Aelfrid holds his money, he'll find that in a year, everyone's got a new house, but they're dirt poor, the quarryman -having wanted a new house too- is dirt poor and willing to sell at record low prices, and Aelfrid can afford to buy a mansion bigger than the duke. OK, not so good of an example (it pretty much describes the consequences of your well-described inflating market) but consider this: In a modern market, how often do the forests actually run out of wood (don't you dare say Oil :p) or the quarries all at full operating capacity (that's like a nation-sized castle).. and if Aelfrid has a 1000% inflated wage, and he has to hire a worker for 1000% as much, there's no difference...

OK, let's say the castle is completed. The duke goes back to his normal spending patterns. Most of the castle workers are "downsized." The duke doesn't need any more rocks anymore. Now the quarry has all these rocks sitting around and less demand for them, so the quarryman starts to cut prices. Aelfrid and other peasants with some money saved up consider taking advantage of the opportunity to but more rocks, but they figure there's no reason to buy now as long as prices keep dropping. Since no one is buying rocks, the quarryman has to lay off some of his workers. This process repeats itself at other industries around the island. As prices drop and buyers have no incentive to spend, more workers are laid off. As more people lose their jobs, the demand for products drops even more, causing a downward spiral. The situation continues until the duke, realizing massive unemployment may lead to a peasant's revolt, decides to turn the economy around by building a moat for his new castle.

This is the opposite of inflation: deflation. It's what you get when the money supply trails production -- when there is more stuff than money to buy stuff with. This is bad. This is what happened during the Great Depression. A lot of factories had been built during the Roaring Twenties, so there was a lot of supply. Demand began to weaken with the stock-market crash and bank failures. Unfortunately, the U.S. government kept the money supply short by raising taxes and through a tight-money monetary policy. With less money coming into the economy, prices began to fall. Not until the New Dealers began massive deficit spending did prices start going back up again.

Regarding your second question -- we may never run out of trees (environmentalists may disagree). But how many lumberjacks are there? What is the collective capacity of the nation's lumber mills? If all 100 million or so American households decided tomorrow to build new houses (out of wood), there would not be enough lumber for them, no matter how many trees there are. Lumber is just one commodity. If the government decided to build 50 aircraft carriers, where would they get all the steel? The price of steel would go up. And if the world's steel mills added capacity to meet the need, the price of iron, electricity and everything else needed to make steel would go up. -- Mwalcoff 02:18, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Can someone make it clear what the actual mechanism of inflation is? Don't tell me wages; everyone's a tiny bit richer so everyone can afford to pay a tiny bit more for services and goods. Why is there anything wrong with such inflation (it's basically just changing every price and money unit the same tiny bit)? Why do the price and money units have to change at different rates; since the market is so interconnected, the money flows around fast enough to keep up with demand. You can give me big examples, and it seems to make sense, but I still don't understand why it has to be that way. If you have $100 in a system and $100 worth of goods, then add $20, so the money and goods are unbalanced, why does the price of the goods have to rise to meet the amount of money?! Why can't some guy just walk around with an extra twenty in his wallet? Or the construction workers get their rich break by working for a suspiciously wealthy senator? That's the core of my question: why does the maxim "the value of the goods must always match the money supply" have to be true (what's keeping it from being false?) and why exactly does inflation occur?

I'm still fishing for that satisfying answer that I can go "ohhhhhhhhh" to instead of going "well I guess :/" to. Or at least enough somewhat-satisfactory answers to build a coherent picture of what's going on.

That was a fun fable. I especially enjoyed the names Aelfrid and thaler. moink 00:52, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Then you'll enjoy finding out more about what Jesus Christ's grandfather has to do with a minor town in the Czech Republic, and how both are connected to the name of a lot of currencies. Fascinating story. JackofOz 01:11, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Let's say there are a gazillion dollars in the United States economy. The guy at the Kwik-E-Mart sells a can of coke for one dollar - in return for giving me this coke, he wants to own one gazillionth of the United States economy. Fair enough. Now let's suppose the government decided to print a load more dollar bills. The number of dollar bills is the only thing that's changed - America is still producing the same amount of coke, and the guy at the Kwik-E-Mart still wants one gazillionth of the American economy in return for his can of coke. He has to charge two dollars now, because there are now two gazillion dollars out there. So while the price of coke has doubled (to two dollars), the value has stayed the same (at one gazillionth of an America). this out. --Howard Train 06:02, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

If I sell a coke, I'm not lookig for a fraction of the total money in the economy - im looking for enough to put bread on that table. Why should the price of bread be determined by the money supply. And as for that website, it's pactically communist propaganda denouncing capitalism.. somewhat helpful though. But it too makes the switch silently, wihtout explanation The result of this activity is 10% more money floating around at the end of a year than there was at the beginning of the year![8] The result is that, all things being equal (which they are only approximately), the general level of prices throughout the economy rises by about 10%. Why would the prices necessarily rise? And wiki code for external links is [http://wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia]

--Froth 15:55, 3 June 2006 (UTC) have you read [[[hyperinflation]] yet? Bwithh 21:04, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

A virtual thaler to Jack of Boz for his marvelous Jachimvale link. --DLL 21:52, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

It's just supply and demand. If I have more money, and spend it, then everywhere I spent it has more money. But there aren't any more things to buy. If I introduce a million more apples into the market, and demand doesn't grow, apples will be worth less. It's the same with money. Imagine a room with 100 people and 90 cans of Coke. There's $100 dollars distributed around the room, unevenly among the people. So some people have $10, some have $5, some have $1, some have none. The price of a Coke is determined by how much people are prepared to spend on a can. So far, so simple. Now imagine I give one person who had no money an extra $50. If they don't spend that money, it doesn't go into circulation, nobody knows they have it, nothing happens. If they spend some of it on buying a single can of Coke, there is one less can of Coke and so everyone pays slightly per can because it is rarer. If they decide to spend it on several cans of Coke, because they can, the price for the remaining cans goes up further. Goods cost more, money is therefore worth less. They can do lots of things; they can buy lots of cans and sell them for more than they bought them, because they will generate a further Coke shortage. So the individual may benefit because $50 is more than anyone else had, but their $50 will not be worth an old $50. In addition, if people know or suspect that they have an extra $50, people may start buying as many Cokes as they can, since they suspect the price of a Coke may soon rise because of the person spending their $50. This will make the price of Coke rise even though the person hasn't spent their money. If goods cost more, a dollar is worth less. This may all be babble. Skittle 13:18, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

discuss the mechanism available for the redressal of the complaints

discuss the mechanism available for the redressal of the complaints

What kind of complaint? Notinasnaid 19:36, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Whine. Whine some more. Then, somebody will get annoyed and fix it.

The sentence "discuss the mechanism available for the redressal of the complaints" very strongly implies that the sentence is already talking about some complaints. What are these complaints? (What is the page the sentence is on about?) For example, if the sentence is about a page talking about the policy of some school, we would have to see the policy itself. Whose policies is the question talking about? 82.131.189.233 20:16, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The sentence "discuss the mechanism available for the redressal of the complaints" very strongly implies that the poster is not a native english speaker (suggested by the awkward lack of definition of "the complaints", which was probably meant to be just "complaints", and the construction "redressal of complaints"- as far as I know there's nothing wrong about complaints themselves that needs to be set right), but is possibly a person of higher learning, since I can't imagine a context in which the word "redress" would be used in rudimentary english classes. You think you're going to far with a question that's practically spam? Froth 20:43, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

He's obviously complaining about us, and our rotten service... --Zeizmic 20:25, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Not obvious at all. Any so-called "question" that is in the form of a command, such as "discuss", is almost guaranteed to be a homework question. There has not been the slightest attempt to rephrase this into something we can actually provide an answer to. It deserves none of our time or energy. JackofOz 00:52, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Is that enough discussion yet or would you like some more? Did you try our article on complaint? There are lots of links there to more discussions, or you can click on "discussion" and start another. --Shantavira 13:50, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Coari, Brazil

Can someone please tell me (in degrees Centigrade) what were the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in Coari, Brazil? Many thanks.--Anakata 21:04, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

In poker gaming, Centigrade was more successful than Fahrenheit. They used to sit before the sea under the stars playing banjo for their girlfriends. Then a dispute arose. What were the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in Coari ? --DLL 21:43, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Members of the rock band "The Look"

I'm trying find information on a (I believe) a 70's rock band called "the Look". Bio on the band members, musical hits, etc. Can you help? Dan

• Hi, Dan: AMG, which usually has a lot of information even on obscure bands, offers only a page on one of the band's albums [8]. I have looked for the members--

Gus Goad, Jonny Whetstone, Mick Bass-- but there is not much information on them, either, unfortunately. --It's-is-not-a-genitive 15:55, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Add the name Chris Wyles to the three musicians listed above. The Look came from Ely, a small city a little to the north of Cambridge. They had a big hit in Britain at the end of 1980, called "I am the beat" (#6 in the British singles chart). This was also a hit in Europe, but I don't think it was even available in North America. Their next single "Feeding time" got no higher than #51, and they then faded into obscurity. That album mentioned above dates from 2005, when the band re-formed for one concert, and includes their only major hit. It's claimed to be their second album, so I'm guessing there was one issued around 1981 - but if so, it's unlikely still to be available.

The Look's guitarist Gus Goad is the regular guitarist for Ian Hunter (the former lead singer with Mott the Hoople, now active as a solo artist). AndyofKent 10:46, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

List of Donors/Benefactors

I am asking this question on behalf of a friend who had little success asking it himself:

I was browsing Wikipedia one time and stumbled upon a page for benefactors which listed the sum of money donated and what it was used for. For example, one entry read "So and so covered bandwidth costs for six months." I found the Benefactors and Donations pages, but they are not the same as the one I'm asking about. Is there a third page that lists donors and benefactors? Jtrost (^T | C | _#) 21:49, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I have not found the page you described, but I haven't looked all that hard. If it exist it should be in Category:Wikimedia finances at the Wikimedia Foundation website. If that fails try asking on a talk page there. Jon513 22:02, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Spears, New Mexico

Is there any information about Spears, New Mexico? I have look at satellite Pics of the area and it looks like a dirt road. Is this area just someone's property, or is there a reason this area has a name when there is nothing around?

It might have been a mining camp or something at some time. You might want to contact a nearby library or genealogical society. -- Mwalcoff 23:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The existance of many towns in the western US is due to Postal Service regulations. Basically, the USPS will deliver mail to all USPS post offices, and to individual buildings within a reasonable distance of a post office, but if you're more than a certain distance from a post office (25 miles, IIRC), you need to pick up the mail yourself. Also, the USPS won't set up a post office outside an incorporated area. Out west, it's quite common for ranches and farms to be that far from a real town, so a group of three or four ranches would get together and incorporate as a "town" so they could apply to have a branch post office set up, and have the USPS deliver the mail. --Serie 00:20, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

holy cow, what an amazing reply! I'm not the person who asked the question, but kudos. That's very informative!

I don't know if that last contact is accurate. I know of several unincorporated places in Ohio with post offices. Might be the case in New Mexico, though. -- Mwalcoff 03:11, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

June 3

The Pink Panther car

From The Pink Panther (character) animation:

• http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/34-the-pink-panther-show/398/

  http://www.videopipe.net/retro//02mcxgrdit/themes/pinkshow_lq_615.wmv

• http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/34-the-pink-panther-show/539/

  http://www.videopipe.net/retro//02mcxgrdit/themes/pinkpanthershow_778.wmv

Anyone knows anything about that funny car? -- Toytoy 00:58, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

It reminds me of a Dymaxion car except that it has four wheels instead of three and that the "pointy" end is in front whereas the Dymaxion tapered towards the rear. Dismas|^(talk) 03:14, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

See The Pink Panther Show

What was that Panthermobile? -- Toytoy 09:48, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

A forgotten 1970s TV show

I asked this question a year ago. The show was "Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)".

I remember there was a TV series in the early 1970s that involved with some teenagers in a dinosaur valley. These kids were taking a boat (or rubber raft) ride in a river. They entered the valley because they were too dumb to see the waterfall. I think they had found a flying saucer man in the 2nd season of the show. That's all I can remember. -- Toytoy 01:57, Mar 1, 2005 (UTC)

However, I found there was another animation show "Valley of the Dinosaurs" that was nearly identical to the Land of the Lost and was debuted on September 7 1974, the same day as "Land of the Lost". I watched both shows then. I just couldn't believe it. -- Toytoy 01:16, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

moonlight beach

on friday night i went for a long walk on the beach. it was beatiful with the moon half covered by the clouds. it reflectd onto the water illuminating a strip of oscillating dots of light. the wind bit the air, almost cold. i could hear the rush of the waves on the shore, consistantly crashing down. i always wondered what if one forgot to come. We sat on the rocks, almost isolated in a beasutiful stretch of natural world. the starts twinkled above us glittering from a million miles away. it was a night ill always remember.

Idiot. 202.72.148.102 07:06, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

He actually did include a query, or wondering, I quote: i always wondered what if one forgot to come. I never knew what to answer, though. Think he should suitly emphazi. --Ouro 09:31, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Aww,this was so sweet! Thanx for a nice moment dude--hotclaws**==(hotclaws**== 11:13, 3 June 2006 (UTC))

It is very sweet. BUT... if you're on a beach and the next wave doesn't come in, run for your life! The tide receding and not returning is an indication that a tsunami may be approaching. Grutness...wha? 08:24, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

...and a star twinkling from only a million miles away suggests the world is about to be crisply fried. --Shantavira 11:27, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Fuff. Mock if you like, but what I wrote is true. If the sea recedes considerably further than normal and no new wave comes at the expected time, it can be an indication of a tsunami. Check Tsunami#Warnings and prevention if you don't believe me, or note the answer to the second question here. Grutness...wha? 07:10, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Nationalities of 911 World Trade Center Victims

What are the nationalities of the people who died on 9/11 in the World Trade Center and what is the toatal number of deaths per cournty. Have not been able to find a clear and consise source with this information. Thanks

See Non-American casualties of the September 11, 2001 Attacks. The approximate figure for U.S. casualties is given at the bottom as well. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 12:06, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm fairly sure that the list is not complete. Two or three Thai nationals perished, for a start.... TheMadBaron 12:43, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

More than 1 Irish person died to, There was at least 2 in the first plane alone Ken 22:22, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

White salmon

We recently had dinner at a restaurant which offered WHITE SALMON. Although we have had a lot of experience with salmon, we have never heard of "White Salmon!" We are very curious about its origin, and any information you can provide with regard to this fish. Thank you!

It would seem, judging by the article on salmon, that it is simply salmon that is white. There's a photo there too. Dismas|^(talk) 05:19, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Salmon is white if raised without food that contains carotenoids. See salmon. -- Toytoy 05:21, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Salmon that never met stream nor ocean, only bse carcasses :). --DLL 21:37, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Probably it was farmed salmon that hadn't had artificial colourants introduced into its food supply. AllanHainey 11:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Image copyright question

If a book cover would otherwise be fair use in article, would a cropped version of that book cover be fair use, specifically if there was an image on the cover which would not be fair use if it were not on the book cover, like a less-than-iconic piece of artwork. savidan^{(talk) (e@)} 09:05, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

It might be, depending on the situation. You would need to use {{Non-free fair use in}} with a specific rationale though, rather than just {{bookcover}}. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 09:53, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

TIME and DATE

Hi,

How is that one country is ahead or behind of another country in time is decided, simply because it is night when its morning in one country?

Yes. See the article on time zones for a full explanation. --Shantavira 11:52, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Online Streaming of english music

Can you give me the site names which offer online buffering/streaming for listening to english songs with out downloading on to the harddisk?

Thank you

Please don't double post.

Can you give me the site names which offer online buffering/streaming for listening to english songs with out downloading on to the harddisk?. okay, I didn't double it.

You might have better luck checking whether your local radio stations have webcasts. I doubt you'll find a free by-request radio service since it would be easier just to (illegally) download the MP3s and listen at your convenience than (illegally) getting them streamed by request. Many music-unrelated communities use Shoutcast to let their visitors share their taste in music. Technically you need a license but nobody really listens to the RIAA anymore. On the shoutcast website there's a "yellowpages" of all their radio stations for your convenience. --Froth 16:01, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Try The BBC radio,classical ,rock and the spoken word,they play it live and archive a lot and do podcasts. Just search for the BBC radio and there are several different stations.This is perfectly legal.The BBC rules yey!!hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 21:42, 3 June 2006 (UTC))

Ty also Ref. Desk : Science. Somedoby just posted the same question. Answers are :

List of Internet stations (link), perhaps? (Melchoir)

Or use iTunes (link), hundreds of streaming stations listed by genre. (hydnjo)

Signed --DLL 21:31, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Local KKK groups

I live in Newburgh N.Y and I am looking for a local KKK group. Can you help? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.229.249.208 (talk • contribs)

This might be difficult. Depending on which KKK you mean, you might either have to travel to the Philippines or enrol at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Sandstein 18:20, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Making the basic assumption that you're referring to the Ku Klux Klan, our article mentions there's no singular Ku Klux Klan, and most of the larger organisations claiming to be "The" Ku Klux Klan aren't around any more. Further assuming this isn't a troll attempt, your best bet is probably the Church of the American White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, one of the more active KKK groups according to the Anti-Defamation League. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 18:26, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, they have a nice gathering every year at their compound =P --mboverload@ 19:35, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

I heard there's good Klan opportunities in The Bronx. My suggestion would be to go down to the corner of Boston and Baychester and yell as loud as you can, "I want to join the KKK!" -- Mwalcoff 02:30, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

when you say that, try to make sure there are no african americans within hearing distance. or anyone that isn't part of the klan for that matter.

Um... I was being sarcastic. I was referring to a black neighborhood. -- Mwalcoff 04:53, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Trying to identify two old Scrooge McDuck stories

I'm trying to find two old Disney comics featuring Scrooge McDuck. I read both of them as a a kid, so my memory is a bit hazy on both stories, and I don't remember by whom they were drawn. I'd love to read these stories again, so any help would be appreciated. Both stories were released (or re-released) in the early-to-mid seventies, so they must be at least that old...here's what I remember:

• The first one featured Scrooge dumping all his money into the ocean to hide it from thiefs. Down in the ocean, there was a culture of duck-faced mermaid creatures who used Scrooge's money to make dresses etc. I clearly remember one of the fish-ducks (who was pretty fat and had a beard) wearing a vest made of coins. This is not the famous Barks story, that one didn't feature duck-fish-creatures.
• I don't remember very much about the second story - all I remember is that the Beagle Boys had stolen Scrooge's money and were trying to swim in it; alas, when they tried to dive into the money, they were hurt pretty badly because they didn't know Scrooge's secret of how to swim and dive in coins. This is not much to go by, but the scene of the B-Boys trying to dive into the coins was visually great - I'm sure if you know the comic, you'll remember that scene.

If anyone can tell me how to get copies of these stories (from what I remember of the visuals, they might have been done by Barks, but I'm far from sure), I'll be a very happy boy for a weekend :) -- Ferkelparade π 18:24, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't recognise these stories. If it isn't any of these, there is an external link from that page apparently to all the comics on line.--Shantavira 19:03, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, but it's certainly not one of these stories - Rosa started working on Disney comics sometime in the early eighties, and the stories I remember must be at least ten years older than that -- Ferkelparade π 19:07, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

The first story is definitely Carl Barks. I don't remember the title but it was probably something like "The Queen of the Sea". The mermaid queen falls in love with Donald, but Daisy gets jealous, and takes Donald from her grasp. I don't remember the second story. JIP | Talk 10:33, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes! Thats it! Thanks for reminding me of the queen (whom I had completely forgotten), now I was able to Google it - the story is called "Hall of the Mermaid Queen" and is available in the Barks library. I found a scan of the first page here, and I instantly recognized the beginning of the story -- Ferkelparade π 18:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

More Reasons to Shop at Morrisons

The British supermarket Morrisons has an advertising campaign, often listing different numbered 'reasons' to shop there. Does anyone know where there is a compiled list of all these reasons? For example, "Reason 84, Fresh bread baked by the in-store baker." Many thanks, --86.142.195.158 21:57, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

They may just make up a number so that it implies that there are many reasons why you should shop there and therefore they wouldn't necessarily have a numbered list. For instance, by saying "Reason 84", it implies that there are 83 other reasons. Dismas|^(talk) 23:55, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Like Heinz 57 varieties ,also an Ian Dury song "Reasons to be cheerful pt. 3 " --hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210)

Perhaps you should ask them via their website. Reason 231 is intriguing: "If you are stuck for something to surprise your favourite Aunt with, then Morrisons may just have the answer." (www.morrisons.co.uk/December05_ HomeandLeisureNewsletter.pdf) --Shantavira 08:00, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

They do full-page adverts which list a couple of hundred reasons in some magazines. A lot of the reasons are like "Reason 76: Buy one get one free on diet Coca-Cola, Reason 77: Buy one get one free on Sprite" etc. smurrayinchester^{(User), (Talk)} 10:25, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm really glad someone brought this up because i've also been wondering if anyone has a list. Maybe next time i see the adverts i'll compile a little list website -Benbread 15:24, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Not exactly like Heinz 57, who actually had more varieties. Rmhermen 21:50, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I know but the Morrison's numbers aren't that factual either,they are both advertizing gimmicks--hotclaws**==(hotclaws**== 22:14, 4 June 2006 (UTC))

Paul simon 50 ways to leave your lover, he only mentions 8 or 9

Citing

How do you cite wikipedia as a resource when using information from it to write an essay or paper?

See Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia.--El aprendelenguas 22:46, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

This answer recurs. Did they think to create a FAQ link on every page here at WP ? Those nerds have no judgement :) (this is my smiley day). The toolbox has a "cite this" entry. The FAQ page has a Wikipedia:Questions link.

One may also type "cite" in the search box before asking. What annoys me a little is that a main article - cite - redirects to a WP namespace one. --DLL 21:25, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Falling anvils

Has anyone in real life (i.e. outside of cartoons/TV/movies) ever been injured or killed by an anvil falling on them from a great height? --Kurt Shaped Box 23:50, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

There's probably more chance with a piano! --Zeizmic 02:42, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

True. Pianos are sometimes lifted to an upper floor of a building (which lacks a freight elevator) via a series of pulleys. This makes it possible that the piano will fall during the lifting operation. Anvils are typically kept at ground level, so falling very far doesn't seem likely. I suppose someone might have dropped an anvil from up high just to see what would happen, though. Has David Letterman done this yet ? I suspect it would put a big hole in the street, if he did try it. StuRat 03:39, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I once saw someone throw a bowling ball off the top of a tall building on some TV science programme (some kid had written in asking if it was true that it would embed itself into concrete). IIRC, it bounced and suffered a few small cracks. --Kurt Shaped Box 10:05, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

FWIW, Aeschylus was reputedly killed by a falling tortoise... Grutness...wha? 08:28, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Was it a rather slow, but steady, death ? :-) StuRat 02:38, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I know in pioneer times at festivities they placed a small anvil on a pile of gunpowder and set it off for fun. Idiots. — The Mac Davis] ⌇☢ ญƛ. 09:47, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Probably marginally less dangerous than throwing full aerosol cans onto bonfires (as the kids like to do around here). At least with the anvil there's only one hunk of metal to dodge... ;) --Kurt Shaped Box 10:01, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

What,you've never heard of the symbolic smithies dedicated to Weyland on the top of any skyscraper over 30 stories to appease the wrath of thunder gods?(hotclaws**== 22:17, 4 June 2006 (UTC))

Charles Fort documented a large number of incidences of fish, frogs and all manner of inanimate objects "falling out of the sky". Maybe the Fortean Times has information about falling anvils. JackofOz 03:18, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

FWIW (again), injuries caused by falling bullets often accompany celebrations in Middle Eastern and Latin American countries. Think about it - you celebrate, you fire your gun in the air, just add gravity and stir... Grutness...wha? 07:14, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Ok, now let's just mention extreme ironing. – b_jonas 15:07, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Being killed by a falling iron would have to be called an ironic death, wouldn't it ? :-) StuRat 13:44, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Falling bullet deaths aren't confined to Third World countries. They happen in Eastern Europe and the USA - though only rarely, I hope. Just Google for "celebratory gunfire". --Heron 15:57, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

They weren't unknown in the West during WWII - anti-aircraft shells tended to be larger than bullets - anything from 20mm to the very heavy 90mm guns - but were still fired in great quantities, and unexpended rounds would often explode on impact with the ground, so the danger wasn't just the falling but also the side-effects. (The first damage sustained by Whitehall in the Blitz, for example, was an unexpended shell exploding in the street and wounding several passers-by) Shimgray | talk | 16:23, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

June 4

gold egg laying goose

how long will a ordinary goose take to lay a egg and how long a goose will take to lay a gold egg?:)force reguired also for each egg!Please very Important school science project.Thank you!! --Haishma 03:08, 4 June 2006 (UTC)haishma--Haishma 03:08, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

If I have such a heavy meatal poisoned goose, I wouldn't need to finish my education nor do I need to do any school science project. :) -- Toytoy 03:13, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Obvious joke question. --mboverload@ 04:46, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, the first part "how long will a ordinary goose take to lay a egg" has an answer. I don't know what it is though :) GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 08:16, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

A golden jubilee is 50 years so 50 years for the golden egg?(hotclaws**== 22:20, 4 June 2006 (UTC))

Windows

I need help creating an invisible user in windows XP.

Hello! Googl for "invisible user" windows and take a look. Please come back if it not what you're looking for ? --DLL 21:14, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

If you mean a user that doesn't show up on the Welcome screen, you can use Tweak UI to change which users show up and which don't. --Optichan 23:15, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Swedish speaker wanted!

The sign

Could someone who understands the sign pictured please tell me what it means? Also, what does Bevaknings kåren mean? Thanks very much--Keycard ^(talk) 07:18, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

STOP
Protective object

DENIED:
-access without permission
-photographing, depicting, describing or measuring the object without special permission

According to the law (1990:217)
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
–Mysid^(t) 08:26, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks very much indeed!--Keycard ^(talk) 08:28, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

A correction though, it's protected, not protective. –Mysid^(t) 08:29, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Forgot to answer the other one – bevakningskåren means security – the guards, that is – or security forces. –Mysid^(t) 08:36, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Are you allowed to tell us what the protected object was? Please tell us you didn't photograph it. Or was it the sign itself? (You knew this all along didn't you?) --Shantavira 09:32, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I hope not, then we'd have the KGB after us. Oh, wait, wrong country. Pacific Coast Highway ^{(blah • typa-typa)} 21:29, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Here is a page about the Swedish law mentioned on the sign. From a Systran translation it looks like a "skyddsobjekt" is what we in the U.S. would call a restricted area, is that right? --Cam 18:53, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

If I had to take a random, educated guess, I would say it's likely a sign posted outside a customs/immigration zone inside an airport in Sweden -- possibly near Stockholm, given the telephone number posted on the sign, though it's possible that number is just a central number and the area is located elsewhere. --DavidGC 06:53, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, it was for the security search area at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport. I was a bit scared photoing it!--Keycard ^(talk) 07:30, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

It's a very weird sign, actually, if it's a warning about a restricted area (which I'm guessing it is not). Normally, "restricted area" is skyddsområde in Swedish (and "the restricted area" is skyddsområdet ("the" is a suffix in Swedish; in this case, t). But skyddsobjektet is, literally, "the restricted/protected object." The sign probably applies to a historically protected "object." Maybe it's an old airplane on display at Arlanda? BrianinStockholm 11:12, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

In all honesty, couldn't you figure out what it meant just from the pictures? --SeizureDog 10:37, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Is it true that dogs can't see TV?

A friend told me they can only see things that are 3D, so they can't see what's happening on a TV screen.

I doubt that's true, since I've so many times seen my cats watching the TV intensely, and I don't think they're that different from dogs in their "spatial intelligence". Most of a dog's field of view is not binocular, anyway (see depth perception). They may not recognize the people and animals on TV as people and animals, though, because unlike we humans, dogs recognize their peers mostly by their smell. And things on TV don't smell. That's why a cat won't attack the other cat behind the mirror either, I think. –Mysid^(t) 08:45, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

lol, they can see everything on the tv, although they don't see as many colors as people do. — The Mac Davis] ⌇☢ ญƛ. 09:46, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I saw a real dog stare at a dog on a TV commercial once. Dogs just know better than to sit around watching TV all the time. --

Mwalcoff 15:35, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

My cat likes to watch basketball on TV. He tries to catch the ball. User:Zoe|^(talk) 22:03, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

• My wife and I were watching a baseball game on TV a couple of years ago, and Stella-the-dog was lying on the floor next to the couch as she usually does. When a squirrel ran out on the field (at Pac Bell Park), suddenly Stella jumped up and started barking and trying to chase the TV squirrel. We were rather amazed. When we backed up and replayed it, at first she growled a bit, and then lost interest. She's also perked up at birds on TV, and, similarly, been disinterested on the replay. We've got a DVD specially made for cats -- it contains all sorts of bird and rodent action, with a chirpy soundtrack. One of our cats has no interest whatsoever, while the other two cats pretty much try to crawl through the screen. So, clearly, the interest level varies, but certainly dogses and catses can see things on TV. Oh -- the cat that's not interested in the bird and rodent show? She loves to attack the mouse pointer on my computer screen. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 05:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

On a related note, if you're a Pink Floyd fan, play Animals for your dog. Mine have always perked up their ears and looked for the "dog" that was barking inside the stereo when the song "Dogs" was playing. For those who don't know, the song "Dogs" uses sound clips of dogs barking in it. Dismas|^(talk) 06:37, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I would think that if dogs did indeed have a problem seeing in 3D, it would make it very difficult for them to catch tennis balls, frisbees, or something similar with their mouths. Seems unlikely to me. --DavidGC 06:55, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Try the meddle album by pink floyd, that has a dog berking on it too... track 3 i think I've noticed my cats can tell the difference between an animal impersonator "mee-owing" and the real thing on TV(hotclaws**== 13:42, 5 June 2006 (UTC))

I saw a program on the discovery channel that said because TV is at about 25 frames per second and dogs see "faster" than this (and humans) so TVs appear to flicker to them, which makes it difficult for them to watch. I don't know if cats are different. Not sure about the cat mirror thing, I saw a google video of a cat freaking out at a mirror. TastyCakes 17:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Strange bird

What's this?

I saw a number of these strange birds on a walk for Oxfordshire, but I haven't got a clue what it might be. Any ideas? Also, there are a number of similar looking birds asleep in the middle of the two awake ones. Could these be their young, because they look more downy. smurrayinchester^{(User), (Talk)} 09:42, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

They're geese of some sort. The ones in the middle look like some species of duck. Sorry, I don't know any more than that... --Kurt Shaped Box 10:16, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

They look more like ducks than geese to me. How big are they?--Shantavira 10:37, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

The ones that are standing are slightly smaller than mute swans, the sleeping ones seem to be a bit smaller. smurrayinchester^{(User), (Talk)} 11:12, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

The standing ones closely resemble the Egyptian Goose, an African goose that has escaped in England. SCHZMO ✍ 11:34, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Where discuss a proposal about implementing a "language tag" feature?

An interesting proposal is being discussed at [9]. It's getting long, and really should be discussed elsewhere. I'm happy to move the discussion (and tidy it up), but I'm not sure where to move it. At the Village Pump there is a description of what goes where, but the language tag proposal falls into several categories at once, seems to me: it's technical, policy-related, etc. My guess is that it should be considered a "Proposal," but I'd like someone less new than I to confirm that. Also, because the proposal is very complicated, it seems like it should probably have its own page, since the discussion has already gotten quite lengthy, and many people still aren't even aware of the proposal. Is it possible and kosher simply to introduce the proposal at WP:VPR (if, indeed, that's the right place for it), and then point people to a separate page, say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposal:Language_Tags? Pardon my ignorance, and thanks in advance! BrianinStockholm 10:26, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

its called a whistler duck in its downy coat right now those are their babys and their babys are probably about 9 months

Relevance of Uganda result to Kenya

I recently completed my study in Uganda - form 6. and currently looking for admission in a Kenya colage, however the collage requires that these results be changed to Kenyan standard. Please help.

My address: <email removed to prevent spam>

thanks to all.

You can't be the first Ugandan to go to college in Kenya. I would suggest your best bet is the school you went to in Uganda or the college to which you are appplying in Kenya. If either are any good they will be willing to help. -- SGBailey 14:10, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Food for flu

I am guessing I have the flu; it started out with a bad throat, now I am dizzy as heck at times, and must lie down most of the time. What food is advisable to consume right now? I'm dead hungry, but I don't want to eat something that is likely to... come up again. That apple looks sooo tasty.... Henning 12:39, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a doctor, but my experience of flu is that you just lay in bed feeling alternately hot and cold, that you can't get comfortable and thsat the most you want is a little fluid. If an apple looks appealing I suspect you don't have influenza. If in doubt see a doctor. -- SGBailey 14:07, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Try the "BART" diet, which is recommended by physicians to patients recovering from gastrointestinal problems. It consists of bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast. Yum! Erik the Rude 14:20, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Sheesh! I wish someone informed me of such things a bit before! I could kill to have that food ready. Thanks, this I shall know for next time. :) Henning 18:20, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

• Eat stuff that's easy to digest to make sure you don't upset your stomach is a good way to ensure whatever you eat stays in. - Mgm|^(talk) 15:15, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Vitamin suppliments might be useful, especially Vitamin C, also remember to drink enough water -Benbread 15:18, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I suggest you choose food based on it's entertainment value when it comes back up. For example, Froot Loops always make for a good show. :-) StuRat 23:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

The ultimate question

How many roads must a man walk down? -Benbread 15:26, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

42. Daniel (‽) 16:42, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Until what?

The answer, my friend, is Blowin' in the Wind... Bwithh 17:14, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I think a more pertinent question is: what's yellow and dangerous? --iamajpeg 16:52, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Please don't say shark-infested custard. Anand 17:26, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

You can't just ignore shark-infested custard because you don't like it. It kills ignorant people every day...- Mgm|^(talk) 13:44, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

What about Banana with a machine-gun? -Benbread 17:32, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Many things can be yellow and dangerous, depending on the occasion. For example, a yellow cab with a drunk Pakistani driver in it driving your way 200 m/h can be dangerous, a banana in front of you when you are running with closed eyes, a bullet from a Magnum 44. dyed in yellow fired in the back of your head, a yellow bat that your wife beats you to death with when you come home drunk with lipstick on your collar, sun can be yellow and dangerous if you climb on top of a building and stare in it as long as it's up... --Captain ginyu 17:58, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Back to roads : 'jess follow Jeez! He became the way! --DLL 21:08, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Hepatitis is yellow and dangerous,I nearly died of it and was pretty yellow(hotclaws**== 22:24, 4 June 2006 (UTC))

Your original question is not being answered: The answer is that it is a highly individual event, but the Woodstock Summit Conference solved the problem ingenuously. Obtain a road counter (or notching stick) and add one count/notch for every road you walk down. At the end of the road, you ask a passerby: "Scuse me bro', what do you call me?". If he says "crazy", "wild", "bro" or some such, then you seek another road to walk. One day the passerby will look at you with bloodshot eyes and mumble "man" (he may add something like "you're crazy", but, trust me, you can ignore that). Stand very still, wait for your blurry focus to clear (be patient, this may take some hours), read your roadcounter, or count your notches, and your personal universal answer is there for you. --Seejyb 22:43, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Seven! Adam Bishop 02:04, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Daniel is right. Everyone knows this answer. Just go to Google and search for [the answer to life, the universe, and everything] --DavidGC 07:01, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I believe the correct answer to this question is "No, we already thought of that, but it doesn't fit the answer." DJ Clayworth 22:02, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Bump

When a post contains just the word "Bump," what does it mean? Is it just to "bump" the thread to the top of the forum? I have seen this mainly on Runescape, But i have noticed it elsewhere.

You are correct; it's to bump the topic to the top of the forum, since most forums sort topics by most recent post. --ByeByeBaby 17:03, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Here's a wikipedia article on this topic: Bump (internet). — TheKMan^talk 17:28, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Blocking "contribs" list?

I find it frustrating that some people misuse the the "contribs" feature to cast aspersions on POV. When I edit controversial subjects, I have been drug into debates about my POV based solely on the fact that I edit a number of articles on a particular topic. A couple of editors have assumed (incorrectly -- ironically) that if I edit on a topic, I must therefore have some affiliation with, or affinity for, that topic, and that my further edits are therefore suspect.

Edits should be discussed on their own merits, and not on suspicions about the affiliations of the editor. So I wonder whether this problem can be resolved by blocking from the view of the hoi-polloi my list of contributions? Is such a thing even possible? Thanks!

This is a question for the Wikipedia:Help desk, not the reference desk. And no, you can't block people from seeing your contributions. --Fastfission 17:30, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

You could edit stuff you don't want them to see without logging in. That's what I do when I try and clean up porn star articles. I mean... TastyCakes 17:25, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Dates in a paper

So, if I'm writing about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (NT Gospels), then do I need to but CE (or, I suppose, AD) after dates in my paper? It seems kind of stupid to do so, but it looks wrong to not. 172.129.213.226 17:49, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

you'd better. Don't assume a stupid reader, but assume an ignorant one.

This is a sensible procedure as it makes it clear that these (relatively small) numbers are actually dates.--Shantavira 18:52, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

"In Commonwealth English, usage copies Latin by placing the abbreviation before the year number for AD, but after the year number for BC; for example: 64 BC, but AD 2006. In North American English variant, AD and BC more commonly both come after a date." Just a thought. And yes, when you're dealing with such low dates, it can help to label at least the first. Skittle 12:25, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Novel Summaries

Hello Wikipedia!

I need your help! I understand that you have a lot of information about the Holocaust. I am doing a project on it and part of my assignment is to look up Holocaust Novels about people who rescued the jews (the rescuers) either fiction or non fiction. I have found a lot of titles, but I need to find summaries for them, in order to finish my project. My teacher does not wish us to do the summaries in our own words, since we haven't read any of the books. I hope you can reply to me fast, this is due in a couple of days!

Thanks so much! Izzy**

Did You read the top of the page, It says # Do your own homework. If you need help with a specific part or concept of your homework, feel free to ask, but please do not post entire homework questions and expect us to give you the answers. Try getting the books in your local Libary and reading the sleaves or the back. Alternitivly try checking up Newspaper reviews done on the book, If you can get backdated copies of the Sunday Times (London) they are very good. Ken 21:01, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Amazon.com ? --DLL 21:04, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

read articles on rightious among nations These were the heoroes that saved so many.

go to your local library!!!!!!

Cinnimon spice used for killing bugs ????

Can cinnimon spice be used to kill bugs. From Mary You can squash them if the spice is still in the jar.(hotclaws**== 22:26, 4 June 2006 (UTC))

Cinnamon sticks placed in cupboards definitely repel bugs, including mosquitoes. It's lethal to some bugs, and safe for your foods. Sprinkling ground cinnamon works for where ants are getting into your place. See the cinnamon article. Cloves, too, are remarkably effective in keeping ants and other crawlies out of food cupboards. Depending on where you live, a tip with these techniques is to buy large packets of the stuff at wholesalers such as baking goods suppliers, refrigerating the unused lot in sealed bags - the cost can be less than 5% of what you pay for the small packets in supermarkets. I suspect that the volatile oils such as eugenols may have much to do with this. --Seejyb 23:09, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Although, according to the cinnamon article, most cinnamon that is sold in stores is not in fact cinnamon but cassia. Dismas|^(talk) 01:35, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Is it legal to do that? --Shantavira 06:58, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

That was very interesting to read. North American ground cinnamon is very strong, so it must be cassia. Expensive cinnamon sticks for your hot rum toddy is very delicate, almost bland. You would not notice it on your french toast. --Zeizmic 13:50, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I share Shantavira's implied outrage. Though I humbly submit that I have in impecunious times substituted a little turmeric when a recipe called for saffron. --Seejyb 19:45, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Is Cinnamon Spice a new Spice Girl ? If so, I would think killing bugs would be a good use for her, as well as the rest. :-) StuRat 23:11, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Tennis Attire

hi there,

Is there any article that deals with ladies'and mens' tennis attire because I am doing a story that wiil made into a movie and its about a girl and a boy who competes each other in a tennis competition with different tennis attire.

Try the Tennis article. Try a Google serch as well it will find the rules of diffrent clubs which you can use.Ken 21:09, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I think the boy should wear men's tennis attire and the girl should wear women's tennis attire. you can google the two terms, or just look for a sports site with pictures of men's and women's tennis competitions and compare by sight. However -- and note that this is just my opinion -- I think you should consider them playing different sports. For example, the boy could be a tennis player and the girl could be a golfer.82.131.186.217 22:50, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

back office

o que é back office

Todas as preguntas devem ser em ingês. Veja aqui (back office). --Nelson Ricardo 00:18, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

June 5

Taylor Hicks

Can you please tell me where you got your info on Taylor Hicks. On a sign outside his door is a sign that states Taylor Hicks EST 10-7-1976...you have his BDay down as the 6th...you need to change it

Jinafer

Take a look at this. The Governor of Alabama says in his proclamation that it was the 6th. By the way, what door are you referring to? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:08, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Peachtree help needed?

Hey to anyone whom it may concern.

I am a novice regarding the software Peachtree 7. Recently I joined a firm which used Peachtree and I am the financial manager.

The fellow before me had his own password on the databases and I need your help to copy or move that data into a new company.

I want to bypass the password. If there are any forums please email me the link to them. Blog and torrents will both work.

Thanks For your co-operation.

Regards, Qazi Wahaj (email removed)

I would suggest googling for peachtree password recovery and be wary with the results, as this kind of keywords are often the target of spamdexing. I've removed your email address from the post, so that it would not get into the dirty hands of numerous spambots. –Mysid^(t) 09:44, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Chucks

Tonight I noticed a guy wearing Chuck Taylor All-Stars and for the first time I realized that the circular emblem with the star on the side of the shoe is on the inside half of the shoe. I've been unable to locate any reason why it's not on the outside side. Does anyone know why this is? Dismas|^(talk) 09:59, 5 June 2006 (UTC)....... I wear Converse high tops which have the logo inside and I think it's from when the old canvas "base-ball" boots used to have a plastic ankle guard there(hotclaws**== 13:46, 5 June 2006 (UTC))

dataDyne

Okay, this is gonna be a bit of an odd question. More like a series of questions, all about a subject that ends up having no meaning whatsoever. (Should fit in well here.) I need to know:

• where the "business district" in London is
• what its postal code might be
• what its dialing code might be
• where an address might be in said district where the Lucerne Tower (aka dataDyne's headquarters) might be

Bleh; I know it's a worthless subject but I promise to show you all the fruits of your labour when it's done. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 10:25, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Clarification: DataDyne is a fictional company in Perfect Dark. According to the central business district article, the CBD of London comprises City of London, West End, and Canary Wharf. After googling it seems there is not a real building called Lucerne Tower in London – though there are several ones elsewhere (Google Images). –Mysid^(t) 10:42, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

The STD (dialing) code for the whole of London is 020 (but see 0207 & 0208. There are no codes specifically for the business districts, as there are hundreds of codes that will cover these areas, neither are there dedicated postal codes for the many business districts, although those starting EC and WC are in the city (the oldest business district). See London postal districts.--Shantavira 11:41, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Business district is 1 mile square in london centre, called City of Lindon Post codes in Uk atsrt with aa1 1aa which is buckingham palace, and works its way out from there. 0121 is the inner city dialing code and finally, the lucerne tower is in City of London. May i please see the fruits of my labour?193.115.175.247 13:42, 5 June 2006 (UTC)Anton

Unfortunately 0121 is the current code for Birmingham (see UK telephone numbering plan). The information supplied by Mysid and Shantavira appears to be more accurate. Road Wizard 18:37, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Gaaaaah...curse my American upbringing. It would be a lot easier to design letterhead for a fictional corporation if you knew how to fake a foreign address >_< 67.168.96.173 21:06, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Just to clarify, the traditional financial district of London is the City of London. This area of one square mile has a precise definition - the city limits are shown on maps and so on. City of London postcodes begin EC followed by a digit between 1 and 4, and telephone numbers in the City of London begin 0207.

The West End is the traditional home of retail and theatre in London. It is not precisely defined, but is usually considered to be the area within a mile or so of Trafalgar Square and Oxford Circus. It lies immediately to the west of the City of London. Telephone numbers here also begin 0207 (0208 is mainly the outer suburbs of London). Postcodes beginning WC followed by a digit between 1 and 3 are all in the eastern part of the West End (where most of the theatres are), while the main shopping streets (Oxford Street and around) have postcodes beginning W1. Buckingham Palace, Parliament, and most of the other machinery of government is in an area just to the south of the West End proper, and this area has postcodes beginning SW1.

Canary Wharf is the name of one complex of buildings in the area known as the Docklands, several miles east of the City of London. This area was not traditionally considered as part of the main business district, but many of the financial businesses have moved their offices there in recent years. AndyofKent 11:05, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

"and telephone numbers in the City of London begin 0207" - NO. There is no such code as 0207. All of London uses the (020) area code. Local numbers in the City of London are eight-digits long and begin with a 7. (79.65.197.95 (talk) 16:28, 24 July 2009 (UTC))

"The West End.... Telephone numbers here also begin 0207 (0208 is mainly the outer suburbs of London)."" - NO. There is no such code as 0208. All of London uses the (020) area code. Numbers in Outer London are eight-digits long and mostly begin with an 8. (79.65.197.95 (talk) 16:28, 24 July 2009 (UTC))

Theme to a Discovery Channel advertisement

Hi, I've forgotten to ask this for so long now... A little while ago, say this winter, the FBI Files on Discovery Channel had a special theme to its advertisement on that channel. I tried mailing DC, but they wouldn't release that information. Does anyone know of what theme I'm talking about? I thought it was very, very good, a rare jewel among promotion tunes. I would love any information about it that's possible to acquire. Henning 10:52, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Couldn't release it? They just didn't want to bother. --mboverload@ 23:50, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

bamboo flower

The Indian Army moves to help deal with a plague of rats in northeastern India, following the Mautam, a flowering of bamboo forests that occurs every 48 years.

Concerning this featured article, could some one please provide a picture of the flower. Thank you

noticeability of staring and eye contact

I'm the sort of person who tends to look at passers-by frequently, and when I see a group of people, although I don't stare directly at anyone, I look at the people a bit, and notice what they are wearing etc. When I do it to passers-by, they almost always notice, because they return the eye contact, then we both look away. How abnormal am I? How does it come across to the people (if anyone can guess)? Also, when someone does this to a group without looking directly at people's eyes, how noticeable is this? 203.221.126.204 14:16, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Nobody is answering this last batch of weird questions, so I'll try. I used to try this experiment in the subway all the time. Most people are scanning back and forth all the time. You're brain puts out the immediate alert if there is somebody staring at you because this is one of the most important image-patterns laid into your brain. Then you lock on to the starer, in case it is a friend, threat or beautiful person. If it is an intense stare, then most people perceive this as a threat (except for supermodels!). The standard Canadian subway response is to look away. Other responses may tend towards the violent. --Zeizmic 16:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

A little girl was staring at me on the bus once, and then told her mother I was "funny looking." :( Adam Bishop 19:44, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

The article Eye contact describes in some more detail the potential interpretations of eye contact. Road Wizard 19:57, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Interesting. I think it definitely depends on how long you stare at the person and your facial expression while doing so.--Proficient 08:25, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

galaxy in a jar

there was a tv show on uk tv a while ago where a guy did an experiment that created what apeared to be a tiny galaxy in a glass jar, it emited alot of light and was really beutiful. Can anyone shed ony light on this in any way, please excuse the punn. thanks

Did it look anything like this? (Really just a blind guess; that's the first hit for googling galaxy glass jar.) Weregerbil 18:11, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

• Do you recall what channel it was on, or perhaps a rough guide to day, time or year of showing? This will help in trying to track the programme information down. Thanks. Road Wizard 19:12, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I think it was either on channel 4 in uk or it was on bbc learning zone. I think it was late night/early morning 2am 3am thereabouts. Thanks again

I Know both the Twilight Zone and Superman comics have galaxies in bottles so was it Hollywood science where they try to reproduce film effects for real? Bioluminesence could be involved maybe? It sounds great,hope you find it then I can see it too...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:26, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

It was more of a show about physics, it also was not a jar as such but rather a container. Any one? hotclaws and i need some help here guys. :-) 193.115.175.247 13:37, 6 June 2006 (UTC)Anton

If it was on the BBC, it was probably part of the Light Fantastic documentary series. Unfortunately I didn't see it myself, so I can't identify the experiment you describe. However, if you contact the BBC directly, they may be able to answer your question. Road Wizard 17:16, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Psilocybin mushrooms in Britain

Post-ban, does anyone know of any specific places in Britain where psilocybin mushrooms can be found growing wild?

No, sorry. But you can buy the spore kits (if you're willing to take the risk) - here are some links: Free Spore Ring Europe, Azarius , Traveller's Gardenand smart shop. Otherwise, a cow paddock the day after a good rain is the first place I'd start looking. Natgoo 18:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Any unmown pastureland in England and Wales that's not too dry will probably have a patch of these somewhere. (I suspect the same is true of Scotland.) When I lived in London in the 70s people used to travel to the end of the Picadilly Line of a summer's evening and stroll around Trent Park.--Shantavira 19:49, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Someone gave me some used up potting material which I recycled through my compost bin.I used it to feed my chamomile lawn and Oh Boy! were the fairies surprized by what came up!...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:29, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

There are rumoured to be some in the remote areas of the New Forest, a rural area that has just become a National Park between Southampton and Bournemouth,roughly, in the UK. When I last looked possessing the mushrooms was not illegal but toasting them counts as processing and is (or was, in UK law anyway). They may also be endangered or protected in some way.Britmax 11:25, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Illegal Immigration Wall

Illegal Immigration Wall

You have heard about the Immigration Trail. How about the new Illegal Immigration Wall? ...IMHO (Talk)

• Cute. And if done right, will also stop the westward movement of Americans, which might have some advantages. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 17:02, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I think it makes the assumption that anyone wants to go to Saskatchewan ;). I kid.. I kid because I love... TastyCakes 17:28, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't want to be a pill but the base image there looks like it is from Google Maps and as such it is copyrighted and probably can't be put on Commons. --Fastfission 02:46, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

It should be moved from Commons to Wikipedia, where it might turn out to be useful in an article like Immigration debate.--M@rēino 21:22, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I've long heard that North Dakota is the last line of defense in the Mexican invasion of Canada. --Golbez 03:42, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

It'll screw up the NFL and MBL divisions! ...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:30, 6 June 2006 (UTC)) Why just stop the westward movement of Americans(LOL)!?Britmax 11:27, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Why just stop the westward movement of Americans(LOL)!?Britmax 11:28, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Characteristic data

Is there a good source of characteristics data for various items like consumer products, dog breeds, etc.? In most cases the only data I have found for any particular item like for instance HTML Editors is limited pretty much to the author's name and data of origin. ...IMHO (Talk) 17:41, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Uhm... if I understand correctly the answer you are looking for is... an encyclopaedia. Or am I mistaken? Characteristic data for items like dog breeds you will definitely find here or in a dog breed lexicon or specialised encyclopedia of dogs. Details on consumer products (from t-shirts to blenders to scotch tape) can be also found here or on the labels of the products themselves (but it really depends on what you are looking for - e. g. the circuit diagram of a blender might not be so easy to find, but definitely exists, whereas the ingredients of jell-o or whatever are usually printed on the product label provided the manufacturer is not lying). The place you look for things depends on what you are looking for. Oh, and then there's google :)

I am feeling kind of sick so please excuse me if the above didn't make much sense. --Ouro 19:16, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

No sorry you feel sick. What I am looking for ideally is such information in spreadsheet form with the characteristics in the first row starting at the second column with the items listed in the first column starting with the second row with the body of the table containing relationship between the characteristic and the item, .e, true, false, maybe, red, big or any descriptor, etc. a list of bakery items for instance where all of the possible ingredients are listed as characteristics and amounts or each per item placed in the spreadsheet cells. In other words a Book of Tables similar to a Book of Lists. Hope you feel better. ...IMHO (Talk) 20:13, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

How broad a topic are we talking here? You have already mentioned consumer products, dog breeds, html editors and bakery items. I don't think you will find one single source with all of that data, so it would help if you could define some specifics. Are you wanting one or two examples of data sets and you don't mind what type of data sets you get? Or are you specifically wanting data sets on consumer products, dog breeds and html editors? Road Wizard 20:29, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm looking for a Book of Tables similar to one I have seen published for kids that makes a topic really quick and easy for them to learn. Such books of tables usually start with things like an addition or a multiplication table and expands from there. Whatever will help a kid with attention deficit disorder learn stuff quickly and completely before something triggers his mind to do something else besides learn whatever that particular topic is. ...IMHO (Talk) 21:44, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately, what you are asking for sounds a lot like a commercial product. There are very few public domain data sets/tables available, and I have yet to stumble across one that would have any educational value (most of the ones I have found list raw data like the changing birth rate of cattle in various parts of Scotland or the estimated amount of carbon emissions produced by different industries). The problem stems from the fact that it takes a lot of time to put a book of tables together and there are very few people willing to give that much time away for free. However, I will keep my eyes peeled in case I find anything relevant. Road Wizard 22:39, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Kind of makes you wonder who paid to have all those ancient astronomical observation tables made. ...IMHO (Talk) 22:46, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

In actuality I am feeling better, thanks. Back to the subject: uhm, I am not aware of anything that would be constructed like what you're describing. 's got me thinking hard, but sorry. The second thing, as Road Wizard mentions, is the stuff you want to focus on - taking HTML editors and dog breeds into consideration you might whip practically anything and everything in between those two. Perhaps if you gave a hint as to why you need such information in such a form (curiosity doesn't count :) ) or what specifically would interest you (I know this has been said already - I gather a comparison of properties of different things according to their quantitative and qualitative make-up, huh?). No more ideas for the moment. Your turn to write now :) --Ouro 21:38, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Pencil Lead Consmption

is the consumption of pencil lead (graphite) poisenous or harmful in any way? KingstonJr 18:32, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

According to some sources ([10], via Google), the pencil lead is "relatively nontoxic", but sometimes its consumption can cause stomach ache and vomiting, though there can also be no symptoms at all. –Mysid^(t) 18:43, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

It's nearly all carbon and no more toxic than a tiny fragment of charcoal. alteripse 20:04, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Pencil lead is a mix of carbon (graphite, which makes marks on paper) and clay (which holds everything together), with the ratio depending on the hardness. --Serie 21:17, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Note that charcoal and clay can actually be used to absorb toxins in the digestive system. Many animals use one or the other for this purpose. However, I wouldn't suggest chewing on pencil "leads", since there might be some toxic additives in it. StuRat 23:00, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I chewed pencils down to the "lead" then ate that too as well as the wood and the paint.I think the paint was probably more harmful.It has had no long term ill-effects...oh wait....I'm on here AGAIN! ...aaaahhhhh!...leave it to " hotclaws**== " Beaver...(81.136.163.210 09:42, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

• Since graphite absorbs other toxins, even though it is fairly harmless itself, it might be a bad idea to eat pencil lead b/c who knows what sort of chemicals the pencil factory used.--M@rēino 21:24, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I think that it would be a relatively small amount of pencil that you would be consuming (presumably by accident), so it should do you no harm, I suppose.--Proficient 08:28, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Soccer in the USA

Why is real football (soccer) in USA primarily played by girls? Do boys only play American football in that country? Surely USAns must be aware that they are the only country in the world to play American football, and there are over a hundred countries that play soccer both recreationally and professionally, and primarily as a boys' game? JIP | Talk 18:36, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I think your initial premise is completely wrong. What makes you think that the game is played primarily by girls? Certainly the members of the Men's National Team might be confused by that. --LarryMac 18:45, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Hoo boy! There's a lot of unsubstantiated assumption there.

• Evidence of girls playing more than boys? From my (albeit anecdotal) experience, it's roughly equal.
• Only country to play American football? Err, no. It's not nearly as prevalent as Association football, but neither is it exclusive.
• Unaware? No, we're well aware that soccer is popular internationally. A fine debate is raging as to whether Americans will ignore the NHL finals or the World Cup more, but we're at least aware the Cup is happening.

If anything, the US can claim to be one of the most sport-diverse countries. — Lomn Talk 18:47, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

• Some other editors appear to have already answered your question, but I thought I would point out that Soccer can't really be called the "real football". The first game of football to be invented was Rugby football (rules codified in 1845) while Association football (also known as Soccer) had its rules first defined in 1848. American football is not unique in being played predominantly by only one nation, with other examples like Canadian football, Australian rules football and Gaelic football in existence. I don't think it is possible (outside of bar room punch ups) to define which one is the "real football" - they all seem real to me. :) Road Wizard 18:59, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Speaking from Canada rather than the US, I think that the perception of soccer as a 'girls sport' is because of the relatively even numbers. The other major sports, (hockey, football and to a lesser extent basketball) are male dominated, and soccer isn't. Canada even put up a pretty good showing in the Women's World Cup, something it's mens team is unlikely to do any time soon. But then again the Women's hockey team won an Olympic gold, more than the men's team did. It's also possible that soccer is more female-friendly because, unlike football and hickey, it doesn't involve crashing into each other on a regular basis. DJ Clayworth 21:56, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I think the statistics on the increase in female knee injuries will disprove your last point. Rmhermen 22:03, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

it doesn't involve crashing into each other on a regular basis - actually, it does. Only at the very top level is football a non-contact sport. If you look down the leagues, all the way down to amateur park football, there is a lot of rough play, all the way from hard shoulder-charges to pretty reckless slides. And, funnily enough, there is far less rolling around on the ground theatrically begging for a penalty, as well. I wonder why... --Sam Pointon 22:04, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I would sujest that Soccer could rightfully be called "football" as in the other sports mentioned one can use thir hands to play. However Galic is by far the better of the "football" sports.Ken 22:31, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

It has been suggested by some that the word football originated as "a ball game played on foot" as oposed to ball games played on horseback (like polo). If that is a correct interpretation, then there is no real requirement for the foot to encounter the ball for the game to be called "football". Road Wizard 22:47, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree with the comments made above. I don't think the sex ratio is that different when it comes to participation in soccer in the U.S. It might diverge a bit at high school and college due to Title IX and the fact that women generally don't play American football. But at the youth and adult recreational levels, I would doubt there's much of a difference. There might be a misconception that Americans think soccer is a "girl's sport" due to the surge in popularity of women's soccer in the U.S. after the 1999 Women's World Cup, which took place in the U.S., was won by the U.S. and featured Brandi Chastain ripping off her shirt. For a couple of years, people like Chastain and Mia Hamm were celebrities in a country where hardly anyone knows who Ronaldo is. And yes, we know the rest of the world doesn't play American football. We just don't care. -- Mwalcoff 23:29, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I think in the USA the women are more successful at soccer therefor have a higher profile.Either that or American men are great big softies and can't play a sport where they're not padded up and the women rule!...hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:46, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

• Canada (see CFL) and Samoa (see Category:Samoan Americans and notice how they're almost all NFL players) also play American Football. I agree that Title IX and the success of the US Women's soccer team are big reasons why it's thought of as a girls' sport. I know plenty of boys who play soccer; they are rarely teased for playing a girls' sport but occassionally teased for playing a foreign sport. Also, as to the assumption that soccer is a universal sport, consider the number of Caribbean and East Asian nations where baseball is by far the dominant sport.--M@rēino 21:31, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Pocket Battleship - Name Origin???

What is the origin of the English term pocket battleship? These are the heavy cruisers that were built by Germany in the 1930's in an attempt to defeat the terms of the Versailles treaty. I have not been able to determine why the English term "Pocket" came to be used to describe the ships.--69.1.26.166 18:41, 5 June 2006 (UTC) Thanks Glenn

According to our article on pocket battleships, they were smaller than battleships, but were equipped with more weapons than the other ships of its size. Cf. pocket knife, which is smaller than a regular knife. –Mysid^(t) 18:50, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Try pocket battleship and battlecruiser for a discussion of some of these "intermediate" class terms. In short, though, these ships were an effort to compress battleship-caliber power into a smaller ("pocket-sized") vessel by sacrificing armor and survivability. — Lomn Talk 18:51, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

For further examples of this "Pocket" nomenclature, look at the questionably successful invention of the Pocket Fisherman. --Kuzaar^-T-C- 19:34, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Oy, the balding rotisserie cook strikes again. 67.168.96.173 21:00, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

No need to be so uptight when you can Set It, and Forget It! --Kuzaar^-T-C- 12:59, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Anyone up for a quick game of pocket pool ? StuRat 22:54, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

They have a thing for taking stones out of horse's hooves in them?..hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:48, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

StuRat, the correct term is Pocket Pool. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:36, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I see, so it's in caps because someone has copyrighted this entertaining game and is now marketing it to the masses ? StuRat 01:58, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Having created that redirect, I really wish I hadn't clicked on the link. Skittle 09:16, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

It's a rather tricky game, as you frequently end up scratching when you try to get the ball in the side pocket. :-) StuRat 20:37, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Opposite of Driving directions

Is there a website that is just about the opposite of a driving directions website. Meaning, You pick a point and select how many hours you want to see a radius for. For Example, Let say I wanted to see How far i could get from Chicago in 10 hours, driving at the highway speeds.

AFAIK, this is a "business" solution for delivery-based companies and isn't offered for free. here are two examples. --Froth 23:39, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Interesting idea, but it wouldn't be too hard to estimate where you could end up from a starting position in said number of hours.--Proficient 08:31, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Not to pimp Microsoft, but Streets and Trips has had the capability to do a drivetime zone since at least the 2004 version, possibly longer. Add in that you can (with care) layer the drivetime zones, color the outline and fill, and place them behind the roads, and you can do a nice travel time map from basically any point. Do a search for a location after you've created the zones and they'll pop up on top of them (this proved invaluable during a recent house/apartment hunt). For those interested, select the center of your zone, right click and select "create drivetime zone".

Photoshop Letter Size

When printing a full regular letter sized page (8.5in X 11in), what should the DPI be? --Jamesino 23:25, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

...You can't tell from just that information. It depends how much image resolution you want. —Keenan Pepper 00:58, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

the maximum your printer supports. especially if there are truetype fonts (text) on the page, then any resolution (DPI) you print at will be better than a lower resolution (DPI), without a cut-off limit.

Generally speaking, 300 dpi is usually considered adequate for printed materials. --Fastfission 14:51, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree with Keenan Pepper, in general, use the maximum the printer supports. However, with a few matrix or inkjet printers, using a lower resolution than the maximum might speed up printing significantly at the expense of quality. For the advice of User:Fastfission, printing in 300 dpi can be incomfortable if the letter contains text in size smaller than about 8 pt. – b_jonas 14:56, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Comic book age copyright?

How old does a comic book have to be before the art in it becomes public domain? Does it fall under the same (95 year?) rules as other stuff? The only reason I ask is that I want to use some of the old comic book art for a fun personal project, but one that others will see, and I don't want to do any illegality. Thanks. --Kickstart70-T-C 23:29, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

• It depends on what country you are in and where you are planning on distributing it. Different copyright laws operate in different countries. Road Wizard 23:33, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
  • In this case, I'm in Canada, and the results would likely be posted on the 'net. --Kickstart70-T-C 23:58, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

When you mentioned 95 years, I assumed you must have been talking about the US (or somewhere else), a jurisdiction that I'm not completely familiar with. But since you mentioned Canada, that's right up my alley!

Please don't take this as the gospel truth as the law may have changed since I last looked at it...and needless to say, to watch my ass, I should probably give you the boring old disclaimer: I am not your lawyer and this is not meant to be official legal advice, therefore, despite whatever professional designation I may have, the following is meant to be taken as no more than the opinion of a layperson, and by no means as official legal advice. Ok now that we've got that crap out of the way, according to Canadian copyright law, copyright protection expires 50 years after the death of the original creator. In cases of multiple creators, it expires 50 years after the death of the longest surviving creator. Hope that helps! Loomis51 02:01, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

And comics always have a long chain of creators. --Zeizmic 02:06, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

BTW, what "95 year" rule are you refering to? I've never heard of anything in Canadian copyright law that refers to any "95 year" period. I'm very curious, as perhaps I'm wrong after all. Please tell me where this "95 year" period came up, I'm genuinely interested. Is it possibly some US rule? I'd therefore strongly advice you to double-check with a lawyer who specializes in IP before relying on my very basic knowledge in the area. I'm still quite sure I'm right, but please take my response as only an "unofficial" answer. Loomis51

My real confusion here (I guess) is that I wish to use comic books that were almost guaranteed to have been produced in the U.S. Whether that affects what I do with it in Canada, I'm not sure, especially with the variety of trade and copyright agreements that have been made between the two countries. In the case of these comic books, where the list of creators will be almost impossible to find, what do I do if I want to use some of that art? If, indeed, there are any comic books that are old enough for me to use the art of in either country, I suppose. --Kickstart70-T-C 02:41, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Try contacting the writers/inkers etc.They are sometimes quite helpful in this regard.hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:50, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

June 6

Sex

(removed)--Zeizmic 02:04, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Why was my question removed? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 72.232.31.226 (talk • contribs) .

See Wikipedia:What is a troll. -- Rick Block (talk) 02:22, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I am not trolling! I want to know!

Origional question:[What does sex with a ten-year-old girl feel like? My little sister is coming on to me pretty heavy, and I want to know what to expect if I agree.]

For her I suspect it would feel very similar to the feeling you will get on your first night in prision after being convicted of child molestation. Mayor Westfall 02:50, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

See Statutory rape. Whether she says she wants to or not doesn\\\'t matter. Your IP address is registered to a company named Layered Technologies (which operates out of Texas, in the United States). There are a few things that would induce Wikipedia to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. This is one of them. -- Rick Block (talk) 03:43, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Do your own homework pal. Rickblock, keep in mind this is probablly just a troll. I doubt a child is in real danger. However, I wonder how Layered Technologies would feel about someone using their network resorces to post this material? Maybe Ill make a few calls.... Mayor Westfall 04:23, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm fairly sure this is one case where we don't want someone to do their own homework. --Serie 00:17, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Would they really go after a fourteen year old?

Yes. With everything they had. Skittle 10:33, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

FYI, I sent a little email to each email address I found here: http://www.layeredtech.com/contact.shtml Mayor Westfall 20:09, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

See!!!!! This is a perfect example of I'm annoyed to no end by Wikipedia's policy of assuming good faith, avoiding personal attacks, and the old "NPOV" mantra.

There is simply no good faith to be assumed in this situation, to avoid personal attacks is also totally inappropriate in this circumstance, as the questioner is clearly a sick individual, and to try to maintain a "Neutral Point of View" is totally inappropriate, as to merely state without judgement what it may feel like to molest his sister may actually encourage him to do so. Wikipedia should seriously reconsider it's "policies" as much harm can be caused by strictly adhering to them. Loomis51 01:09, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm... I think this is a clear case where using common sense and temporarily ignoring the rules would apply. We don't really need a wholesale changing of policy just to deal with situations like this. Road Wizard 06:19, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Help with this Riddle

Greetings!

Shopping at the hardware store for my new house, I'm told 1 will cost 25c, 12 will cost 50c, and 122 will cost 75cents. What am I buying? I realize this may be a bit trivial, however, I've been scouring all kinds of reference books, and online search engines and it is driving me nuts! I have never heard of Wikipedia but maybe you can help.

Thanks, Mike. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 64.252.146.96 (talk • contribs) .

I don't believe that there is an answer to this. But if there is my best guess would be is that you are trying to buy an object of little or no value that is only sold attached to another item perhaps screws or nuts or something. When you are trying to buy one you must buy the cheapest item that has one in it, it costs 25c, however when you want to buy 12 you can buy an item twice as large, or twice as expensive that will have 12 of these (usually worthless) items on it or in it or part of it. And likewise for 122, there is an item 3 times as expensive that has many of these worthless items on it. Again, I don't think that there is an answer. Jon513 03:09, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

This is an old chestnut of a trick quiz question (1000 will cost you $1, BTW). What' you're buying is numbers to attach to a letterbox or front door. If you live at number 122, you have to buy three digits at 25c each. If you live at no. 12, you only need to by two. So "12" will cost you 50 cents and "122" will cost you 75 cents. Grutness...wha? 03:15, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Good job! That definitely seems to be the answer to the original poster's question "Shopping at the hardware store for my new house, I'm told 1 will cost 25c, 12 will cost 50c, and 122 will cost 75cents. What am I buying?" The "new house" and the exact phrasing of the sentence makes it clear that you've given the correct answer. (I'm not the original poster.) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 87.97.8.58 (talk • contribs) .

Folding/cutting paper into a small hollow hemisphere

I've been thinking about trying to create a paper model (no restrictions on construction, though made from a sheet of standard paper -- cutting, glueing, taping, etc. allowed). But the project in question would require a number of hollowed hemispheres. The best way to visualize the shape would be to imagine a sphere with another, smaller sphere inside it that was hollow, bisected in half.

I'm somewhat at odds for how one would do this by just folding paper. I know how one can make cones by cutting a slice out of a circle and then connecting the exposed edges. Is there any way to do half of a sphere? Any suggestions? --Fastfission 02:40, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

If you ever find a way to make a sphere (or even half a sphere) with a single sheet of paper without cutting it, taping it, etc., you'll make a fortune. This very problem (in reverse) is the whole reason that we have to put up with imperfect map projections, since the layout of the earth (or any spherical object) can't accurately be portrayed on a single sheet of paper, as it can't be laid flat. If you're interested, Map projection discusses this problem in some detail. --DavidGC 03:37, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Cutting and glueing is just fine in my case, though.. --Fastfission 15:39, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I would suggest instead using some cheap little plastic spheres, either from a craft store or appropriating them from some dollar store toy.--Pharos 03:44, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, that won't work for what I'm trying to do, but thanks for the suggestion. --Fastfission 15:39, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Or papier machie(sorry have no idea how to spell it,but mushed up paper dried into a mould)would still keep it paper and you can easily find balls as moulds of differing sizes.We used to use balloons when I was Young.hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 09:55, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

are you trying to make a model of a person? and if so what are you going to use the half speres for? breasts? why?

No. --Fastfission 15:39, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

The suggestion about Paper mache seems the best for small hemispheres, but that is not cutting, folding, pasting work. I see Wikipedia uses french spelling : Papier-mâché, but the article does not live up to the sophistication of the title. Fortunately, searching for "paper mache globe" yields many recipes (e.g. at familycrafts.com). We used the instructions found at the following pages to make ordinary cut-n-paste maps for a school project: Make Your Own Globe and Map Fold-outs. Cutting the first one in half would give almost perfect hollow hemispheres, but it's difficult to do accurately if you want "small". The second gives you fascinating polyhedrons to make. --Seejyb 20:24, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

That globe link might work out, actually. I'll give it a shot and see what I can come up with. Thanks. --Fastfission 15:39, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Question....ON WHEELS!

I just read about the very interesting charictar willy on wheels. I must say I found this guy to be very funny. For those of you that dont know, it appears he would take an article [NAME] and move it to [NAME ON WHEELS!!!!!]. I dont know why but I laught so hard at this. Just the ideas of articles on wheels driving away to a new location is hillarious. Can willy really be considered a vandal after he has contributed so much to wikipedia in the way of humor?

Also, How close did Willy come to making the wikipedia project fail?

What would happen if Jimbo Wales suddenly turned evil and started to vandalize wikipedia?

If I were to want to "vandalize" wikipedia in such a manner that my positive contrubutions outweighed any negative contrubutions from the actual "vandalize" and do so in a creative manner that wouldbe notable enough to get my own article on wikipedia like willy has, what would be a good way to go about doing that? Mayor Westfall 02:55, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

He didn't come anywhere close to making the project "fail". It is easy to undo vandalism and easier to block vandal accounts than it is for them to create new ones or get new IPs. Jimbo Wales will not turn evil. But if he did start to vandalize I imagine his account could be blocked like anyone else's. I don't recommend vandalism as a good way to use Wikipedia, or your own time. People do have to clean up after you and as such it's a pretty crummy way to treat other people. --Fastfission 03:16, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Suppose one merely wanted to contribute to the BJAODN page with humor, would that be vandalism? Also, what if that person contributed signifigantly to offest the unintended consequence of someone having to revert is attempts at humor? Or what if the person reverted his own edits after a short period of time. Would this person be considered a vandal? What if the person was a member of a tribe that sacked rome? Would that person be considered a vandal? Mayor Westfall 03:21, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Don't start. There's also a college out there whose mascot is a Vandal. And for the record, it wasn't just the Vandals who sacked Rome. Isopropyl 03:25, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a humor website. This behavior is more welcomed on Uncyclopedia. When it's done here, the person doing it is not generally considered to be funny by anyone but himself. Generally, he's just viewed as being an annoying, unfunny dick. --DavidGC 03:40, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Then why is there a BJAODN page? Mayor Westfall 04:25, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Because occasionally a user's contributions (not necessarily vandalism, or, to put it better, malicious vandalism) are unintentionally humorous. And even Wikipedia editors need to have a good chuckle every now and again. — QuantumEleven 07:57, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

"Unintentionally" is the key word there. Like Bash.org, if you deliberately try to get in, you will almost certainly fail and expose yourself to even more ridicule than the people who get in accidentally.

As for Jimbo, well, he owns this website, so he couldn't just be blocked, at least not permanently. But if he did turn evil and made Wikipedia unworkable, because everything on Wikipedia is licenced under the GFDL, we could move the entire encyclopaedia to a new server and continue without him. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 10:11, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

In addition, if the urge to make a particular joke is too much for you, you can put it in the Uncyclopedia (as said) or even straight into BJAODN. I've seen people do that when a funny thought occurred to them, keeping it out of article space, but if it isn't actually funny people will likely revert you. Skittle 10:29, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Even admins have been known to add their own silly thoughts straight into BJAODN occasionally (whistles nervously while trying to act nonchalant and not look suspicious). Grutness...wha? 11:08, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The point is, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a repository for any kinds of information, like jokes. – b_jonas 14:30, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm. I therefore call upon administrators to BAN anyone who has contributed to the BJAODN page immediately. Also, was the "Mars on Water" joke really unintentially put on wikipedia? I can see someone tripping falling on their keyboard and accidentally posting that little article...or posting it with the sincere belief that it applied to the Mars article it was uploaded to........XM 17:02, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

• Please, leave BJAODN alone. I'm going to assume that the question was posed honestly. I happen to think that all the information about Willy on Wheels is an example of WP:BEANS, or giving out waaaay too much publicity to a bad guy. We really make it out like Willy almost single-handedly destroyed Wikipedia, when really the only reason why he was remarkable was that he came along with a speed and tenacity never before seen, scaring the crap out of a lot of editors and admins (who are, after all, volunteers and not paid and trained to deal with full-on attacks). Willy on Wheels would be hilarious, IMO, if he would (1) revert all his own stuff, (2) stop doing the same three jokes over and over, but since he doesn't, he's more annoying than anything else. I forget where, but I've seen the question about "evil Jimbo" before. The answer is that Wiki is devolved enough that we would probably survive. The REAL question is how long it would take for him to be removed from all the corporate boards that he's on. He could do a lot more damage by shutting off the servers and returing the donated money than he could by making silly edits. --M@rēino 21:42, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually I think the main reason he's remarkable is because he's got a really catchy moniker. It sux, but really the '... on wheels!!' thing is veery memorable, it has the same kind of ...clever, but creepy!... hook as the references to balloons in It.--Anchoress 07:54, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree with you completely, Mareino. I think the treatment of persistent vandals here -- with specialized templates, little logos, etc. -- hurts the problem more than it helps it. Vandals want attention; the best thing to do is to quietly block them, erase their contributions, and more-or-less ignore them. Otherwise we just end up perpetuating their silliness indefinitely. I wouldn't be surprised if "Willy on Wheels" was really multiple, independent people deciding that the same joke is funny and wanting to get in on it. --Fastfission 15:47, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Anything that damages wikipedias value as a source of information, however humorous to the contributors is bad for the project. Remeber, the project isnt here to pose as a source of ammusement for those who edit it, but as a source of information for everyone, contributors or not. Philc _T^E_C^I 12:00, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Basic stuff

How do I load images to Wikipedia w/o loading them to the commons? --JD

See Wikipedia:Uploading images. You can upload images directly to the English Wikipedia with the Upload File link at the left. But make sure you've read our Wikipedia:Image use policy first. --Fastfission 03:14, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Borders of West Florida

It's me again! I'm trying to make a map, and the borders of West Florida have perplexed me. This is what I've come up with:

1. When Spain owned it, it was simply Florida.
2. When Britain gained it, they split it into West Florida and East Florida; West Florida's borders were from the Mississippi to the Apalachicola, from the Gulf to 32'28 North.
3. When the Spanish gained it, question: Did they keep the British division of West and East?
4. With the Treaty of San Lorenzo, West Florida's northern boundary shank to 31 North.

However, the Republic of West Florida, and the subsequent US annexation of West Florida, only mention a region west of the Perdido. Likewise, we have several maps in the article, and both the Perdido and the Apalachicola are cited as borders. So, question: Is this simply a confusion in borders, or did the border between W and E Florida shift westward at some point? I'd really like to know this. Further confusing things - when Florida Territory was organized in 1822, articles I've seen say that it combined East Florida and part of West Florida, meaning that West Florida still extended to the Apalachicola. (the Perdido is the modern western boundary of Florida; if West Florida only went to the Perdido, then it could not be part of Florida Territory. The remainder of West Florida went to Mississippi and Orleans Territories).

Please help make sense of this. --Golbez 03:35, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Our Florida Territory article has a link to the 1822 law organizing the territory, if that helps. --Cam 04:51, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, but it doesn't mention the borders, except that Florida Territory included part of East Florida, which means that it DID extend to the Apalachicola. I think.

Another source I've found [11] say the western half (which another site specifies as west of the Pearl; i.e. modern Louisiana) was occupied by the US in 1810, and the "remainder" was occupied in 1813 - but another site I read said that he US annexation only went as far east as the Perdido (modern Alabama and Mississippi) - I have yet to find a conclusive source that says the US annexed up to the Apalachicola (i.e. all of West Florida) before the Floridas were formally ceded by Spain. Sigh. Yes, it matters. :( --Golbez 05:25, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

• The short answer is that the area was poorly surveyed, populated mainly by Natives who had no interest in being part of a European nation, and defined slightly differently in different treaties and documents.--M@rēino 21:45, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Half-lotus in yoga?

Hi, I'm a minor contributor to the Bangasayusang article. It's about a sitting statue with one leg on one knee, a half-lotus position, if you like. Is there a proper name for such a position in yoga? --KJ 04:48, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The short answer is no, because it is not a yoga position. It's the usual way a lot of people sit in India. But the lotus posture is padmasana, (padma = lotus; asana = posture) so I guess a half lotus posture would be padmadrasana.--Shantavira 12:52, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

archery

I am considering entering a philatelic display/competition relating the connection of English surnames which originated in the 1300's and 1400's to the advent and resounding success of archery through the development of the longbow. I can relate to Bowman, Bowyer, Boyer as makers of bows. Fletcher as a maker of arrows. Arrowsmith probably as a forger of arrowheads. Are there any others and is there a reference work or website I can access. It appears New Scientist has a webpage but it is presently out of commission.

Don't forget "Archer" :) Adam Bishop 05:57, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

smit/smyth/smith= black smith jones=puts shoes on horeses Baldrick-a diagonal belt across the chest used to hold a quiver.Butt-a straw target used in archery.Longbow and Strongbow exist as names.I think Vambrace is the leather guard on the inside of your arm and I've seen that as a name somewhere too.hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 10:03, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

Hmm. Jones is usually "son of John". Here's some which sound like they should relate to archery but don't (so you can cross them off the list!): Bowen (son of Owen), Bowness (rounded headland), Bowden (curved hill). "Baldrick" usually comes from the German for "bold ruler", although it's true that it was also the name of the belt mentioned above. Don't be confused by the surname Nock, either - it means "by the oak". However, Flower is a surname which can mean arrow-maker (although it can also refer to the plants and to flour-milling). Grutness...wha? 11:05, 6 June 2006 (UTC) (and his copy of "The Penguin Book of english Surnames")

"Fletcher" is also someone who makes arrows.

Proper English Word

What is the proper english word for that drops which come from penis when we involve in love with some one? Note: (not semen)

pre-ejaculate? aka Cowper's fluid?

sperm or ejaculate

No, that comes later (no pun intended). It's wot 'e said above - pre-ejaculate, or in plain language "pre-cum". JackofOz 13:53, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Although, even pre-ejaculate can have some semen in it, though very small doses. Dismas|^(talk) 13:58, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Of course, if you're into water sports, urine may be a correct answer as well. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 16:04, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Why wouldn't the proper English word be "semen"?--Proficient 08:36, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

He said "not semen", so he is talking about some other fluid that comes from the penis. The only 2 other possibilities are pre-ejaculate and urine. Urine can be, but is not generally, associated with love-making. Pre-ejaculate is. JackofOz 04:08, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Lubricant. --hydnjo talk 02:30, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Mexico-US Situation

Umm...interesting question above mine lol. But anyways, considering the whole Mexico-US immmigration issue, I pondered a situation. Let's say an American rancher down in Texas owns land that borders Mexico. If he wanted to, could he sell the land to the Mexican government or are there laws prohibiting this? Now what if that's alright, and Mexico decides to change the border, as this land is now "rightfully" theirs. Would this be legit? I know the US would probably nuke Acapulco but I was just wondering how the scenario would play out. 05:47, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

There's a big difference between property rights and sovereignty. It's quite possible that Mexico could buy some parcel of land in the U.S., to own it as any other property owner would own it, but it certainly could not aquire sovereignty from some rancher, who didn't have it in the first place.--Pharos 05:55, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree with Pharos with a slight modification. Mexico won't have soveringty on any land it buys in foreign countries, unless that land was made into a Mexican consulate or embassy. If it was oficially recognised by the U.S.A. as an Embassy then it would in effect be Mexican territory governed by Mexica laws & under mexican soveringty. That said there is no way the U.S.A. would recognise land along the Texas-Mexican border as a Mexican embassy. AllanHainey 08:28, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

However, government-to-government sales of soveriegnity do have precedents. Historically, the United States purchased soveriegnity to land in the Louisiana Purchase, and the purchase of Alaska off the Russians. So, theoretically, the US government could arrange to transfer soveriegnity over that piece of land and receive fees in return, but a private citizen can't.

One other interesting concept here is the idea of self-determination. But at what level does that operate? At the level of one family's ranch, almost certainly not. But when? --Robert Merkel 15:13, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Private citizens do not possess the authority to cede U.S. territory to another country; only the U.S. government can cede its own territory. --DavidGC 05:33, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Switching workdays.

I work a 4 day workweek 10 hours a day adding up to 40. There is a coworker at my workplace who is switching days this week with another coworker. Can anyone tell me what some probable reasons could be for doing that?

Even you cannot believe you asked this question. Because they want to go to a funeral. because they've decided that wednesdays in bed for the next year would be a good thing (tm). Um. And 1,000,001 other possible reasons. --Tagishsimon (talk)

I don't suppose you've tried asking them...? — QuantumEleven 07:54, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

We've got a guy who wants a schedule like that so he can take off every Wednesday to visit yard sales. Maybe that's it?

The better question is why have a yard sale on a Wednesday?? That's the type of thing you have on weekends! Dismas|^(talk) 13:53, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The most obvious reason is that the person is going to have an all-day Wikiparty. But, don't you have anything better to do than try and figure out water cooler riddles? I mean, seriously. (Tag: nice touch. XD) Cernen Xanthine Katrena 17:17, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah might be right about that.

Personal reasons, perhaps? --Proficient 08:38, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Getting rid of cats

My neighbours cats have dug about in the growbags in my garden and killed some of my sweet pepper, Jalepeno pepper & tomato plants so I need to know any methods there are to keep cats out of my garden. I don't want to loose any more plants to them. I've tried rubbing a bit of rotten orange around my plants as I've heard this works but I'm not optimistic as I'd tried last year scattering grated orange peel about the garden & this didn't work. My only other thought is aversion therapy, that is hitting them with a catapult when they're in my garden, but that'll only work when I'm at home & could cause hassle with the neighbours (& isn't too nice anyway) so any other solutions would be gratefully appreciated. AllanHainey 08:23, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Two words: super soaker. Unlike a catapult, it only injures the cat's pride, and the decent models have excellent range. Your neighbours would have every right to complain if their cat came back with bruises or even an eye missing, but giving it a good soak should be perfectly reasonable.

As you say, that only works when you're at home, and I don't have any personal experience of orange peel tricks. Googling for "keeping cats out of the garden" or similar phrases turns up more suggestions than you can shake a paw at, though - this link alone has plenty to be getting on with, and there are also several commercial repellents available. The most reliable cat repellent, of course, is a dog or a more tenacious cat. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 10:02, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

A wire cage made of chicken wire will protect them while they're small and they can grow through the gaps which still protects the roots.Also I make a nice little litter corner in my garden which I clean up regularly,it's no worse than weeding ,and my cats and others use that 'cos it's nicer.hotclaws**==(81.136.163.210 10:07, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

I believe in some pet or pest stores you can buy anti-feline spray which deters the cats because of the strong aroma.--Andeh 10:46, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

• Buying a good fence should stop the cats from getting in in the first place, avoiding the need for slingshots and supersoakers. - 131.211.210.16 12:02, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
  • Umm, yup. 'cos cats can't climb, right? --Tagishsimon (talk)
  • I concur. Most cats can get over most reasonable garden fences. To keep them out, you'd have to be using barbed wire tops, no holes (so regular inspections), mesh sunk deep into the ground, overhangs, clearance of trees and poles in the vicinity, etc. Skittle 12:11, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

You can get automatic electronic deterrents, for example here. You can also get automatic detectors that will squirt the critters with water, but I can't find a link at the moment. One way to protect a flat board fence is to slit a length of plastic drainpipe lengthwise and press it along the top of the fence. Cats cannot can a grip on it.--Shantavira 12:46, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Knowing my cat, I can't see that drainpipe-fence trick working for long. She'd get it off, or leap far enough to get a grip on the other side, or find something to jump off, or sneak round another way... You should see the devices we use to keep her in the kitchen at night. Skittle 15:33, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

This is diabolical! [12]--Zeizmic 13:57, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, anyone else find it kinda odd that they received more feedback about deer than any other animal? GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 16:03, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Bleh, shoot the bastards. If not them then near them. And, failing that, Zeismic's solution seems to be the winner this time. And GeeJo, it's Texas. Just be thankful they didn't receive feedback on people... Cernen Xanthine Katrena 17:03, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Have you tried Anti-freeze? Mayor Westfall 20:16, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

• DON'T use barbed wire, or your neighbors will complain about bleeding kitties. Instead, just get a wire cage or bendable wire to cover the tops, too. If the wire is spacious enough, plenty of sunlight will get through for your plants, but cats (and rats, deer, and whatever else) can't get in.--M@rēino 21:49, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, I wasn't going to use barbed wire & I can't put in any new fencing/wire mesh or anything like that as it's not really feasible for the garden (wouldn't work either as there's a field at the back & the cats get back & forth through there easily). I don't think I'll bother with the scarecrow though I'll check out the stuff suggested on the other link & posts. AllanHainey 12:57, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't know if it would work for cats, but I read a few years ago about an ingenious way to keep dogs out of gardens, and that's by laying chicken wire on the ground, because they hate walking on it.--Anchoress 17:55, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

BEAT IT WITH A SHOVEL LOL.. but seriosly, i didnt take the time to read this articly, but if you sprinky hot pepper aorund your plants it deters them from wanting ot dig up your garden

My neighbour's cat also keeps cr*pping on my flower beds. I found that hanging shiny CD-Roms off the fence scares the cheeky b*stard and also keeps the birds away (ideal when seeding the lawn). Cheers, --E Asterion ^{u talking to me?} 20:16, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Don't scare away the cats. They don't like it. Ceiling cat 20:18, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

When my dad was stationed at Fort Sill we had a neighbor whose cat kept wondering into our yard. Our solution was to set up a cat trap and turn the animal over to animal control. Animal control then charged the guy for all the shots the cat had to get, fined him for not having a leash, and informed him that the animal could not be returned to his residents until he could conclusivly prove that the cat belong to him. After two weeks he got the cat back, but from that point he made good and sure to keep it out of our yard ;) TomStar81 00:24, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Measuring returns in ROI---61.95.184.98

hai,

Thanks for spending your time reading this and helping me. Im doing a project in the Return on Investment (ROI) analysis for a retailer. The problem is, i need to measure the returns(or benefits) which may be obtained from investing in the furthur improving of the retail store. Im not supposed to disclose any more information.

What is need to know is, how to measure the returns(benefits) without any prior data knowledge, ie, before the actual investment is made. I have to collect the data regarding what are the factors which can be taken into consideration for formulating the basics for quantifying the benefits.

I know what I have written above is quite difficult to understand. Not much of you will find this interesting, nonetheless im in desperate need. I cant collect much data by Googling…

I would be much happier if you can provide me with some hard facts and data, material, links,… anything which may help me…

Thanks again for helping me…hoping to see a reply soon.

Siva.----61.95.184.98 09:03, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

What you should be looking for is a good corporate finance/Project finance textbook. I assume that, since you are employed to do a feasibility project, you must have some background in this field/access to such materials.

From the very limited information that you have provided, your analysis will involve making "reasonable" guess-timates of improved sales (directly caused by the investment), increased cost of goods sold, increased indirect expenditure (labour, rentals) using all of which you would be constructing a hypothetic P&L statement.

The key point will be comparison. In doing a rigorous analysis, you would be considering comparable investments in other products/similar companies (the use of which you should be able to justify). One cannot suggest how that could be done, without knowing what exactly is the improvement. You might also be forecasting probable scenarios (favourable or unfavourable - anything from product going out of fashion to earthquakes, Tsunamis, Godzilla attacks, your competitior going bust, if you wish to be thorough) and assign probability to each and calculate the net expected values for all the above parameters. Good luck :) Chancemill 09:22, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

IQ

How can we increase our IQ? Thanks.

Theoretically, by reducing your age ;) Chancemill 09:27, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

google iq test. bear in mind that i scored 3 different scores on 3 seperate occasions. To increase your score, eat well and healthy for a few days, get enough sleep, and eat something sweet right before. dont drink or smoke either. this will seriously increase your score, and keep it secret.193.115.175.247 09:32, 6 June 2006 (UTC)Anton

IQ is a relative score - that is, the 'average' (mean) IQ score is theoretically 100, those with above average intelligence should get more than 100 and those with below average should get less. Therefore, one way to increase your IQ score is to kill people who are cleverer than you, thus bringing down the average.

The problem with this strategy is that given the number of people in the world, you will probably get caught and sent to prison or executed before you bring down the world's average intelligence enough to raise your IQ by even a single point. Corpses are generally agreed to have an IQ of zero, while prison is not a good environment for the brain, due to lack of mental stimulation and the possibility of getting your head bashed in frequently by your fellow inmates. Therefore I would recommend 193's suggestions, and only attempt the lowering strategy once you have become intelligent enough to figure out how to commit the perfect murder on a regular basis. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 09:45, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

• I fail to see why one would want to increase their IQ. It's only an avarage as the test that determined it. - 131.211.210.16 12:00, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Well sam blanning, interesting theory there, i think it has been tried though, by a strange little man called hitler, had some success, but if your iq is 0, kill all you like, it aint gonna help further more, different countries have different iq statistics, eg the average iq of areas. Also, below 95 is below average, and over 110 is above average, however if you score about 120, (it think)then you qualify as a genius, in which case whatch out for those slimy MENSA types.193.115.175.247 13:53, 6 June 2006 (UTC)Anton

Actually, I don't think 0 on the scale has any particular meaning, so yeah, if you were so mentally handicapped that you scored a 0, but you somehow manage to kill everyone on Earth smarter than you, then you could raise your IQ up to 100 (or even more if there were people stupider than you, or if you counted monkeys or something). This whole conversation is getting pretty silly, though... —Keenan Pepper 14:24, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

So that's what Hitler was trying to do. If only we'd realised earlier, we could have avoided so much tragedy. If you're scoring 120 in most normalised IQ tests, you have done a bit better than the average score. 'Genius' level (or 'very much higher than the average' to be more accurate) is usually closer to 145/150. Average is supposed to be about 95-105, but most 'fun' tests average higher, probably because the users prefer to score higher. And yes, IQ is meant to average 100 in any given population, so move to a country full of stupid people and take it there. Skittle 15:29, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I find my IQ goes up when I stop drinking. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:44, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

According to WHOIS the original poster is from Malaysia, one of those countries that does all the world's real work nowadays while the inhabitants of the so-called 'first world' rot in jobs with 'Compliance' or 'Risk' or 'Health and Safety' in the title. So if I have my stereotypes lined up correctly, moving to the United States or England will be very effective in following Skittle's idea. I recommend moving to Norfolk, which will increase most people's IQ by at least 20 points. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 10:15, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

move to england, average iq is 85-90, and speaking to the average man-in-the-street, yup, they are pretty thick.

The man on the street may well be but how about The man on the Clapham omnibus? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:27, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Is that the average of people, or the average of people who have taken the test?.... Philc _T^E_C^I 17:04, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

A night out in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire would make you feel as the most intelligent guy on Earth. Alright Duck?  ;-)--E Asterion ^{u talking to me?} 20:12, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

the secret of englands greatness by rev john brown

we have this bible and we want infomation on this bile E.G. who was the family who owned the bible at the start thank you ( now we r the owners of it )

I think we'll find it a little difficult to identify the original owner of a single copy of a book. If it helps, there is in the National Portrait Gallery,a huge painting by Thomas Jones entitled "The Bible: The Secret of England's Greatness." In it Queen Victoria is shown presenting a Bible to an African. The setting is the audience chamber of Windsor Castle. I guess this might have something to do with your book. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Nice, both links go to disambiguation pages, well done. Philc _T^E_C^I 19:15, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Rather than the mean sarcasm directed at someone who was trying their best, you could have helped.

• • Thomas Dow Jones (1811–1881), artist apparently doesn't have a specific article
  • National Portrait Gallery (United Kingdom) might be what they meant, by the context

Hope that made anything that was unclear, clear. Skittle 13:51, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

666

Will the world end today? Should I take any precautions?

Yes, its all over at 18:23pm, so pack your bags and dress for warm weather as we all heading to a lake of fire, further more, before you go, sleep with every one you can, or wank profuslly. idiot.

Why would it? Months, Days and Years are just a point in time invented by humans, it has no real value.-aihewohyop45u

---

It will end in the traditional fashion, as it has done every century since the gregorian calendar was launched, at 13 o' clock (a rare treat, especially for the chosen). This will be terribly exciting for those of us who live in the world, and we wish you the best of luck wherever you may be. Skittle 15:23, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

What time zone are we talking about here? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:41, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Time zone! $UTC+{\sqrt {(}}-1)$ obviously! Philc _T^E_C^I 17:09, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Precautions: "I always thought we should put a paper bag over our heads" / "Yes, if you like." / "Will that help?" / "No.". DJ Clayworth 15:42, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Follow up questions. Will there be a wind and if so "Will the wind be so mighty, as to lay low the mountains of the earth?" CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:09, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I really don't think you people are taking this seriously enough. You should all be prepared. Luckily I still have an emergengy supply of canned food in my basement leftover from Y2K.

The world will only end today if you're a George Noory listener. What you REALLY need to be worried about is the 2038 problem. 12.72.246.151 16:45, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for fixing my broken link, whoever you are. I'll give you a plusbox or buy you a beer in two years. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 17:13, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

2038, huh? Lessee... you know who was born around 4AD and was crucified in his mid thirties, and reputedly will come back after a multiple of 1000 years. Must've been from his ascension date, not his birth date. The milleniarists were off by a handful of years. Grutness...wha? 09:32, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Lol. Very nice theory. – b_jonas 18:47, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

STOP PRESS It was a mock drill.. and most of you were found to be severely underprepared. There is anyway a severe shortage of living accomodation in Purgatory and Hell, so the next tentative date to end the world has been set to July 7, 2007 (it took a long time to persuade the beast to change his number, though). Start saying your prayers, people! We have enough problems already. (Official communication from Pearly Gates, signed Peter) Chancemill 04:00, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Jehovah's Witnesses used to predict that the world would end in 1975 according to their calculations.Well,that fell a bit flat didn't it?(hotclaws**== 00:25, 8 June 2006 (UTC))

Dun dun duunnnnnn... Cernen Xanthine Katrena

All is safe and the world did not end that day. --Proficient 08:40, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Duplicate photos on Wikipedia and Commons

I'm trying to link to a file in the Commons, but apparently there is a file with the identical filename on Wikipedia that is coming up in my article instead. How can I tell Wikipedia to use the Commons photo instead?--Nmajdan 14:59, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Well you could copy the Commons file to your computer and then upload it to Wikipedia under a slightly different name. Or you could explain the problem to the person that uploaded the picture to Wikipedia and ask if they don't mind having it moved to Image:name_1.jpg (or something like that) and then fix all the pages that link to it. I would go with the second one. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:57, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I thought there was a way to do this, something like Commons:Image:Klein-Venedig in Bamberg.jpg? But that only creates a link. Rmhermen 15:03, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

great schims/western schism

the afore mentioned article is dreadful, more of a shopping list than an encyclopedia article. could some one with knowlege help us to increase our own. Thanks Again

The reference desk isn't the place to highlight poor articles. You might wish to add templates to the article to draw attention to it, though. Have a look at Wikipedia:Templates (particularly the Cleanup section) and find appropriate templates. Simply edit the article and include the template tag at the top.  -- Run!  16:11, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

volenteers

due to the overwelming amount of questions on drugs eg marajuana and magik mushrooms, and the sarcastic, yet amusing way in which questions are answered here, i was wondering how many people answering questions either use narcotics, or chat online in chat forums.

I have definitely done at least one of those activities. DJ Clayworth 15:40, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm almost certain that there's a good degree of overlap between the two groups. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 15:56, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I have never chatted in an online forum I have too much respect for my mind and body. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:00, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

We used to have a guy who did everything, but I think he's dead now. --Zeizmic 16:04, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Naw, I'm just lazy. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:56, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Shamans use narcotics to answer questions. --DLL 20:36, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Just to be a little pedantic, marijhuana and majic mushrooms aren't infact narcotics as the questioner seems to be implying. AllanHainey 07:24, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm innocent officer!(hotclaws**== 00:27, 8 June 2006 (UTC))

I have chatted on online forums, but do not do so much any longer. --Proficient 08:42, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Looking for a simple graphic of a face

I'm creating a non-commercial booklet on anti-acne facial cleansing practices, and I want to include a diagram to show how to wash the face and apply masks in a way that will minimise wrinkles and exfoliate. I want to find a really simple line drawing of a face (no shading, depth etc, just really really simple) that I can add arrows to in draw or whatever and include in my booklet. I'm only going to be distributing it free to about 6 people, so licensing isn't an issue. Anyone have any ideas where I could find one on the net? --Anchoress 15:49, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

What about this one? You might have to edit it to get rid of those inexplicable red lines but that's about all I could find in a google image search.  -- Run!  16:06, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Hey I think that will work, thanks! May I ask what you searched on to get the pic?--Anchoress 21:26, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Google image search, using the terms "face outline" ;)  -- Run!  08:51, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Cool, didn't think of that. Thanks a bunch, it worked out great!--Anchoress 10:32, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

HIV AIDS

hi I asked an HIV AIDS related questions before few days. I got most of the information which i asked for. However i left with one question, which is unanswered from the information i get from you. Once again i am looking for the information:- so far(from 1981) how many people died in Sub Sahara Africa due to HIV AIDS?

This MSNBC article has a graph of AIDS-related deaths from 1985-on, specifically highlighting Sub-Sharan Africa. Pre-1985 deaths are insignificant relative to the present total, so that should be fine for an estimate. — Lomn Talk 18:21, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Colds

To those of us wikipedians who smoke, I ask the following: When you first started, did you end up with cold-like symptoms (running nose/sinus pressure, trouble popping ears, sneezing)? Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:58, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Those of us who don't wonder why you'd keep doing it if it was as lovely as that... Skittle 18:49, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

No, really. Why did you keep going if it made you feel so bad? Skittle 13:47, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The way you talk about, first started, sounds like you chose to start smoking, a very poor choice indeed, from every perspective. All of the people that I know that smoke, got addicted before they knew just from sharing and things with freinds, and build up from there. It's terrible if you chose to smoke, when you had the option not to. Philc _T^E_C^I 19:12, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The press has been touting some science that shows the first cigarette softens up the receptors for many years, and makes it more likely to get addicted later. --Zeizmic 20:35, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

It's commonly reported that some people experience cold-like symptoms when quitting smoking, as the lungs work to flush out impurities. (Googling "quitting smoking" "cold-like symptoms" will get you some relevant hits, so this might be one way to start your search.) It's logical that cold-like symptoms would also arise for some people when beginning smoking, as one might reasonably expect the lungs to behave in the same way at the beginning. I had less luck finding confirmation of this, though, but it does make sense.

And good grief. When did the Reference Desk become such a bloody soapbox? I love how everyone here just babbles on about whatever axe they have to grind while avoiding offering any help by actually answering the question -- something that happens increasingly frequently here. This place is here to guide people in the right direction for them to find an answer to their question, not give advice on life or play the role of a parent. -DavidGC 05:54, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

:::Thank you for aiding and not judging me. I appreciate it. (You know who you are.) 12.72.245.156 10:33, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Oh my god!!! the blatant hippocracy of that very statemeant is dumbfounding. It angers me. Philc _T^E_C^I 23:15, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

I never said I wasn't a hypocrite. I just said I don't want to stop smoking, and made you look like the bad guy in the process. Apologies. Doctors say I have a LRTI (lower resp. tract infection), gave me some pills and told me to bugger off, so it turns out, it's a natural thing. Though, to clear up any confusion, I started to spite my mother, but I rarely smoke. In fact...I don't smoke all that often at all. It probably has something to do with all the bupropion I'm taking for depression. Who knows. Anyway, apologies for pissing y'all off. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 08:09, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Request for information about a list of U.S. Army TOEs

Dear Sir,

I am a non-US citizen civilian interested in the subject of military organization and, to that efect, I have been analizing information about the Tables of Organization and Equipment of the diferent United States Army units.

There are good a number of TOEs published in the web, both in military and non-military webs, among the later in www.fas.org and www.globalsecurity.org. Nonetheless, I haven’t been able to find many other TOEs because, as a special note in those pages informs, their list “includes only combat and direct related major support units”, and does not include “numerous headquarters, maintenance ans other support units which are normally attached to or associated with the listed combat units”.

Althoug TOEs (or at least almost all of them) are nor “restricted” information, I do not know of a web site (or publication source) where all of them are available. Could you informe me of any I could have overlloked?

As a (very) second best, it could be useful to have access to a list of allt TOEs (including the respective TOE number and unit title).

Yours most sincerely,

(Mr) Jorge Navarrete M. Chilean citizen

E-mail addresses: removed to prevent spam

And the hair growing on the toes is digital era. --DLL 20:34, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

weird episode previews in Japanese anime

I was just wondering if there was a special name for the "weird" episode previews at the end of episodes in some Japanse anime. I would also like to know why exactly they do that? Or is it just weird translation?

They show images and give comments, usually just short sentences. They are very emotional (sometimes weird compared to the tone of the series) and aren't very specific.

Here is an example of the subtitles during such a preview. Spoilers ahead!

Well "spoilers" : at the end of episode 5 of Elfen lied : Anxiety and relief. Suffering and gentleness. Uncessant overflowing of mixed feelings. A contradiction in quality, only one thing can have that meaning, Comprising of past memories that are... washed by the pouring rain. Memories that before long, will be quietly washed away.

at the end of the first Kenshin ova, about the second part :

Blue spirit flowers disperse. Blood waves billow. A shadow sighs behind the paper door. Memories of those holding hands, an illusion.

Evilbu 18:36, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't know if there's a special name for it but I do know exactly what you're talking about. And no, it's not a mistranslation. As for why they do it ... it's just for something different. Also, this way avoids spoilers ... as it's sufficiently vague to not spoil any of the events of the upcoming episode while still informing you about it. I don't watch previews on American TV because they give away half of the damn upcoming episode. --Cyde↔Weys 20:27, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks,I guess it's a cultural thing. I have become so used to Western films and series... Watching anime is nice, you learn little differences in culture (like sleeping on the floor). Well about the spoilers, they do show images which spoil a little bit. Still I find it weird, when you watch Elfen lied, it can end spectacularly, an ending song...and then ..so weird, so poetic, it seems like it doesn't fit the tone? Evilbu 20:37, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Without knowing the exact number of syllables in the original Japanese preview it is a little hard to say for sure, but the English translation has the feel of traditional Japanese poetry. See Haiku and Waka for more information on two forms of Japanese poetry (although the translation seems a little long for a haiku poem). In the case of the Kenshin OVA at least, traditional poetry was probably used in order to add to the veiwer's sense that the story was taking place in the Edo period. Why it was used for Elfen lied, I cannot say without watching the show for myself. Road Wizard 20:59, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Taking a closer look at the translation above, the original Japanese may have been a Tanka (variant of Waka).

Blue spirit flowers disperse, (5)

Blood waves billow, (7)

A shadow sighs behind the paper door. (5)

Memories of those holding hands, (7)

An illusion. (7)

However, as I said before, it is impossible to say for certain without knowing the original Japanese text. Road Wizard 21:08, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

How to link to an image without the image appearing.

How do I link to an image without the image actually appearing?

The example in question is on the Nelson's_Column#Other_monuments_to_Nelson page, where I want to include a link to the picture of one of the other Nelson monuments (and there is no article).

1. I tried the following, but it just gives a giant picture.

* In the [[Bull Ring, Birmingham]], [[England]], there is a Grade II* [[listed building|listed]] bronze '''[[image:Nelson_Statue_in_Birmingham.jpg|statue of Nelson]]''' by [[Richard Westmacott]], dating from [[1809]].

2. I tried removing "image" from the link, but it just pushes me into an edit of a non-existant page 3. I tried searching the help under "links" but I couldn't find it there (maybe Help needs a link in the "Links" section to the detail.

Thanks!

Try putting a colon in front of image. Image:FieldHouse Fountain.jpg or Field House Image.--Nmajdan 18:48, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

That's the general method for getting a plain link instead of a magic one. For example, [[es:Página en español]] puts a link to the Spanish Wikipedia in the navigation box, but [[:es:Página en español]], with a colon, inserts a plain link into the text. BTW, questions like this should go on Wikipedia:Help desk, not the reference desk. —Keenan Pepper 18:59, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedias 1st article

What was the 1st article on Wikipedia?

Wikipedia came from Nupedia, which already had may articles. However, you may find this page interesting; the oldest page, which I think is what you mean by "1st article". This is the oldest known edit, I believe. You may want to read History of Wikipedia for more information. СПУТНИК^{CCC P} 20:02, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

You may also want to read the entry in the May 2006 archive for First Ever Article. Road Wizard 20:12, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks

I just wanted to say thanks to all of the contributers here. The people here are really knowledgable and have help satiate my intellectual curosity on different occasions. Mayor Westfall 20:18, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

We may make an exception for multiple posts, for thank-you's. --Zeizmic 20:31, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, I wanted to thank the guys on Science & Math Ref desks as well.Mayor Westfall 20:48, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

a message written in math/english

I have found a math code of more than 60 patterns that form symbols, starting in english, but written in math. I was wondering if anybody has any idea how it could have got there. The math code is at http://inthemath.com but the question is:

one tWo tHree fOur five six Seven Eight Nine Ten

As I understand it languages grew sought of haphazardly, but someone would have had to be skilled in math to get it there.

My first instinct would be to answer the question with:

oNe twO three fOur five six seveN Eight nine ten

Given the way language has evolved, it is highly unlikely that someone was able to "place" a code into our numerical system. Just one mispronunciation or misspelling at any point in the last thousand years could have thrown any code straight out the window. It is far more likely that the creator of the named web page spent many hours creating a theory to justify the code rather than identifying a theory and finding the code as is the proper scientific method. Road Wizard 22:02, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Road wizard, that would be your first instinct, the second should be to look. Did you see the site? It's free. Try and move the math around, like you moved the letters. And if you noticed, I did not pick letters to suit myself, those words are there.

Those words are there on the web page. But as I said, it is likely that the theory was made to suit the answer. If your question is "Can we prove that this person's theory is incorrect?" Then the answer is likely to be "no", as that would involve original research. However, by the same measure we cannot state that the theory is genuine and proven. In the absence of any proof I tried to help the editor who left the question by giving the answer that the code is probably a result of coincidence. If you are asking us some other question, then please state it. Thank you. Road Wizard 22:50, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

You answered the question. If there is a code there,the evolution of the language would not account for it. So either I put it there, or it is a coincidende. What other option is there?

Properly read capitals tell this : Who sent ? No one!, but the second lettering comes from nowhere. I checked the link and they say also : What is that saying? "Math don't lie." You can make every text, every book (try the Bible) tell what you expect. --DLL 19:36, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure I understand what the significance of all of this is supposed to be, but it looks like numerological digit summing to me. I find it very unlikely that it is of great significance that one can form English words out of a few arbitrarily chosen letters from the English words for the first ten numbers. --Fastfission 21:13, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

How do you trace a contributers ip address if...

They are unregistered and it doesn't appear. For example, just an unregistered user name. Thanks!

A contributor's IP address cannot be seen when a username is used (unless you are one of the very select few with CheckUser). If a contributor is unregistered, the IP address may be found in a page's history, and traced through a whois search. — TheKMan^talk 21:44, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Name of a game?

I remember playing a board game in which you start off w/ a few pieces, and would either be able to place a new piece in a square adjacent to one of you pieces, or you could jump a space. Any of your opponent's pieces that were adjacent to the new/jumped piece would be turned into your pieces. The main goal is to either completely annihilate your opponents army or trap them so they wouldn't be able to jump over your pieces. On neopets I believe this game is called Armada. Does anyone know the actual name of this game?

It sounds like the ancient board game Go, or perhaps a variant of it. Road Wizard 22:10, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Correction, it is probably more likely to be Reversi. Road Wizard 22:13, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

It's neither Go or Reversi, in Reversi for a piece to change, it must be surrounded on both ends. In the game I'm talking about, a piece changes if its adjacent to recently placed/jumped piece.

Is this played on a square grid, or a hexagonal grid? If it's on a square grid, it's based on Ataxx. If it's on a hex grid, it's based on Hexxagon. --Serie 00:24, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Othello?(hotclaws**== 00:30, 8 June 2006 (UTC))

Ansonia Magenta clock

Has anyone ever come across an Ansonia Magenta 8-day clock? I've just put mine in to have the springs replaced, and I have never managed to find an internet reference to the model, even on eBay! G N Frykman 22:26, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

June 7

What are the Army ranks?

What are the army ranks form lowest to highest? So for example I know the first is private. Please include both enlisted and officer ranks.

Which army? There are a couple of hundred distinct ones around the world. On the default position that anybody who doesn't think to put a country in a country-specific question is from the United States, here's a link to United States Army. This article has an complete list of rankings. --Robert Merkel 01:31, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

And here I would be tempted to answer with the ranks for the Luxembourg army. :-) StuRat 02:15, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Questions like these make me propose to set the default on Luxemburg for real! Then maybe, just maybe, the problem might disappear.

Or...the poster just meant ALL ranks in ALL armies.Evilbu 13:45, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Try Category:Military ranks by country for all your ranking needs. Rmhermen 14:40, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

But that doesn't list the ranks for the Luxembourg army ! :-) StuRat 20:01, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Luxembourg has an army? I'm sure the ranks have altered over the years: did you just want the most recent lists? EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 20:45, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, we do have a list for Luxemburg - see Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers from the category mentioned. Rmhermen 20:51, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Ok: private 3rd- first class, specialist, corperal, several grades of sergeant, Warrant officer, chief warrant officere, second lt, first lt, captain, major, lt col, col, brig gen, major general, lt general, general, General of the Army (this rank was used in World war II and has since fallen into disuse), General of the Armies, this is a special rank only George Washington (postimously) and General pershing have ever held this rank.

Le Mans 1955 disaster Mercedes-Benz press release

after Mercedes-Benz called the cars back to Stuttgart, they issued a press release. is there a copy on the internet? on anywhere i could find one?

For the benefit of others, the accident you're referring to is the one that killed Pierre Levegh and dozens of spectators.

I'm fairly certain you won't find a copy of that press release on the internet, but I expect the company archives would have it. Try contacting Mercedes-Benz in your country and asking. --Robert Merkel 01:38, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Matilda

Does anyone know the artist and the title of the song that does the theme song for Matilda? --71.98.6.115 01:09, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Is it not one of the songs listed on the IMDb page for the movie: click here? Dismas|^(talk) 03:30, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

It's Rusted Root. Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 18:08, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Western New York Boundaries

Hi! I was wondering which Counties and Cities are considered to be within the Western New York region. Technically, anyone living east of a specific region would be considered living western but which cities are actually considered withing WYN. Specifically, is Randolph, New York considered to be in Western New York?

Thank you, Steve Andolina

Randolph is in Cattaraugus County, New York; I'd say that's definitely western New York. --Golbez 03:17, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Internet Image

What was the first image to be put on the internet? I thought I saw an article about it on here awhile ago.

The article is First image on the Web. There is also something about the matter on Ask MetaFilter. –Mysid^(t) 04:31, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Woof. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 10:43, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

X2

I seem to remember (perhaps from the DVD?) something about comic backstories being produced to go with the movie. I am particularly intrested in the one for Nightcrawler (ein flockiger Damon! *squee*), and would like to know whether or not I imagined these, what the titles are, and whether or not it would be physically possible to find them (like whether or not someone has actually seen them existing somewhere). Thanks in advance! 172.165.117.66 04:31, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

"Of particular interest in this section was a detailed look at one of the promotional comic books that was released prior to the theatrical release of ’X2’, and which contained the complete back-story of Nightcrawler’s character (i.e. the events leading up to Nightcrawler’s attack on the White House). Chuck also provides us with some details about Nightcrawler’s anatomy that probably belongs in the “too-much-information” basket!!!"

Found at [13]. It indicates that the information is found on Disk 2 in 1.The History of the X-men ii)Nightcrawler Reborn. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information on them, so maybe you should try rewatching this. Skittle 18:31, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Male 'aim' interference

This is a question that has been preying on my mind all day. I'll put it as delicately as I can. Usually, when a person of the male gender urinates, he will begin by pointing his appendage towards the toilet, and yet sometimes when the urine emerges, it flies off into a completely different direction (at a very strange angle) and goes on the floor of the bathroom, thus embarrassing himself and infuriating his girlfriend. The strangely-directioned stream lasts barely a second before the piss rights itself, thus following the path originally intended by said male. Why does this happen? What could possibly cause a well aimed stream to fly outward at an angle totally out of sync with its proposed direction? Is it too late to claim that a friend asked me to ask on their behalf? Phileas 05:30, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Dried semen blocking the stream, sometimes. Oh dear, and now I have to sign with my real name. Adam Bishop 05:32, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Don't be ashamed, Mister Bishop! Thanks, that never occurred to me! It makes sense, definitely. Phileas 05:41, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

For a start, perhaps it would be better if his girlfriend didn't stand right next to the toilet. If the gentleman is intact(i.e. uncircumsised), the foreskin can get folded across the outlet and be somewhat stuck down. This will be a bit like putting your finger over the end of a water tap when it's running. Once it gets wet it becomes unstuck and things are back to normal. Pulling the foreskin back a bit to release it before urinating will prevent this. --Shantavira 08:04, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

You could always sit down, if it distresses you (or your girlfriend) to have a urine-soak bathroom. It takes only seconds longer, maybe not even that if you normally have to lift the seat. Skittle 09:01, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

As seen at the in-laws: "If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie." --Zeizmic 12:02, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Or at work: "Our AIM: a clean toilet. Your AIM: helps." sandman

There must be more! We aim to please. You aim too, please. --Zeizmic 22:56, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

On a (slightly) related note - a sign seen in a local pub toilet reads "We don't piss in your lungs, so please don't smoke in our toilets". --Kurt Shaped Box 23:00, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Got a nice chuckle from reading those little sayings. Anyway, to answer your question. The problem is that the urethral opening is sometimes not "straight". Sometimes one side is stuck out a bit more than the other. (Or one side is curled in a bit.) So when the stream starts out, it deflects off the side that is sticking out more, and most likely goes in the other direction. Once the stream starts up good, it widens the opening, causing things to straighten out.

Does bono like bush?

Does Bono like Presiden Bush?

• Well, according to the article you linked to, Bono gave Bush "an iPod and a book, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson valued in total US$440." I personally wouldn't give such lavish gifts to someone who wasn't one of my friends... but then again I'm not as rich as Bono. I think the only way you could answer that question would be by asking Bono directly, but even then his answer would likely be swayed by whether he was currently campaigning for more US investment in Africa. Road Wizard 06:26, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

• I think if Bono gives someone a book which purports to re-explain to him his religion, that's not actually a sign of high respect. ;-) --Fastfission 13:35, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

How to title Flood article

How would I title an article about a specific flood. Would it be 2005 Example River Flood or something else? If it is the example I gave, would "flood" be capitalized, since it does seem to be proper there? Thanks, Chuck 07:44, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Also, what if the flood concerned a few close quartered rivers, how would an article be titled then (each river probably doesn't need it's own articles, but rather just a section). Thanks again, Chuck 07:53, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

It might be best if you ask your question again over at Wikipedia:Help desk, as they are more geared up for helping you with questions about editing. :) Road Wizard 08:03, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, Chuck 08:05, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia Growth

According to this graph, the number of articles in the english wikipedia was growing rapidly until February of 2006. At the time, new articles seems to drop off completely, with almost no new articles being created.

Is this graph accurate, or is there some sort of artifact that explains the oddity in the graph. If the graph is correct, what explains the sudden drop-off in new articles?? -Alecmconroy 10:19, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

There are no stats for EN after February, IIRC. Something to do with the xml files being to big, or somesuch. I forgot where I came across that gem, but you'll note that all the stats at http://stats.wikimedia.org/EN/Sitemap.htm such as http://stats.wikimedia.org/EN/TablesArticlesTotal.htm have a certain blankness in the EN column from Feb 06. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Can we assume the same exponential growth continues then? Philc _T^E_C^I 21:01, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

By & large yes we can. If it runs in some proportion with pageviews, reference to Alexa internet stats is helpful - there might be some flattening of growth. --Tagishsimon (talk)

I would think it's safe to assume exponential growth indefinitely. (If the growth rate is greater than the worldwide population growth rate, then obviously the hard limit is the number of people * 16 (since everyone sleeps or is otherwise unavailable for Wikipedia for about a third of the day) * ~4, since it's not really possible to average more than 4 noteworthy new articles per hour for any length of time unless you're a script. A more reasonable metric is that there should be a hard limit of number of new articles that holds significantly close to the number of news stories appearing per hour on Google News, which indexes all major news sources.).

Is large file size why the edit count tools by Kate and Interiot (the original version, anyway) don't give accurate counts anymore?--Tachikoma 12:50, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Recording phone conversation

I have a lead with a normal headphone male connector (Ipod style) at each end, and a phone that accepts it. How do I record via a computer? I want both kinds of the conversation.--anon

Plug some headphones into the phone and see if it plays both sides of the conversation. If so, get a 3.5 mm jack cable and plug the phone into your computer. You don't mention what computer or OS you're using, but Audacity should work on whatever it is and be able to record what you want. --Canley 15:37, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I've just actually found that the 'phone doesn't take a 3.5mm Jack, it takes a different one that looks a bit like a broadband cable plug. ANy way of getting round this without buying anything? Thanks--84.51.149.80 16:09, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I presume you mean a RJ-11 jack? If so, you're probably out of luck - in theory, you could remove the audio plug from the wire (which I presume is a 3.5mm one?) and rewire it to an RJ-11 plug. However, I have no idea which cable should go where, although the links at the bottom of the RJ-11 article may offer further help. — QuantumEleven 08:16, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

post codes

The system of post codes in the UK is very precise. One post code can, I think, apply to no more than a few houses in a street. It is therefore possible to write just [house number] [post code] on an envelope and the letter will be delivered to the correct address. This is very different from most other countries, where a four- or five-digit post (zip) code covering a much wider area is the norm. (Canada may be similar to the UK.) Why is the UK system so different? In other words, why did the British feel the need for such a precise system when few other countries did? I checked postal code and UK postcodes and there is plenty of detail there, but nothing to answer my specific question. --Richardrj 12:46, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm, that's an interesting question. I always hate it when people who actually know nothing about a topic answer *my* questions lol, but I'm going to break my own rule and speculate. First, Canada has a fairly similar system to the UK; the difference is we have way more physical space and about half as many people. :-) I've actually received letters with just my name and postal code. :-) But I think the important thing about your question isn't why the UK is different, but rather why *other* countries chose to be *different* from the UK. Or to put it another way, who was first? I predict that the historical competition between Britain and the US was a reason why the codes developed differently; either the US chose the numeric system to be different from the UK or vice-versa. Canada probably adopted the UK system because of being a former colony, and other nations probably imitated either the UK or the US depending on their political sympathies (notice France also uses the 5 digit system). Or perhaps the US chose to imitate the French system? In summary, I think that in order to understand how the postal code differences played out, it's necessary to understand the political climate during the eras when the codes were developed in each country.--Anchoress 13:04, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

(After Edit conflict)

I don't know for sure but I'd guess general thoroughness, efficiency & attention to detail. Hard to believe of the Royal Mail I know but it was back when we had the best postal system in the world. AllanHainey 13:09, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

By the way there are a lot of examples of post being delivered without a house number or postcode just something like "Tony, House with the green door, Kiddeminster", etc. But that's down to the skills of individual postmen & post offices. AllanHainey 13:09, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

My personal view is actually that the British system is too precise. If other countries get by on a simpler system then we should be able to as well. I'd be interested to see some stats on the relative proportions of mail going astray under the different systems - although this would be subject to many other variables as well, of course. --Richardrj 13:19, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

As to the history, it appears from our articles that the U.S. system was developed before French or the UK systems (but started implementation after the UK). Rmhermen 14:27, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

One reason the UK system is so precise is that it was invented at a time when not only was manual labour becoming more expensive, but the technology then existed to enable mail to be electronically encoded and automatically sorted down to that level. However, the ability to sort mail electronically extends only as far as the sorting office. The individual delivering the letter is unlikely to have memorized all the local postcodes and probably won't even look at them. He still needs to tally the street name with the street they are walking down, so although in theory you could get away with putting just a name or number and a postcode, this won't work in practice. At 11 Park Road, I regularly get mail for 11 Park Hill, even though they have a different postcode.--Shantavira 14:36, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

In theory, the United States system currently allows for a unique code for every addres, see ZIP Code and Delivery point. AFAIK, the full 11 digit code is never written out in numerals, but it printed on envelopes using the POSTNET bar-code. This is a system that has evolved over time, however, it don't think it was in the original ZIP specification. --LarryMac 14:47, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

The US system has a five digit system (the classic ZIP code) where each number represents around 10,000 addresses. There's also the nine-digit ZIP+4 system where each number supposedly represents a single address; in practice, allocation mistakes means it's sometimes a group of addresses. Finally, there's the Postal Service-internal bar code system where each code represents a single address. --Serie 20:13, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

theology

What are some of the emplyment opertunities available if one were to study theology. I do not want to be a priest, monk, nunn, minister. So outside of the obvious?

Professor. Rmhermen 14:28, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Religion editor of a newspaper or magazine.--Anchoress 14:31, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Barista--Anchoress 14:42, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Librarian or archivist in some religious institution? Or a specialist or researcher in a museum? --Shantavira 14:46, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Or how about a career where the subject you studied isn't that important? You're going to learn essay writing and critical thinking, so I would imagine that a number of writing-based careers are available. You'll probably find some additional training is needed though. DJ Clayworth 15:36, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Shepherd. Jon513 18:25, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

God ? --DLL 19:24, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Flipping burgers at McDonalds. --Serie 20:15, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

God, well since i am gods gift to woman, and am a god already is so, so many ways, i will probably end up flippin burgers, but will do it to obtain Karma, and free food.

Naming your country might help. – b_jonas 18:34, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

uk. Thanks dude.

Civil service? Skittle 13:44, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

civil service? please elaborate, this sounds very interesting, would this refer to military type work? thank you.

The British Civil Service covers a lot of different jobs, and I believe they have a fast-track system for people who have recently graduated. I was thinking along the lines of civil servants who advice politicians and make decisions, but there are other areas. There's also the security services, informally called MI5 and MI6, plus GCHQ. I'll have a look for the site(s) for you, as it has a lot of info. Basically, you can do a lot of things with a decent degree. You don't need to find something specific for it, as many companies and areas just look for a degree to show that you can learn. Skittle 17:16, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

MI5. Civil Service Fast Stream. Skittle 17:21, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• Race relations? As long as your theology course is not looking at just one religion's viewpoint, you should get a very useful feel for the views of different ethnic groups. A broad knowledge of the different religions accompanied with the skills in debating you will likely develop should probably put you in good stead for any role where liaison between communities is necessary. Road Wizard 20:30, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The Archbishop of Canterbury is chosen not by some internal church process as one might expect, but by the British Prime Minister. It could be said that the spiritual head of the Anglican Church is therefore a Civil Service post. JackofOz 09:46, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Select Few With CheckUser

How do you trace a contributers ip address if...

They are unregistered and it doesn't appear. For example, just an unregistered user name. Thanks!

A contributor's IP address cannot be seen when a username is used (unless you are one of the very select few with CheckUser). If a contributor is unregistered, the IP address may be found in a page's history, and traced through a whois search. — TheKMantalk 21:44, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

There are no "unregistered user names". There are user names, which can be checked with checkuser, and ip addresses, already visible. Any unsigned edits (which is perhaps the thrust of your question) show the responsible user/IP, as appropriate, in page history. — Lomn Talk 15:26, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

How would I get one of these select few to check this for me? 20 dollar handshake? Thoughts?

There's a reason why checkuser rights are limited to a select few. I believe that you would have to make a convincing case of some sort of abuse, such as the use of sockpuppets or threats, in order to get a registered contributor's IP address. --Tachikoma 15:38, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser is the place to go but you will need a valid reason and not just on a fishing trip and you will not be give the IP address of a registerd user. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:42, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

And how would one do this on their own wiki? --Optichan 18:59, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

General Sound/video file Converter

In the past few months someone suggested (at least twice) a converter for sound and/or video files called something like "media encoder" (I'm only sure about the media part) to people who needed something converted, but now I forgot the link and I can't find it in the archives. Can someone remind me of the program and its location? - Mgm|^(talk) 18:10, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

There are hundreds of formats (digital file type specifications) for audio and video, and dozens of programs to "convert" from format to format. Some formats can be decoded and re-encoded into the destination format, while others actually have to be played and simultaneously recorded and encoded by the converter program.

Sound formats range from MIDI (like a GIF is to images; best for sustained frequencies and not much level of deatail) to MP3 (the PNG of sound) which is very well-compressed and is good for all types of sound.

Video formats are more varied, and range from Windows AVI (completely uncompressed; enormous filesize) to WMV (windows's video format). Video formats, like audio, can typically be encoded at different framerates and resolutions, and with different video compression codecs (DivX, XviD).

You can get more specific help by providing the file extension of the media you're trying to convert (if the extension is AVI, give the compression codec if possible).

--Froth 20:45, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Or you can just run it through mencoder: with the right codecs installed, it can handle anything under the sun. --Serie 21:33, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

• The converter I had in mind could pretty much convert any of the major formats (at least that's what the user who posted it claimed). I'll give MPlayer a go. - Mgm|^(talk) 21:58, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Auto vs. general aviation fatality rates

Looking for info on whether it is safer to fly a private plane (obviously with a good pilot) or drive. In particular, i would like to know the fatality rates for driving under 100 miles vs. flying a four seater for the same distance.

Road casualty figures vary greatly between countries and also within a country on different classifications of road. Which country's figures are you interested in? Road Wizard 18:40, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

For such a short trip, I would expect driving to be safer. Small planes are more dangerous than large jets, typically due to less redundancy and pilot training, and, since take-offs and landings are the most dangerous parts of a flight, short flights are more dangerous, per mile, than long flights. Of course, if we're talking about driving a Yugo, then all bets are off. :-) StuRat 19:30, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

How far do you have to drive to get to and from the airport at each end, and how much of that driving can you avoid just be driving directly? TenOfAllTrades(talk) 19:55, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

True enough. I used to fly from Detroit to Toronto for business, on a regular basis. Since the drive took four hours and the actual flight took only 40 mins, I thought I was saving time. However, when I added up the hour to drive to the Detroit airport, the hour to drive from the Toronto airport, the time to check in and go through security, the time to rent or return a rental car, and the extra time I needed to arrive early at the airport "just in case", it was actually taking me longer than 4 hours total to fly. Since then I've been driving. StuRat 13:52, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Bust size by nationailty?

Can anyone shed any information on the average bust size (breasts) by nationality or rather ethnicity? KingstonJr 18:42, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm... interesting question. I think the problem with your criteria is over- and under-nourishment. When people of any ethnicity migrate to Western countries (well, the US and Canada mainly), they tend to get bigger. So Chinese women are likely to have smaller breasts than Chinese-Americans, black African women smaller than African-American, etc. Never mind the general quality of Westerners being over-fed, while other ethnic groups may on average be less well-fed, or even undernourished. Unless women with similar body fat percentages are compared, it's hard to tell whether a particular ethnicity tends to have larger busts. And then there's the implant issue. Do you mean natural breasts only?--Anchoress 18:54, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

You also might need to define "size" more precisely. Volume might have mainly to do with body weight, which would be higher in wealthy nations, while length can be a result of stretched breasts from lack of bras and breast-feeding multiple children. This would be more common in poor countries. And, as the previous responder asked, are we including women who have been "blessed by the silicone fairy" ? :-) StuRat 20:06, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Certainly there are studies of this on the web if you look hard enough. --Proficient 08:46, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I have looked hard enough on the Internet, and I have to say that for some reason Polish women seem to be well blessed in this regard. Or maybe they just advertise better.

User Page Formatting

I'm not very good at formatting Wikipedia, so if someone could help me, that would be great. At the bottom of my user page is the 'Where I've Been' section, which is just below my user boxes. I used a level 1 heading for 'Where I've Been,' but it was located to the right of my last userbox instead of below it. I pressed 'enter' about 8 times, so it looks better, but doesn't seem right. Just link to my user page and click 'edit'. Thanks! Reywas92 19:00, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Try {{clear}}, {{clearleft}}, or {{clearright}}? If that doesn't work, perhaps another template at Category:Wikipedia special effects templates will help. Jon513 19:05, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

None of that worked for me, perhaps you could take a look at it. Reywas92 13:28, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Try this : put 'Where I've been' before your too many userboxes sexion. --DLL 22:22, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• I have placed the {{clear}} template just in front of the affected section and it appears to have fixed your problem. Road Wizard 20:53, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

field of view in video games

I was wondering.. what's the traditional angle of vision in first-person video games, specifically shooters? Were there any noticably deviant games?

Metroid Prime and Halo seemed to have a lower field of view than other games, and in Unreal Tournament you could practically see next to you.

I'm guessing about 90 or 100 degrees?

--Froth 19:13, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Wouldn't that signifigantly reduce the comfort of the gamer, and perhaps even cause him to sweat? XM 20:43, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

The viewing isn't actually taking place in a field. --Froth 21:28, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

According to Half-Life 2 controversies and criticisms, Half-Life 2 "defaults to 75 degrees instead of the more commonly used 90 degrees." It caused some problems, apparently. Sum0 22:23, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Quake-engine games defaulted to 90 (the console command is "fov 90") but many consider fov 120 to be more "natural". I personally enjoyed doing fov 180 so I could watch everywhere when defending the flag. ;) --Golbez 00:36, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

I've tried playing halo with a 300 degree FOV (theres an fov hack) for that very purpose, but it was way too hard :D --Froth 05:43, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Golf majors

Something I always wanted to know - why does the world of golf allow the Americans to host three out of four majors? It is a global sport like tennis, and tennis is shared amongst different countries, so why not golf? Who makes/made this decision, and whose decision is it to continually allow this? Sandman

Tradition? The U.S. has a lot of open space and a lot of golf courses? A lot of golfers are American? On a per capita basis, the United States has seven times as many courses as Europe. Europe is catching up, but it's not surprising that the U.S. is still king when it comes to golf. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 20:20, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

In my opionion, the USA can host as many as they like, if other countries want to host a tournament, no one is stopping them, i quess America is just more of a golfing nation than most others.Anton 14:26, 9 June 2006 (UTC)Anton

Humor

What's funny? XM 20:45, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Humor is funny, if you'll forgive the truism (read the article for a start..) --Froth 21:27, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

White people with phoney Jamaican accents are always funny. --81.76.118.221 22:27, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I thought we'd got over this phase? -Benbread 10:01, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

It's also usually funny when people are caught on CCTV licking toilet seats or sniffing the chair seats of female co-workers. --81.76.118.221 22:29, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

See Inherently funny word. Dismas|^(talk) 01:34, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Many things are funny.--Proficient 08:48, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

relatives

are ray romano and christy carlson romano related?

"Common Misconception: Christy is NOT related in any way to Ray Romano." [14] -LambaJan 04:03, 13 June 2006 (UTC) Ray Rommano is married, so no!

The best African country?

I realise that this is a difficult question to answer, but are there any countries in Africa that do not have excessive corruption in government? What are the well run countries in Africa?

People actually study this, and there's a published Corruption Perceptions Index, which we of course have an article on (and maps!). The best run country in Africa, according to this study (and other, more anecdotal evidence I've heard) is Botswana. Trailing it are Tunisia, South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius. --ByeByeBaby 22:35, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I concur with the Botswana comment. I had an econ prof who did a semester there, and he talked to use about their econ policies. Basically, the government has adopted the spend-thriftly and save-wisely mentality that most farmers there practice. As a result, the country is in extremely good fiscal shape. Raul654 22:41, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

(As an aside, Botswana still has its share of troubles despite its decent management: "Approximately one in three Batswana has HIV, giving Botswana the second highest HIV infection rate in the world after Swaziland". — Matt Crypto 23:05, 7 June 2006 (UTC))

Yes Botswana has the strongest economy in Africa. I hear from people who have worked with Botswana government that you do not step out of line there, they play hardball. And they reward contractors very well. BTW I live in South Africa and my personal perecption is one of higher corruption - just follow the Jacob Zuma case as an example. sandman

This is a very interesting question. When it comes to peace (no rebels) and stability I would have said Botswana and Tanzania are the best? And I also would have said South Africa is the richest country (although even if that is true, one still does not speak of how wealth is distributed among the South African population). Evilbu 12:23, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Viva Africa, Viva Botswana Viva

Also Botswana has Precious Ramotswe keeping the country in order! -- SGBailey 15:57, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

But also all the land is publicly owned, and so farmers take no care for it, so soil erosion is becoming a major problem and unless they do something all of the farmland will be infertile and there subsitence farming population may starve. Philc _T^E_C^I 13:26, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

having been born in Botswana, and concerning the previous answer, there is soil erosion, but the rest of that answer is utter fucking rubish! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk • contribs)

Yes as I was born in britain, therefore I am also an economic expert on the countries agriculture industry, and physical geographical concerns it has. Philc _T^E_C^I 20:33, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Anyway the point is overgrazing of the land by subsistences farmers who do not own it is destoying the farm land and soil erosion is become a major issue especially as it supports about 30% of the population. Philc _T^E_C^I 20:42, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Looking for a news story from a few years ago - man shot in the head six times and survived.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I think it was a failed contract killing. I remember reading about it on the web a couple of years ago. There was an execerpt from the police report which went something like "Mr X. approached Mr. Y's car, knocked on the window, drew a gun and fired six shots into Mr. Y's head at point blank range. At this point, Mr Y. opened the car door, pushed Mr X. to the ground and ran away to seek help". Anyone have any more details about the incident I'm talking about? If I remember correctly, the victim made a full recovery. --81.76.118.221 22:26, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't know anything about the attack, but I'm not surprised the victim survived. A .22 caliber pistol round fired from a short-barreled gun doesn't hit that hard, and some parts of the skull are quite thick. Add in the (very slight) protection from firing through a window, and the victim is likely to end up with nothing worse than six very bloody scalp wounds (scalp wounds always are) and a headache. --Serie 23:32, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

This is almost certainly not what you are thinking of, but: notorious terrorist Abu Nidal died in Iraq in 2002 under controversial circumstances. Saddam Hussein's police forces closed in to arrest him, and claimed he committed suicide before they could take him into custody. The problem with their story is that he died of multiple (as many as 6) gunshot wounds to the head. Raul654 23:37, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Tragically accidentally brutally stabbed himself in the stomach while shaving? Skittle 08:49, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Several people survived getting shot multiple times. See Martin Foley, some guy and a cat. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:24, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Identifying the incident would be easier if you could provide some info on what country it occurred in. AllanHainey 08:44, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Kurt Cobain, shop twice. 50cent, shot numerous times.

And the bullets still try to find a neuron. --DLL 22:09, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Is this it?--Anchoress 22:49, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Or this? (Although I'm not 100% sure this one's real).--Anchoress 22:51, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

And here is another one (PDF file, 'Lynne Vines').--Anchoress 22:53, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Surgery and drugs

What kind of surgery might of someone had done if they are currently taking Hydromorphone?

V.Painful surgery, or surgery on something v.painful, by the looks of it. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Would this be taken after an abortion?

• I don't have any personal experience, but I doubt an abortion (a legal one) would be physically painful enough to warrant this kind of medication. (Quick note: It's might have, not might of) - Mgm|^(talk) 08:47, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

You can't deduce type of surgery or procedure from the choice of analgesic. These practices vary widely around the world for all sorts of reasons. Anyone who thinks he can answer this has no idea what he is talking about. And for the questioner, if you are not intimate enough with the patient to ask, the answer is none of your business. alteripse 10:53, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Hear hear, good answer.--Anchoress 11:02, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Legality of copying music to portable devices in the UK

Is it really the case that in the UK "currently anyone transferring music to portable devices breaks copyright laws"[15]? What about the rest of the world? (I've looked up Ripping#Legal_status, so far). (P.S. I'll assume that you're not a lawyer ;-) — Matt Crypto 22:43, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

It's currently illegal in Australia ("format shifting" as it's called in the UK and Australia), but the government announced recently that they were considering changing these laws [16]. --Canley 03:05, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

I believe it is illegal in the UK, as far as I know it is still illegal to tape songs off the radio (seriously doubt anyone's ever been charged though). AllanHainey 08:46, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Alan Greenspan

How is it that Alan Greenspan makes $150,000 per speech? Are there any other speakers who make so much? JianLi 23:13, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

How? Supply and demand - i.e. there are organizations willing to pay this much. Others? Yes. Bill Clinton. Colin Powell. Lance Armstrong. John Cleese. Jack Welch. [17]. -- Rick Block (talk) 00:32, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Half remembered anime I'm trying to track down

Recently, some memories of an anime series I watched years back, when I was younger and even more foolish, have resurfaced, and I'm trying to track it down. The features I'm fairly certain are accurate are:

• the main hero had the power to transform into a armoured-man type thing, for more effectiveness in combat. The hero may have been named 'Spike' or 'Balde', though that could be Cowboy Bebop clouding my mind.
• it was set approximately in the 21st-23rd centuries, and was post-apocalyptic of some sort.
• there was an orbital ring around the equator, and it was falling apart. The first episode is set there, as that is where the hero meets the rest of the 'good' characters.
• some other members of the 'good' party could also turn into an armoured-man.
• at some point later in the series, just turning into an armoured man isn't good enough, and to save the world the hero must undergo some sort of transformation to make him more powerful, but it means his body will disintegrate under the strain within 24 hours. Or something like that.

I think it was on Cartoon Network, but I've looked through the list of CN programs and couldn't find anything that looked like this. I also checked our lists of 'notable' anime, and, you guessed it, zilch. Googling is difficult because I don't have any concrete terms. Thanks to all you anime-lover-types in advance, --Sam Pointon 23:35, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like Tekkaman Blade (alternatively called Teknoman) Road Wizard 23:53, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, that's it. Many thanks --Sam Pointon 00:13, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

June 8

Rock

Hi there,

Recently, I visited urbandictionary.com and when I was looking at the defintion of Goth chick, they were showing a picture of a goth chick kissing a punk chick. Can anyone tell me the difference between a goth and a punk?

Thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:{{{1}}}|{{{1}}}]] ([[User talk:{{{1}}}|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/{{{1}}}|contribs]]) .

Try looking in goth and punk. -Goldom (t) (Review) 02:36, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Goths are generally depressed, stay indoors, come out at night, hat the world and dress in black, most importantly, they listen tio goth rock music such as Type O Negative, Sisters of mercy, ect. A Punk is a rebel, they hate organizations such as government, and anything that is pretty and nice. more importantly they listen to Punk music such as Offspring, Sexpistols. Sorry to steriotype people so, but it had to be done in the context of the question. And listen to more Slayer! Black metal will rule the world! Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir.

The main difference is that goth chicks are gorgeous while punk chicks are ugly :) --Richardrj 09:26, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

that was so well put, richardrj, goth women are beautiful what with the dark hair, and the pale skin and green eyes and the oh my god(simpsons?)

Iraqi Civ Casualties

Hello,

I'm doing research on the war, and I was wondering if anyone could point me to a reference that gives the statistics to Iraqi civilian casualties as a result of a) Insurgency, b) Criminal, c) Genocide related, d) & other general murders due to related type of injustice BEFORE the US invasion in 2003. Particularly in the city of Baghdad, as a response to May's record-setting 1300 or so deaths in the capital. I'm basically just trying to see on a very superficial level the before and afters of the war. Also, if anyone has a detailed account of general social development in Iraq (or just Baghdad) as a result of US or coalition intervention (increase in technology, international trade, medical availability, civil liberties, education, housing, etc.)

Thanks --Lt Aurum 02:50, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

You may or may not have seen the Lancet study?[18]--inks^T 04:46, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Note that the study, while well done, only goes back 14 months before the war. During this period Iraq was on it's "best behaviour" to try to circumvent the invasion. Thus, the study excludes most of the deaths caused by Saddam, such as the Kurdish genocide, the crackdown against the Shia uprising, the Kuwait invasion, and the Iran-Iraq war. Altogether these actions costed millions of lives. StuRat 21:10, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Perfect, that's just what I needed for what the mortality stats. Thorough and well-referenced. Thank you very much. Still looking for the development arguments. Thanks in advance.

--Lt Aurum 05:56, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• You might want to read the articles Casualties of the conflict in Iraq since 2003, Suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003 and Reconstruction of Iraq. If the articles themselves are not what you are after then they each provide a list of refernces they are based on. A word of caution though on the casualty figures is that no set of figures have ever been agreed by all parties. Supporters of the war (including governments of the coalition forces) generally give the lowest estimated casualty figures whilst those who opposed the war generally quote the highest. If I remember correctly, the figures in the Lancet study linked above (estimating 100,000 deaths) were not accepted by the UK, USA and the interim Iraqi government. Not surprisingly, their support went to the UN commisioned study that only identified 24,000 war related deaths. Road Wizard 06:44, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

IIRC it (aforementioned Lancet study) was also fast-tracked through peer review and just happened to be released a few days before voting during the last US Presidential elections. I'm sure I was not the only person who was a little suspicious about the timing. I'm not on campus at the moment so I can't use WebOfKnowledge to see if its been cited by other publications seeking to validate its findings (or vice versa), but I wouldn't be surprised to find a few in addition to the one Road Wizard mentioned. Regardless, it's certainly an interesting read, and I would be hard pressed to improve on their methodology.--inks^T 07:58, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Except, as I noted above, that the study seemed to exclude the periods during which Saddam did the majority of the killings. StuRat 13:56, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Copy Cat (sick) Site

I was searching on the net (as I usually do) and I came accross something that you guys (Wiki Admins/Whoever) might want to look at... http://articles.ogrish.com/index.php/Main_Page

That's a copy page or wikopedia, if you go into the categorys it looks exactly like Wikipedia (except its all gory) if someone could send me a reply to my talk page and here that'd be great, I dont know if you guys have copyright laws regarding this or something.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Luke Smith64 (talk • contribs) 03:04, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

What makes you think it's copying Wikipedia? The pages I looked at aren't copies of Wikipedia pages. It runs on the same software as Wikipedia, but that's fine, because we make our software open source and free for use.-gadfium 04:14, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Do you not frown upon the use of your software for sinister purposes? Does it not bother you that the same instruments you use for the purpose of good is being recreated as a mere joke from a site like www.orgish.com ?

The MediaWiki software package is open-source and free-to-use. Since it's relased under GNU General Public License, no one can really force anyone to stop using it. — TheKMan^talk 04:38, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

What's sinister about it? Some of the stuff that I read was actually well written. Granted, the topics are most likely distasteful to most people but who are we to judge? Dismas|^(talk) 05:36, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Lots of sites use the mediawiki software; even I have a local installation of it. --Froth 05:41, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

And lots of sites copy Wikipedia content. This is encouraged. See Wikipedia:Mirrors and forks. --Shantavira 07:59, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

So that means Uncyclopedia, which uses the exact same layout, isn't in trouble for copying the Wikipedia software either?? Evilbu 10:25, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

It's a lot better than wikitruth. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:21, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

It's not "copying wikipedia's layout", it's just using the same software. And anyway, I believe uncyclopedia is one of the officially recognized under-cylopedias of mediawiki. You can download the software here. You need a mysql and php server to run it though. --Froth 04:13, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, who here isn't running PHP and MySQL servers? :) Also don't forget that you need to be running a web server as well. Apache is recommended. --Optichan 18:50, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Firfox Problem

I can't log into Wikipedia with Firfox because I keep getting "Login error: Wikipedia uses cookies to log in users. You have cookies disabled. Please enable them and try again." I checked at "Tools\Options\Privacy\Cookies" and the "Allow sites to set Cookies" is checked and when I look at the cookies there is a Wikipeda one there. I can log in with Maxthon and when I copy and paste an address from it to Firefox it shows all the usual "CambridgeBayWeather my Talk page Preferences Check my Watchlist My Contributions Log out" across the top. But as soon as I click on any link on the page and not just the top ones I am logged out again. I used it 2 days ago with no problems and there have been no updates and nobody else using the computer. I tried clearing the cookies but that didn't help. Anybody have any ideas why it's doing this? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 03:22, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Do you use any of the Sister projects (e.g. Wikisource)? I had a similar problem occur to me and I solved it by allowing the other projects I am involved with to set permanent cookies. It might also be caused by a firewall if you have it set to block 3rd party cookies. Hope this helps. Road Wizard 07:06, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

I have an account at the Commons but I haven't used Firefox to log in there and the firewall has been up for months. Thanks though. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 11:01, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Huh! Fixed now and I didn't do anything. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:14, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Photocopying using hp psc 1315 all-in-one

I have a printer - "hp psc 1315 all-in-one." One of its many functions is to photocopy A4 and letter page size. However when it is set at 100% and I try to photocopy a page of size A4, anything beyond the letter page size (namely the bottom 2 cms. of the page) will not be photocopied. Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong and how I can correct this. Thank you.

You need to change the page size. It defaults to US Letter, rather annoyingly for the rest of the world. The menu system will let you choose page size. On my psc 1210, it used to keep reverting to US Letter size every so often for no reason I could fathom, but doesn't seem to have done so in the last year.-gadfium 09:49, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you gadfium. Can you please explain to me how to use the menu system to make this change. Thank you.

My model is different, so my menu is likely to be different to yours. However, what I do is press a button labelled "Copy options" - your one may be called something else - and the LCD screen on the printer displays "Reduce/Enlarge". I press it again, and the LCD shows "Paper Type". Several more presses give me "Lighter/Darker", "Enhancements", and then "Paper Size". That's the one I want, so I press the button labelled Enter. The LCD then shows the current paper size "Letter" or "A4", and I use left and right arrow keys to choose which one I want, then press Enter again. I then keep pressing "Copy Options" until the LCD screen says "Set New Defaults". Press Enter, and the LCD will toggle between "Yes" and "No". Select Yes with the left or right arrows, then press Enter to save the changes you made.

Having typed all that, I went to see if I could find your manual online, and here it is:this. I could find no instructions in it for setting paper size, although on page 26 it says paper size is detected by the psc. You may have to ask in a forum dedicated to HP printers to get better help than I can give you. [19] may be a good place to start.-gadfium 20:10, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you gadfium. I appreciate the time and trouble you have taken to assist me. I will try and do as you suggest.

How can a female parrot lay eggs without a male?

My Sun Conure hen just laid an egg. I have no male bird (and it certainly wasn't me!), so how come she could lay the thing in the first place? She's been broody recently but I didn't know that an egg would come without being mated. --81.77.94.196 08:22, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

it's my understanding that eggs are laid regardless of whether they have been fertilized. for example, eggs you would buy at the store are unfertilized. Similarly, a woman normally goes through a full menstrual cycle even when not becoming pregnant, and this includes ovum leaving the body... Of course, when the ovum is fertilized, humans tend not to "lay" the egg, since "man, like all mammals, gives birth to live young." But the idea is the same. See egg. 87.97.11.143 08:41, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Some birds are able to change thier sex. eg chickens with no cock, may, somtimes, have one of them develop varios characteristics of a cock, progesivly until one day, it is a cock. wiki had a feature article on that a while back.

I have 8 chickens at home. They lay eggs at the rate of about 1/day. We don't have any roosters. And we have a lot of good french toast and pancakes.  :-) Dismas|^(talk) 10:09, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

I used to have a canary, and it was sold to me as a male, and then one Halloween my mom called me and told me that "he" had laid an egg! I thought it was a Halloween joke, but when i got home, it was a real egg. She ended up laying about half a dozen more eggs until we sold her. СПУТНИК^{CCC P} 13:01, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

looking for movie where cigarette is passed on and people confess stuff (hostages in bar?): possible spoilers

First of all I wanna thank everyone who answered previous questions.

However it would be convenient if there was a special place to ask questions about a particular ovie, now it gets bumped back and after a few days it is gone, and nobody will see it even if he knows it. A special place would be good for potential responsing and asking people. Or is there one already?

Anyway : I am looking for a movie (could be a tv series but I doubt it) where at one point a lot of people are sitting around a table (I think in a bar) and it appeared they were held hostage by one guy, in any case he seems to be the boss there. He is not really threatening them at that point, but forces them to tell things. They pass a cigarette around, everyone smokes, and when it burns up, and stuff falls off, that guy has to tell something. One guy started to admit he had impotence problems. Then the 'boss' orders a young woman (I think he called her Candy) to light another cigarette up, and this time a man has to speak up, and I think he has a suitcase of which he refuses to reveal the content.

What was this movie? Does anyone know the name? What was going on?

Thanks

Evilbu 10:24, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Canada's Maritime provinces

What is the general landscape of the Canadian Maritime provinces?What are the relative locations of the Canadian Maritime provinces?

Try Maritimes. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:42, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Oaths in a UK court

Can I have the text of the "tell the truth" oaths in a UK court, both the "almighty God" one and the affirmation. Thanks--Keycard ^(talk) 12:05, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmm. Looks like we need a Sworn testimony article, if anyone knows anything about it. Hang on. Skittle 13:16, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

According to [20] they are as follows:

The Oath - the terms of the oath are:

“I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.

The Affirmation - the terms of the affirmation are:

“I do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.

Skittle 13:21, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• A note of caution on the wording of the oath in England and Wales is that it can be modified based on the religious views of the witness:

I swear by [substitute Almighty God/Name of God (such as Allah) or the name of the holy scripture] that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. [21]

It is possible that the oath in Scotland (see comment below) may have similar permitted alterations. As yet I haven't found the wording of oaths or affirmations in Northern Ireland. Road Wizard 20:32, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• I think I am finding enough variations for a whole article here. This time a variation for use by witnesses under the age of 17, or for all witnesses if none of the accused are over 17.

I promise before Almighty God that the evidence which I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. [22]

The pertinent variation here being "promise" instead of "swear". Road Wizard 20:43, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

An interesting potential future development from [23] Judges at the Crown Court:

We are wholly in favour of replacing the current oaths for witnesses and jurors with a simple formula that can be used by everybody whatever their religious persuasion or lack of it. Its form must nevertheless be sufficiently solemn to drive home the necessity to abide the promise. This is particularly true in a criminal court where there should be no dilution of the undertaking.

We suggest a witness's oath as follows

"I will tell the truth and I understand that I am liable to prosecution for perjury if I state anything that I know to be false or do not believe to be true."

Jurors oath

"I solemnly undertake to try the defendant and to return a true verdict according to the directions of law that am given and to the evidence that I receive."

[LCD ref: 401]

Interesting that it suggests only telling the truth out of fear of prosecution, not because you 'promise'. More of an acknowledgment than an oath. Skittle 13:24, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• The historical reason for swearing an oath to God was so that people would be too afraid of divine retribution in the afterlife to say anything other than the truth. Making people tell the truth out of fear of prosecution isn't too much different. Road Wizard 18:34, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• There is a slight variation in the oath and affirmation of witnesses in Scotland;

Oath: I swear by Almighty God that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Affirmation: I solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I suspect that the ones provided by Skittle are the ones for courts in England and Wales. The Scottish variant makes no mention of evidence, but simply the truth. This was in the Act of Sederunt (Summary Cause Rules 2002. I have no idea whether the oath or oaths in Northern Ireland follow either of the above patterns, or if they have their own variant. Road Wizard 17:26, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, sorry. As with assuming someone who doesn't specify a country is American (US), it seems like someone who only specifies UK is English... My fault. Skittle 18:26, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Scotland allowed you to affirm rather than swear for quite a while - nineteenth century at least, I'm fairly sure. Shimgray | talk | 16:12, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

fear of women

I have had sex a number of times with numerous partners, but, not recently: When woman comes up to me and asks me for my phone number or starts touching me, telling me i am sexy ect, i feak. I either just cant think of anything to say, and i end up just running away, this does not help my sex life whatsoever. could some one please tell me how to over come this fear.

If you really don't think you can handle this yourself (by simply working with a female friend or friend of a friend) then you should see a psychiatrist - he or she is bound to be able to help you (I would recommend not going to see one that is attractive to you just in case). - Big O

This is not uncommon. You might it easier to focus on developing platonic friendships (with both sexes) for a while in order to build up your confidence. Check out the external links from our articles on shyness and love-shyness. Also I think a psychoanalyst would be of more help than a psychiatrist. --Shantavira 19:18, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Could it be a case of "better latent than never" ? That is, latent homosexuality may cause you to react with fear or disgust towards women. This is most likely if you live in an environment where homosexuality is considered taboo. StuRat 20:49, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I concur with StuRat. That is the most likely reason.

It's a valid idea but how can you say that latent homosexuality is "the most likely reason?" --Froth 03:03, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Hogwash. Homosexuality, latent or otherwise, is not equivalent to misogny or "gynophobia" or whatever. And it's a valid idea only in that it is an idea. --LarryMac 15:44, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

To clarify, it's not the homosexuality itself that may cause a fear or disgust of women, but rather the repression of homosexuality, or more precisely, the forced heterosexuality. For comparison, a heterosexual man may not feel any animosity towards other men, unless he was forced to have sexual relations with them, which might then make him fear or be disgusted by them. Or, for an even sicker comparison, you may not have a fear or disgust for sheep until forced to have sex with them (unless you like this type of thing). Note that the person may very well force themselves to engage in heterosexuality, out of fear of being labeled abnormal, but not without consequences. StuRat 22:23, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

ok, so i am not gay, i have nothing against gay people, i just really really love women, i find them fasinating and would rather spend time with any woman than any man. but i still have the above mentioned problem. any one?

Easy there people! Let's not unnecessarily freak out the young lad about his sexual orientation!

Yes, homosexuality is always a possibilty, and if that's indeed the case here, there are certainly far more appropriate ways of helping another to adjust his psyche to that reality than to have some RD editor conclude without even meeting the person, that "homosexuality is the most likely" explanation.

While there's nothing that should be considered wrong about having such an orientation, at the same time, I think it's fair to say, and I sincerely believe most homosexuals would agree, that having to adjust one's psyche to that reality is, in most instances at least, a rather difficult, if not traumatic psychological experience.

In any case, as a heterosexual, in my younger years I've experienced some of the very reactions described by the questioner. I can actually relate to a great deal of what he's describing.

Based on my experience, I'll give you my take on the situation. The "most likely" explanation to me, is that the questioner, who is likely a rather shy individual, perhaps due to the old "ugly duckling" syndrome, was, for a good period of adoloscence largely ignored and dismissed by his female peers, and was denied the opportunity to become comfortable with the female sex. Now that he's actually become quite physically attractive to his female peers, he has trouble adjusting to his new status as an attractive male, and is confused and frightened about how to react when faced with sexual advances by attractive women.

As was suggested earlier, a psychoanalyst is probably a good idea if this is causing a serious amount of distress. In the meanwhile, however, all I can say is: You lucky bastard! Enjoy it while it lasts and before you develop a gut like an old guy like me! Loomis51 03:41, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Not that I'm going back on my previous response in any way, I just feel I have to make one additional remark. Although most of the questioner's story seems very plausible to me, the one suspicious statement was the very first: "I have had sex a number of times with numerous partners". That one had me a bit puzzled. If that's indeed the case, why, with all your "experience" are you all of a sudden so shy around women? I suppose there can be many valid answers to that which again I can relate to. Perhaps you were "seduced" several times after loosening up with a bit of alcohol. That's possible. It's also possible though that the "I have had sex a number of times with numerous partners" statement was a bit of a white lie, which is ok too. Perhaps you're actually a virgin, but too shy to admit to it. Don't worry, that's perfectly ok too. Just relax, be yourself, and if you should have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask them here or even to me personally, on my userpage. I'm not always so caring, it's just that I can SO TOTALLY relate to what you're talking about as I went through an almost identical experience in my younger years. Good luck and relax, what you're going through, the way you describe it is very common and very natural. Loomis51 21:16, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

contacts

How would i contact Hotclaws, and what country is she in?

the usual means is to drop a note at eir talk page. — Lomn Talk 15:01, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• Unless someone chooses to divulge their location, you can't figure that out. Wikipedia values the privacy of its editors. - 131.211.210.10 07:40, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
  • Well, I can figure out your location. You're at a library somewhere in the Netherlands, or at least you were when you wrote the above comment. If you don't want people to be able to figure that sort of stuff out, you might consider registering an account. --Trovatore 21:22, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah drop me a line on talkpage and I'll get back to you(hotclaws**== 12:57, 9 June 2006 (UTC)) this applies to all my other fans too*bows modestly*

I think a more important question is: how does she type with two claws and no hands? perhaps it is the same way you type with boxing gloves on. Jon513 18:24, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Ford Bankruptcy

Is it true that GM once bailed Ford out of bankruptcy becuse GM thought the competion was good for business. If true what year did it happen?

Not true, see our article on Ford. — Lomn Talk 16:58, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

No, but Cadillac, a GM division, was formed from the Henry Ford Company when Ford left (He then founded the more successful Ford Motor Company.) Rmhermen 17:51, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

"Content function" on wiki

How do I set up one of those "Content"-functions on my edited pages? The ones that list the headlines in the text?

• Do you mean the table of contents at the top of the page? That appears automatically when you have created enough separate ==sections==. Road Wizard 17:33, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Though if you really want a table of contents NOW! then you could put the reserved word __FORCETOC__ at the top of the article. See Help:Magic words for a list of most of the reserved words. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Historical EPA path of action

Where do I find information on specifically how the EPA enacted requirements for automobiles to have catalytic converters in/around 1976? More specifically, also need to know how the "grandfather clause" applied to vehicles manufactured prior to these requirements?

Thank you, Pclukies 17:16, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• I am assuming EPA means United States Environmental Protection Agency. Is this correct? Road Wizard 17:48, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• I have a number of secondary works on the history of the EPA at home; I'll scan through their indexes later and see if there is anything on this particular issue. --Fastfission 18:26, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, EPA means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Thank you for your help.

upload homework

is there anywhere where i can upload my finished homework assignments so that other students can download it and use it? --anonymoUs

• Why would you want to do this? --Fastfission 18:28, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

To help fellow students so that it'll be easy for them to get free time instead of working all the time.

• Do this instead: graduate from school and then upload an image of your diploma. People can download it, substitute their name and print it out. Problem solved! No need to go to school at all and learn all that reedin' and ritin' and 'rithmetic. Weregerbil 18:38, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• • Why not just put a copy of your finished homework on the bulletin board at your school? --hydnjo talk 18:41, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Fictionpress.com or .net, don't know which.--Anchoress 18:50, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

If someone at your school copies one of your assignments, and the teacher finds out about it, both of you could be in trouble. StuRat 20:42, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Someone (try this site) should design an homeworkizer to slightly and randomly modify the original homework. So plenty of others could take time for interesting things like, editing WP:RD ... --DLL 21:58, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Why, if there is an efficient and reliable way of acquiring a qualification without doing the work, it just completely devalues the qualification, so your not earning anything, your just taking from those who earned it. Do people think!? its a bit like giving everyone a knighthood. You haven't changed the world so that everyone has done something outstanding and earned it, you've just devalued the ones that were earned. Philc _T^E_C^I 23:20, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

• "So you're not earning anything," Have you invested in a spelling qualification? - 131.211.210.10 07:37, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Apparently wikipedians are fiercely proud of their education and don't like the idea of people getting the same degree for less work.. --Froth 03:01, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• Nothing wrong with getting the same degree for less work. It's the no work that is the clincher for me. They're simply not being honest... - 131.211.210.10 07:37, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Alright you bunch of dickheads, I was making a point, and its a valid one, theres no point in having a qualification unless you earned it. I don't, I don't have any, not one single one, absolutely fuck all, but if I do get one, I will earn it, and you will give any tosser that didn't a mouthfull of shit, because thats what they are there for, to help see which people are best suited for which jobs in society, I dunno about you, but I don't bloody want to be on an aeroplane engineered by a bunch of bin men who downloaded their degrees. Philc _T^E_C^I 13:21, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Remember no personal attacks... 19:47, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I won't be giving my homework to other students at MY school--but instead to whoever wants to use it. I get high marks, and I want others to use it. It'd be like Wikipedia---free shared knowledge--I gain nothing from it, but others do. --anonymoUs

But if you post it on the web, how would you prevent others at your school from copying it ? Especially when you consider that those at your school are more likely to have the same assignments, and thus be able to benefit from copying your work, than other students from random schools. StuRat 14:04, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

You seem to have misunderstood the basic principle behind homework - it's not the result that's important in the long run, it's the process. You are not teaching the teacher anything - s/he already knows the answer to the assignment. You are doing homework so that you can develop you analysis, writing, scientific and other academic skills, so that, at a later point, when you are working on a problem where the answer is not known beforehand, you can apply these same skills to solve the problem. If you post your homework and let others copy it, they will not learn the necessary skills to later solve problems where the answer is not obvious, and will have to end up flipping burgers at McDonald's, because they won't be qualified for anything else (sorry, that was perhaps a bit harsh).

Also, I think it's unlikely that someone who has been copying others' homework for the entire year will do very well on the final exam. So you are harming them twiceover. It's the same reason we don't answer homework questions on the Reference Desk - we know that, in the long run, we would only hurt the person asking the question. — QuantumEleven 08:40, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

It's not advisable to upload homework assignments to a repository, because it lets others avoid doing the required academic work to understand the concepts, themes or skills the homework is meant to teach you. Academic plagiarism is also not something to be encouraged, as once you get to college level, it can end promising careers rapidly.

I'm however assuming good faith here, Rather than uploading copies of homework assignments directly, why not help develop learning content in the area concerned? Rather than providing a completed assignment, Why not try providing a list of questions that you would ask if you were teaching the class? Maybe there are things you would ask that the on the topic assignment didn't but should have...

Both Wikibooks and Wikiversity need contributors to help develop learning materials BTW. Sfan00 IMG (talk) 03:04, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

Surveillance

Hi, what is the name of that programme or web page that, using a satelite from space, allows you to monitor the world, but in real time, like live broadcast, it was something like that i think, you could close up and see people walking and stuff like that,i would require an answer very quickly, please.--Captain ginyu 20:17, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

No such program exists. Sorry. I mean, there might be individual webcams, but I'm reasonably sure there are no live-feed satellites, and certainly none you can aim. --Golbez 20:28, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

You might be thinking of Google Earth, which pieces together a huge amount of satellite imagery to form a picture of the entire globe. It's certainly not a "real-time live broadcast" though - the pictures are up to several years old. Some major cities do have such high-resolution that you can see people and cars (stationary of course). There would be considerable privacy and security concerns if a program or website like the one you describe existed. --Canley 03:12, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Of course they exist and they're in the control of rogue NSA agents. The military can buy its way into access too. See Enemy of the State and Behind Enemy Lines (film) respectively. --Froth 04:09, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

NSA "agents," rogue or otherwise, do not control imagery satellites. That is the job of other government agencies. Even with all the issues going on with unauthorized monitoring, we still don't live in movieland, and fictional films are not an accurate guide to reality. --DavidGC 19:34, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

However, the high resolution images of cities are really aerial photos, not satellite ones. – b_jonas 13:03, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The only organization in the world that has anything approaching that kind of capability is the National Reconnaissance Office, who operates the United States reconnaissance satellite system. That said, it is quite unlikely that their satellites have the resolution to watch people walking about. The maximum resolution is unlikely to be that good (unless they're using multiple satellites on the same target simulataneously and combining the imagery electronically, and have the mother of all systems to compensate for atmospheric distortion). It is unknown whether they do have live-feed capability, though it's plausible that such a capability would be useful enough to have. But they most likely don't have 24-hour continuous coverage of the globe, because the US is currently working on (or has deployed) "stealthy" satellites that don't let other nations figure out when their spy satellites are going over. If they're overhead all the time, you don't need to do that!

Unless you work for the militaries of the United States or its closer allies, however, the chances of you getting to ever see any of this are about zero. --Robert Merkel 07:33, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

See also this entry in Google Maps help. – b_jonas 13:06, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, everyone.--Captain ginyu 20:41, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

June 9

Is watching too much TV bad for your health?

Hi I've been looking all over the net and have found many conflicting articles. Some say that young children watching over 2 hours of TV will have reduced performance at school, others say that TV is a vital learning resource. Apparently the effects of TV watching on adults is unresearched, though it would seem that the efects would be less than those of children's developing minds. Does anyone know what effects TV has on mental health?

This is a complicated and subjective question, but obviously it depends what you watch on TV. The History Channel, for example, is usually better than game shows and reality TV, so generalizations about "the effects of TV watching" have questionable utility. —Keenan Pepper 01:52, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

There's a good book on the subject called Everything Bad is Good for You (there's actually an article on it, that surprised me). Admittedly, its biased (you can guess which way), but his points are right on. -Goldom (t) (Review) 04:43, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Another book, dealing with the negative points of television, is Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander. I haven't read it but another of his books which dealt with this issue cited a number of studies on the effects of tv (mostly negative) and info/speculations/evidence on the social & cultural effects of the existence of TV. It is quite old now so there has probably been more recent research.

One thing I remember from elsewhere was that some Asian mountainous country (possibly Bhutan but I'm not sure) up until recently didn't have any TV as it was banned. Once it was introduced it led to enormous negative social change as people behaved more like those on TV, acquired consumerism & unrealistic expectations, increased crime rate and decline in social interactions. Not really relating to health but it is interesting, and I expect there would be some affects on health too. AllanHainey 07:29, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• Also, some people who watch too much TV are less inclined to do sports or exersize which is vital for a good health. When it comes to TV as a learning resource, I think it has a positive influence, at least on me. All those hours watching TV paid off for me. It helped me learn English to the point that I'm almost fluent and I learned all sorts of interesting facts from TV too. - 131.211.210.10 07:33, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

South africa got tv in 1976, before this, most families had at least one musician, as entertainment. People also played ALOT more sport.

I don't see how television would be a vital learning resource. Either they are at an early age before they can read or they can read. At a very early level, gosh, maybe the parents could have the kids play with blocks or teach them basic words like chair and up and down and one and two. Even without this, in this case, it is not television shows that would be good, but educational videos that happen to be played on a television. Or, they are at a more advanced level and are going to learn a lot more by reading. They can read faster or slower depending on their level or their understanding of a particular part, and it expands their vocabulary, quickens the mind, and provides a more sophisticated understanding than that offered in television shows.

The problem with television shows is that the viewer is totally or mostly passive. They are not imagining/picturing or considering what they read; the picture is provided for their and there is no time for consideration when right away the next shot is up on the screen. They are not engaging with other persons, interacting dynamically and learning about people; they are getting a fake impression of what is normal by the caricatured, exaggerated, and simplified emotions and actions of the people on screen. They are not exercising their body; they are sitting, and they are not experiencing life. It's not that the viewer is exposed to dangerous influences, it's that part of their life is spent not in thought or experience or community, it is spent being the receiver of second-hand scenes, somewhat dumbed down to appeal to the average relaxing person sitting after work yes, but more importantly it simply not possible to fit as much thought or experience into a show put together in a couple of weeks and created not as one of many texts spanning a thousand years to stand the test of time, but to gain the highest ratings this month. In no situation is plopping a child in front of the television going to result in an intelligent, strong, focused person. —Centrx→talk 10:36, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Toothpaste

On average, how many calories does toothpaste have?

You're not supposed to swallow it. --Nelson Ricardo 01:23, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

And even if you did, the number of calories would be insignificant, because it's mostly undigestible and it's sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners. —Keenan Pepper 01:48, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

You still get calories from gum even if you dont swallow it --Froth 02:58, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

That's because the sugars from the gum leech into your saliva, which you reflexively swallow. Raul654 03:03, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, and toothpaste is more like sugarfree gum in its ingredients. —Keenan Pepper 03:38, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah but I ate it as a kid,along with all those pencils(hotclaws**== 13:09, 9 June 2006 (UTC))

I watched a documentary some time ago about the UNRRA aid sent to Finland after World War II. The people they interviewed, who were kids at the time, said they thought the best thing in the aid packages was the powdered toothpaste — the didn't know what it was, but it was sweet and mint-flavored, and pretty much the closest thing to candy they had. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 20:33, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

On the Waterfront

I just watched On the Waterfront yesterday. For those who don't know, it concerns longshoremen in New York City and the union that they're in. Near the beginning of the movie there's a scene where a boss is picking workers out to unload a ship. While he's picking men, he hands them what looked like a coin or possibly a button. I thought I heard the characters in the movie refer to them as tabs. The men then show these to another man with a clipboard as they enter the warehouse. This man then appears to be writing down what is on this "tab". So my question... What were these little things? What were they for? And what was written on them? Dismas|^(talk) 01:53, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I think they're numbered tallies or tokens.It's a way of keepng track of workers without using names or lists especially amongst functionally illiterate people.Systems like this were often in use in early mining operations to make sure no-one got left behind.In the movie it would be a way of controlling who was working,no tab,no job and no records left behind fot the taxman/authorities whatever.(hotclaws**== 13:14, 9 June 2006 (UTC))

I'm pretty sure I saw such an old system for longshoreman at the Brooklyn Historical Society.--Pharos 18:02, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

So it would just be a little wooden or metal coin type object that had a number printed on it then? Interesting.... Thanks! Dismas|^(talk) 06:28, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Question about women

Why won't those goddamn bitches go out with me? Mayor Westfall 04:37, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• Probably because you call them bitches. -Goldom (t) (Review) 04:40, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

They don't seem to mind that in the rap videos Mayor Westfall 04:45, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I think you need to learn the difference between television and real life. Dismas|^(talk) 05:12, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Because you think that asking this question will get you in BJAODN. They can spot it, and although they know that you seem to think the attention of being laughed at rather than with is something to revel in, yet still they can't bring themselves to release even the smallest snicker. Skittle 10:12, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I'll go out with you and learn you some manners my boy!(hotclaws**== 13:16, 9 June 2006 (UTC))

I tend to find that women enjoy politeness, and shivalrey, such as opening doors for them, saying thank you and gernerally being a nice person. Not by calling them such things,Anton 14:31, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I couldn't agree more. I have always found that women appreciate a gentleman (and it's chivalry, by the way - from cheval (horse) to chevalier (horseman or knight) to chivalry (acting like a knight - gentleman)). СПУТНИК^{CCC P} 17:05, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

In fact, in spanish, gentleman and knight are both said "caballero." Besides, being gentle is just a matter of having been well educated, its manners: towards women and towards everyone ¬¬.

I've tried being very nice. And have been extremely poilte to women most of my life. When I started being a complete jerk to most women, I noticed I had a very slight improvement in my chances, though they are still not where I want them to be. Mayor Westfall 16:15, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, there is something to be said for the "Negative attention is better than no attention at all" survival strategy. Maybe being "nice" has just put you off the map as a sex object. If you really offend somebody, they are definitely going to be aware of you. I'm not saying you should go that far; you've already discovered that "being a complete jerk" doesn't work either. Try the middle course - just go easy on the "niceness" bit and start putting yourself back in the picture. Once you've got their attention, then all sorts of possibilities come into play. (Disclaimer: Despite having been married for 14 years, I'm probably the last person whose advice on picking up women you should pay any attention to.) JackofOz 04:31, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Dude, the reason why being nice didn't work for you is because you're probably a real prick. So women picked up on your fakeness when you were pretending to be nice. So when you're treating them badly they at least are getting to see the real you, and authenticity is always preferable to fakeness, however nicey-nice the fakeness is. I know guys are always complaining that 'when they're nice girls don't like them', but the thing is, guys who are *actually nice* have no trouble getting girls. It's the guys who *pretend* to be nice who strike out, because we're just too perceptive.--Anchoress 10:28, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Skittle, why aren't you deleting this entire question, as it is nothing more than a simple expression of misogyny, posed with rather foul language to boot? I'm only asking because I was involved in a rather interesting political debate, which you apparently took it upon yourself to remove, with an admonition something along the lines of: "this discussion seems to have no relation to the original question, and so, as for whatever political debate may spontaneously develop, the RD is not a soapbox...I have therefore removed the entire discussion".

Should I therefore take it that honest, good natured political debate is off limits, (despite that it may have spontaneously developed independent of the original question), yet openly foul-mouthed misogynistic questions are perfectly acceptable?

Perhaps you should reconsider your priorities as an RD editor. Loomis51 00:46, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

""" I've tried being very nice. """ Perhaps you should reconsider the meaning (your meaning) of the word "nice."

Question GJAODN

How do I find out if any humorous contrabutions I have liscensed to the goat have made it to the BJAODN page? Mayor Westfall 05:19, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

First you have to make humorous contributions. Then you just, er, watch the page. --Golbez 16:24, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• As all but one of your contributions have been to the reference desks, does that mean your previous edits here were jokes for your own amusement? If that is the case, I feel much less inclined to waste my time answering your questions in future. Deliberate attempts to get onto the BJAODN pages will only damage your reputation among many of the editors here. I suggest that you should instead go out and make some constructive edits to articles rather than treating Wikipedia as a joke. Road Wizard 06:45, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Restoring comment blanked by User:12.183.203.184. Road Wizard 17:04, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

You might first explain what "licensed to the goat" means. User:Zoe|^(talk) 17:46, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I'll have to check the GFDL again. There must be something in there about licensing our contributions to a goat. --Optichan 19:02, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, the GNU logo does look rather caprine. Maybe that's what confused the original poster. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 20:22, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Westfall, I've been trying to learn to make userboxes. I made this just for you. Enjoy bro.

This user's life-long goal is to make it on the BJAODN page

XM 16:30, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

ATM question

Does anyone know what the average ATM can hold in cash. (the green stuff).

I think it would vary wildly from bank to bank and country to country. The exact model of the machine would also likely affect the maximum capacity. We have an article on Automated teller machines, but with a quick scan through, I couldn't spot an answer to your question there. Road Wizard 07:29, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't know but I would think it would vary greatly based on where the machine is placed. One inside a mall might have a lot more cash than one at a gas station. Dismas|^(talk) 07:57, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

My money isn't green.... -Benbread 08:08, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Well for anyone who is in a different country currency is in different colors.

• I have taken a look around on Google and though I can't give you an average figure, I can provide a rough indication. Quoting from the handy datasheets at Fujitsu, their OEM range of ATMs have a maximum capacity of between 1,200 and 18,000 bank notes. Road Wizard 18:51, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The one I fill up at work has a capacity of about 500 £10 notes. It's one of those stand-alone ones that charge you to withdraw your money, such as you might see in a filling station or a convenience store. The software it runs allows for up to four casettes, each containing up to 500 notes. Assuming they use similar technology all over the world, such a machine in the US would probably hold about 2000 bills, sorted by denomination. --Howard Train 04:16, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Those are intersting figures. My stand alone ATM at work had just ran out of money after having taken out 25 $10USD bills.

Question about .jpgs

Why is it that a black and white (or grayscale, perhaps only that) .jpg file of equal picture size and compression is a larger file than one in color? I would think it would be the other way around. Or are they not normally and I just have had weird luck? -Goldom (t) (Review) 08:30, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

An important factor in the final file size of a compressed file (audio as well as video/visual) is the complexity of whatever is to be compressed. Perhaps your black and white picture is just a more complex design than your color one. For more information, see

Data compression and JPEG.--Tachikoma 12:54, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Now that you've said that, I think I get it - grayscale images have a lot more complexity than colored ones, since creating shades of gray requires lots of varying black/white, whereas color can be done with a single.. color. Makes sense that way at least, dunno if it's technically accurate. But that's good enough for me. Thanks. -Goldom (t) (Review) 14:47, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I think you're misinterpreting the answer. The poster meant that your example is not fair -- let's assume you're comparing a large black and white picture of a horse with a small color picture of a smiley, likle Wal*Mart's logo -- since you're comparing a more complex image with a simpler one, so that the complexity is more significant than the color. The resolution might also be different. In general of course greyscale will be much smaller than the same file in color, since no one needs even 12 bits of greyscale color representation, but 16 and 32-bit color image correctness is common. your initial assumption ("I would think it would be the other way around.") was correct. so, it is only about your "luck". (Or maybe a poor image editing program you use.)

Only, I did say in particular they were of the same size (resolution). The case I am thinking of in particular is viewing manga on the computer. Each page is the same size, yet the cover (color) is almost always about 2/3 to 1/2 the file size of the (b&w) inner pages. Also, this is before any editing. On that note though, if I resave a file, a color one will normally shrink its file size (indicating it was previously saved with higher jpg quality), while a b&w one will get larger (as if it had before been saved with less quality). Normally, saving a color picture at even 90% quality will shrink it, but to shrink a b&w, the quality has to go down to 50-60%. In other words, the b&w are both the same size, and more jpg compression, and yet still bigger files. And I've seen this situation in almost every circumstance. -Goldom (t) (Review) 15:03, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I just did an experiment. I downloaded this photo of a mouse at full resolution from Wikimedia Commons, then saved colour and greyscale versions using the same JPG settings (minimum compression). The result: colour 267 KB, greyscale 276 KB. Just for balance, I tried a photo of some cheese. The result: colour 186 KB, greyscale 174 KB. Looks like there's no great difference. --Heron 15:16, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I think this may be the issue of complexity. The cover of a Manga is generally a field of one or two colours with a few words and a simple image of the characters. On the inside though the pages are much more complex with panels containing multiple pictures of often fine detail in both the images and the text. File compression works by looking for patterns (Simple example: where the top line of an image is blue an uncompressed file would say "blue-blue-blue-blue-blue", but a compressed file would simplify it to "top-line: blue", thereby saving space). As the inner images are often more complex than the cover there is less of a pattern for the compressor to work with, thereby leaving a bigger file. Road Wizard 16:10, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Color JPEG images actually contain one greyscale (luminance) channel and two color channels. The color channels are usually downsampled and more heavily compressed, so they make up only a small fraction of the file size; this does cause some amount of color bleeding, but it isn't usually noticeable since the human eye is less sensitive to sharp changes in color than in luminance.

There are programs, such as jpegtran, which can strip the color channels from a JPEG without affecting the luminance channel. This will produce a slightly smaller file which will, in theory, look exactly the same as a greyscale image compressed with the same settings. Of course, this may not apply in practice, since the "compression level" setting used by paint programs does not generally map in any obvious way to the underlying compression parameters — it's quite possible that paint programs will deliberately adjust compression factor for greyscale images to compensate for the lack of color information. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 20:13, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

oolololl I don't know anybody here.

Don't you guys have forums? I'm pretty lost...You know, somewhere to just get a feel for the community.

We don't have forums because we don't want Wikipedia becoming a chatsite rather than an encyclopedia. As can be seen, we often relax a little in our edits on the reference desk (here) and in talk pages. Some people look at other's userpages to see what they're interested in and then leave them a message on their talk page, although using that just for chatting is usually frowned upon. There's the Wikipedia:village pump for discussing things about the project, but not really just chatting. It's not that we're not friendly, just that we try to keep this an encyclopedia! Skittle 10:06, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• The best way to get a feel for the community is to be bold, leap in and simply start editing. Wikipedia:Community portal is a good starting point. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 10:28, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Esperanza is a project based on bringing a community feel back to wikipedia. You can chat to other users on their talk page. Philc _T^E_C^I 11:54, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

There was no community that disappeared and needs to be brought back. Adam Bishop 15:47, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

If you do wanna chat, just click on my talk page, ill chat to you, as long as you have something interesting intellegent or educational to say, or if you listen to metal.Anton 14:34, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The encyclopedia is the community. That's what's neat about it. --Fastfission 19:08, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

A lot of the community is in the Wikipedia:WikiProjects - if you've got an area of interest that you like to do editing in, find yourself a wikiproject and join it - that's a good way to get to know other wikipedians. Grutness...wha? 01:36, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Just let me mention that there's an IRC channel too: #wikipedia on irc.freenode.net. – b_jonas 11:53, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

UK Coins in Circulation

After counting through the several thousand coins my aunt collects i was thinking about how many coins (we'll say UK coins for 'simplicity') are in ciculation throughout the UK and world. Does anyone know of a place/article where there is an estimate? Tricky question, but i sure am curious! Thanks :) -Benbread 10:50, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• British coinage has a link to this 18-month-old estimate. Weregerbil 11:57, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks very much, very interesting :) -Benbread 14:07, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

That totals about £3.25 bn; total circulating part of the economy is ~£23 bn (so about £20 bn in notes) and another £6 bn in the cash reserves of banks. Shimgray | talk | 16:06, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

weather

my friend asked me to ask this. If there is a cloudless sky, why is it that it can be colder or hotter today than it was yesterday, even though yesterdays sky was as clear as todays? in theory, the weather should get progressivly hotter until the summer solstice then colder until the winter equinox. This is not the case, so besides cloud reflection, why?Anton 16:06, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The sun is not the only thing that warms up the atmosphere. Wait, let me rephrase that - it's not the only thing that warms up the atmosphere over YOU. It may have warmed up a lot of air south of you, and that air is moving north - which it can do without clouds. Or, there might be a rush of arctic air moving south, which is why the next day can be much colder. All of this can happen without clouds. --Golbez 16:52, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I suspect it is because clouds act as insolation, slowing down the rate of heat transfer between earth and space. ATTENTION: I HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO WIKIPEDIA IN A MEANINGFUL WAY NOW, so can you haters of Mayor Westfall please stop making comments to the contrary and recognize my tireless efforts to answer people's (or a person's) question(s) on here Mayor Westfall 16:21, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• What I meant was that without clouds, we wouldn't have very much weather, which means you the tempatures would experince less varaiation day to day, and would get hotter and hotter until they summer soltice and then cooler and coller. I was just so happy I saw a quesiton I could actually answer that I didnt fully answer the question Mayor Westfall 16:33, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
  • That's just restating what the questioner had already theorised, but noted didn't happen. :-? Skittle 17:08, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps you should try asking the same question on the science page of the reference desk. Someone there might know. Mrplastic 07:09, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Video screenshot

hi, I was wondering how i can take a screenshot of a video. For some reason i was onvce able to but now whether i use windows media player, quicktime or realplayer i cannot take a screenshot. the problem is infact when i paste it as it cannot be saved. Even if i take a screenshot of the screenshot it doesn't work. When i close the video the pasted screenshot also dissapears, does anyone know how to solve this? KingstonJr 16:19, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Modern video players use the video hardware to assist in video playback. Most screenshot programs can only capture what is being shown by the software, which is why there's a black square where the video was in your screenshot. There are two solutions: Disable hardware acceleration in your video player, or use a program designed to get around that by using DirectX or what not to get the screenshot. One I know of is HyperSnap. --Golbez 16:23, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

How can I do either of those, sorry about that I am npt very good thanks ever so much to anyone who can help!! KingstonJr 16:32, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

How to disable hardware acceleration depends on the video player. As for HyperSnap, google for it. --Golbez 16:50, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

What kind of computer do you have? If you tell us that, it will be easier. Usually you can disable hardware acceleration through the video settings of your computer's control panel or system preferences. Here's a page showing how to do it with Windows XP. --Fastfission 19:15, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

google is your friend (first result)--Froth 02:16, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Girls at nightclubs

What percentage of girls going to a nightclub are looking to have casual sex? Or what percentage would likely be willing to consider doing so? What is a good way to spot those? And why do the other girls go to night clubs? Mayor Westfall 16:27, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

"(→June 9 - I can't get laid. I can't get laid. I can't get laid. I can't get laid. I can't get laid. I can't get laid. WHY CAN'T I GET LAID!?)" Try, try again. --Golbez 17:01, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

To avoid people who try to get into BJAODN? I would say a very, very small percentage of girls in the average nightclub are looking for casual sex. Most of them are looking to drink, dance, socialise with their friends, maybe flirt with some people, maybe even 'pull' as in kiss. If you ask them for their number, some will give it to you, some will give you a fake number, some will refuse. Of those who give you their number, some will never answer the phone, some will look to be friends, some will want to meet up and see what you look like in the sunlight, some will want a relationship. If you ask them for sex, most will move away in disgust or assume you are joking. The easiest way to spot a girl who wants casual sex is by her clearly and relatively soberly saying 'fancy a shag?' to you.

Note that this is about the average nightclub. No doubt there are some 'different' ones out there. It was a real shock the first time I spoke to a guy about picking people up in nightclubs; he seemed to be under the impression that girls were there to pick up guys. Skittle 17:06, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Okay then what type of club could I find a girl willing to have casual sex (without money exchanging hands)? Or if I can't find one at a club, where can I find one? And if you don't mind, could you please respond by 4 pm today. I would really like to find a girl without having to resort to the Edmund Kemper approch. Thanks. Mayor Westfall 19:07, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Plato's Retreat? You don't get something for nothing. Deal with it. It's called life. --Golbez 20:12, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Maybe you can learn the methods developed by the Seduction Community.--Sonjaaa 19:25, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• Drop the casual. The amount of girls who go to clubs to get any kind of sex is close to 0%. - Mgm|^(talk) 23:00, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Become the bartender. I love being a bartender. You're never bored and everyone wants to sleep with you. --Howard Train 04:20, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you to whomever posted the link to seduction community, that was helpful. I joined that community, and will be studying up on their tactics. Very good site. I highly recomend to anyone else concerned with this issue.

CORPORATE MASCOT USING RED PARROT

I have searched for the name of the company/corporation that uses a red parrot as its mascot/logo. (It's not the Pittsburgh Pirates; I checked that already.) CHarrison

Anything to do with St Louis, Missouri? Perhaps the St._Louis_Cardinals? Skittle 18:11, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Did you try a Google search with search terms "red parrot" logo? --Halcatalyst 19:01, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Could it be Red Parrot Logos, Inc. ? Mayor Westfall 19:09, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Note to the un-initiated: This link is to the uncyclopedia and thus a joke. Skittle 18:50, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

You people are just jealous. Uncyclopedia is the real sum of all human knowledge; Wikipedia is the joke. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 12.183.203.184 (talk • contribs) 13:54, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

Computer Help

Does anyone know the socket type for the CPU in a Hp compaq nx5000?

(Pentium M) Socket478 --Seejyb 22:34, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanxs

Geico Gecko

Does anyone know who is the voice of the gecko in the Geico commercials? Reywas92 19:34, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

If only a complex Google query could be written to find this answer ... --LarryMac 19:38, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

He is self-voiced Mayor Westfall 19:40, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

These commercials run in the US. I notice the gecko talked in the earlier commercials, then went silent (as in the ads with him in a car), then started talking again recently. I suspect this means they had a contract negotiation problem with the original voice actor and either got him back or replaced him with a sound-alike for the later ads. StuRat 22:42, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

According to List of American advertising characters, the Geico gecko is voiced by Dave Kelly, Richard Steven Horvitz and others. — Michael J 22:53, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The gecko used to have a posher accent, but he sounds Cockney now. --Nelson Ricardo 01:15, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree. Nobody "posh" would discuss fish and chips, now would they ? For Cockneys, on the other hand, that may be a major part of their diet. StuRat 13:38, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Out of curiosity, would that be British Cockney, or Dick Van Dyke Cockney? Road Wizard 14:05, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

At least one of the links from the Google search that I posted above indicates that the original voice of the gecko was performed by Kelsey Grammer. Until I read through several of those links, I hadn't realized that the gecko originally was not technically a spokesperson for Geico, he was just an annoyed little lizard who was getting wrong number phone calls. He subsequently applied for the job of spokesperson (including one ad that featured a cameo by a "Taco-Bell-esque" chihuahua) and now has become the little fellow that we all know and love. Additionally, the basic guideline for the new, (British) Cockney voice was "like a young Michael Caine." --LarryMac 22:57, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

User Boxes

Will someone help me with these damn user boxes? Everytime I click on someone's profile, I see all these wonderful userboxes, and I WANT THEM. I also want a cool userpage, but I suspect that is too complex. Can someone tell me how to steal existing userboxes for myself? Mayor Westfall 19:40, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

If we give you the link, will you stop trolling the ref desk? --LarryMac 19:59, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

• Rude, Larry. Very rude. Mayor Westfall 20:29, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
  • But valid. Please restrain your remarks on this page to genuine responses or honest questions. --Golbez 21:10, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

And creating an Uncyclopedia page in response to an actual, valid question was not trolling? Answering that the Geico gecko is "self-voiced" was helpful? --LarryMac 23:01, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

The uncyclopedia article was bad, but "self-voiced" made me smile :) --Froth 02:18, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

• As this is a genuine request for help, I might as well answer it. Take a look at Wikipedia:Userboxes. Road Wizard 21:50, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

But that page doesn't list all userboxes. I've seen plenty on people's pages that aren't shown there. I assume this is because they're making their own. So what we need is a page showing every userbox that anyone has ever made. --Richardrj 16:55, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

The question was how to "steal" user boxes the editor has seen on other pages - the guidance page answers that one. As for a more complete list, I suggest that you either be bold and start one, or - because anything to do with user boxes is often controversial - make the suggestion at the Village pump. Road Wizard 17:05, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

A suggestion. If you find a page with a cool user box:

1. open it as if to edit it
2. copy the box
3. close the edit window
4. open your user page to edit it
5. paste
6. save

Grutness...wha? 01:42, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

oranges

how long does it take for an orange to become ripe on the tree?

Up to 18 months. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:46, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

In Arizona, blooms in March, oranges ripen towards the end of December. --Blainster 17:40, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

LAX Terminals

Can you walk from Terminal 1 (Southwest) to Terminal 7 (United) How far. Can a taxi pick up at terminal 1 and then pick up at terminal 7?

Looking at the map here: [24], I would say you could walk it by going through the skywalk from Terminal 1 to Parking Lot 1, then Parking Lot 7, then through the skywalk to Terminal 7. I don't see a scale on the map, but would guess that's around a half mile walk. That's not bad if your luggage has wheels, but may be a bit much if you have to carry it. I see no reason to take a taxi, however, as they have shuttle busses that regularly run between terminals. They will go the long way, of course, but it won't take long on a bus. StuRat 22:33, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

June 10

Song at the end of Germany vs. Costa rica game

Hello, After the game ended between Germany and Costa rica in the world cup, there was a song playing in the stadium. It is a very famous song, but unfortunatly I don't know the name. Did anyone happen to catch the game to hear it and does anyone know the name? And also, it isn't the german national anthem. Thanks --(Aytakin) | Talk 00:18, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

If its the same song that was played at the end of England-Paraguay, then its an operatic version of Go West, originally by the Village People but better known as a Pet Shop Boys song. A number of football chants are based around the tune. Oldelpaso 15:32, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Having fun with SmarterChild

I was bored just now so I was asking SmarterChild about countries and their systems of government; it was generally very helpful, even labelling Iraq as a 'transitional democracy', which was better than last time when it just said '-none-'. I decided to look up Belarus (Belarus being a fairly obscure country, at least to me), and this happened:

lsdjbtsrdhq3#' says: What type of government is there in Belarus? - SmarterChild - says: The type of government of Belarus is republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship.

That's a bit subversive, isn't it? Is SmarterChild allowed to say that? Is it right? And does it say something similar for any other countries? Vitriol 00:52, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• I'm not familiar with SmarterChild, but lots of people say that Belarus is a dictatorship. For example, the European Parliament adopted a resolution saying Belarus is the last dictatorship in Europe. [25] --Metropolitan90 03:22, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• The alternative is to just trust whatever a country chooses to call itself. This would lead to absurd conclusions like that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is really a democracy. StuRat 13:29, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

- SmarterChild - says:

The type of government of the Republic of Korea is republic. Try again. Vitriol 17:16, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• The Republic of Korea is South Korea, which is a republic. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is North Korea, which is nominally a republic but operates as a Communist dictatorship. --Metropolitan90 18:02, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

"The type of government of the Democratic Republic of Korea is Communist state one-man dictatorship." Ha-ha! That's better. Vitriol 20:25, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

..."democracy= one man,one vote" only in some cases it's only the one man who has the one vote..(hotclaws**== 11:44, 12 June 2006 (UTC))

Many countries were called a "People's Republic" or a "Democratic Republic" under the communist regime, e.g. People's Republic of Hungary, German Democratic Republic, People's Republic of China. – b_jonas 11:49, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Some pin that I have

I have a metal pin and on it are the letters "RN" and there's a yellow loop ribbon at the end of the N. The ribbon is in the fish shape but the round part is on the top. What does this pin mean? I'm guessing it means "registered nurse" but I dont know.--Valuefreeperson2 20:52, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Nurses' pins often seem to have the caduceus, any of that there? Any of these look like ~what you have: [26]. Or get a digicam somewhere and upload a picture here... Weregerbil 10:43, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

It could also be RN for nurse combined with an awareness ribbon; although the yellow ribbon is most famously associated with supporting overseas troops, it also has links to a number of diseases, including cancer. Although I suppose there's no reason why a nurse couldn't support troops. (Our awareness ribbon article has a full list). --ByeByeBaby 16:49, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Fine then, I took a photograph of the pin. Here it is.

Disregard the Canadian flag pin beside it. I found the RN pin inside a car; in a car scrap yard a few years ago. Remember--it might not mean 'registered nurse', that was just a guess of mine.Valuefreeperson2 20:52, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Royal Navy? TastyCakes 21:05, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Most probably it means Royal Navy, take a look at this link that will explain some things, also, this link says it could have something to do do with nurses, but my guess is the Royal Navy, because of the RN letters.--Captain ginyu 21:37, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

OHH! OHH! On one of the websites you gave, it says on the website

 The "Yellow Ribbon" was used as a symbol in the fight nurses waged to keep the Emergency Rooms in Winnipeg open in 1995. 

I found this pin while I lived in Winnipeg! So it does mean the nurses!--Valuefreeperson2 20:52, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Looking for Names/Lists/websites of Accounting firms in Norway

Dear sir/madam, I'm an accountant/student from Sydney. I've been looking for names of Accounting firms in Norway for past few weeks, but have been unsuccessful.

Before I started working in the accounting firm I did google search which returned a list of top 100 accounting firms in Sydney. Then I managed to find the home pages of those companies by doing a name search. I wanted to do the same for Norwegian accouting firms. I've tried Wikipedia and it gave me plenty of information on Norway, but nothing on the names or lists of accounting firms there.

It would be a great if you could help me with this search as I need to look at the profiles of the Norwegian accounting firms in order to apply for jobs there.

Regards, Andrea

Google is your friend. A search of the .no domain for "accounting" yields several sites. Perhaps some of these pages will serve as a starting point.

As an alternative, try contacting the Norwegian embassy. If you tell them you're looking to spend a few years working in Norway, they may give you a list of accountancy firms who take on qualified accountants from other countries. Another possible starting point. --Howard Train 04:29, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• You could take a look through Category:Companies of Norway, but the additional information the Embassy can provide you with would make that the better option. Road Wizard 11:10, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

A partial list is here, a more complete list is here. You could start by contacting the local branches of "the big four". Here are links to their home pages:

• PricewaterhouseCoopers,
• Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,
• Ernst & Young,
• KPMG.

--vibo56 ^talk 13:29, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Human Isolation

I was watching a movie and a thought occurred to me: what would happen if a young child was literally isolated from all humans for an experiment (Maybe like in a small room or something with a food slot) and what would happen to her/him when she/he was let out after an extended time? Just curious to see what y’all will say. ~Cathy~

• I can't remember the name of it right now, but such things have been proposed by several psychologists. I don't believe it's ever actually been -done- in a controlled environment, of course, but there have been theories. Cases have existed, though, where abusive parents have kept children isolated for years, and as far as I know, none of them were able to survive in the real world to adulthood after being rescued. Sorry I can't think of the names right now for you to look up.. -Goldom (t) (Review) 05:12, 10 June 2006 (UTC)
• I learned about this in my psych class back in college; the most famous case is a girl named Genie, who really was locked up. Click the link, but the short answer is, when found, the isolated child is dumber than a hamster (literally), but she can be taught, and although certain abilities are lost forever, the human mind is plastic enough that a few abilities can rise to near-normal levels.--M@rēino 05:41, 10 June 2006 (UTC)
  • Of course, wouldn't you know, Wiki has an article: Genie (feral child).--M@rēino 05:46, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

That's so sad! ~Cathy~

Take a look at Danny the Dog (film), a film about that issue.--Captain ginyu 21:08, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• I seem to recall a story in Herodotus about a Pharoah carrying out this experiment with a pair of twins. It's an old question. Lisiate 22:45, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually this is a question I ponder almost everyday. How would their customs be different? How would they use human tools? We would find out home much of our world is cultural and how much is "human". Of course this is highly unethical to actually do, but an important question nonetheless. --mboverload@ 06:15, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Largest University Presses

I'm looking for a ranking of the largest university presses, or largest book publishers (including universities), or something of that sort. -mercuryboard^talk ♠ 06:10, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Do you have a specific language or type of publication in mind? Some university presses also do sheet music. Are you including that? Mrplastic 07:30, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I am looking for whatever data is available. University presses has a list, but I need a ranking. I'm interested in the United States but it wouldn't be hard to extract non-US presses from a list if I had one. -mercuryboard^talk ♠ 16:48, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Celebrity lookalikes

Does anyone else think that Keira Knightley looks like Winona Ryder? Mrplastic 07:28, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Well I've asked everyone, and some of them do and some of them don't. I hope that answers your question.--Shantavira 14:01, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

If we are taking a poll, yes, I do think she looks like Winona Ryder. --Cam 17:17, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Kind of a resemblance. I suppose. --Proficient 01:57, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

If they weren't in makeup and I saw one on the street, I guess I could mistakenly mix up their identities, but they do look rather different.. --Froth 05:01, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Personally, I've always been convinced that Diana, Princess of Wales and Wayne Gretzky were actually one person. Has anyone ever seen the two of them together in the same place at the same time? Of course I'm kidding, but take a look at the two of them, I swear they're the spitting image of each other. Loomis51 20:58, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

She looks more like Natalie Portman, as shown in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. --Canley 05:04, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

That's funny, because I always thought that Natalie Portman looked more like Scarlett Johansson. --Maelwys 18:36, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

BTW - has anyone seen anything of Ringo Starr since the death of Yasser Arafat? Grutness...wha? 06:52, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

A way hotter version that doesn't steal, yes =) --mboverload@ 06:13, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

technical info

I am looking for information on shipbuilding,specifically,shaft and engine alignment,in steel hull vessels.

• We have an article on Shipbuilding, but it probably doesn't include enough technical details to answer your question. Have you tried a Google search? Road Wizard 13:27, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Here is a link I found on Google; a page about marine propulsion and shaft design problems. Hope it helps. Road Wizard 13:33, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

top 20 NFL quaterback lifetime rushing leaders.

Randall Cunningham rushed for 4928 yards in his NFL lifetime.

Where does he rank in the top 20?

According to football.com, as well as our own article on him, Randall Cunningham is the all-time leader in QB rushing, ahead of Steve Young with 4239 and Fran Tarkenton with 3674. Of course, none of these numbers are close to the all time leaders for rushing overall, Jerome Bettis is 10th and has over 11,500 yards rushing. --ByeByeBaby 16:43, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

male or female?

If someone is left-handed, are they male or female? Similarly, if three specific left-handed people are in a group, is the gender at least two of them share male or female. This is not a general or mathematical question. This is about a specific case.

82.131.189.11 16:36, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• I am now working on the assumption that you may be asking us a trick question. If you have 3 specific people, then it should be obvious to you what gender they are. Road Wizard 19:51, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

No, it's not a trick question!!! If you have 3 specific people, then it should be obvious to you what gender they are. Great, so you know the answer, but could you write it too? Are the two "obviously" male or "obviously" female??? 87.97.8.244 20:52, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I think your emphasis of the term specific is confusing the issue; if you know specifically who the 3 people are then you know which gender they are. If that is not the answer, then based on the current information you have supplied us with the people could be either male or female. There is no way to guarantee an outcome of such a question without directly selecting the candidates. The only answer that can be given to you based on a random selection is a probability, in x% of occasions 2 of the 3 will be male. To work out that probability is a mathematics question and should be referred to the maths desk. Either take your question there or supply us with more of your specific information. There is nothing more I can help you with as the position currently stands. Road Wizard 21:17, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

According to left-handed, it's more likely for a male to be left-handed than a female. The relative percentages are 5.24% male, 4.76% female. But that general result cannot be used to predict whether any particular male or female is left-handed. And it can't be used to determine the sex of a person from their handedness. JackofOz 01:55, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

(below was my first attempt with this question, I've tried to be clearer above.)

I'm afraid you'll have to try a bit harder to make the question clearer. I'll try to answer your questions as simply as possible:

Q: If someone is left-handed, are they male or female?

A: Being left handed says nothing definitive about a person's gender. The question is unanswerable. It's like asking: If a person is owns a toothbrush, are they male or female?

Q: Similarly, if three specific left-handed people are in a group, is the gender at least two of them share male or female.

A: Come to think of it, yes. But the left handedness of the three seems to be a total red herring. Take any three people and, barring hermaphrodism, at least two are bound to be of the same gender as there only exist two genders and it is therefore impossible for three people to be of three different genders.

Keep in mind that I'm doing my best to assume good faith, which is extremely difficult given this absurd question.

Maybe you can actually give the details of this "specific" situation, so we may finally understand what on earth you're talking about, rather than be forced to assume that you must be asking some sort of trick question, or worse, you're just wasting our time with some sort of annoying prank. Loomis51 20:49, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

older answers, tangents

They could be male or female. Your best bet may be to ask them. --Optichan 15:46, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Though the article currently has a verifiability warning on it, we do have one that talks about the condition of being left handed. According to the figures in that article, roughly 10% of the world's population is left handed (5.24% Male, 4.76% Female). Road Wizard 16:32, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I actually thought of writing in my question that I looked at this; however, 5.24% of population vs. 4.76% of population is almost no difference when I ask about a particular case. In my case I would like to know whether if someone in particular is left-handed, are they male or female? Here's also a separate question as follows. [also I got like the experiment template from someone, so let me sign all three posts]82.131.189.11 16:36, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

There must have been some sort of edit conflict when I was writing my first answer, as your 2nd question only showed up on my screen after I had saved my answer, even though yours was first. I have now supplied the answer to your 2nd question below. Road Wizard 16:47, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Secondary Question

If three specific people are left-handed people, are two of them guaranteed to have the same gender? (no hermaphrodites). 82.131.189.11 16:36, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

p.s. I think the answer is guaranteed to be yes because of the pigeon-hole principle, I would just like confirmation. 82.131.189.11 16:39, 10 June 2006 (UTC).

*If you have three people (assuming no hermaphrodites or those who have had their gender changed) then the only possible combinations are; 3 female, 2 female & 1 male, 1 female & 2 male, and finally 3 male. In that case there is always two of the same gender. Road Wizard 16:43, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Wonderful answer! I think this is the case too, that given three left-handed people (no hermaphrodites/sex-changes/etc), the group will always consist of one of the following possibilities:

1. 3 female
2. 2 female & 1 male
3. 1 female & 2 male
4. 3 male

(this seems obvious, but mathematically how do you know you've listed all the possibilities above? Maybe you left something out, who knows...) Anyway, assuming that those really are all the possibilities, we can see that in all the cases there are at least two left-handed people of the same gender, and in half the cases (#1 and #2) the gender that two left-handed people share is female and in half the cases (#3 and #4) the gender that two left-handed people share is male. (There's no case that has both two left-handed people of the male gender and two left-handed people of the female gender, and there's also no case where no two left-handed people from the three share a gender). So, with that established, what I'd like to know is, in a specific case of 3 left-handed people in a group, which gender do they share? 87.97.8.244 17:56, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

*This started as a simple question about whether left handed people are male or female. From your evovled question above, you appear to be asking about the likelihood of finding a certain number of left handed people being of the same gender based on the proportions of 52.4% being male and 47.6% being female. This is now obviously a mathematical question and should be referred to the Mathematics desk. Road Wizard 18:58, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

But what in the world is this to do with being left-handed...? -Goldom (t) (Review) 17:31, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Maybe this all works into a school assignment. --Optichan 19:05, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

It has nothing to do with being left handed. This has to do with people putting stupid questions into the help desk to get a rise out of people. TastyCakes 19:06, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

"New" Products

Sometimes I see commercials for a product that is advertised as "new," but it has actually been around for quite a few years. Is this legal?

(Corrected spelling, "leagal" > "legal".)

"New" has no legal meaning, unless the government chooses to define a meaning, such as "patented within the last year". StuRat 16:24, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

In human terms, a few years may be a long time, but geologically, 2 years is very little time and the product could thereby be considered "new", I suppose. The term "new", used to describe products, although perhaps misleading may not be illegal, but it would depend on the country you were in- for example, in England, you could complain to the Office of Fair Trading, but perhaps they made "minor" improvements to the product, thus creating (arguably) an effectively "new" product. EvocativeIntrigue 16:19, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I always remember the furniture retailer dfs, who ran the same adverts claiming "Hurry! Offer ends this Sunday at 5PM!" every week for several years! smurrayinchester^{(User), (Talk)} 17:26, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

How about the US's "JCPenny this saturday only sale" every single saturday for as long as i've been alive? --Froth 02:27, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, as long as different things are on sale each Saturday, it's not the same sale, but many sales. StuRat 00:01, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

calender

i dint get the calender ordates of muharram in the year 1976 and 1977... please help me. its very urgent.. its a matter of somebodies birth.. he doesnt know when he was born.. if u could get that dates probably he will find his birth date.. please help.. --219.64.65.19 17:07, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• You can try the Islamic-Western Calendar Converter to convert between Western and Islamic dates. If you are still stuck, let us know. Road Wizard 17:15, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• alternatively, you can try the form at the bottom of this page. You should convert to a Gregorian calendar, since that's what we have used in the West since well before 1978. However, there's a bit of a problem with your phrasing, since you mix Western and Islamic years (according that that page). For example, I tried to convert "the 4th day of Muharram in the year 1976", but the Islamic year 1976 won't happen until 2540. Specifically, the 4th day of Muharram in the year 1976 will occur on the Western date "7 September 2540", ie more than 500 years from now. (Muharram is just the name of a month).
  So, you should try working backwards, using the first form:

The Western date January 1, 1977 was already the 10th day of Muharram [in the Islamic year 1397] and the Western date February 1, 1976 was already the 30th day of Muharram [in the Islamic year 1396].
Do you know which day of Muharram your friend was born? 82.131.187.22 17:29, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

There is not an ad! A freeware application for Windows called Calendar Magic, a Eurosoft Product, gives this kind of conversion from and to almost any known calendar system (plus bells and whistles +++). I recommend this to my Muslim acquaintances. I'm sure there are other effective programs, freeware and commercial, but since I downloaded this my computer has become a date-related info center for family and the kids' school friends, apparently more convenient than downloading their own version. --Seejyb 09:32, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

How to stop bogus insertions in articles?

Hello, I recently went through the article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharamsinh_Desai_Institute_of_Technology, which is about a college in India. But it seems, the person who created it always inserts some personal info about himself in the article. Like "xyz is a talented person from this college", or "the greatly intelligent xyz passed out in this year..." (where xyz is the name of that person). So how to tell that person that he maintain some composure and maintain decency of articles when creating articles? Thank You.

Use the vandalism warning messages on their talk page. See Wikipedia:Vandalism & Template:TestTemplates. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:29, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• You can also give them a friendly pointer to WP:BIO or Wikipedia:Vanity and explain that talking about yourself in an encyclopedia is not appropriate. Follow up with vandalism warnings if they persist. - Mgm|^(talk) 20:38, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Edit count

How can I find the number of edits I've made? I click on 'my contributions,' but the edits are bulleted instead of numbered. Thanks! Reywas92 21:07, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

You could count your edits since 3/11/06 then add them to your number on Wikipedia:List of Wikipedians by number of edits. —Mike 21:33, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

• Another editor asked the same question on the Help desk the other day. See the answer here. Road Wizard 21:39, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Make sure you do not click the 2nd link mentioned in that answer though as that was specific to the user who asked the original question. Road Wizard 21:41, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

June 11

Black Hole

There was a scifi original movie on TV today:

xyz and xyz star in this scifi drama about a laboratory malfunction that creates a black hole and unleashes an energy monster on st louis

"energy monster" aside, discuss the plausability of a black hole ravaging a major city. there were several questionable ideas in the movie, like driving through the black hole's event horizon, and blowing it up with a large bomb..

Can anyone dispense devastatic critical prose regarding this movie?

--Froth 02:44, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

I think that if they could get the bomb to remain intact beyond the event horizon, and it was a big enough bomb (as in, big enough to disintegrate a mass several tens of thousand times the mass of the sun)...then in might be possible to "blow up" the black hole (it would be promptly replaced with several stars of varying size and having total mass roughly equal to that of the disintegrated black hole). Of course, those are rather large "if's" (and I'm quite certain that someone with a PhD in Physics will come along and give you a much better answer) :D --inks^T 04:10, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Keep in mind that the black hole was quite near the earth (it was moving about the city I believe) and the method you proposed would probably cause considerable damage to local residences. --Froth 04:56, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Haven't seen the movie, but you can't "blow up" a black hole; doesn't matter how big a bomb you use. Inside the event horizon, even light, pointing directly outwards, cannot escape. So it doesn't matter how big the energy release is; everything is staying gravitationally bound inside the event horizon. Barring some error in currently understood physics, of course. --Trovatore 06:22, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Scriptwriters really shouldn't be allowed to get away with this nonsense, even (or especially) if it's meant for kids. I suggest you write to the tv company and complain that this is inimical to education.--Shantavira 10:18, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, but if you start there, where would you ever stop? Most of what's on TV gives a false representation of "real life". JackofOz 22:40, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

The amount of energy released by anything being sucked into it would be so great as to vapourise everything nearby anyway (approximately 10% of the matter's rest mass energy, so 1kg of material would release about a million billion joules). Besides, the black hole wouldn't just roll about on the Earth's surface, it would fall straight down, boring a hole right to the core of the Earth. Then the Earth would collapse in into it, if it hadn't already been blown into space by the ridiculous amount of energy being released. And it would all happen in less than a minute. There'd but nothing but plasma left, spraying into the void of space.  -- Run!  22:11, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Wouldn't the majority of the solar system get sucked into it eventually, before it finally attained a stable orbit around the sun? --Kurt Shaped Box 22:40, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Would an object with sufficient mass to capture light orbit the sun? --Froth 02:27, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Well yes, it would. It would become a binary system, I suppose. But there's no reason why the black hole should fall into the Sun - the black hole is just a body with mass like everything else. This black hole in particular would have the mass of the Earth, so at long distances it wouldn't affect any of the planets - it would just replace the Earth. While we're here, the radius of an Earth-mass black hole (i.e. the event horizon) using semi-classical derviation would be about a centimeter.  -- Run!  05:37, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

If the black hole started out on the surface of the Earth, it wouldn't even eat the moon. There's nothing magical about black holes: one with the mass of the Earth would act exactly like the Earth in terms of gravitational effect on the rest of the solar system. --Serie 22:51, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

When it comes to movies on the SciFi Channel, don't believe a second of it. There's a new one each week and they are poorly made (you can tell by the Doom-level CGI they use). They are made PURELY for the fun of watching (which is doubtful) and have no scientific basis behind them. 'At all =D --mboverload@ 06:11, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

please help identify a freemason cemetery stone

i am plotting and trying to rebuild the records on a local cemetery i have run across a freemasonry stone other than the simbol of the freemason theres no name or way of knowing who is there how can i find out who was buried in the cemetery with with this stone i know that the grave behind the stone is dated 1831 i am not sure if the freemason stone is as old or older than that please let me know how i can reseach this if you can thank you yvonne —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.203.44.69 (talk • contribs) 21:58, June 10, 2006 (UTC)

Working out who is buried there, if anyone, would depend on whether proper records were kept at the time. Can you specify what country and state/town you are in, as someone here may know the appropriate records office for you to check at. Road Wizard 10:21, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

THE cemetery is in Texas, Robertson County, Hearne from what i can find out so far the cemetery was there before the city of Hearne was and also that the cemetry was also there before Texas won its indepenence from mexico in 1836 and became a free nation onto it self for 10 years till we joined the U.S. in 1845 I have two stones that are dated 1821 and 1831 county records only go back too 1838. I was told that maybe the freemason chapters could tell me who had or has a chapter in this area and if anyone from that chapter was buried in this county from what I have read and what I have been told the freemason were and still are a very select group of people. thank you for all your help if you can give it I really appicate it —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.203.44.69 (talk • contribs) 05:39, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

I have been searching through the external links of our Freemasonry article for the organisation in your area. You might want to check with the The Grand Lodge of Texas (established 1837). They may be able to give you the answer or point you in the right direction. Road Wizard 17:47, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

thank you road wizard for the information if you come across anything else could you post it for me i will keep checking again thank you very much —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.203.44.69 (talk • contribs) 10:59, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

Xbox-to-N64 controller adapter?

Does such a thing exist? I've spent lifetimes searching for one, with no luck. Anyone know where I could fine one, preferably in Australia? (To clarify, I'm looking for an adapter that lets me use an Xbox controller on a N64). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.7.176.130 (talk • contribs) 22:41, June 10, 2006 (UTC)

I highly doubt one exists. By the time the xbox came around, no one was making anything for the N64 anymore. One going the other direction might be slightly more probable, but I've never heard of one. Only N64 controller adapator I've ever heard of was to USB (for computer), and even that is no longer being made. -Goldom (t) (Review) 05:43, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps if you could get an Xbox to USB and then a USB to N64...--SeizureDog 10:21, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

But they're competing companies, so why would they make adaptors? Why do you need such a thing, is there nothing better to do with your "lifetime". Philc _T^E_C^I 22:58, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Lifetimes. --Froth 02:23, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

They don't make adapters, other companies do. You can purchase a PS2-to-Xbox controller, for example; I'd like to use an Xbox one on my old N64, so I can play my N64 games. You might not have noticed, but N64 controllers deteriorate to an unusable state after 3 or 4 years, and are no longer being made.

But the supply of unwanted N64 controllers is almost inexhaustable [27]. Philc _T^E_C^I 00:09, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

old schools

I am searching for a picture of my grandperents when they went to school and some useful info on what was happening at that time my grandma whent to kimberly state school in 1952 but the school was closed down I cant even find the school let alone the pictures I have gone mastly through google but nothing seems to come up my grandpa went to a school called weegena around the same time it is there 60th anniversary on the 24th of this month I would very much like to have a pic and/or some info on what they have achieved together my grandmas name is shiela gaffney and my grandpas name is mick poole my name is luke poole and you can contact me on (email address redacted) even if it the most minute info it would still be very much appreciated the schools are both in tasmania and they have both been closed down your sencerly luke —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 203.164.143.97 (talk • contribs) 23:06, June 10, 2006 (UTC)

You have a very nice idea for your grandparents. Don't you think that maybe the names of the state, and /or country could help us ? --DLL 19:16, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Thay told us: Tasmania. I'm assuming by this they mean the island by the big landmass of Australia, but it is possible they mean a town called Tasmania somewhere else. Skittle 21:36, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

I (JackofOz) have taken the liberty of providing a punctuated version of Luke's post (below). Luke, if you really want people to read your questions, a little bit of effort to make them readable would not go astray, otherwise you do yourself no favours at all. You wouldn't speak that entire paragraph as a single sentence, so why write it that way?:

I am searching for a picture of my grandparents when they went to school, and some useful info on what was happening at that time. My grandma went to Kimberley State School in 1952 but the school was closed down. I can't even find the school let alone the pictures. I have gone mostly through Google but nothing seems to come up. My grandpa went to a school called Weegena around the same time. It is their 60th anniversary on the 24th of this month. I would very much like to have a pic and/or some info on what they have achieved together. My grandma's name is Shiela Gaffney and my grandpa's name is Mick Poole. My name is Luke Poole and you can contact me on (email address redacted). Even if it [is] the most minute info, it would still be very much appreciated. The schools are both in Tasmania and they have both been closed down. Yours sincerely, Luke.

Economic Applications

What is the role of commercial banks in an economy like India's? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 221.134.46.227 (talk • contribs) 23:34, June 10, 2006 (UTC)

Pretty much the same as in any other country. Have you read the article about banks? --Shantavira 10:22, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a homework question. --Froth 02:21, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Doorbell with flashing light for deaf person

I would like to get a doorbell for a hearing-impaired man living in my apartment building but the regular doorbell makes noise. I would like to find one that flashes light and my Google search isnt turning up good ones. Where do I look? --Blue387 07:32, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

• Any online deaf communities should be able to help you get your hands on such a doorbell. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:34, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

The old age home near us has a handyman who modifies wireless doorbells to give light flashes instead of ringing. The components are cheap, and the design is apparently by the owner of the electronics store, who sells the kits. One feels that Mgm's advice should yield answers, but if you do not find what you are looking for, I can stop off and get the circuit diagrams at the home if you wish (I know they are free for anyone to use). Let me know on my user page. --Seejyb 10:10, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

• From your use of the term "apartment building", I am assuming that you are not in the UK. However, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People in the UK has a handy website that lists a series of useful technological devices. If you contact them, they should be able to give you the contact details of a related organisation in your own country. Alternatively, let us know which country you are in and someone here may be able to give you a better link. Road Wizard 11:19, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
  • Here is the RNID technology webpage I mentioned above . Road Wizard 11:24, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Space Agencies and the Military in Science Fiction

I have two questions to ask you:

1.In Star Trek, do most of the individual planets(including United Earth) have their own a or do they have a space agency similar to Starfleet or NASA?

2.In most science fictions that talk about world government,space exploration, or aliens, do most of the planets with their own central government have an army or do they have a space agency similar to Starfleet or NASA? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 60.241.147.187 (talk • contribs) 00:48, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

For number 2 that would depend on the author of the book. I have read books which have either. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:16, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Also for #2, be aware that the two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. Consider the US, which maintains a separate Army and Navy as well as a naval-embarked army (the Marines). It's fairly easy to extend the analogy to a "space navy" that doesn't sacrifice other military branches. — Lomn Talk 19:06, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

If aliens existed, I'm sure NASA and other space agencies(or an International Space Agency if one existed) would have fighting against aliens in times of war as one of their duties, though space exploration would continue to be their main mission.But a space navy would have global defence as their main mission, not exploration and research.

I'm not quite sure about Star Trek, but I've read a lot of science fiction and planets (or groups of planets in an empire, federation, whatever) usually have a space navy and space marine and (less often mentioned) army (for occupation of planets). Obviously, it's very common for individual planets in an empire to have their own defense force - usually an army for ground defense and sometimes a wet navy and/or air force (though these are often left out in favor of simply deploying atmosphere capable space forces). Big O

Personally, I think the military proper (particularly the air force, most likely, seeing as that's where the first astronauts came from) would most likely take over the fighting-aliens duties, and not NASA. As it happens, though, I think if we ever do meet extraterrestrial intelligence, the difference in level of civilization between us and them would so great as to preclude the possibility of war, for the sheer uselessness of it. That is, either one side would destroy the other (utterly and quickly), or, more likely, neither would bother. zafiroblue05 | Talk 00:39, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree. While NASA is the only agency currently able to do anything significant in space (if you don't belive the conspiracy whackoa) in the future any military force will want their own capabilities. HOWEVER I think the future version of NASA will "take the lead" contacting the aliens with the military ready to launch nukes at any second. --mboverload@ 06:07, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I love the way that in movies "united Earth agencies" are always American!(hotclaws**== 12:49, 13 June 2006 (UTC))

Salvia divinorum

What negative, if any, effects have been shown in the use of Salvia divinorum? In regards to health, both physically and mentally. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.162.157.185 (talk • contribs) 03:49, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

Our article Salvia divinorum discusses some of the possible effects. Road Wizard 11:07, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Please don't double-post. The science desk was the right place to ask this. —Keenan Pepper 20:13, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Panda dog

Anyone know what this is? Genetic experiment, panda pup, dog with odd fur? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2619210151090763074&q=panda+dog —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.7.176.130 (talk • contribs) 04:16, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

Really, really cute, or cruel? It's a poodle x Maltese dyed to look like a panda. Natgoo 11:56, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

According to the text in the Google video sidebar, this is an abandoned dog in Tokyo, which was given a new lease of life after being given a makeover to make him look like a panda, by covering parts of his coat with black dye. Accordning to the same source, his name is Columbo, and he is a poodle-maltese cross. The text appears to be taken from www.itnarchive.com, although to confirm that I would have had to sign up, something I didn't want to do. --vibo56 ^talk 12:02, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

That is damn cool. --Froth 02:17, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Pandas don't have such long tails and protruding snout/nose so it's definitely a dog. -- Миборовский 04:12, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

How to send details for International Simon Bolivar Prize

To, Respected Sir,

Please send the contact details and email add in my email (email address removed)

Maheshjani —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 59.144.132.203 (talk • contribs) 05:30, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

• We have an article on International Simón Bolívar Prize and the contact details on the associated website is shown here. Road Wizard 13:01, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Inside the park home runs

Anybody know which major league baseball player has the record for hitting the most "inside the park home runs"? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 152.163.100.199 (talk • contribs) 09:13, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

According to the Inside-the-park home run article, "The record for most inside-the-park home runs for a single season (12) was set by Sam Crawford in 1901. He is also the holder for most career inside-the-park home runs with 51. The career leader post-1950 is 13 by former Royals outfielder Willie Wilson." --smcro 16:36, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Countdown Word Round Rude Words

Does anyone know if there is a compilation of funny/rude words appearing on the UK Channel 4 Countdown show in the word round. (The one where you choose consonant/vowel and try to make the longest word). When these come up they really crack me up, but after googling and looking at the Wikipedia article i've had no luck, i'd have thought someone would have put together a little archive. Thanks very much -Benbread 17:06, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

• Please see our article on Countdown (game show), it has an external link at the bottom of the page which mentions rude words from the show. Road Wizard 17:15, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

england football team

what is meaning of three lions insignia —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.1.192.66 (talk • contribs) 12:14, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

Coat of Arms of England should help you. Sum0 19:25, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Unknown song

Does anybody know that song that goes "Ohhhh, Annie Ah, Ah, Ah". It was in Austin Powers, but I don't know what one. Thanks a lot. Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 20:52, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Check the soundtrack from Austin Powers:International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers:The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers in Goldmember, maybe you can find something useful there.--Captain ginyu 21:22, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm pretty certain you mean Mas Que Nada. Sum0 21:50, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

finding out a store name that has come and gone

Moved from Help desk. Road Wizard 22:11, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Hi, I am trying to get a history on the store space in Garfield Hts. oh,.. i am tring to remember the name of the store that was there back in the seventies and eighties How would i do that or does anyone know.... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.93.164.118 (talk • contribs) 21:44, 11 June, 2006 (UTC).

If you know the address, call the local library and see if they have a city directory for the year in question. -- Mwalcoff 23:26, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Or look at that location in google earth or mapquest; those maps tend to be so outdated you might find that store :D --Froth

"Officer on deck!"

From pop culture I've learned that Navy and Marine enlisted let others know an officer is nearby and requires saluting by calling out the above phrase. Can anyone tell me if there was an equivalent custom among the sailors of 17th century France, and if so, what they called out?

Thanks Adambrowne666 23:15, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

PS I asked this at Humanities a week ago, but no one was able to help.

Try asking them http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine, there is a contact link on the top right. If you don't speak french try in english. If they can't answer ask if they can direct you to an organization devoted to french marine history. Good luck. Jon513 15:22, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Excellent, thank you very muchAdambrowne666 01:15, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

June 12

Duracell's bunny

I am wondering what is the name of the Duracell's long time known bunny (which it seems to keep walking and walking and so on). By the way, does it have a name?. When did this character appeared to the media?.--HappyApple 00:52, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

It's named the energizer bunny. He was introduced in October 1989--Froth 02:15, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

See Energizer Bunny. It keeps going and going and going and going and...Adambiswanger1 04:32, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps HappyApple is referring to the Duracell Bunny, which predates the Energizer Bunny (although the article doesn't give a date). Adam Bishop 05:33, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

There's a geographical difference. He's simply called the Duracell Bunny in the British Isles and mainland Europe, and the Energizer Bunny in North America. They're not exactly alike, though. Andrew 17:43, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, they're different bunnies and they represent different companies. The Energizer Bunny is a parody of the Duracell Bunny. Of course, most North Americans probably don't know about the Duracell Bunny. --Optichan 18:53, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

I'd never heard of it --Froth 20:36, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Which basically proves my point. I hadn't heard of it either. --Optichan 17:19, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Italy's size in square miles

Hi, May someone please tell me the legnth of Italy in square miles? I need this information for an academic project and my brain is not up to speed. Thank You! :) Jerry C. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 4.243.215.179 (talk • contribs) 19:24, June 11, 2006 (UTC)

The Italian Peninsula is about 1000km in length. You did want length, not area right? --Froth 02:29, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Our article on Italy gives it in sq. mi. as well as sq km. Rmhermen 02:31, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

The area is 116,346.5 square miles (301,230 km²), --Yarnalgo 02:39, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Pity those two numbers don't agree. – b_jonas 22:52, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

I believe that would because of using an abbreviated conversion factor. The true value is 116,305.5 (difference in conversion factor of 0.000136 mi²/km² or 0.03%) Rmhermen 23:04, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

The Age of the Earth

Some Christians in the world not only claim that creation is right and evolution is wrong, but they also claim that the earth is not billions of years old but only 6,000 years old.Those Christians are called the young-earth creationists.I have three questions to ask you about young-earth creationism:

1.The young-earth creationists claim that for some reasons, the six days of Genesis Chapter 1 can only mean six literal 24-hour days.Is that true?

2.They also claim that radio-carbon dating is not very accurate.They claim that it can be contaminated with samples that can distort the result.Is that true?If it is, then how accurate is it?Is it accurate enough to prove that the earth is billions of years old?

3.Many people have criticized the advocates of Intelligent Design for proposing a theory that is not really science.If so, than whether you're creationist or evolutionist,Christian or not; what do you think about these more radical creationists?

220.245.178.140 07:49, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

• My answer:

1. No it's not. The fun thing about writing is that it can mean a lot of things. What was actually meant, we'll never know, because the people who wrote it down are no longer alive to tell us. On a side note, the people who wrote down the bible lived at least a 1000 years after actual creation would've occured and bibles were copied and subject to interpretation until the printing press was invented. Who's to say the very original earliest draft off the bible didn't say something different. They want it to mean 6 days, but that's not the only possible interpretation.
2. No, that's completely untrue. Scientists consider radiocarbon dating accurate to about 60.000 years. Carbon dating works by measuring the amount of radioactive carbon 14 in carbonaceous material (corpses, plants, pottery, wood,etc). Each 5730 years this amount halves (see half-life). By the amount of carbon 14 currently remaining, scientists can determine when the material would have the regular amount of carbon 14 in its system (i.e. when it was alive). To make such material seem older, you'd have to remove carbon 14 rather than adding something. It's not very specific anything less than 5000 years can't be measured accurately, but according to the stuff I just found here in Wikipedia, you can use it to prove the earth is at least 60.000 years old, not 6000.
3. I don't think I'm qualified to answer this. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:34, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

1. I believe it is true that they claim it, however I don't know what their basis for doing so it. In general even assuming that the bible is an accurate record of past events (a massive assumption unsupported by most evidence/science) there has been a huge amount of translation/mistranslation/editing & dispute over the precise meaning of words & passages. It is probably impossible tobe definitive about anything in it.

2. Carbon dating is accurate enough, certainly accurate enough to indicate ages of >6,000 years (as do many other forms of dating). The claim of contamination throwing off the dating doesn't seem to hold water as if the universe (& earth) was created in 4004BC (as asserted by Archbishop Ussher) there wouldn't be any older material to contaminate the carbon dating & provide an older date.

3. Both seem to be motivated more by their religious beliefs than any desire to determine the truth, as such they do not deal in verifiable science but unverifiable faith. AllanHainey

--

1)Yes that's what literal creationism is; the literal reading of Genesis (the first day, the second day, etc). 2) Radiocarbon dating can only be accurate up to about 60,000 years in the past. 3) Young-age creationists aren't radical, the young age theory is mainstream within creationism, and a very significant portion (a majority?) of Americans subscribe to the theory. Anyway, it's clearly not in the realm of science to guess at the origin of the earth or even life; whether on the creationist or evolutionist side, it's pseudoscience if the Faith card isn't played, a powerful move by the way--Froth 08:44, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

.1 no, they relate to God-years, In hinduism (if one is willing to look at the correlation between our differing rligions) one will notice that one day for God or the Brahma relates to many thousands of years for us, this is better explained in A Treatise on Cosmic Fire by Alice Bailey, i will see if i can dig up the relative passage for you....hence, ill be back. oh, and carbondating is pretty accurate, it can be contaminated, but if 100 000 samples all say the same thing, are they all wrong, i think not.193.115.175.247 13:55, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

No, Young Earth Creationism is not mainstream within creationsim. Creationism is the belief that the Universe was created (by God, usually) which you pretty much have to subscribe to if you believe in an all-powerful God. The young-earth variety is a minority worldwide. But they make the most noise, and they make the most noise in the US, both of which give them undue prominence.

To Froth: it is certainly 'in the realm of science' to investigate the age of the Earth, if not its ultimate origin. DJ Clayworth 14:00, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Almost every "Evangelical Christian" denomination subscribes to that theory, as well as the Roman Catholic Church. And since Christianity's the world's most popular religion (the athiests are just the ones who "make the most noise") I'd say it's pretty mainstream. And I'd challenge you to come up with any even theoretical way of determining the origin of the universe; that's clearly a question of philosophy, or probably just Faith. Even going with the big bang theory, the theory itself makes it clear that (i'm not sure exactly what this is called) since the entire universe was basically a singularity, this universe's causal chain began at that point and there is no way to know what happened beforehand. --Froth 20:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I have left my book at home, but will answer the first part of tour question fully tomorow. 1 year of the brahma equals 432000 years of man.193.115.175.247 15:08, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

While radiocarbon dating cannot prove the age of the Earth beyond aprox. 60,000 years, using other elements, scientists can prove the Earth is far older than 60,000 years; closer to 4.5 billion years, in fact. See Age of the Earth. zafiroblue05 | Talk 00:46, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

the days in the bible are correlatted as follows. The various eastern philisophical deities correspond to varios hirachies of angels and demonds all the way up to the supreme being which is the same in most monothiestic religions: 360 days of a human egauls 1 year krita yuga contains 1,728,000 years tetra yuga contains 1,296,000 years dwarpa yuga contains 864,000 years kali yuga contains 432,000 years the total of the said four yugas constitute a maha yuga 4,320,000 years 71 of such maha yugas form the period of the reign of 1 manu 306,720,000 intervals between the reign of each manu which is equal to 6 manu yugas is 25,920,000 the total of the reigns and the interrgnums of 14 manus is 1000 mahu yugas which constitute a kalpa or one day of the brahma 4,320,000,000 But the Brahmas night is of equal duration (the rotation of the sun with its binary dual) there fore one day and night of the Brahma is equal to 4,640,000,000 years 360 of such days constitute one year of the brahma or 3,110,400,000,000 human/mortal years

I hope this will help you in answering your question concerning the 6 days of creation if this does not make scence to you, read A treatise on sosmic fire by alic bailey. Futher more, thanks for asking, i really enjoyed answering. Anton 10:15, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry to hog the answers, but if one reads Darwins' Origin of Species, it is quite clear that evolution is fact. One only needs to look at your dog, and ask why it is not a wolf. Then fibally to answer the last part of your question. While being brought up christian myself, though not stick. It is clear that if one looks at various aspects of the neo-christian evangelist movement currently sweeping the united states, Evangelistic Christianity is much more akin to a cult than to Christianity, this may offend some, i realise, but more importantly, it should scare most, as due to the USA's foreign policy... I have heard them referred to as Gods New Army.

Reinstalling Windows XP

Miscellaneous seems to fit my question(s). I'm not sure if it's technologic or computer science related.

I've been planning my reinstallation of Windows XP, but I am still a bit nervous that I may mess up. I've never reinstalled it, and it has been two years since I've bought my computer. The reason for the reinstallation is that I want to see if there is an improvement in overall computer quality. I've been reading TweakingCompanion 3.1 and downloaded the recommended software to ensure proper installation. But I have some questions concerning the process. (They are after the specifications, so you can just scroll down then reference the specs as needed.) Here are my computer specifications:

I have a new maxtor 200 gb 2.0 usb hard drive that I plan on using. I am going to make a backup of my current hard drive onto the hard drive in case I mess up. I have the sound blaster audigy drivers, the monitor drivers, and two other cds with drivers.

Do you know of any good software (freeware) that I can use to create backup drivers of the drivers I already have installed on the computer, for further caution? I also downloaded ERUNT to create registry backups. I have the Dell MS Windows XP Pro SP 1a Operating System on a CD to reinstall. One concern that I have is that I do not have a floppy for the RAID 0 volume that I plan to keep when I reinstall. Is there a guide to making one of these floppies? (82801ER SATA RAID Controller)

Also, does a computer that is around two years old need a BIOS update?

So my overall plan is that I will reinstall windows with the RAID 0 volume configured, then transfer some of the files from the external maxtor drive back to the computer for my normal use.

If I decide later on, will I still be able to install another operating system (perhaps Linux) so that it will be a dual booting computer? This is because I heard it is bad to reinstall windows many times especially in a short time period. I'm not sure why though.

Finally, do you see any flaws in my thinking? Will my reinstallation process be successful? If you know of any freeware that will provide me with necessary software for backing up drivers, or making my reinstallation easier, or that will provide me with a more detailed checklist, I will be eternally grateful.

I've been searching on google for guides and have come across some good ones, but before I potentially mess up my computer, I would like advice from fellow Wikipedians. ;o

Thanks for your help. (Anecdotes of your past XP reinstallions might help if you can't specifically answer any one of my questions.)

I have my computer specifications if you need them. This is somewhat the "universal" method of relaying your computer specifications for computer help:

Motherboard: CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 3400 MHz (17 x 200) Motherboard Name Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2 Motherboard Chipset Intel Canterwood i875P/E7210 System Memory 2048 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM) BIOS Type Phoenix (02/19/04)

Display:

Video Adapter 256MB DDR ATI Radeon 9800 XT Sec (256 MB)

3D Accelerator ATI Radeon 9800 XT (R360)

Monitor Dell E172FP [17" LCD] (M160944C0W5S)

RAM: PC3200 DDR SDRAM 512 mb x4 @ 400 mhz ( Form Factor DIMM

Type SDRAM) [Module Name Hyundai HYMD264 646B8J-D43]

Sound: [ SB Audigy Audio [CF00] ]

DirectSound Device Properties:

Device Description SB Audigy Audio [CF00]

Driver Module ctaud2k.sys

Primary Buffers 1

Min / Max Secondary Buffers Sample Rate 4000 / 192000 Hz

Primary Buffers Sound Formats 8-bit, 16-bit, Mono, Stereo

Secondary Buffers Sound Formats 8-bit, 16-bit, Mono, Stereo

Nothing in other PCI slots.

Storage: IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers

SCSI/RAID Controller Intel(R) 82801ER SATA RAID Controller

Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive

Disk Drive Raid 0 Volume (298 GB, IDE) (There are two internal hard drives and windows recognizes it as one because it is RAID 0 [both of them are 149 gb each.])

Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GSA-2164D USB Device

Optical Drive SONY CD-RW CRX216E (48x/32x/48x CD-RW)

Optical Drive TEAC DVD+RW DV-W58E (DVD:8x/4x/12x, CD:32x/16x/40x DVD+RW

Power Management Properties:

Current Power Source AC Line

And if I do indeed mess up, the backup will be in the external hard drive. How would I go about restoring my system before I had theoretically messed up? Certainly it would not be as simple as unplugging and plugging the hard drive back in. ._.

--Proficient 09:51, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

My advice is to do a completely new install rather than a re-install. Windows, over time, tends to get cluttered with driver versions, DLL's, miscellaneous and temporary files, broken registry entries, and heavens forbid spyware or worse, and a clean install is always guaranteed to take away niggles you might have started to experience with performance or other areas. Apart from your usual methods of backup (onto cd/dvd/tape) I don't see why you need to use a third party utility; just keep your driver installations within a single folder on your hard drive for easy access. Note that your 200 gig hard drive requires service pack 1 or above, so make sure your XP install has this built in, OR remember to install the service pack immediately after installation to avoid data corruption on your hard drive. Regarding your BIOS update, I personally only do this if recommended by the motherboard manufacturer. If you're thinking about dual-boot into linux later on, I recommend you research this carefully NOW as many people prefer the linux boot loader to be installed first, as the primary loader. It is not bad to clean-install windows many times, except for the life of your hard drive which will be thrashed a bit. I am sure MCSE-type people would disagree on my advice for a clean install, but this is after personal Windows use for 12 years. --> Sandman

Perhaps you can go the Dell and download all the drivers for your system. That way you would have the latest drivers and wouldn't have to worry about backing up the old ones. If you have devices you've added, you can download drivers at the manufacturers' Web site. As for installing on RAID, you'll have to copy the driver onto a floppy disk, and then during install, Windows will ask you to press F6 to install any third-party drivers. After pressing F6 insert the floppy, select the driver, and continue the install. The only problem I can think of with reinstalling Windows numerous times in a short period is that you'll end up having to call MS to activate. —Wayward ^Talk 15:15, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

All right. Thanks for both of your help. =) --Proficient 04:04, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Treasure Hunters

Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me find the team websites for each team on the new tv show Treasure Hunters. I have found 3: the Brown Family, Southie Boys, and Miss USA. If someone could help, that would be great. --Zach 10:43, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Closest I can see is this, on Coming Soon.net, but it's nowhere near, really. You could try Googling/Asking Jeeves/All The Web/Yahoo-ing the names on that page, though.

The search box feature would have pointed you towards Treasure Hunters, which may be of some use. EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 14:01, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

On a second look, I came across TreasurePedia....EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 14:02, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

I do know there is a team of FBI Agents... Political Mind 01:13, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Way to increase thumbnail size in Windows XP?

I view many folders by thumbnails, and I was wondering if there's some way I could increase the size of the thumbnails, say to 250x250 or more?

yes, there are a group of application known as power toys. They are make by microsoft, but not fully supported. They "add fun and functionality to the Windows experience". The one you want is Tweak UI - a programs that allows you to customize many features of windows. After installing Tweak UI go to Explorer --> Thumbnails, and you can change the size to anything you want (I think it the limit is 256). And while you are there you can download other fun windows goodies. Enjoy. Jon513 15:08, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

geography

there are how many countries in the world there are how many states in india how many languages are in india

• see List of countries, States and territories of India, and Languages of India. You also might want to see that little box at the top right that lets you search things for yourself. СПУТНИК^{CCC P} 12:13, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

seeing as no one else has answered, i can name 2: Urdu and Punjab I think, but i just have asian friends rather than being an expert.

• СПУТНИК's answer is correct. --M@rēino 20:31, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Fot the first one, see How many countries are there in the world?, an article by David Madore. – b_jonas 22:17, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Pyschology career

My girlfriend is majoring in Psychology and is considering going to either Med School to get an M.D. or graduate school to get a Ph.D (or just getting her B.S. degree). She's leaning toward Med School, but is uncertain that's what she wants to do. I would like to give her some advice, but I don't know much about the difference in career opportunities from a Ph.D & MD degrees. Also, how much should she be able to expect to make, and will she have difficulty finding a job due to over-saturation in the marketplace? It seems like a lot of people major in psychology, so I am tempted to advise her to change her major to business or something more practical. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. XM 13:00, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

My advice: she needs to decide what she wants to do with her degree before making a choice between an M.D. and a Ph.D. Does she want to be a psychiatrist? Does she want to do research for the rest of her life? Does she want to teach psychology? There are a lot of ways to go with a psych degree - don't decide which degree to get, decide what you want to do first and then the degree choice will become more clear. Big O

Oversaturation? As far as I know, there's actually a shortage of mental health workers in the industry right now. To be a psychiatrist, who is able to diagnose mental disorders (such as bipolar disorder) and prescribe medicine, you need an M.D. To be a counsellor (people who talk to other people about their problems, but are unable to diagnose), I believe you need at least a Masters degree and job training. A clinical psychologist tends to diagnose behavioural problems (such as ADD) or mental distress (like depression), and don't use medical treatment (drugs). You'd need a PhD and additional work experience to become one. The three are different and are easily confused. --ColourBurst 23:05, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

2 Professional Careers

I am an engineer and my fiancee is going to be a physcologist/physcritrist shrink. To me it seems very hard to find a job in a specified area--It seems like every time I have changed or have had an opportunity to change jobs, I have had to re-locate. In a situation where two people are living together, their career search must be limited to the same area as their companion--this seems highly restrictive. What can a couple do to deal with this, especially if they expect to change jobs/ presue opportunities rather frequently? XM 13:06, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

If you both plan to take the best opportunity you can find, you're "screwed." It's pretty obvious that the chances of you both finding the best job opportunity in the same area at the same time (unless you're both in the same field) are almost 0. The best thing you can do (in my opinion) is to search together - start by looking for the best job opportunities but don't get too attached - then cross-reference them to see which locations match, if any. If one of you has a really good opportunity make sure the other one immediately scours the same area for a similar opportunity. If one of you is less career / work oriented consider taking a solid job (as opposed to an awesome job) in the same area as the partner's "super" job. Chances are if you're both intent on finding the best job you'll both end up with solid jobs in the same area (instead of super jobs in different areas). If you truly love each other (which is presumably why you're getting married) you both need to be ready to sacrifice the perfect job to stay together. My advice is not even to consider any sort of long term (greater than 6 months) separation - work isn't worth it.Big O

Have you considered speaking to a shrink counsellor about this?

On a more serious note, if your fiancée has a practice (or would like to have a practice) and regular patients, she is not going to be able to move around freely. She has a moral and professional obligation not to abandon her patients. On that basis, I recommend encouraging her to find work in a city that you both like, because you're probably going to be there for a while.

You don't mention precisely what type of work she does, nor what type of engineer you are. (Psychology and psychiatry are different beasts, and you don't mention if she is clinically or research-oriented.) This may affect your choice of city.

Perhaps you should just pick a large city somewhere—engineers are usually useful, and there are likely to be more people with mental problems. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:00, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

She is still in college, with 2 more years + Med school (or grad school) to go. Im a mechanical engineer, but can do other types of engineering. I want to live in Flordia, she wants to live in NYC (which I am unwilling to do because of the high expense). She has a 4.0 in college, so I think she would be able to do well in any city, though I am concerned. Are most pyscholgist/pychirtrist shrinks self-practice, or do they work for established firms/clinics typically?

TenOfAllTrades, I understand you're trying to be cute, but a shrink is not a counsellor. A counsellor usually has less schooling than a psychologist (A Master's is typical, but they can hold PhDs) and their job descriptions are usually different too (A counsellor cannot diagnose, for example). --ColourBurst 23:11, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

I am really worried about this issue as it appears to be a brewing storm, that is going to create tension/resentment and other problems XM 16:44, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

All we can really say from our view point is that at some point one of four things will happen - you will concede to living in New York, she will concede to living in Florida, you will both compromise and live somewhere in between or you will break up and live in separate places. I am sure there are many cities where both a mechanical engineer and a psychologist can have successful careers, so unless she is really attached to NYC and you really hate it or likewise for you in Florida, I don't think there'll be that much of a problem. TastyCakes 17:31, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

If you've both already decided were you're going to live you're in trouble. You're right, NYC is expensive. But Florida has its own problems - I, for example, would never choose to live there because I don't like the wheather there. Why does your girlfriend want to live in NYC? Why do you want to live in Florida? If you're both just clinging to personal preference's you've got a long road ahead of you. Big O

• Both of you are going to be able to get fine jobs and afford a solid upper-middle-class living with those professions. So what really matters is finding a couple of places where you would BOTH enjoy living and agreeing to only apply to jobs in those cities. Don't forget, though, that NYC offers higher salaries -- even if you take a government job -- to compensate for higher expenses. In my profession (law), for instance, I could be making another $10,000/year if I moved to NYC. I recommend that you try this tool: [28]. It's a highly acclaimed website that helps people determine where to live by comparing their preferences against statistics about that location.--M@rēino 20:38, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

After you actually get a degree, come up to Toronto, Canada! Lots of crazy people building new nuclear plants! --Zeizmic 21:32, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Bah! Clearly Calgary is the place to be ;) TastyCakes 22:59, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Hey, he's not trying to combine the professions of bull riding with orthopedic surgery. :) --Zeizmic 23:56, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Chessbase

When will the next Chessbase be out? The current one (Chessbase 9.0) only has games to 2003 and I want to see if its worth waiting for the next one to come out.I know that you can buy upgrades and game databases, but I would prefer to buy the whole package and wouldn't mind waiting for a couple of months.

I would ask the writers. If they don't know, then we can't tell. DJ Clayworth 13:53, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

DISTANCE EDUCATION

I WANT TO KNOW THE NAMES OF UNIVERSITIES PROVIDING TECHNICAL EDUCATION THROUGH CORRESPONDANCE WHICH IS APPROVED BY AICTE? SAMIRAN MITRA. CHANDIGRH --—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 61.17.116.95 (talk • contribs) 16:17, 12 June 2006.

Please don't WRITE IN ALL CAPS, as it makes your question hard to read (and thus lesslikely to be answered). Thanks for signing it though, although you could have just edited your previous post. It's best to sign your comments by typing four tildes (~~~~), as this automatically adds the time, date and your IP or username to the post which helps us keep track of what's going on. --Howard Train 16:06, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Hello Samiran. the All India council for technical education gives lists. Please take a look with this link or ask them directly. --DLL 18:43, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

advice?

can i ask for advice in wikipedia?if so where? --—Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.92.55.174 (talk • contribs) 16:34, 12 June 2006

You can ask for advice anywhere, really. The advantage of posting here is that there are lots and lots of people who read this page, so you might get a quicker response. You might want to check out the reference desk front page and see if one of the bold links might be the most helpful for you. --HappyCamper 15:53, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

yes, how can we help you in our infinate wisdom?Anton 16:08, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Apparently your wisdom is not so infinite as to include the fact that infinite is spelled infinite and not infinate. (lol). But now that you know, maybe it's become infinite after all. JackofOz 23:34, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Yours isn't infinite either. "it has become" can't be shortened to "it's become". "It's" stands for "it is" not "it has". - Mgm|^(talk) 07:36, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

It can stand for either, actually. It's been nice chatting with you.  :--) JackofOz 10:23, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Please note that we are (mostly) not lawyers, doctors, pharmacists or firefighters round these parts. You should not trust medical or legal advice given on wikipedia, as paid professionals are paid for a reason. On the other hand, if you need to identify a flower, find out the capital of Burundi or want to know if a sheep makes an effective lawnmower, we're your folks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Offtherails (talk • contribs) 17:14, 12 June 2006 UTC.

Go on then. I'll bite. Do sheep make good lawnmowers? What about flower depredation? My lawnmower has broken down & I have access to sheep... --Tagishsimon (talk)

Here's a good place. The Reference Desk is a great place to ask questions and maybe get answers. --Optichan 19:06, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

moths

where can I find any imformation on very large moths of Bulgaria

You might try asking a question here, or looking through the beautiful images here, and maybe contact the maintainer of that site, or sign up for this newsletter. --vibo56 ^talk 17:52, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Potato Famine

I've been wondering recently, have any studies ever been done on the effect the Irish potato famine had on the demographics of America? What would the population of America be today if the potato famine hadn't happened? How would the demographics differ? I'm sure no definitive answer can be given, but could approximations be made? TastyCakes 17:36, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

So far I've only been able to find this :Image:Irish_population_change_(1841-1851).png, which is a map detailing movements shortly after the potato famine (and links to Irish potato famine), but I'll kep looking for you. EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 19:23, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Have a look at our Irish American article for a rough idea of the numbers.--Pharos 00:09, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

The figures for emigrants from the UK as a whole (including Ireland) to the US were:-

• 1842 - 63,852
• 1843 - 28,333
• 1844 - 43,660
• 1845 - 38,538
• 1846 - 82,239
• 1847 - 142,154
• 1848 - 188,233
• 1849 - 219,450
• 1850 - 223,078
• 1851 - 267,352

Jameswilson 23:46, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Copyright question

If I ask someone to draw a picture of myself for me, am I then allowed to publish that picture on the Internet if I give proper credit for it, or would it violate the artist's copyright? JIP | Talk 19:29, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Unless agreed with the artist, the copyright of the resulting image would remain with the artist, not you. However, if you were to use it with the artist's permission on your website, I believe that would be Ok. EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 19:36, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

If you paid the artist for it it's a work for hire which means you own the copyright, not him. Otherwise, you'd need his permission. Oskar 23:59, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

If you hired the artist to draw the picture, then it may be a work for hire, and you would own the rights to it. However, the rules on what is a work for hire of an independent contractor are pretty complex. (You should check with a lawyer, if this is important to you.) Either way, the author would still retain the moral rights to the work. As long as you don't violate the author's moral rights, you should be OK to publish the work on the Internet even if it was not a work for hire, due to the implied contract in the commisioning of the artwork (mentioned in the work for hire article). --Booch 00:14, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

• If you ask them to draw it for you, you might as well ask permission to post it online at the same time. And while we're on the subject of work for hire. It's only work for hire if you make a contract that says it is. - Mgm|^(talk) 07:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
  • Thanks for the replies. My question is not about work for hire, it's about someone drawing pictures of people for a hobby. So I think I have to ask the artist's permission. JIP | Talk 09:54, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
• Yep. - Mgm|^(talk) 11:09, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Measurements

How can a person measure the height of a very tall object such as a light pole, tree, building, etc?

The Shadow knows . . . --LarryMac 20:07, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Trigonometry and right angles would be a good place to start...you have to know one side of the triangle and an angle (say, how far away you are standing from the lamp post, and the angle up from where your feet are to the top of the post.--24.80.70.174 20:18, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

I remember learning how to do this in school, but I have since forgotten. --Optichan 20:30, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, it sounded kind of homeworky to me, so I was cryptic, but the "easy" method I learned in grade school is to measure yourself, measure your shadow, then measure the tall object's shadow. Then the tall object's height is computed by multiplying it's shadow length by the ratio of you to your own shadow. This should be not be attempted early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as the shadows would be longer than you or the tall object. --LarryMac 20:34, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

There's also the barometer trick. – b_jonas 22:07, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Which one? --Serie 23:38, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

You can work out the height of something by measuring the air pressure at the top of it and then at the bottom and finding the difference (the pressure difference is equal to density of air * g * height I believe). You have to be able to get to the top of whatever you're measuring, so it might work better for say a building than a tree. TastyCakes 00:52, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I thought you meant the one where you mark off the height of the object in barometer-units, then measure the length of the barometer in your target measurement systems, and convert. --Serie 21:38, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

There's an old story about a group of students who were all goven a barometer and told to work out the height of a particular tall building using it. The geography student found the difference in atmospheric pressure between the top and the bottom of the building and calculated it from that. The geometry student measured the barometer's height, the length of its shadow and the length of the building's shadow, and calculated it from that. The physics student dropped the barometer off the top of the building and timed its fall, and calculated it from that. And the commerce student visited the building's caretaker and said "I'll give you this nice barometer if you tell me how tall the building is!" Grutness...wha? 01:32, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I remember that story. There's a fuller version of it at Snopes.-gadfium 05:49, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Similar to the barometer trick you can also measure height/altitude by measuring the temperature at which water boils (lower temp greather the altitude) and checking a table or calculating the altitude from this. It's only really useful for mountains & the like rather than buildings though. AllanHainey 10:25, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

those are all very good, why not try a measuring tape?

God Almighty, I must have a lame sense of humour for laughing at that. Vitriol 15:06, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

This reminds me of a story my World History teacher told. It goes something like this:

There was a philosophy professor who was known for giving very hard final exams, and for grading them even harder. One year, as the students wandered in for their final, they saw a chair sitting on top of the desk at the front. Once they'd all sat down and gotten ready to start, the professor told them to, using everything they'd learned that year, tell him about that chair. Naturally, they all started writing immediately, and continued writing for the next two hours, desperately scribbling down everything they'd ever heard that might apply. Except one, who wrote for a moment, then sat back and relaxed for the rest of the test. Everyone assumed, of course, that he would fail, but he got the only perfect score in class that year. His response: "What chair?"

It's got a different moral, though, along the lines of "true understanding is rewarded" instead of, as snopes says, "teachers can get tricked into anything." Black Carrot 20:48, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Google Web Clips

I was wondering why google doesnt use their dictionary for the web clips. If anyone could help, that would be great! Thanks --Zach 20:36, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't think google has a dictionary.. Do you mean their main search box? And by web clips do you mean google video? TastyCakes 00:53, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I meant Gmail Webclips. Sorry, I was a bit tired yesterday. And I guess google doesnt have a dictionary. That makes sence. Thanks anyway! --Zach 10:51, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I take that back, if you type in something like 'define:gainsay' it gives you a definition. huh. --Zach 10:54, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually it gives you links to definitions on the web, so it's really just a specialized search. There still is no "Google Dictionary". Although if there was, you can be sure it would be Google Dictionary Beta. --LarryMac 13:59, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

haha, yea, Everything google is beta. Gmail is still a beta. I joked about that in a newspaper article I wrote. --Zach 01:07, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

dogs

I would like to know where the breed of dog called the cock-a-poo originated, please.

The article Cockapoo would be a good start. Dismas|^(talk) 21:51, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

originated with the Wolf.

girls

hi there,

I was wondering if there any website that involves latina, black, and asian girls, like pictures of them so I can rate them as good or bad.

Maybe Hot or Not can limit by ethnicity...? Dismas|^(talk) 01:46, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

June 13

Driving Time for Teens

About how much time do experts recommend a teenager (In Austin, Texas, Specifically) should drive before he/she is allowed by their parents to drive? I am already aware of the minimum number of hours legally required for a drivers licence, but am wondering what is recommended for the best levels of safety.

(By The Way, this question is regarding a teenager drving a standard two-axle \"house-car\")

Thanks

--CE

I don't have any data to back up my assertions but I would think that this would vary greatly on the teen. Other things to take into consideration would be time of day, where they're driving to/from, who will be in the car with them, if they have a cell phone, will they try to answer the phone if it rings or pull over, etc.

And really, how many adults do you know that don't drive with "the best levels of safety"? Dismas|^(talk) 01:43, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

In my part of the world (Australia), the government has been running a road safety campaign suggesting that learner drivers should be given 120 hours of supervised driving (preferably in as many conditions as possible) before solo driving. In some parts of Europe, drivers must take substantial professional training to gettheir license (though unfortunately, we don't have much information on this in the Wikipedia). --Robert Merkel 05:31, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Walkthroughs..?

Just wondering, what is Wikipedias stance on inserting a game walkthrough/guide on the relevant page, or a subpage? Is it allowed?

Wikipedia is not an instruction manual, but there may be a WikiCity where that would be appropriate. Emmett5 01:02, 13 June 2006 (UTC) GameFAQs is the central source for this kind of thing. Submit it there. --mboverload@ 06:01, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

• Link to it in the external links. It's generally not the type of material to insert into an article. - Mgm|^(talk) 07:27, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Dealing with unregistered users

I have an unregistered user who is messing up my page. I know how to deal with registered users but how to deal with unregistered editors, please? BlueValour 01:46, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Go to the history section of the page and click on the IP, you will find a list of that editors contributions, and also a small word labeled talk at the top, click there and post a vandal warning, you might want to try one designed for anonymous users. Emmett5 02:16, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

What do you mean by "my page"? Nobody seems to have messed with your user page or your talk page, and these are the only pages on Wikipedia that might be said in any sense at all to be yours.--Shantavira 06:36, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I stand corrected - using a loose shorthand for 'the page that I am currently rewriting'. Thanks to Emmett5 for the help. --BlueValour 19:17, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Preventing Mass Deletions

I am concerned about the effeciency caused by the abundance of articles deleted every day due to ambiguity about what is an acceptable article, particularly the notion of non-notability. Such articles should either never be created in the first place (saving editors time) or not be deleted (improving content). Regardless of what this might be, WP needs a better, comprehensive policy addressing notability. How can I contribute/start to this process? --Ephilei 01:54, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

The policies are already documented in detail at Wikipedia:Notability and all its subpages, and frankly, I don't care if some stranger wastes time writing a useless article. In general, the people who are capable and willing to provide good encyclopedic content are the ones who will read the guidelines beforehand and not waste time on non-notable subjects. Sorry, but I don't think there's much you can do except tell people to read the existing guidelines. —Keenan Pepper 02:36, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

If the articles should never be created in the first place, then deleting them improves content, and leaving them there makes the encyclopedia worse. Deletionism is your friend! Adam Bishop 16:40, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

The cost of doing the deletions is just a price you pay for having an open-content encyclopedia. Deleting most of them is not very taxing, either physically (pushing a button twice) or mentally (most are obvious rubbish). If you are concerned then become and Admin and come and help us out. Please, help us out. I've done hundreds of these things. DJ Clayworth 17:14, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

But on the other hand if there's not a lot of admins around and it's a busy day then cleaning out Category:Candidates for speedy deletion can almost turn into a full time job (yesterday was bad). But the complaints make it all worth while, as they try and defend an article that says "my girlfriend is the best" or something like that. The oddest complaints though are when you don't delte it but make a redirect or say the article shows some sign of notability. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:41, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Let me rephrase this: I'm not so concerned about users making absurd articles that are deleted; I am concerned with users, like myself, who have read all the pertinent policies and guidelines, put time into an article, and then editors of one 'opinion decide the article isn't worthy because it's nn. this article, for example. The article is on a non-notable subject but does not violate any official policy. (It does violate Wikipedia:Notability, but that's not a policy or even a guideline.) I am not on a quest to undelete this article; but as the whole process was frustrating and seems inconsistent with Jimbo's philosophy of inclusion, I'd like help improve the lack of policy about non-notability. I've spent some time searching AfD and voicing my opinion in order to change individual outcomes and set precedence (or rather, try to reverse the deletionist precedence) but this has seemed an inefficient use of time and helps nothing in the long run. I'm not looking for a debate here, I'm looking to help create policy. Even if the created policy ends up being the opposite of my own inclusionist opinion, it is better to have an inclusive, logical, and thorough discussion that we can agree was conducted properly instead of working thru the unofficial nn precedents. Where/how can this take place? --Ephilei 00:39, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Suggestions are Wikipedia talk:Notability or perhaps open a new topic in Wikipedia:Centralized discussion such as Wikipedia:Notability and deletion and see if it flies; and I suppose at some later time Wikipedia:Deletion policy. Don't expect it to be other than slow & frustrating. Enjoy. --Tagishsimon (talk)

find articles on an individual

how do I find any and all articles of an individual that was found guilty and had their license professional revoked in 9-2004 with the Divison Of Professional Licensure?

If you know the individual's name, type it in the search box. If not, could you be a bit clearer: what was he liscenced in and where? A better starting place might be your newspapers archives. Emmett5 02:18, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

discontinuted products

Frito Lay and Chips Ahoy both had products that I really enjoyed--Cheetos EDGE, and low-carb chocolate chip cookies. Do companies typically let customers make special orders for products they not longer offer on a large scale? How could I go about ordering some of these?

Have you tried contacting either Frito-Lay or Nabisco (the maker of Chips Ahoy)? That would seem to me to be the first step in such an endeavor. The company's websites are linked off their articles. Dismas|^(talk) 05:21, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Unless you have millions of dollars to spare, they would be really unlikely to restart production lines just for you. These companies are just not in the one-guy's-snacks business. Your best hope is to somehow get a hold of a recipe (maybe chat up folks who used to work at the plant?) and make this stuff yourself.--Pharos 06:21, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Indeed. It would appear very unlikely that they would tailor your wish, since the product has already been discontinued for seemingly quite a while now. --Proficient 06:34, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Sure was fun for a while for us that actually benefit and enjoy a low-carb diet; the last year has seen the wonderful cornucopia of low-carb items (well, most of them sucked, but still) disappear, while the downright harmful "low fat" (i.e., high in HFCS) products continue to fill the shelves. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 14:45, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Deputy Secretary Generals of the United Nations

Who was the first Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations? 203.101.23.220 05:32, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Sir Gladwyn Jebb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Secretary-General --Proficient 06:35, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Web Site Address

Will any one please tell me the web site address on which I can translate Dutch(German) to English to Dutch. Even a single word or a phrase?

• If you have Mozilla Firefox you have several translation addons that can do this right from your browser. If you prefer websites, try one of the links in the box on top of my userpage. - Mgm|^(talk) 07:22, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Or there's this one. --Richardrj 08:03, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

try putting the word or phrase on here, and maybe some one will translate it for you, I speak dutch and english among others so...Anton 09:56, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

By Dutch(German), do you mean Deutsch(German for 'German') or Dutch(language spoken in the Netherlands)? Either way, this site also works well. Reywas92 12:58, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Google Translator works well too. --Zach 01:04, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

sex p.s. im asking this for my friend

ok lets see my friend is gay and hes 15 and well he had sex with his 10 year old boyfriend is he aloud to do that i mean the 10 year old asked him to so like please tell me so i can tell him so that away he will leave me alone/shut up–71.99.117.233

No he is not allowed to do that in most countries I can think of. A 10-year-old cannot give consent to such things, so your friend has broken the law. He also seems to have some other problems if he is 15 and having sex with 10-year-olds. Your friend should probably go talk to a psychiatrist ASAP, rather than wait to be found out and jailed. Skittle 09:26, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I would also recommend a counselor or some sort of similar guidance, but what law are you basing your assertions on? The questioner appears to be writing from Tampa, Florida. I know of no U.S. law that governs sexual relations between minors, which is what both the 10 and 15-year olds would be under the laws of most states. Maybe, however, such a law does actually exist. You seem to hold your opinions quite strongly, but I am curious what legal basis they have. --DavidGC 18:43, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Frankly it'll depend on 2 things: the age of consent in your particular country; and whether gay sex is legal in your country (& if it is the age of consent for that). I believe there are a (very) few countries with an age of consent <10 but I doubt very much if this would apply for sodomy as this is still illegal in some countries or subject to a seperate age of consent (& I seriously doubt if there is any country with a gay age of consent of 10).

I don't think your friend necessarily needs to see a shrink but he should be aware of the health and legal risks of his actions. AllanHainey 10:34, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

We are talking about a 15-year-old who had sex with a 10-year-old. I would say they need to see a shrink, if not some sort of moral counselor. This is paedophilia, and needs to be dealt with before it damages the child further and gets the teenager into a whole heap of trouble. Skittle 16:17, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

A counselor would be my best advice under the circumstances as well. Loomis51 23:52, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

i believe this to be the same person that asked the last question on this subject, can some one please do something about it. eg police.

This is obviously a troll. I recommend everyone just ignore the little bastard, if not delete the comments he makes. TastyCakes 18:29, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Who is the troll? The person you appear to be replying to or the original poster? --Username132 (talk) 19:25, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Military Stratagies

Where can i get a study material for military strategies used in war from ancient days to the information age? I am a reserch student reserching about the subject"War Strategies from ancient to Information age" —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sreekanthg (talk • contribs)

You're basically asking for a history of warfare, circa 10,000 BC to present. A good overview on the subject (albeit slightly dated now) was published in 1985 - "War" by Gwynne Dyer. Raul654 09:58, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Try reading some military histories of famous generals or campaigns, "Napoleon" by David Chalmers is quite good, "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu while not a military history is probably the pre-eminent guide to oriental military strategy. "On War" by Clauswitz is meant to be good but I haven't read it. AllanHainey 10:38, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

You might have better luck asking your question at Portal talk:War. User:Zoe|^(talk) 17:45, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Water rising

Hi why does water expand when it rises? seeya madison.byfield --210.50.108.192 10:04, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Fall in air pressure if I understand the question correctly. Philc _T^E_C^I 10:08, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Your question is not very clear. Could you give us an example of this effect?--Shantavira 15:26, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Do you mean why does water rise when it expands? It does that because if it expands it becomes less dense than the water around it. It has the same amount of mass as before, but now it is in a larger area. So heavier water "falls" under it. This is why everything "floats". See buoyancy and convectionTastyCakes 15:59, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Thankyou guys 4 all the help. u gave me just the help i needed. :) Seeyas madison.byfield

Rosicky

On the BBC coverage of 2006 FIFA World Cup in england I noticed that the commentators repeatedly pronounced the czech midfielder Tomáš Rosickýs name as if it were Tomas Radzinski (i.e. Rad-ssin-skee), now this seems to me to be a very strange interpretation, as I have always heard it pronounced Ross-ik-key, and I was wondering if it were correct, or if they were getting confused with the also relatively well known footballer Tomasz Radzinski, despite the fact he is a canadian of polish origin, and not czech. Philc _T^E_C^I 10:07, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, the commentators are confused. If you really want a Czech expert you'd probably be best at the Language reference desk, but I believe that the correct pronunciation of the common Czech name "Rosický" is approximately "Rossitsky". And that "Tomáš" is pronounced "Tomash": it's the same as "Tomasz", just with Czech versus Polish spelling. —Blotwell 18:46, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Blotwell's right -- it's TOE-mahsh ROH-sitz-kee. In North America, they botch Czech and Slovak hockey players' names, too. -- Mwalcoff 00:26, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Tomáš Rosický's name is pronounced in /ˈto̞.maːʃ ˈro̞.sɪʦˌkɪ/ (using IPA notation). Roughly, you can pronounce it Tomash Rositski. — Gareth Hughes 00:50, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

One minor correction -- it's a long "i" sound at the end. The "ý" has an accent on it, since "Rošický" is an adjective name. -- Mwalcoff 03:43, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Is it just me who thinks that the IPA is the stupidest idea ever, tell me people how to pronounce things in their language, using a langauge nobody speaks! Philc _T^E_C^I 17:24, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

on a related note, it's not only the commentators confused on this coverage - the Togo vs. Rep. of Korea match had the scored listed on the screen alongside the ISO codes TOG and PRK. Someone should tell them which Korea was playing... Grutness...wha? 02:30, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Create and article

I know i have asked this before, but would some one please help me, i am STILL unable to create an artice, After answering a question an the age of the earth i wish to make my answer into an article. here it is. the days in the bible are correlatted as follows. The various eastern philisophical deities correspond to varios hirachies of angels and demonds all the way up to the supreme being which is the same in most monothiestic religions: 360 days of a human egauls 1 year krita yuga contains 1,728,000 years tetra yuga contains 1,296,000 years dwarpa yuga contains 864,000 years kali yuga contains 432,000 years the total of the said four yugas constitute a maha yuga 4,320,000 years 71 of such maha yugas form the period of the reign of 1 manu 306,720,000 intervals between the reign of each manu which is equal to 6 manu yugas is 25,920,000 the total of the reigns and the interrgnums of 14 manus is 1000 mahu yugas which constitute a kalpa or one day of the brahma 4,320,000,000 But the Brahmas night is of equal duration (the rotation of the sun with its binary dual) there fore one day and night of the Brahma is equal to 4,640,000,000 years 360 of such days constitute one year of the brahma or 3,110,400,000,000 human/mortal years

thank youAnton 10:22, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Try typing the exact title of the article after http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. I'm pretty sure there's a similar article in existence to the one you described though, you may want to Google some phrases first, or try asking at the Science reference desk. EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 10:45, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Umm, and you might want to provide a little context. Currently the "article" makes little sense. Where exactly in the bible are dwarpa yuga mentioned? Must have missed that bit.--Tagishsimon (talk)

Instead of creating a new article, you can contribute to the article Hindu cosmology which covers exactly this topic. --Canley 12:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

This is a joke, right? TastyCakes 16:01, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

no joke, im writing a book on the correlation between the major world religions and how they are all the same thing, and though this might be interesting to some people on wiki.

It is of interest, but original research is not welcome on wiki. I think there is plenty to do, both in Hindu cosmology and in comparative religion; your contributions would be welcomed and, I hope, appreciated. btw, the easiest way to start an article is to search for it using the search box to the left: if the article is not found a red link is provided to start the article. --Tagishsimon (talk)

This is not original research, it was first laid out by Dr Hunt former president of the Anthroposophical society, Prof Huxley, Mr Davis and Alice Bailey. so na nana na naa

creation

what is the purpose of our creation...what happens to us when we die...did any body have answers to these questions?????//

Though i suggest you don't, you could always jump off a bridge and find out... -Benbread 13:28, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I think that the poster of the question need to see this site instead of posting questions on the reference desk. (or see Meaning of life and (Portal:Philosophy) Jon513 13:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

For all intesive purposes, procreation. But as far as what happens to us after death, there are some conflicting opionions. bearing in mind no one exept maybe Jesus has died fully and come back. Therefore 1 we die 2 we go to heaven 3 we go to hell 4 we get reincarnated 5 we pass to another plane of existance 6 we pass into another form of vehicle but are you asking about what happens to the soul or the mind, which dies dead, or the body, this decays and becomes: food for worms and insects then dirt then dust.193.115.175.247 14:20, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

"Intensive purposes"? Don't you mean "intents and purposes"? JIP | Talk 14:28, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

wow, i always thought it was intensive purposes. i dont even know why. intents and purposes makes much more sense, thanks. --Ballchef 07:32, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Adhesive papooses ? --DLL 19:41, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

some other question tangle my mind that did this life ..this rise of the sun..that setting of the sun...the coming of days n nights...is this all ETERNAL...uptil how much time this process continue...????

No, it's not eternal, neither in the past nor in the future. The universe began about 13.7 billion years ago. We are as yet uncertain as to how and when it will end, but it will most likely either collapse back in on itself, or expand forever and end up as a diffuse, mushy, lukewarm soup. However, you don't really need to worry about either of these, they will happen an obscenely long time into the future. A more immediate concern is the sun - it started shining about 5 billion years ago (before which time there was no solar system, so no Earth, so no sunrise or sunset), and in about 5 billion years it will expand to form a red giant and swallow the Earth, before collapsing back in on itself as a white dwarf. However, even 5 billion years is a long time, so no need to worry about that just yet! — QuantumEleven 10:14, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

What, are you actually advocating procrastination, QE? How shocking! (lol). But seriously, there may have been no matter in existence prior to 13.7 bn years ago, but wasn't there still a heck of a lot of empty space? The space must have been there for the matter to expand into. By that reasoning, the universe didn't start 13.7 bn years ago, it started (if it ever started at all) whenever the empty space was put ... where it is. I personally have never been able to conceive of absolute nothingness, not even empty space. But that's just me. JackofOz 10:52, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

But, according to leading cosmological theories, the space itself also started 13.7 billion years ago, at the same time that the matter did. And it's not that the matter expanded from a point (or nearly so) into a bunch of empty space around it; it's that all the space there was at the time was a point (or very nearly so), and the space itself expanded. Along with space, time also began with the big bang, so it is meaningless to talk about "before the big bang." As Stephen Hawking notes, asking "what was before the big bang?" is like asking "what's north of the north pole?" Chuck 21:40, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

firstly the only thing constant is change so yes it will all end sooner or later and secondly, before the big bang there was nothing, the statement that there must have been something for it to expand into is false im afraid. read the article on expanding space, very interesting.81.144.161.223 15:50, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. I've been doing some reading, but I still hit a brick wall. Chuck says "all the space there was at the time was a point (or very nearly so), and the space itself expanded". But my question is, expanded into what? There must be space to enable expansion to occur, even if it's expansion of other space. If I could suddenly transport myself to the furthest point that any matter or space has travelled from the Big Bang, and then go a little further than that, where would I be? Space doesn't just stop. It goes on forever. Or are you saying it does just stop at some hypothetical place way out there? JackofOz 10:06, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Why do all salt & vinegar potatochips/crisps contain lactose?

Why? It doesn't really seem useful... don't you just mix vinegar in with the oil when making it, or drizzle it on later? Why lactose?

More guessing, from this: reduce sweetness and prevent discoloration, enhance browning. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Flour

Hello, I am trying to find the meaning of the word "entoleted", it is some process or treatment applied to wheat flour before distribution.

I have searched the net, online dicionaries etc. but can not discover what it actually means.

I would be grateful if you could find an answer.

Thanks, Bill

There is no such word in English. Have you checked the spelling? What language do you think it might be? Could you give us some context?--Shantavira 15:30, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

A few people disagree there's no such word. Not that it gets us any closer to understanding what it means. I'm going to guess that it has something to do with Particle Size Reduction, since a company called Entoleter has a form enquiring about the Incoming Particle Size and the Required Exiting Particle Size of that which is milled. --Tagishsimon (talk)

How interesting. It's a US Government requirement for something or other, but it's not defined. I like the Entoleter link as a start though ... --LarryMac 15:56, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

If you'd prefer to think of your flour as a clean wholesome product, perhaps you don't want to look at this page on the Entoleter site. I'd guess at this point that "entoleted" is coined from the company name, a generic trademark type of situation. --LarryMac 16:01, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Playing with verb-forms I get this:

The Infestation Destroyer (EID®) was designed by Entoleter and tested in conjuction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thousands of Entoleter Infestation Destroyers in mills worldwide confirm the efficiency of the unique EID centrifugal impact machine to destroy eggs, larvae, and mature infestation in flour and other grain products with a 100% effective kill rate. The importance of the EID in the flour milling industry is clear – “entoleting the flour” has long been a generic term that originated with the use of Entoleter’s Infestation Destroyer over several generations. Principle of Operation: A high-speed rotor is the only moving part in the processing zone of the Entoleter mill. Feed materials enter the rotor from the inlet(s) located at the top of the mill.As material enters the rotor, it is thrown outward due to the centrifugal force of the spinning rotor. The processed material then spirals to the bottom of the conical discharge hopper and out to conveyors or bins. [29]

"At this point, the wheat may be processed in an Entoleter, a trade name for a device with rapidly spinning disks which hurl the grains of wheat against small metal pins. Those grains which crack are considered to be unsuitable for grinding and are removed." [30]

Help at all? 57.66.51.165 15:59, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Entoleter would like you to know that "WE DO MORE THAN KILL BUGS!". This was a public service announcement on their behalf. Case closed, I think, good work people. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Whatever it means, I'm going to enjoy using it in everyday conversation. --Optichan 19:45, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Going About Article Modifications

I've been working a bit on modifying and editing the List of Portable Applications article, though it is no where near complete and have come to the conclusion that it may need a number of changes to ensure the it's accuracy, usability, and precision. The word "applications" in the title of the article is too general in that while it refers to software in its most general sense, other definitions include a wide range of topics. The term "Applications Software' is more specific and less open to interpretation which I believe would allow users seeking information on the subject an easier time finding it since both the terms "applications" and "software would come up in search. Additionally the article has become extremely unwieldly, topping 50kb with only minimal new additions. It would seem appropriate that the article be split into several categories along the lines of the Application Software article. How would I go about implementing this and who if anyone do I need to ask permission before going ahead with the above actions? --WalksWithGrizzlies 15:52, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

If you think it might be controversial or just want to be polite the best thing is to discuss major changes at Talk:List of portable applications. But really the idea is to be Wikipedia:Be bold in updating pages. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:16, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you Cambridge, I will certainly do that. --WalksWithGrizzlies 17:31, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

UK Joining the EU

Hi, are there any articles on UK joining the EU, of any kind, however big or small? Can anyone suggest anything...

I don't think there is anything specifically on the UK, but the UK's involvement is outlined in various articles like History of the European Union and there's also Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom. There are a bunch of links at the bottom of the EU article. TastyCakes 16:12, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

ditto refs from List of European Union member states. Are you looking for a wikipedia article, or anything on the net? A search such as this seems to yeild results. --Tagishsimon (talk)

There's Maastricht Rebels about the UK ratification of the treaty establishing the EU. 84.239.128.9 19:45, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

THANKS ALOT PEOPLE!! MUCH APPRECIATED.. Peace

rubbish

hey id like to know if any one could help, i was wondering how much house hold waste the uk produces a year. thanks. 213.122.75.75 18:05, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

• [31]. Shimgray | talk | 18:24, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

500kg, [32]. Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 18:48, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

AfDs - action taken

Is there a page, please, where the final action taken on AfDs is summarised? --BlueValour 19:18, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

It would be on the actual AfD page, such as Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Deviant Realms. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:48, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you. --BlueValour 02:26, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Afd removed

The AfD for Carmyle Primary School was deleted by an unregistered user. I have rv'd it but how do I stop this happening again?

Well, there's no way to completely stop it from happening, but you can leave messages about it on the anon's talk page, and if they keep it up, report them at WP:AN/I or WP:VIP, and an administrator will come around and block them. JIP | Talk 19:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you. --BlueValour 21:26, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

• Unregistered users can't delete pages, merely blank them. You can simply revert the blanking and warn them. If they continue you can have them blocked or semi-protect the discussion. - 131.211.210.11 07:43, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

He means that the afd notice was removed. DJ Clayworth 13:55, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Sex

I asked a question awhile back about Hydromorphone. I really never got the answer I was looking for. I was wondering if you would have to take it after you have surgery to remove something that might be grown inside your Uterus. Something like if a women were to become pregnant, but might want to have an abortion.

You may not have got the answer you were looking for, but I believe you got the answer to your question. People told you it was a pain-killer and that there was no way to tell what the pain was it was killing. Also, that you should ask the person themselves, rather than trying to guess from their medication. Skittle 19:56, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Baseball: Pitch Count Stats: Balls vs. Strikes

I have researched this and can not easily locate the answer so would be grateful for some help with a general question on recording pitch counts accurately.

When a batter hits the ball and it ends in an out, whether it is a ground out, force out, pop up or line drive out, regarding the pitcher, is the pitch added to his pitch count as a strike or a ball?

Alternatively, if the batter hits the ball and reaches safely due a clean hit or an error, does the pitch count get recorded as a ball or a strike?

Thanks!

KK

Pitches which the bat hits are all counted as strikes, regardless of whether they land foul or fair, and regardless of whether they result in hits or outs. Wild pitches (if not swung on) and hit batters count as balls in the pitch count. (ESkog)^(Talk) 20:13, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

If you have 2 strikes and it's hit foul it doesn't count as a strike. I don't think that's the guy's question though, he wants to know if a fair hit (or a foul hit that is caught) counts as a strike, and I have no idea. I don't think it's usually thought of like that, strikes and balls become meaningless when a fair hit is made. TastyCakes 21:20, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Only for the batter - they still divide the pitches into balls and strikes for the pitcher, in which case ESkog's answer applies. Adam Bishop

Thanks ESKOG...that's the answer I was looking for to record an accurate ball and strike count for a pitcher's statistics. I hadn't thought about the wild pitch or HBP so thanks for that extra piece of information too.*

MLB has a good site with all the rules,stats etc.for future queries D'Backs rule!(hotclaws**== 11:54, 14 June 2006 (UTC))

tennis string technology

While watching the French open recently, some Australian commentators were talking about changes in racquet technology, but said that in the last 2 years, the new string technology has made even more of a difference, providing prodigious spin. Does anyone know specifically what string(s) they are referring to? Or point me to a web site that talks about or sells this string? PS/ Congrats to Nadal on a "stifling" performance, even though I am a Federer fan. Hang in there Roger you will win the French one day! -- sandman

June 14

Football scores

When presenting the score for a football match, occasionally a second set of scores is given in parentheses (such as at 2006_FIFA_World_Cup_-_Group_F). What does the second set represent? Trevor Andersen 00:41, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Half time scores. Some people will bet on anything.MeltBanana 02

28, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

statistical anomalies

Reading the old bathroom reader about 5 minutes ago, I saw that "yellow and bright blue cars are statistically less probable to be in accidents."

Of course, nothing about the color itself affects the crash rate, but some color has to be on top. And it's not really random; that's just the way all the nonrandom events turned out. So what is this called? Is there an article on this? --Froth 00:43, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

But this is true! Those friggin' red and black cars zoom by me all the time! --Zeizmic 02:13, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Ah but in New Zealand it's silver that is safest and there is a pdf (98kb) here and of course there is Car safety#Color or Car safety#Colour. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 06:40, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

The car colour a driver chooses is related to his moods. Try to be peaceful in a red room! --DLL 18:54, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

But who's rich enough to have 50 cars all of different colours, to match any conceivable mood they might happen to be in? Or were you talking about the mood they were in when they bought the car? JackofOz 10:05, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

I think you might fail to realize that when the Reader says "statistically less probable" it means just that -- it doesn't mean "it just so happens that over the past x years, out of x million crashes, this color comes up a few dozen (but statistically insignifacant) times more often". I think you assumption Of course, nothing about the color itself affects the crash rate, but some color has to be on top is mistaken: no color "has" to come up on top by a statistically significant margin, as the Reader stated. (Btw as a rough approximation the square root of the sample size is what would be significant. So, while we would expect a given set of 10,000 coin tosses (starting now, for instance) not to result in exactly 5,000 heads and 5,000 tails (we "expect" one to come up on top), we do not expect this happen by a statistically significant margin. In order for one side to be "statistically less probable" [the phrase you copied from the Reader] one would have to come out on top by 100 out of the 10,000. So if you go ahead and toss a coin 100 times now, then 47 to 53 isn't an unusual result, but 42 to 58 is very unusual and implies you don't have a fair coin. If you toss your coin 100 times twice in a row, and heads wins 58 to 42 one time and 57 to 43 the next, you can be pretty darned sure the coin isn't being random enough. However, 54 to 46 and again 57 to 43 do not imply the same result [since the deviation is less than about the square root of 100, which is 10]. Indeed, this isn't unexpected: I guarantee you $1,000,000 to $10 that if you throw any "fair" coin 5 times it won't come up 50% heads and 50% tails. :)

A separate issue is that people don't get a random color car, so the color not only might effect accidents (not just because of visibility reasons, but the effect could be psychological on the driver -- driving a red car makes you more daring or something), it could also reflect something else, like safer drivers prefer psychologically safer colors, and therefore buy them. For example, if Ford introduced a color scheme almost identical to a black they have now, with the difference that it clearly shows a pirate (skullbones, etc) overlay, I would expect less safe people to prefer buying them. In this case, it isnt the color that causes accidents, rather the accident rate is reflected in the choice of color, which wouldnt happen if people were given a random color car (the color would still affect visibility, psychology of driver and oncoming drivers, etc). So statistically significant isn't enough to show causality one way or another, but if people got randomized colors it sure would be, and poring over accident statistics when Ford went from "any color as long as it's black" to real color choice should prove interesting, especially if somehow some people randomly got a non-black color (werent self-chosen into the new colors pool).

etc etc. any other questions? [Recap: "statistically significant" means something, and it's not that "one color HAS to come up on top" -- it doesn't have to: it could be about even for each color.]

82.131.188.126 19:13, 14 June 2006 (UTC).

individual business matter

Trying to find out about this gentleman.

MOSNEWS.COM According to the newspaper’s information, it is David Guggenheim, chairman of the board of New York-based company Dabir

Thankyou Mr. Loomis51 ,

Can you advise me on this person. He is Jewish. After all you are a lawyer. Perhaps , you will assist me somewhat futher.

I don't mine doing any buisness with you that would be benefical for all parties. i am looking for a lawyer to assist me in my oil ventures?

Let me know

15TH COMBINATION

Hi

does anyone know of the 15th combination attack from the Genesis rpg PHANTASY STAR IV? Closest i have to it is that the english version of the game had several spells removed,one of these being a technique "FEEVE" which was part of the combo. I cant find any other media regarding this so i cant even confirm whether the original japanese version retained the technique. Any help appreciated. cheers Logan

Sorry Logan, but we're not GameFAQs. You might want to try here instead. Proto||type 11:16, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia participation -- I am sooo lost!

I'm new to Wikipedia. Trying to read the instructions, but it's a bit overwhelming at first. I added a parapgraph and heading to an article, but I don't quite understand what happened.

I'm looking for a peer support forum where other users will answer questions about participating in Wikipedia when I get stuck. This doesn't seem to be it, but I can't find it.

Please advise.

Tim Bigvalleytim 02:18, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

You might want to start by editing your user page while you are learning WIki Markup, etc. ...IMHO (Talk) 02:23, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Try the Wikipedia:Help Desk. User:Zoe|^(talk) 02:26, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

• Wikipedia:Welcome, newcomers and Wikipedia:Tutorial are good places to start. - 131.211.210.11 07:40, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

---As an ex-new Wikipedian myself, (can you believe that such a creature can be allowed to exist?), I would caution you not to be too offended by respondents to any questions you might pose, using non-English expressions such as "suitly emphasi" or similar, which clearly serves only to emphasi their natural superiority over your own understandable ignorance of Wikipedia, and doesn't fulfil the commonly accepted purpose of an encyclopaedia, which is of course, to harvest, store, and disseminate information to those seeking enlightenment. Otherwise, you will, I feel sure, discover many extremely helpful respondents who don't behave in such a high handed and crass manner, but who instead, bend over backwards to either answer your questions directly, or else direct you to other sources of reliable reference. To that latter group, let me say how reassuring it is to know that you by far exceed in number, those sad and unfortunate members of the former group, who should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for attempting to belittle the efforts of others who are openly and honestly attempting to avail themselves of knowledge and information from a (new to them)previously undiscovered and rich seam of such material. Thankyou to all positively intentioned subscribers.

dont know what this is!

i bought a fish and it has a snake-like mouth, only two fins,and very long with spikes along its back. what is this?--71.81.51.178 02:58, 14 June 2006 (UTC)dustin

its a fish

Oh come on, we can crack this one! You could try starting with the fish article, and investigating some of the many links from there. To stand any chance of answering your question here we need a lot more information. Did you buy it at a fishmongers or supermarket, or a pet shop? What colour is it? How many spikes? How long is it? What shape is it? Round, thin, flat? Can you post a photo of it for us to look at?--Shantavira 08:31, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

If it's silver and you bought it from the fishmonger's, it might be a cutlassfish. They're excellent deep fried or cooked in soy sauce. --Kjoonlee 02:31, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

But it has to be fresh. They go bad relatively quickly, if I'm not mistaken. --Kjoonlee 02:40, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Is it a Pipefish ?? Go here for a picture. Or is it an Eel?--Valuefreeperson2 23:18, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Korean eating utensils

Why do Korean people use so many stainless steel eating utensils? Other than spoons and forks, many Koreans use steel bowls and chopsticks. In most Asian countries, these items are made of earthware, porcelain, wood, bamboo or plastics -- anything but metal because it's much easier to manufacture non-metal bowls and chopsticks. Some Korean chopsticks are nothing but two pieces of flat stainless steel. I don't think it's Korean tradition because stainless steel was only invented less than 100 years ago. Did the South Korean government encourage people to use stanless steel utensils as a way to strengthen national metal industry? -- Toytoy 07:01, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I asked this question of one of my Korean hosts when I was in Seoul in May, since it was the first place I had used metal chopsticks, and his answer was that they are easier to wash and re-use. Naturally, however, I have no idea if his answer accurately reflects the reasons that their use is so common, or if it's simply a rationalization of their use after the fact. As a side note, I did notice in the shops that the stainless steel utensils tended to be labeled as "modern <insert utensil name here>." --DavidGC 07:51, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I think I will visit Seoul this summer or after Christmas. If I can't get a good answer here, I'll ask. :) To a typical non-Korean chopstick user, stainless steel chopsticks are very very heavy. I've been using chopsticks ever since I was a baby, it still takes much time for me to get used to. I find the flat chopsticks especially difficult to use. There must be a great and wise reason for the Koreans to use metal bowls and chopsticks. Otherwise, why don't they use cheap bamboo or plastic ones. -- Toytoy 09:45, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't know if this is an urban myth, but I remember reading somewhere that Koreans are especially sought-after in the genetic manipulation field as technicians, becuase their fingers are unbelievably dextrous and they have an uncanny ability to work the controllers, which apparently stems from their use of metal chopsticks. I don't know if that's true, but I have Korean friends and they all have very dextrous fingers - they can twirl pencils like nobody else can. СПУТНИК^{CCC P} 12:46, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

This is more or less true. As far as I know, many IC and LCD fabs use chopsticks to test their applicants. They may give you a plate of mixed uncooked beans. You're required to separate the beans using chopsticks. If you accidently drop a bean, you're out. Being able to eat a bony fish properly with chopsticks is also considered a must for many jobs that require excellent hand-eye coordination. You need to eat the fish very quickly and without leaving a tiny bit of meat on the bones. Moreover, the fish head and bones must remain in one piece. From start to finish, you must not use anything other than the chopsticks to pick up the meat and place it in your mouth. Many people learned to do it because they eat fish almost every meal. Sorry, I cannot do it. I can finish a whole roasted 20 cm Pacific saury in three minutes. I swallow all these tiny bones. By the way, Wikipedia has an article on pen spinning. -- Toytoy 16:11, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Stainless steel utensils replaced heavy brass ones. I don't know why brass was used instead of ceramics, though. --Kjoonlee 02:50, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

I am not very sure, but brass utensils seems to be a health hazard if you use them improperly for a very long time. -- Toytoy 08:26, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Which is why they've been replaced by stainless steel. (Maybe.) One reason Korea used metal and Japan used wood is because metal was common in Korea and rare in Japan, according to a friend of a friend, but I don't know if that's really true. One reason Korea didn't use wood is because metal is much easier to clean. --Kjoonlee 07:28, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Shirts

What is the relationship between Atari & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and shirts?

To explain, other game companies [in refrence to Atari] don't have their company logo and/or name on any shirt, & for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you see people in their 20's wearing these shirts, but they don't wear Pokémon shirts.

(email removed to prevent spamming. answers will be posted here)

Thanks 24.70.95.203 06:58, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I see people in their 20s wearing Pokemon shirts, but not as many as wear Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirts. This is because people in their 20s used to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when they were small, whereas Pokemon came out when they were older. They often still watched it, but it doesn't have the same pull. I'm not sure I understand what question you're asking. Could you be more specific about where you think Atari comes into this? Skittle 09:25, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, what doesn't have the same pull?

Regarding Atari, what I meant is that you don't see people wearing shirts with the Nintendo logo; & if there are, I haven't seen any, or via extrapolation, not as much. Is it a meme? Was it due to mad advertising? But if it was due to mad advertising, how come Atari logoed tshirts only started to appear in the late 90's? I hope I explained this further & helped. & as how Atari comes into this, it is similar to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles phenomenon on tshirts, eh?

Please contact me (I removed you email address to avoid you being bombarded with spam Skittle 11:05, 15 June 2006 (UTC)), too that would be great.

Thanks

24.70.95.203 05:09, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

What I meant was that people in their 20s tend to feel nostalgic for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the way they used to feel about them. Typically, people this age were very 'into' them as children, so the thought of wearing them on a T-shirt now is very appealing. It also allows them to identify other people who watched them and liked them as much. Pokemon, while 'cool' on a T-shirt, were never as obsessively followed by the people who are currently in their 20s; they weren't as big a deal to them.

Atari, again, are something that certain people remember very strongly with very strong feelings. In addition, wearing an Atari T-shirt and getting misty-eyed about the brand suggests that you were 'into' very early computers and computer games, before most people had them. Hence, there is a certain social advantage in certain areas. However, I also see Nintendo T-shirts, particularly ones with just an image of the NES controller. I suspect it is worn for much the same reasons as the Atari T-shirts. There is also the whole 'old-school' appeal. Hope this helps a little. Skittle 11:05, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes I thought it had somthing to do with the Oldskool Appeal, but the thing is, there are A LOT of other things that could have the Oldskool Appeal, yet it hasn't caught on, i.e., game shows; how come they don't have shirts Advertising games shows in the past, for instance.

Regarding Identifying Other People Who Watched Them And Liked Them As Much, I find that hard to believe;; take for example how UNlikely someone would come up to you & say, 'Hey, I like Ninja Turtles, too!' [for example]... (Any comments?)

Thanks.

Thanks for removing my email, but I already get enough spam; doesn't hurt me anymore if I get more.

Please contact me [email removed], too that would be great.

24.70.95.203 06:09, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

The Atari logo is an "iconic logo" (see http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/a/logo.html); it is a simple graphic that has become identified with the company (cf the Nike "swoosh"). If other game companies had such a logo, you might indeed see it used on t-shirts. Additionally, it seems to be "hip" these days to wear clothing that somehow recalls the styles or images of the 1970s or 1980s. Cynically, it is all these kids wearing the same thing so they can be unique. --LarryMac 14:18, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Atari teenage riot.

Atari teenage riot? Can you say Sentence Frag or Forgot To Sign?:-S

24.70.95.203 06:03, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Islamic Question

Tell me can a husband taste his wife's breast milk (by Sucking) according to Islamic Religion? Thanks

Fundamental Islamists seem to me in some ways like puritan Christians, so having one's mouth or tongue touching one's spouse's breast or genitals (or vice versa) would I think be prohibited. Similarly, I would assume sodomy is right out.

Really? Some Christians prohibit kissing their wife's breasts? Never heard of that. If that is the case with Islam, would it be OK to express the milk and give it to the husband to drink? (Not sure why you would want to do that, of course) DJ Clayworth 13:51, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

That's just a guess - and, if I may be frank, is clearly from a position of the most superficial knowledge of the topic. I don't know the answer either, but I might suggest a bettter way to find out.

The best way to ask this question would be to ask an authority on Islam, which presumably means an imam. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge there aren't any imams contributing to the reference desk. That said, just like Christianity, there are distinctly different strands of thought in Islam, as the United States has collectively discovered with its Iraqi misadventure. So you might well get different opinions on the topic within different branches of Islam. --Robert Merkel 13:54, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

No need for the absolutely gratuitous political remark, Rob. The question was simply about religion, not international affairs. Loomis51 21:04, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

It is Forbidden that the husband can taste his wife's breat milk in Islam because Prophet Muhammad didn't say anything about tasting breast milk.

The above post doesn't seem to make any logical sense. I'm sure the Prophet Muhammed didn't say anything about watching TV or surfing the net, does that mean that these things are also forbidden? Are you saying that everything that Muhammed didn't say anything about is therefore forbidden? I'm assuming we must be experiencing some sort of linguistic difficulty and that the above poster did not mean exactly what s/he is trying to say. Loomis51 00:26, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

It's probably safe to assume that it's forbidden. Asking an imam or scholar of Islam would be the best way to know for sure, but that might be awkward to say the least. "I have this friend..." Bhumiya (said/done) 16:16, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I think the answer to Loomis51's rhetorical question is "Yes, all those things are forbidden, if you're unlucky enough to live in a fundamentalist theocracy." I believe the Taliban forbade all those things, and more. But at least they made the buses run on time. --Heron 16:37, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Heron, I'm with you 100% on the message you seem to be making, but you only raise further questions. Perhaps in mentioning television and the internet I picked poor examples, as it would only make sense for fundamentalist theocracies to forbid these types of things, since they may, God forbid, give their populaces access to a world of information and knowledge. Perhaps some better examples would be AK-47's, commercial aircraft loaded with innocent civilians, and "suicide" vests containing explosives that were only developed long after Muhammed's time. I'm certain the Prophet Muhammed didn't say anything about these things either, and therefore one would be forced to conclude that these things would be forbidden as well. Yet somehow they're not. Loomis51 18:35, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

It would be more likely prohibited than not, since it isn't strictly necessary for a man to suckle. It would at the very least be viewed as a frivolous misuse of a resource, if not an outright violation of God's law. I doubt it would be strictly prosecuted, however. It isn't necessarily sexual, nor extramarital, nor does it violate the authority of the husband, but it certainly wouldn't be sanctioned or smiled upon. Bhumiya (said/done) 22:44, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

I saw an interesting interview with a mid-level Iranian theologian on the news a few months ago while the nuclear issue was at its peak. The interviewer was discussing life in Iran and asking about their liberal attitude to drug abuse treatment, which didn't fit with the stereotypical view of Iran being a backward looking country. Through the discussion, the imam explained that the branch of Islam practiced in Iran has a reversed attitude to morality than what people in English speaking countries would have. In English speaking countries, we generally see new ideas and practices where the issue of morality hasn't been considered as a bad thing that should be avoided until it has been defined as moral. On the other hand, in Iran they see any idea as acceptable or moral until their leaders declare it to be immoral - this then leads to quite liberal attitudes when dealing with issues like drug abuse treatment and genetic experimentation. However, getting to the original question about milk, this is not a new idea and imams have likely made rulings on the morality of the issue centuries ago, though I too do not know the answer. Road Wizard 23:09, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

jaon baez

does any one know where i can get the chords or tabs to the songs: For Sasha, Song at the end of the Movie, and After the Deluge by joan baez, i wanna learn them but cant find them ANYWHERE. thanks

its not for public performance i just wanna play em for my enjoyment, please, NE1?

Searched the web with three keywords and two quotes. "For Sasha" lyrics. --DLL 18:34, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Oops, it's harder for chords. Some bloody copyright still in use ? I'm trying to invent a "growing old" pill to give to Joan. --DLL 18:47, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Ginger players

How many ginger players are there at the 2006 FIFA World Cup? 82.109.186.194 09:23, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

If you mean players with red hair, I doubt whether anyone knows, but you could try asking here. --Shantavira 09:38, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

The prime candidates for redhead players are the US, Australian, and possibly the English squads. The photos aren't very good, but here's one of the Socceroos. AFAICT, only Craig Moore is a candidate for being a carrot top, and the photo isn't good enough to tell. Here's the USA's World Cup Roster, and the English Squad. Then again, the Japanese and Korean squads might well feature somebody who's died their hair red. --Robert Merkel 14:10, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Kim Källström is the only other one (Moore is definitely a ging) I can think of at the moment. Germany used to have a ging or two, but I think they're clear of that affliction right now. All the players are listed at 2006 FIFA World Cup (squads).
 SLUMGUM  yap  stalk  14:23, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

With the retirement of Paul Scholes from international football, and the unfortunate injury to Wes Brown, I can confirm there are no gingers tainting the English squad at the 2006 Fifa World Cup. Boris Becker is commentating for Germany TV, but I don't think that counts ... Proto||type 15:20, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Hair color claims 3% of the US population have red hair. Taking Americans to be a representative sample of the world population (with their immigration history, probably justifiable) and the world cup squads to be a representative sample of all the people on Earth (again, probably justifiable) we can say that the expected number of gingers playing will be 0.03 × 23 players per team × 32 teams = 22.08 ginger players. This also assumes that the two variables are independant - that hair colour is not a factor in determining presence in the US or talent at world-class football. This might not be justifiable... Tyrhinis 14:08, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

The free web-based e-mail service with the largest PER MAIL capacity

The commercial database currently I am using has a nasty bug. It can never transfer too many files to me with each download. I think it's a good idea to let it send file packages to my mailbox. However, my mail server does not accept files that are larger than 5 MB.

Is there a free web-based e-mail service that can receive really huge e-mails? -- Toytoy 12:20, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Gmail is good for larger attachments, but I think it's capped at 10MB per email... you might want to try an ftp or similar direct file transfer. 82.109.186.194 12:40, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Yahoo Mail is also capped at 10MB per message. --Richardrj 13:09, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Skype. They say there are no limits for files. --DLL 19:04, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Yup, Skype has no limit to the filesize you can send, as long as both computers can handle it. It's because Skype transmissions go your comp. > other comp., instead of your comp. > server > other comp. Wizrdwarts (T|C) 22:59, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

PHP forum

Hi

I am a software engineer working with PHP and the same time am a reserch student of military technologies. Where i can join in to a PHP forum in wikipedia

                                                        Thanking You
                                                          Sreekanth
                                                            Sreekanthg 12:27, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

You seem to have misunderstood something - Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a programming forum. We have an article on PHP which you are of course welcome to read and contribute to (just like any other article on Wikipedia!), however, Wikipedia isn't the place for discussion of how to program in PHP. For that, you'd be better off at a specialised website - take a look at some of the links on php.net. — QuantumEleven 13:19, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

saftey of flying small plane vs. safety of driving Rt. 29N in Central Virginia

Looking for statistics on fatality rates for driving short distances (100 miles or less) versus flying in a small 4-seater private plane with an experienced pilot. Thanks in advance.

Wasn't this asked and answered recently? However, you should be able to find an approximate answer at transportation safety. You'll have to check with some local authority (say, the sheriff) if you want specific data on a given road. — Lomn 14:42, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Here are some aggregate statistics for driving and [33] flying. If we assume that the average GA plane cruises at roughly 120 mph, the statistics give a fatality rate of about 15.8 per 100 million vehicles miles, compared to roughly 1.46 for cars. However, those numbers aren't really that good a comparison for your purposes. The aviation includes high-risk flying such as crop dusting (which is apparently so dangerous that a career crop duster pilot stands a 30% chance of dying on the job) aerobatics, Alaskan bush pilots, and so on. Similarly, the vehicle statistics include low-speed local driving which represents a relatively low risk of fatality (but also include drunk and inexperienced drivers and poor road conditions). Still, if I were buying a light plane, I'd seriously consider all the safety-increasing options I could afford, notably the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System--Robert Merkel 14:43, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

So, at some point/distance it becomes safer to fly than it would be to drive... how would I determine this?

Copyright types

Is there a table that shows each copyright type and its characteristics? ...IMHO (Talk) 14:29, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Copyright laws vary with local legislation, and the issue is well covered in the Copyright article, with subpages for the copyright laws of some countries. I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are looking for, but we have a list of software licences. --vibo56 ^talk 20:32, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Where's a good place to download film and game trailers?

And I mean download in the sense that I get to save an AVI, MPG, MOV, etc etc

Have you tried Google Videos? ...IMHO (Talk) 14:52, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

They won't let me download videos in a convenient format that'll play on my XBMC, such as RMVB, AVI, MPG, MP4, MOV, etc.

Google's video format, GVI, is actually a AVI with a different name. Try renaming "file.gvi" into "file.avi" and see if that works. Wizrdwarts (T|C) 22:56, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I think Dark Horizons is a nice website to visit. -- Toytoy 15:38, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Unknown book

I don't know if I am really meaning Misery, but my English studies teacher was talking about it. The book is, to cut a long story short, about a woman who murders her husband with some meat (a large piece of lamb, I think). She then, after murdering her husband, goes down to the shops etc and when she returns acts as though she doesn't know what has happened. She then cooks the lamb (or whatever animal it was) and phones the police. The police come to investigate, but serves the lamb to the police officer, and thus gets rid of the murder weapon. Does anybody know what book this is? Thanks, Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 15:51, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I know it's by Roald Dahl, but I've momentarily forgotten the name. Hang on. Skittle 15:57, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't think it's Misery. It's a TV series episode, though it may well have been based on a short story. The episode name is Lamb to the Slaughter. Here's a reference [34] I dimly remember seeing a version on Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected TV show too. DJ Clayworth 15:57, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

It's the short story Lamb to the Slaughter; some people at my school did it for GCSE. I found it on List of Roald Dahl short stories. Skittle 16:03, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

The catch phrase is found in Jeremiah 11:19. It is now 18:26, so just wait a little. --DLL 18:26, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Monkey brains...People from which country/countries eat monkey brains?

Hi people...ive been told that there are few countries who eat monkey brains as delicacy... can anyone justify this with any links to websites etc please? I couldnt find anything in google!! I dont belive it though but wouldnt mind to read justfying articles on it or proofs! thanks—Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.118.251.61 (talk • contribs)

• I always thought it was Canada—Yi^pe 15:53, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
  • Nah, our monkeys are too busy with politics.--24.231.16.109 05:12, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

i think your watching to much Indiana Jones.

Quite true, I remember that! Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 16:13, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

There's an article on this at Wikipedia's good friend, the Straight Dope. --Shantavira 17:50, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Spam Mail

Much of the spam e-mail I receive is for 'the little blue pill' Viagra, Cialis, and Levitria. Doesn't one have to have erectile dysfunction to use those pills anyway? And wouldn't most people just go to their doctor? Reywas92 16:11, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Some men like to use those drugs recreationally, and a reputable doctor would not write a prescription for them unless there was an actual need. Thus the spammers have yet another thing to hawk. Of course it is quite likely that what the spammers are selling is a useless lookalike, but what do they care? They'll have their money - or even some fool's credit card information. --LarryMac 16:17, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

If only those fools would stop replying to emails, spam would be killed off overnight.--Shantavira 17:52, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I'd assume you'd need erectile dysfunction for them to work properly, but the spammers don't care. They're probably not actually selling anything at all. --Optichan 18:52, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I think the answer about "recreational" use is a good one (as well as the others). IANAD, and I've never used any of those pills, but I would imagine that a man that doesn't have "full-out" ED would still "enjoy" the "benefits", as they would likely dramatically "improve" sexual performance by providing "extra-duration" during intercourse. I'm writing all these words in quotes because these drugs, just like pretty much all other pharmaceutical concoctions, if not taken with GOOD, SOUND advice from a GOOD doctor, are very risky and can be a serious threat to one's health. And that's if you're actually getting the real thing. If you're lucky, you'll simply be ripped off for a few bucks (as well as have your credit card info revealed) and be sent a harmless placebo. If you're unlucky, who knows what you may be putting into your body. Loomis51 20:42, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Just a tip about SPAM I'd like to add. I may be wrong, and if anyone can confirm or deny this fact I'd be very grateful. From what I understand, if you ever get SPAM that has a hyperlink at the bottom saying something along the lines of "I do not wish to receive any further solicitations from your company" or "Please remove me from your email list", by all means, DON'T click on it! These are traps! They are the exact opposite of what they purport to be. They tell the SPAMMER that s/he has in fact located a "live" email address, and the inevitable result will be to actually INCREASE the amount of spam you get, since evidence of "live" addresses will inevitably be sold to other SPAMMERS. Loomis51 20:51, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Wow. I never knew that. Thanks for the tip. --Passerby Cat ^{talk cat} 02:59, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Not only that, but if you set up an out-of-office autoreply while you're on holiday, it will respond to all the spam and thereby confirm your address. I noticed a huge increase in spam after I returned from a recent holiday, and I'm sure that's the reason.--Shantavira 07:25, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Would it be possible to set an autoreply program to only reply to addresses that you've sent mail before? This would take care of the problem with spam mails you described. JIP | Talk 08:49, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes it would be. Many email services/applications allow a setting that routes mail from addresses not already in your addressbook or recent recipients to your bulk folder. Mail in your bulk folder should not be automatically responded to. If it is you should switch your email service because that's just stupid. I've found Gmail to be a very good service, once you get past the various privacy concerns the Google Watch people raise. If you want a Gmail invite you can get one from me. Just go to my user page to email me. (For the record I think they are generally as nuts as the Wikipedia Watch folks, although both manage to make a couple of decent points in the midst of their tirades.)—WAvegetarian•(talk) 21:30, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree with you about the link thing... Unless you genuinly subscribed to something like that, then clicking the link is likely to get you more spam. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way... I get more than 100 spam emails a day... Google Mail is very good at filtering them out though. --62.254.220.101 08:22, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

On Viagra & 'recreational uses' I've heard that they're popular with frequent ecstacy users as, apparently, after a few E's it's hard to get it up so they use viagra, etc. AllanHainey 07:24, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Football (Soccer)

1) What are some reasons football (soccer) does not have much popularity in America? 2) Why is it the most popular sport for kids, but much lower in the sport rankings for adults? Reywas92 16:15, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I will look that up. General Eisenhower • (at war or at peace) 16:19, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

1) Perhaps something to do with its British connections after the American Civil War, 2) the energy levels required to play are quite high (compared to tennis and tiddlywinks, anyway)- older players do seem to be more prone to serious injury at a professional level too.

And I thought Wikipedia would be football free!

EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 16:29, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

What do you mean British connections after the Civil War? I always thought it was just because at the time soccer was becoming popular elsewhere, America already had more than its share of "national sports" - Baseball, Football and later Basketball. TastyCakes 17:19, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Some suggestions for part (1) based on American stereotypes: Because 45 minute periods are too long - Americans need more time outs to advertise and eat fast food. It has its roots in other parts of the World, and most Americans don't know that the rest of the World exists. It's a non-contact sport which does not satisfy their blood lust. The percieved lack of goals does not satisfy their capitalist urges. ...And some other reasons related to American stereotypes that I can't think of right now.
 SLUMGUM  yap  stalk  17:39, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

They should have watch the USA v Italy game them, Brian McBride was covered in the stuff! and was it at USA 94 that Edmundo knocked a USAnian player out with his elbow?--DPM 10:23, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

From what I've heard it's more popular for kids because due to the current "touch me and i'll sue your pants off" attitude in the US, some schools are to worried about legal action to play a game with as little control as american football, i.e. someone gets hurt, and their money dissapeares.

Regarding to the less popularity with adults, football has had several bouts as one of the most popular sport in america, including when the NASL was about, and in the 1930s when the US team was relativley succesful. Since then popularity has waned, partly due to the collapse of the NASL which was run by a bunch of people looking to make a quick buck after seeing how succesful the New York team was (cosmos?) a lot of people bought into the NASL unaware of the investment that had gone into that team in order to reap the rewards. After the NASL collapsed there was no football for americans to follow until the MLS set up almosr a decade later, this coupled with the desperately cautious approach the MLS takes in order to prevent a repeat of the NASL (notably limiting the allowance of international quality players) and the fact that the american public, whos heart was captured for a breif moment by talents such as Pele, lost all interest after the collapse, and it hasn't regained since. Philc _T^E_C^I 17:12, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Has it occured to anyone that soccer is very popular with kids because its such an incredibly simple sport? The basics of soccer are so incredibly easy to understand. Think about it, what's easier for your little 5 year old munchkin to understand, the basics of soccer: "Run after the ball, kick the ball, and try to kick it inside that square thing with the net behind it. If you do then yay!!!!! your team gets a point. Oh, and don't use your hands" -- or the basics of baseball: "Stand in the batter's box and try to swing the bat and hit the ball whenever it's thrown inside a little imaginary box that stretches from your armpits to your knees in height, and is the width of that odd shaped five sided flat thing on the ground. If you hit the ball and it lands between the two white lines drawn on the field that form a 90 degree angle, the hit is considered "fair", whereas if it falls outside, it's foul. If the ball is caught by a player of the opposing team, whether fair or foul, before touching the ground, you're "out", with the exception of when it's caught by that very heavily padded guy behind you, in which case it must have flown in the air at least six feet after your bat touched it for it to be considered an out. The exception to that exception is that if you happen to have two strikes agianst you (a whole other topic), and the heavily padded guy behind you catches it, if your bat has only slightly touched the ball and it hasn't flown over six feet into the air, you're still out." And what I've just gone through is probably just about 2% of the rules of baseball! Young kids love soccer because it's fun and simple. It's American adults that prefer more complicated sports. In fact soccer is EXTREMELY popular among American children. What's more North American than a good old soccer-mom using her mini-van to drive her kid to soccer-practice? Loomis51 20:18, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

In all fairness if you simplify baseball to the same extent that you simplified football, it would be when i throw the ball at you if you hit it and run round me you win, but if I catch it you lose. You have three tries. The reason baseball is so un-enticing to the young 'uns I think is because its desperately boring unless your a fanatic. Either your standing in a field, waiting, or on a bench, waiting. Then every hour or so, you get about 30 seconds to do the thing you waited for, hit the ball. But yes football is a really simple concept, which can be quickly grasped, even by simpler minds. Whilst things like american football, again for children, to much violence and advatage to 'the big kids' to mcuh waiting, to many rules, complicated and discontinuous play. Philc _T^E_C^I 20:38, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Are you sure you're not confusing cricket with baseball? I'm not saying complicated=good and simple=bad. That would imply that I like American/Canadian football, which in fact I cannot stand, while I would tend to dislike hockey, a significantly simpler sport than American football, which I in fact like. But to say that baseball is a simple sport, love it or hate it, is extremely innacurate. The "official rules of baseball" are practically as thick as the telephone book of a small town, whilst there simply aren't enough details and rules to football to require the sacrifice of a good part of a tree. In any case, say what you will about baseball. It's my sport and I love it. But you mention boring: How else would you describe watching a couple of dozen grown men kick around a ball, for what seems like hours, with the score often remaining nil-nil?

There are some interesting sidenotes to this question. It's easy to find people and studies that claim American Football is popular because of the violence, but then why is hockey not more popular? Also look at the rankings for both the woman's and men's national team. Pretty good when compared to soccer mad countries listed below them. One thing I see at Soccer in the United States is the low TV audience (see the footnote), also look at Sports in the United States. One thing with the simplicity of the game may have to do with the field and equipment. American Football takes more equipment, as does hockey (plus the need for ice). All the others, soccer, baseball & basketball, use less equipment. Also think of the number of people required to play or practice. Only basketball and soccer can be played/practiced by one person. While baseball can be prcticed by two people it's not much fun for the person pitching who has to retreive the ball. And of course you can compete at basketball and soccer with only two people. In this case soccer only requires a ball while basketball requires a ball and a net set at a suitable height. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:50, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Football = simple? Explain the offside rule! The basics are simple, but then so are the basics of baseball (as said). The details get, well, detailed, because the sports have been around for long enough for people to try to get round rules and play in unsportsmanlike ways. Interestingly, some studies have suggested the football is the most exciting of the popular spectator sports because of the low scoring; it is much more likely that the 'David' will win than in other games. 22 people constantly interacting with each other and a ball versus people taking it in turns to hit a ball and run? I know which I find more exciting :-D Each to their own. Skittle 22:06, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Indeed, if the offside rule is the most complex aspect of soccer you can think of, it only strengthens my position that soccer is a relatively simple game. Should I go into details? It's very similar to the offside rule in hockey actually. Basically, if a player is in the offensive half of the field, and he is closer to the goal than the ball is, as well all opposing players other than the goaltender, he is offside. If and when he gets "involved" in the play of the game, the fact that he is offside becomes an offence. And just to prove to you that I didn't simply research the rule and basically repeat it, I'll give you the obvious rationale for it (which would, I would imagine, be quite a bit more difficult to find than a simple explanation of the rule). It's actually pretty simple: It would be extremely unfair to allow a player to wait around at the opposing team's goal while all the game action is going on at the other end of the field, just hoping for one of those giant kicks by one of his teammates, leaving him all alone at the other end of the field with only the goaltender to stop him. And I actually know relatively little about football.

Now that I've explained the offside rule in football, it's your turn. I'll give you a relatively simple one: Explain the "infield fly" rule in baseball, and just to prove that you didn't simply do a bit of web-research, explain to me the rationale of the rule, with an example of why it would be unfair not to have it. Have fun! Loomis51 00:04, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I didn't say baseball was simple, I simply said that it is if you simplify it to the same extent as football was in that example, as he mentioned a lot of specific rules and boundries in the example of baseball, but none for football. Philc _T^E_C^I 23:07, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Ah, yes, the great question of our time. Why do Americans and Brits listen to the same music and watch the same movies but play different sports?

Actually, it's a fairly easy question. Most American sports fans think soccer is boring. The real question is why do American sports fans think soccer is boring when Brazilians and Mexicans and Italians think it's the most exciting thing in the world?

My own personal opinion is that Americans are used to sports where people run at full speed for short periods of time. Soccer appears to Americans to be a much slower game. There appears to be a lot of kicking the ball around midfield, jogging and looping crosses that seem to hang in the air forever. To a British person, American football might seem boring because the players spend a lot of time standing around in huddles. An American-football fan would say that the time in between plays doesn't count, but what's important is that whenever the ball is in play, players are running at full speed. Basically, soccer is more like watching a marathon, while American sports are more like watching a series of 100-meter dashes.

The other thing that differentiates American sports from soccer (and rugby) is that American sports, especially football and baseball, are divided into dozens of individual "plays" rather than spread out over 90 minutes. This creates several games-within-games. In American football, for example, you only get four chances to move the ball 10 yards, so every few plays, there is either a victory for the offense or the defense. From an American's perspective, something is always happening in a football or baseball game, while all that happens in soccer is about one goal every for 45 minutes of game play.

Finally, the fragmented nature of American sports allow for far more strategizing than soccer appears to have. Before each play of an American-football game, each team will choose one of dozens of plays from its playbook. The coach factors in things like the down, distance, field position, time remaining, score, etc., in choosing which play to run. This strategizing is what makes football football. A fake field goal that goes for a touchdown isn't a particularly amazing athletic feat, but the surprise factor and the chutzpah of the play call make it really exciting to fans. Soccer is a very different sport. Americans aren't used to watching athletics for sheer athleticism.

I don't think it's a coincidence that when you rank the "big four" American sports by popularity -- football, baseball, basketball, hockey -- you're also ranking them by increasing levels of spontaneity. It's also no surprise that basketball and hockey, the most spontaneous of the American sports, are also the ones popular in parts of Europe. -- Mwalcoff 01:18, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

"Basically, soccer is more like watching a marathon, while American sports are more like watching a series of 100-meter dashes." Exactly, just the same old thing over and over.... Also hockey is essentially exactly the same as association foorball, except sticks are used to hit the ball. Philc _T^E_C^I 13:23, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Whenever North Americans say 'hockey' they mean 'ice hockey', which is certainly not the same as soccer but with sticks, as anyone who has ever been involved in the regular mid-game fights will tell you. DJ Clayworth 19:07, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

The reason football is so widely played across the world is almost undoubtedly because all you require is a ball. The 'pitch' can be any size, it needn't necessarily be square, and jumpers can be used for goalposts - assuming you even bother with goals. Kids in America have far less time on their own than elsewhere in the world - their so-called "free time" is more regimented and timetabled by their parents than in other countries, and they are far less likely to be allowed to play in the street or in a park unsupervised than in Brazil or England. So they have less experience of the simple joy of a kickabout. What soccer they do play is tightly controlled by adults, with all the pressure that implies, and when you're doing that you might as well play rugby/American football or baseball/cricket. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 11:42, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

You dont even need a ball... All you need is something of the appropriate size and weight, that doesnt hurt to kick.. Ahhh, memories of football with a coke can... Philc _T^E_C^I 13:27, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Probably the wierdest thing I've ever used for playing soccer was an American football -- the pointy ends means it never goes where you kick it. --Serie 20:32, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

More surreal was playing with an old trainer; trying to make it curl was a game in itself. I did score a free kick with it, but whether that was the wall being afraid of a flying boot or any skill on my part is debatable. --Sam Pointon 19:27, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm American, and not interested in any sports as a fan, but I do find these cultural oddities interesting. The American ambivalence to association football might have something to do with the fact that there are more major sports in the US than in any other nation. I can think of only two sports televised in Britain: cricket and football. Is rugby ever televised? And I won't count tennis, which is everywhere, but not particularly important. In most countries, it's only football that has a wide following and major televised coverage. In the US, on the other hand, there are always four or five major sports in a given area: baseball, American football, basketball, and hockey or motorsports, depending on your region. There's also multiple levels of sports. Where I live, college football is massively popular, in addition to the NFL. It could be that the US market is simply oversaturated. This might also explain why non-American football fans are so maniacal. They have to concentrate their enthusiasm into one sport, while Americans have more sports than they know what to do with. What many non-Americans don't realize is that lots of Americans are interested in football, and in the World Cup in particular, even if they don't follow the sport locally. Many of my classmates watched the World Cup religiously, even though I had never known them to watch football at any other time. If American football ceased to exist, association football would surely find an audience in the US. Bhumiya (said/done) 00:01, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

This is one of the theories: That there is only so much room for major spectator sports in a country, and that the "slots" in the US are already taken. But NASCAR has recently become an arguably "major" sport nationwide, proving that the existence of other sports is not a barrier to the rise of new ones. -- Mwalcoff 08:16, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

That's true unless they're similar. NASCAR was able to succeed because no other such sport existed at the time, or if it did, it had not reached any sort of monopoly. A monopoly is precisely what American football enjoys in the USA. Association football and American football are sufficiently similar that the former is viewed as a competitor. Soccer is simply too similar to gridiron to interest American fans. They think "Why bother? I already have this." Both games are played on the same kind of field, both involve running, passing, scoring goals, etc. Soccer is just different enough to seem unfamiliar and "foreign", but not different enough to provide a different sensation in the viewer. In the same way, most Americans view cricket as a counterpart, rather than a complement, to baseball. Hence, baseball is nonexistent in cricketing countries and vice-versa. I think Americans are just slightly more likely to adopt association football as the rest of the world is to adopt American football. I wouldn't read too much into this, though. The USA has historically had the ability to support its own sports autarky, and they happened to prefer a weird form of bastardized rugby instead of the British variant of the game that spread to the rest of the world. Maybe someday the American appetite for entertainment will be able to support another major sport. When that day comes, soccer seems the most likely candidate. Personally, I'd like to see cricket adopted. Bhumiya (said/done) 08:45, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't know if that works, either. Rugby is far more similar to American football than soccer is, yet both rugby and soccer are major sports in Britain and South Africa. The two kinds of rugby are both popular in the UK and Australia. Arena football has done quite well in the US despite its similarity to the outdoor version. -- Mwalcoff 11:00, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Rugby's at least as televised as tennis in the UK, if not more - Sky Sports certainly seem to promote it much more heavily - but yeah, we do only really have rugby/soccer/cricket/tennis that we're interested in. My own pet theory is that countries are only interested in sports that they might win, or rather the sports that they're most likely to win at. That's why Brits love rugby and cricket - we're fairly good at them - and soccer, well, we mostly concentrate on the domestic games where it has to be a brit team who win, or cling to some absurd fantasy that we stand a chance at the World Cup. Tennis and cricket also have a whole load of associated class and social implications, too. Americans, likewise, focus on stuff that American teams tend to win; baseball, American football, basketball, ice hockey (the fact that they mostly win because no-one else plays doesn't matter, it's patriotic). Small countries like, oh, Trinidad & Tobago get behind the FIFA World Cup because it's an international sporting event at which they stand a reasonable chance of beating one of the seeded teams, for the David-vs-Goliath reasons noted above. Rugby, with its large scores, is much more dependent on consistent and skilful playing, which means that the result is almost always due to skill/tactics/ability and not luck, so the only countries really interested (the Six Nations, basically) are the ones who can put up a strong team. You can't just throw together a load of random celebrities and beat a proper rugby team, but with football you just might. Tyrhinis 13:56, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, there's very little international competition in the big four North American sports to begin with. There's obviously no real international competition in American football. Baseball just had its first international competition with big leaguers, but it was seen as just a prelude to the MLB season. International competitions in basketball and ice hockey are generally ignored in the U.S., with exceptions like the 1980 Olympic hockey tournament and 1992 Olympic basketball tournament.

I think by now soccer has sort of found its niche in the USA. In past World Cup years, there's been a battle between commentators who say "soccer is the dumbest thing in the world and a threat to the American way of life" and those who say soccer is going to take the U.S. by storm any day now and become our new national pastime. A consensus may be emerging that soccer can succeed in the U.S. as a second-tier pro sport with crowds of around 20,000 in purpose-built stadiums and games on cable TV. -- Mwalcoff 21:00, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately, many of the above posts are riddled with inaccuracies. As a college soccer player myself (and recreational American football player), I hope to clear these up. The point about the simplicity of soccer's setup is very accurate - oftentimes, all that's needed is a ball, sometimes not even that. With American football, expensive pads and equipment are generally required, and field goal posts are not as easily substituted as soccer goalposts.

Nearly any sport is unpopular with some individual because of a perceived boringness about that sport. In America, that perception about soccer is widespread, fueled by sports commentators. There are many reasons why it's considered boring: the low score counts of 1s or 2s (granted, if soccer awarded its players 7 almost guaranteed points for a goal, then the scorlines would look quite different), the perceived slowness of the game (conveniently ignoring the fact that soccer produces some of the fastest sprinters in the world - e.g., Marc Overmars), or (this is my favorite one) the horrendously ill-conceived perception that soccer isn't a contact sport. Looking at the last U.S. game vs. Italy, where Brian McBride stood on the sidelines momentarily to patch up the blood pouring down his face (he later got three stitches under his eye), I would have to disagree. Generally, the people spouting off such a stupid misperception haven't touched a soccer ball in their lives; if they've watched the game, it's only been at their six-year-old daughter's little league match.

If soccer was televised regularly, everything would be a different story. One post pointed out that soccer isn't televised (and hence, unpopular - one and the same in a sense), because Americans supposedly utilize breaks to grab a beer or make a short hop to McDonalds. While the inability to stop the game for 45 minutes at a time is the cause of its absence from U.S. television, it isn't because of the American sloth. It's because advertisers can't benefit NEARLY as well from one big break instead of a bunch of little commercial breaks. Basically, because of the nature of the game, soccer doesn't draw in as much revenue for TV ads, and as a money-maker isn't appreciated. There you go. Tristam 02:52, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Except that when soccer has aired on U.S. TV, it's gotten pretty low ratings. The MLS Cup got a Nielson rating of 1.0, compared to about 10.0 for a typical Sunday afternoon NFL game. Even the recent USA-Italy World Cup game, which was considered a ratings success, only got a 5.7 rating. I'm afraid that game isn't going to improve the image of soccer in the U.S. There's few things American sports fans hate more than players who pretend to be hurt to get a foul called on the other team, then hop off the stretcher as soon as they reach the sidelines. -- Mwalcoff 22:35, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Mwalcoff - unfortunately, the Italians are notorious for that. But shouldn't that increase an American's desire for his team to win? Either way, you missed my point - because of the nature of the game, soccer was never able to take root in the U.S., and you can't seriously expect one match on television to change that. If soccer ever does become truly popular in America as a spectator sport, the process will be gradual, although it looks like it's beginning to overtake ice hockey's ratings. Tristam 04:53, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

You're probably right about hockey. Game 7 of the NHL Finals got only a 3.3 rating, despite airing in primetime. The NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City didn't even show Game 6, because they wanted to show the Real Salt Lake MLS game instead! -- Mwalcoff 03:12, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

I think it should be noted that there seem to be a few people here saying that football (I refuse to use the term soccer, its called football, end of) is not liked by USAanians because its too simple. Its my opinion theres a misconception here as though, and especially with games like those in the world cup, it may 'look' very simple, it takes great skill as far as the players are concerned and tactical awareness and savvy as far as the managers are concerned to give it this appearance of simplicity. Its not simple, just like its not called soccer. --DPM 08:50, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Isn't it somewhat ironic that you are adamant that other countries should have to use the British word for the sport (even though the word "soccer" is of British origin), but you call Americans what Americans call themselves? -- Mwalcoff 22:31, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

We don't want you to use the 'british' word for the sport, just the right word, whatever the origins of the word soccer, its wrong. Philc _T^E_C^I 11:00, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Very true. Football came first and is called so, all other types of football are prefixed accordingly i.e. gaelic football, aussie rules football, american football, rugby football and so on. Football it is and always will be. --DPM 15:14, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually, American football and soccer came from a common ancestor; our football didn't come from soccer any more than humans come from monkeys. But don't worry -- we'll start calling soccer "football" right about when we start spelling words with all those extra U's and adopt the metric system. -- Mwalcoff 22:47, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Wiki Problems

Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this, but, I'm having a bit of trouble with a Wiki I run. For some reason, the image on this article wont display properly. It works fine if I chose not to show it as a thumbnail, but as a thumbnail, I get that error message. Any ideas? --Saxsux 18:13, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

What is the file extention and how many pixels is the original and the thumbnail? ...IMHO (Talk) 18:29, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Whoops, sorry - I just realised I did the link wrongly. Fixed now. The thumbnail isn't being generated properly. The image is a JPG, 100 x 725 pixels. --Saxsux 18:36, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Your wiki may also prefer png. ...IMHO (Talk) 18:39, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Corporate Finance Topic on Basic Goods

Please define "basic goods." Is this non-durable, durable or what kind of goods.

-Dao

Try google, like this this or this --vibo56 ^talk 20:43, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Marathon Infinity Vacuum BOB sounds

Does anyone know a way to extract the sounds used for the vacuum BOBs in Marathon Infinity from the files available for Windows (i.e. for Aleph One) at the Trilogy Release website or if there's somewhere I could download them? Thanks! --128.100.36.228

Who wrote "Hypocracy is the lip service vice pays to virtue"?

I would appreciate further information on the author/compiler of this and other sayings; believed to be a French nobelman named Rauchfaucauld [probably miss-spelt] writing in the 17-18th centuries(?). Thank you. SJR spelt

You're right; it was Rochefoucauld. For more quotes including the original French, see world of quotes Dar-Ape 22:24, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

And it is not hippocracy either because "they kill horses, don't they ?" --DLL 23:06, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes. To be precise, they shoot them. (They should also shoot people who can't spell hypocrisy. Oh, and all bigots should be shot too). (lol) JackofOz 02:50, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Assume good faith, Jack. Perhaps DLL was referring to a state ruled by horses, in which case "hippocracy" would be the correct spelling. Of course no such state has yet emerged, so the word has yet to be coined...but one can dream...;) Loomis51 09:07, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

OK, chill out, Loomis. Your lecture was not necessary, but an explanation clearly is. I was aware that DLL/Harvestman was referring to a state run by horses, that's what his allusion to horses was about. But I was not smart enough to notice his subtle way of referring to SJR's odd spelling ("hypocracy") without ever mentioning it. If I had noticed it, I wouldn't have made my remark. My remark was not directed at DLL at all, but at SJR. I've been itching for 3 days to find a witty way of helping him/her with his/her spelling without being schoolmasterish about it, and I thought my chance had finally come. So I saw my opportunity and sprung into action. But then .... no matter, there are more battles to be fought elsewhere. Onwards! (on horseback, of course). JackofOz 09:50, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Surely you must be kidding around, Jack. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Yet you seem so terribly angry, and I can't find any tell-tale alliteration. Of course there was that last line about galloping away on a horse. You just always leave me guessing about the actual mood you're in. I'll just assume you were kidding around, in fact I think I'll propose a new rule especially designed for JackofOz: Assume Jack's Joking. All the best - Loomis51 12:58, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, surely I was kidding, Loomis. To assume I am joking would be a very wise move 95% of the time. Very astute of you. But then, "to be great is to be misunderstood" (Lol). You raise a valid point about mood. I'm a 55 year old Australian of Irish-Catholic background, so I'm culturally and generationally very well trained at minimising or even denying feelings of anger, resentment, frustration, disappointment and things like that. I know it doesn't work. If I'm experiencing a particular mood but not wanting to express it, it will come out in other ways and others will be hit with a disconjunct, as you seem to have been. But merely knowing something doesn't work is not necessarily a catalyst for change. That's the human propensity for pointless persistence for you. See, I can alliterate on demand (lol). I think "so terribly angry" is rather overstating how I felt. I do admit to being a little pissed off at being lectured to about the rules, when I didn't break any goddamn rules and you misconstrued what I wrote. But I agree that if I wasn't clear, I must accept the responsibility for the failure of my communication. It's a standard I apply to others, so I'd be a "hypocrate" if I didn't apply it to myself (damn). Further extraneous thoughts and ramblings follow on your talk page. Cheers. JackofOz 02:47, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

wiring a 1/8" stereo phone to stereo RCA outputs

What would be the correct way to wire a 3 prong 1/8" stereo phone plug (like what you use for many headphones) to two RCA plugs (left and right). Obviously you've got 4 wires among the two RCA plugs and they need to be wired to the 3 prongs of the 1/8" phone plug. (I'm using Radio Shack phone plugs). There are two solder terminals across from each other and then the longer shank (which I believe is the ground). Do you take the left + of the RCA to the respective left teminal on the phone and likewise with the right +, and then finally connect BOTH left and right - (grounds) to the shaft? Will you still get stereo? Thanks in advance.

• The tip (pointy part) is the left signal; the ring (the next part) is the right signal, the sleeve (the longest part) is the ground. See Jack plug. So, yeah, wire both grounds together. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 22:40, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Name that game

A while ago in first grade, our schools computer lab had this game. It had you controlling a dog, you had to pick up bones and find doghouses, and "troggles" or something like that came and attacked you. TO get rid of them, you had to make a math equation equalling the number of them and then you could escape. SO, anyone know what this is? Wizrdwarts (T|C) 23:02, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Was it Munchers? —Keenan Pepper 02:51, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Nope. Wizrdwarts (T|C) 20:56, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Gee, it sounds familiar. I think it had "math" in the title. Mrplastic 21:42, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

You're telling me there's more than one game with "troggles"?? —Keenan Pepper 01:47, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Apparently so. Wizrdwarts (T|C) 16:04, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

It actually is Munchers, just not Munchers. Google search for troggles -munchers game returns this. The game was released by MECC in 1994 and is called Troggle Trouble Math.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 21:53, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Wouldn't be interested in buying some Tri... Oh, you said Troggle. My bad. --Cyrano Jones_talk 21:57, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

That is the correct game. It's a spin-off of the munchers games. I think I even still have it on my ~10 year old Mac. -Goldom ‽‽‽ ⁂ 22:00, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

15TH COMBINATION PTII

Thanks for your help. Ive already tried gamefaqs as well as captain code and a couple of other PS4 dominated sites. No one seems to know about it but then they tend to deal only with the english version. I was more than hoping that someone may have played the japanese version or knows a guy who knows a guy............. and so on. At this point a rumor would even do. Cheers anyway. Logan.

June 15

The Article Card Location (located on wikipedia)

I do not understand how to do this magic trick. Where do they get 13 from. this article is not clear enough. Anyone who understands it, can you please explain it to me in a simpler fashion. [[35]] Here is the link

The way this article is written is pretty bewildering, but I'll attempt to fix it. The 13 values in each suit repeat in modulo 13 fashion: KQJT98765432A-KQJT98765432A-KQJT98765432A-KQJT98765432A. Because 13 is not a multiple of four, the modulo 4 pattern of the suits (SHCD-SHCD-SHCD...) instantly ccan locate any card by where in the four card suit cycle and where in the 13 card value cycle it is. If a card is clubs, it has to be either card 3 or a multiple of 4 plus 3. If a card is a Queen it is either card 2 or a multiple of 13 plus 2. That means 2, 15, 28, or 41. The only one of these numbers that 4x+3 will work for is 15, so it must be the 15th card. Grutness...wha? 08:29, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

In other words, the cards are preordered to a set pattern that looks random. Instead of having to memorize a real random pattern (to know where every card in the deck is) the cards are order to a pattern that looks random but is really a subtle pattern. By having certain suits and certain number only allowed in certain places of the deck the location of any card can be determined through a little math. Jon513 11:49, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

There is a much simpler game with cards : a quite simple ordering of pairs of cards based on a mnemonic : pick one, I'll find the matching one.

Dispose pairs following those words -

MUTUS
NOMEN
DEDIT
COCIS

. If you take the "O" in NOMEN, I know that the matching one is thre "O" in COCIS. Also, this is uncouth latin, does anyone know an easier phrase ? --DLL 21:35, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

I'll eat my hat

Has anyone literally eaten their hat? And I don't mean a novelty hat like a tortilla sombrero hat with built-in dip, but a real, genuine baseball cap, fedora, or what have you.--24.231.16.109 00:37, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

See Pica (disorder). I can't point with certainty at a case of someone having eaten a hat, but I would be very surprised if there didn't exist at least one individual who had done so. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 00:44, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

There was The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Maybe if he ate her ..... (sorry). JackofOz 00:52, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Very likely. A hat would be like a wafer thin mint to Monsieur Mangetout. See also Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe. MeltBanana 01:22, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Have a look at this which looks like nonsense and the second which looks a bit more reliable. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:35, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately I do not have the book at hand but the "Book of Lists" by Irving Wallace, David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace has a list of "People who have eaten their hat" (I'm possibly parpahrasing here. I can't remember who the person was who ate his hat but that's where you'll find your answer. --Roisterer 12:14, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Solution to tv show Push Nev.

I liked that show but the answer to the money winning question was not made available. Somebody in N.J. won the prise which is fine and fair with me but does anybody know the answer? Thanks 24.0.47.184 00:45, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

You would be much more likely to get a response if you tell us what the actual question is, there may be people who haven't seen the show but will still know the answer. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 11:20, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Well I finally worked out that the name of the show being referred to here is Push, Nevada. According to the official website, which is linked from the article, the answer was simply the phone number that you had to call to claim the prize.--Shantavira 13:30, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Can I wire inputs from 2 devices into one output without shorting?

I've only got one Aux. input (RCA) on my cd player, but I want to wire 2 sets of outputs into 1 set of RCA inputs. SO, one of the outputs is RCA and one is the 1/8" phone plug. I want to bring these together into one set of RCA plugs to put into the aux. input. [obviously, I'd only use one output device at a time]. Will this work or short/induce noise, etc.

There are 2 to 1 adaptors adaptors for RCA plugs, and I have used them before with 2 aux out sources to 1 aux in with no problems on an oldish Sony stereo. Like you, I've never tried using both outputs at a time, although I'm rather curious now.--inks^T 04:16, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Edit: It was taking the audio output from a PS1 and a Gamecube.--inks^T 04:17, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

I've done it. I had two 2-to-1 plugs for the separate L/R of the audio cable. When you played both at once, only one of them would play. I presume this was the device with the higher output but I'm not certain. It never messed anything up.--24.231.16.109 05:09, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Image for Feist "Monarch"

Hello,

The image for the for the album cover in the article Monarch (Lay Your Jewelled Head Down) seems to always have text attached to it, any idea on how to remove it? or why it is there to begin with? It would be nice to have a pic there, I originally added the image to give more interest to the article. Vihrea 05:33, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

I have fixed it. —Centrx→talk 07:42, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

game

My friend had a game where one could place a bowling ball, then below place bellows, then in front place an arrow and then a baloon, then place a lever that holds a cage, then place a mouse. You then press play and hey presto! the bowling ball falls onto the bellows which blow the arrow into the string of the balloon which then floats up and switches the lever to drop the cage on the mouse. This is only one of many man combinations that could be done, one could use any of the devises in a cartoon type situation to do just about anything from catching mice to blowing up the dynamite to ect ect ect. does any one know what this game was and where i can get a copy, it was really small and was able to fit one a stiffy disk. thanks

Sounds like a mini version of Mousetrap (game). My brother had one, and it was much harder to play than the full-size version. Skittle 10:49, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Or are you meaning a computer game? The Mousetrap (disambiguation) page lists an Atari game. Skittle 10:53, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

It will be a computer game. I had a copy of this a few years back. Can't recall what it was called though. I'll have a look through my backups and see if I can find a reference to it. -- SGBailey 10:55, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like The Incredible Machine to me. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 11:18, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

the incredable machine!!! Thank you dude!

estopple letter

can you please explain what exactly is an estopple letter? thanks.

I imagine the answer is somewhere in estoppel (note correct spelling). --Richardrj 13:04, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Manga

Does anyone know where I can find manga series?

We are not supposed to promote piracy here. But if you cannot obtain legally published Japanese manga in your country, or the manga series you're interested has not been translated into your language, you may Google or torrent for it. There are some fan-translated mangas available over the Internet. For example, you can download some earlier volumes of Shamo from a sketchbook website. These illegal fan translations actually help Japanese publishers to gain a foothold in many promising markets. -- Toytoy 16:27, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

To put voice to the other side of the debate; illegal fan translations in already established markets harm the interests of Japanese publishers as fewer readers will buy their products. You do not have to go the illegal route as there are plenty of online shops that sell manga and deliver worldwide. A simple Google search will direct you to some of these shops. Road Wizard 20:47, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Looking at your question again, you may be asking about where to find articles related to Manga series. In that case, try Category:Manga series. Road Wizard 20:51, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Try your local library (as they would always say), but I think it will pretty scarce there. Try a large chain of book stores like Borders Group (Int'l) or Waterstone's (UK) or Strand in New York - I like that book shop. Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 19:17, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

There's a Kinokuniya Bookstore in Rockefeller Plaza, and another in Seattle's Uogemaya grocery thing. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:31, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Never trust someone from an unpronounceable city to spell properly. :) But hey, at least he's not from Seekwim...er, Skwim. But I digress. It's actually Uwajimaya. That article does mention that it has a branch of Books Kinokuniya.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 22:14, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Weights And Measures In Wikipedia

Is there a standard for weights in measures in wikipedia, such as meters or grams, the reason im asking is because i was reading on a subject, and the subject kept referring to meters, and not feet, now how would i change that like this - 3 meters (9 feet) - or like this - 9 feet (3 meters). Or do you have a page i can read on this, because i couldnt find one.

Here's the page you're looking for. Wikipedia:Manual of Style (dates and numbers)#Units of measurement. It should help answer your questions. --Maelwys 13:33, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

world distances

What is the easiest way to find out air/ground distances between different places around the world? Is there a specific website that has this type of database.

Well, the air distance between two different places would depend on altitude, flight path, etc, so I doubt there's any data on that (if there is, it would have to be quite specific). Regarding the (shortest?) ground distance between two different places, you might try this site, although who knows how accurate it is (it looks like it uses some travel site to do the calculation). --18:23, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Four (4)

Some things, such as the official rules of a contest, use numbers in the format above. Example: "Grand Prize: One (1) trip for two (2) people for a five (5) night stay in Las Vegas." Why do they do this??? Reywas92 13:50, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

To avoid ambiguity in the event of a dispute. Seems pretty bogus to me - probably lawyers charging by the word. --Tagishsimon (talk)

To prevent forgery? "Grand Prize: One (1) trip for ninety-two (92) people for a ninety-five (95) night stay in Las Vegas" wouldn't look authentic. --Kjoonlee 14:35, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Most of the modern world language now use, or at least include, Arabic numerals. People who might not read English very well will at least be able to read the numerical if not the verbal representation of the number. How it helps to know that there's 1 something for 2 somethings for 5 somethings is beyond me, but really it is just covering all their bases. It also make it easier/faster to skim.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 22:20, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Hard Drive Recovery Tools

I was using partition magic to partition my files. I decided on a clean install of windows xp and had previously made a backup of my files on a 200gb maxtor drive. I decided to revert back to my old settings using the backup, but there was not enough space on the C: drive so I moved windows vista (it was on the way of expanding with partitionmagic) to the maxtor. PM stopped working right in the middle and my BACKUP is corrupt. I don't care what happened to vista, but my backup is gone. My backup is technically not my backup anymore since it contains everything I have. It was made using the Windows backup utility. So it is a .bkf file. I need my files urgently and need them recovered. Thanks. Do you know of reputable software that can do this?

I also had a deleted partition that had this backup. (I deleted it since I needed my files on the C drive.) Is there anyway to recover a deleted partition?

Thanks again. I am really worried. This data is critical.

All I need is software that will recover a deleted partition and I should be fine I think. I have been searching literally for hours. Please help. --Proficient

Try testdisk from http://www.cgsecurity.org. I had the same problem once where PM crashed and 'deleted' my boot partition - the drive showed up as 'unallocated' I think - which is a good sign. Run the find utility from testdisk - should work - do NOT let windows attempt to fix your files from your corrupted partitition or you will end up with irrecoverable data. Please use at your own risk as a last resort as testdisk is VERY powerful software. Once testdisk restores the volume, if windows does not boot then run fixmbr.exe from windows to fix your master boot record. Sandman30s 20:18, 15 June 2006 (UTC) PS/ do NOT use PM to undelete partitions, you see what happens when it crashes, in fact don't use PM period unless you have a full backup.

I managed to get into a similar situation not very long ago (a bunch of critical files on a deleted partition). After having tried various freeware tools with no luck, I bought getdataback for fat32 from http://www.runtime.org/. It worked exactly as advertised. I managed to restore every single file (using a separate usb disk). Highly recommended. --vibo56 ^talk 20:19, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

I used some software that I got for 50 dollars and it worked. Thanks for your help though. Now I am having problems restoring my backup. Windows XP keeps giving me so many errors and I've reinstalled XP like 10+ time already. Wow. ._. --Proficient 13:07, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Buy a new hard drive. They're available for pretty cheap these days. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:32, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Calling Florida

I need to call a telephone number in Florida. It's not a private number - it's the number to the motor vehicles department. The number is listed as "850/617-3003" in the contact list on their homepage. Now, I realize I need to put the international prefix for the US in front "+1" - but I'm still a bit weary about calling. The number does not seem to be big enough for a US number - is there some sort of Florida area dialing code or can I just punch 001-8506173003 on the phone and get through? Gardar Rurak 14:21, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

While I'm unfamiliar with international dialing to the US, I can confirm that 10 digits is the size of an internal US number (the leading "850" is the area code you're wondering about, though it's a subset of Florida, not the whole state -- see Area code 850). Whatever the international code is, plus what you've provided, should work fine. — Lomn 14:26, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

In short: yes. You've got all the digits you need. :) kmccoy (talk) 18:08, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Old Dairy Company

I'm trying to find some info on an old dairy company called Standard Dairy that was located in Rockford, Illinois.. I'm assuming it must have been around in the early 1900's.. I have just received an email from a Jim Redmond @ Wikipedia & he suggested I pose my question to you..I would really appreciate any info you could supply..Thank-you!!

I found references to a Standard Dairy in Melrose Park, IL (see here), and several results pointing to auctions featuring bottle that evidently say "Standard Dairy, Batavia, Illinois." Melrose Park and Batavia are both much closer to Chicago than to Rockford, though. Also, this page has mention of a collection of documents that were donated to the Northern Illinois University Regional History Center, and it appears that some of these documents might relate to the Standard Dairy. If you are located near NIU perhaps it would be possible to view this collection and see if it provides any further clues. Evidently there are or were "Standard Dairy" companies in Michigan and Oregon as well; just thought I'd mention that. --LarryMac 20:17, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Wiring a standard 2-pin European plug

How do you wire a European 2-pin plug? I.e., which way round do the live and neutral wires go? --Richardrj 15:07, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

If it's a two-pin plug, it doesn't matter which way round they go. Please see our article on domestic AC power plugs and sockets for detailed information.--Shantavira 15:24, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks very much. I would like to put a two-pin plug on a UK appliance which has three wires. Is this advisable? If so, what do I do with the earth wire? --Richardrj 15:50, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

DO NOT DO THIS HORRIBLE THING! UK has a very high voltage, if it trickles out, it can kill you. North America has a voltage that can only kill you if you connect with your tongue, while pissing on a pipe. --Zeizmic 15:54, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Europe uses 230 volts (if you measure two phases). You sure don't want to touch a live wire but it's not that bad... Anyway, for a grounded appliance you should preferably use a grounded plug, i.e. Schuko, and a grounded socket. Are you sure you know what you are doing? Like which wires to cut shorter for safety? If you don't know please find someone who can show you how to wire it. Weregerbil 16:19, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Voltage isn't fatal, amperage is. Accidental finger contact is unlikely to be fatal at either voltage, but you should always be doing this sort of thing with the power off and other proper precautions in place. — Lomn | Talk 17:18, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Strictly speaking, yes, but amperage (current) is proportional to voltage for a fixed resistance, so it amounts to the same thing when talking about electrocution. Basic electrical equipment (table lamps, shavers, soldering irons) will usually work without the earth wire (though they might not be as safe). Electronic equipment, on the other hand (tvs, chargers, computers), might not work at all, and could be damaged, if the live and neutral are reversed.--Shantavira 17:48, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

In most European 230V wall plugs ("type C") there is no such thing as "reversing live and neutral". The plugs are symmetrical, so there is no predicting which gets plugged to which. The earthing pin in Schuko plugs is not used for carrying current. Schuko plugs work fine in most unearthed sockets, you just lose the protection (as explained in the article on Schuko). Domestic AC power plugs and sockets also shows some unsymmetrical plugs used in some countries. I don't know but I'd guess most (all?) appliances are built not to care which wire is which; otherwise you couldn't sell them on half the planet... Weregerbil 16:52, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Why not just go to the store and buy an adaptor? kmccoy (talk) 18:06, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Because I don't have the UK plug any more. Thanks to all for their comments. --Richardrj 18:32, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

The Gambia

I am searching for information on an area in Gambia refered to as Kairaba. An immigrations document has the Area Officer's stamp on it, but can't locate anything as to where it is located. Can you help me?

Good luck,

Harry Whitecross

All I've found, so far, is Kairaba Beach, Kotu, Gambia, and various Kairaba Roads - from the search [36]. There is also a Kairaba Hotel, which gets many hits. --Tagishsimon (talk)

PS2 box-art

Why do some PS2 games have designs on their spine, just like other DVDs and games, while a number of others have a simple white spine with the title written in black? Is it a country thing?

Because they can. That's about it, really. It's not exclusive to PlayStation 2 boxes. --Optichan 20:23, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

england football players earnings

Does anyone know how much footballers earn per game for playing for the english national side in the world cup? (i'm not interested in sponsorship, just their match fees).

Judging by tonight's dismal performance, too much. --Richardrj 18:33, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

A little harsh to call it dismal - The first half was rather sloppy yes, but the second half was much better, well, the last 10 minutes anyway... -Benbread 20:29, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

If gerrarg hadnt scored that goal, I'd be annoyed, but he did, so I'm not. Philc _T^E_C^I 20:40, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

They're not going to get far playing like this. Sven has to get the midefield sorted out. In regards to the question, sorry Ican't find anywhere that backs me up, but I seem to remember it being 10,000 pounds a game. Could be totally wrong. --Chapuisat 21:20, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

As long as they keep shutting the other team out, it doesn't really matter how many goals they score.  :) User:Zoe|^(talk) 15:42, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

---

Sorry, but I think the original question went something like this "Does anyone know how much footballers earn per game for playing for the english national side in the world cup? (i'm not interested in sponsorship, just their match fees)."

Concerning Hamelin de Balun

Dear Volunteers,

I wonder if you might be able to help me: I'm trying to identify, as closely as possible, the parents of Hamelin de Balun (the uncle of Brien Fitzcount, Hamelin's name is listed in the Domesday Book; he helped William in the Norman Conquest and was the first Baron Abergavenney). *Anything* you could offer me would be a help; as I say above, I'd especially like to know who Hamelin's parents were, if possible, and to whom he was married (if he married at all). I thank you for your time and for all your great work on the Wikipedia site. Very Sincerely, Bruce Bromley (Lecturer in Expository Writing, New York University)

He is mentioned in a footnote to Giraldus Cambrensis's Itinerary Of Archbishop Baldwin Through Wales

"Hamelin, son of Dru de Baladun, who came into England with William the Conqueror, was the first lord of Over-Went, and built a castle at Abergavenny, on the same spot where, according to ancient tradition, a giant called Agros had erected a fortress."

Could not find Dru de Baladun's wife but thats life for a Norman wife. MeltBanana 21:45, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Which part-time jobs are teenagers suitable for?

What sort of jobs can I, as a 16 year old, apply for with a chance of getting? Which sort of job would you recommend? (Money isn't the issue)

The first ones that came to my mind are waiter/ressing in a cafe, working in a fast food "restaurant" (not recommended) and stacking shelves in a supermarket. If I had to choose between those three, I'd go for the supermarket. I'm sure there must be other options, though. --Richardrj 18:36, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

To get a good answer, you need to say something about where you live. --vibo56 ^talk 20:06, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Work in a lab if you're intellectually endowed. Pays well, too. -- Миборовский 22:21, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Data entry, if you're computer literate enough & in a city. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Don't bother. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:33, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

The other option is the "job" of starting your own (small) business. It occasionally works out very well--inks^T 22:56, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, yes it does. Kilo-Lima|^(talk) 19:21, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

According to The Telegraph earlier this week (I forget which day), a McJob is actually "rewarding", which I find hard to believe. At 16, you could still do a paper-round I suppose.EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 13:46, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

If you hate fast food, I would suggest a coffee shop. It's easy, pays fairly well, and the benefits tend to be much better than in normal entry-level jobs. Bookstores are good, but they usually refuse to hire minors. Bhumiya (said/done) 08:56, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Gun Calibers

Is there any where to find a listing of gun calibers from biggest to smallest? Rifles, Handguns, and shotguns?

Well of course there is, take a look at a list of rifle cartridges, a list of handgun cartridges, and a list of gauges(shotgun). Also, you may find something here.--Captain ginyu 19:10, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Nice. Does anyone know where I can get a handgun chambered in 20x110? --Serie 20:40, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, there are several .50 caliber handguns, but no one I know of has been stupid enough to chamber one for 20mm cannon shells. Night Gyr (talk/Oy) 08:14, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

We don't even know what that means, much less where to get one. Might you consider taking up stamp collecting instead? --Tagishsimon (talk)

Presumably you're in the U.S.A. so I'd think your best bet would be to go to a gun shop, if they don't have one they should have means of finding you one. AllanHainey 07:48, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Florida drivers license

Ok - I called the Florida DMV (a previous question) and they didn't help much. The thing is I'm goping to Florida and I would like to get a Florida drivers licese:

• I'm European
• I don't have a European drivers license (although I can drive)

The rules are somewhat confusing and I need some natives to help interpret the laws, rules and regulations. Can I get a Florida drivers license provided I have proof of identity (passport) and pass the tests?

http://www.lowestpricetrafficschool.com/handbooks/download.php

Here is the list of requirements --

• • United States Citizen proof of identity.
  • Non-United States Citizen proof of identity.
  • Social Security number, if issued.
  • Proof of completion of a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course or license from another state, country, or jurisdiction.

So you not only have to pass the tests, you have to have taken a class. And the proof of identity information is fairly complex if you are not a US citizen. --LarryMac 18:48, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like what you really need is an International Driving Permit, which will be much easier to come by (as Florida will likely not award a Florida license, with all the proper ID status stuff it entails, to a tourist) but that requires a country-of-origin license. — Lomn | Talk 00:09, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I don't have any special knowledge of Florida, but every (U.S.) place I've known of also requires some proof of residency (within the jurisdiction) when getting a drivers' licence. --Walt 00:49, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

When you say you don't have a Euroepan driving license, do you mean you don't have a valid driving license from any country? If that is the case it will probably be easier to get a license in your own country and get a Florida license on the basis of that. DJ Clayworth 18:23, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Marbleized paper

Do you have an article on this subject

The best way I know of finding out, is googling with "site:en.wikipedia.org" as one of the search terms. When performing such a search, the only match is Japanese handicrafts. --vibo56 ^talk 20:59, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Try Paper marbling. Road Wizard 21:48, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Always reasonable to add a redirect: Marbleized paper --Tagishsimon (talk)

Confusing talk page

I went to the article "Coach House Books". When I clicked on discussion, a page came up that said "The article: Coach house books does not exist. To create it...". I don't understand what's going on. I would like to edit some factual errors out of this article. 199.243.196.26 21:10, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

I guess I should have logged in (that was me). Now I'm not getting the same message but it is still telling me that there is no talk page. Is it possible that this article was submitted with no input on the talk page? Mrplastic 21:16, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes - Wikipedia articles are not automatically created with a discussion page. The first time someone wishes to discuss the article via its talk page, they have to create the talk page (using the link you just mentioned). Hope that helps! Proto||type 21:38, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

More, billions of articles never needed a talk page. And maybe they are not so encyclopedic. 1 of 20 random pages are about an unnotable townlet with the census results of 2000 : "0,01% hispanic ..." and such. --DLL 22:51, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

FWIW, the ratio of these 'census result' town pages is 36,000 to 1,193,519, or about 3% of wikipedia. Lord knows why I thought it was important to impart this gem. I'll get my coat. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Um, isn't that there are 36,000 U.S. city and town articles, a number of which are large important cities and another number of which are very small towns? So less than 3% are unimportant U.S. towns. And if it says "0,01% hispanic", somone needs to slap the robot because it just broke three MOS rules in that phrase. Rmhermen 01:34, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

50's supermarket music

Hi, I'm looking for a type of music I like, but I don't know what it's called. This music is best described (in my opinion, anyways) as a 50's supermarket background music. I already read the articles Elevator music, MOR, Furniture music, Ambient music, Background music, Music on hold, Beautiful Music and Muzak. They aren't the types of music I'm looking for. I tryed searching for 'elevator music' and 'muzak' and all the above on Limewire, with no success of finding what I like. Can anyone help me find a few songs like this, or name the type of music this is? Any help would be appreciated.--Valuefreeperson2 22:47, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps something like Easy Listening? It sounds like you're looking for someone like Burt Bacharach --82.207.217.5 01:34, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Is this Page Worthy?

I am considering writing a page for a (relativly) new Online MMO. It was started by some friends and me, and has branched out to include over 40-50 members in around a year, not all of them in one location. I was just curious whether this was too small to deserve a Wiki page, or if it fell under local intrest pages? Thanks.

It's probably not notable enough. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Oh go on, be bold! Some creativity might pay off! If it's NN it might well get the chop. I had to log out to say this, but a year ago I wrote a Wikipedia article about a NN group that consists of just two guys. It's still there...--83.245.18.34 08:17, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Yea, we know: Simon & Garfunkel. ;) --Tagishsimon (talk)

Macaroni and cheese

Here's my situation...

I live near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

I shop at a store called Fortinos

I buy NoName brand Macaroni and cheese. (There's no article on NoName foods?!)

(There is at No name (brand), and I've made / fixed various redirect pages to sort out the search issue --Tagishsimon (talk))

And here is the problem...in the winter, Macaroni and Cheese only cost 39 cents.

In the spring...it cost 49 cents

Now, it costs 59 cents!

I really like this food, and I buy it in bulk, but the price keeps going up! When is it the best time to buy this? When will it cost the least? And why does it keep going up in price?! (Kraft brand macaroni and cheese is also following this trend, but it costs 99 cents. That's why I don't buy this brand. Kraft brand M&C used to cost 39 cents in the winter) --Valuefreeperson2 23:00, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

As the pasta harvest falls in the spring, I can understand why you might be confused. However, you must remember to take into account the lengthy cutting and drying process that follows collection of the fresh pasta from the trees. (Drying and powdering the cows to prepare the cheese mixture is also a slow procedure, but may be performed throughout the year.) The macaroni isn't ready for packaging until late fall, and the new vintage of mac and cheese arrives on our store shelves in early winter; this leads to the low winter prices that you've observed.

Due to significant storage and handling costs that accrue between vintages, prices rise throughout the spring and summer, and don't drop back unti lthe following winter. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 00:26, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for that clarification, Tagishsimon. And TenOfAllTrades, that's not helpful at all. I can't possibly see how you're an administrator for wikipedia.--Valuefreeperson2 01:14, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Hey now; it makes sense, when you don't think about it. XD Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:35, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

An admin with a sense of humour? EvocativeIntrigue _{TALK | EMAIL} 22:11, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

It could be a simple issue of inflation, unless you have noticed seasonal fluctuations in prices in previous years? One possible reason for the increase in product price is the rapid rise in petrol/gas prices in recent years. As companies have to pay more on fuel to get their products to shops, they will inevitably place the added financial burden on their customers. Then there is also the question of greed where companies will raise the price as much as they possibly can. As they see it, if people are willing to buy their product at 59 cents, why should they charge you 49 cents? Road Wizard 22:25, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Tapping-beat

There's this one toned tapping beat that everybody's heard, but nobody pays much attention to. You probably don't know what I mean, so just listen to it.

Media:taptrack.mid

People knock on the doors this way, honk their horns this way, or do it at hockey games (and many, many other occasions) Where did this originate from? When was it first invented? Is it called anything? --Valuefreeperson2 23:16, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

As far as the internet shows me, there is no true history.

Check out Shave and a Haircut. --jh51681 01:57, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

That's not it, but thanks for the link anyway - I never knew that couplet had a name. --Richardrj 12:31, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Is it the one that goes: Duh duh du-du duh du-du-du-du -du duh ? As in "slow slow quick quick slow quick quick quick quick --quick slow". (or crochet crochet quaver quaver crochet quaver quaver quaver quaver (quaver rest) quaver crochet) I tend to hear it in football crowds when it's mostly played on horns or clapped, with the last two beats replaced by "England!". Skittle 13:03, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

If that's what you're thinking of, it's mentioned in out article on football chants, but only briefly with no history and an apparent advert. "A variation upon this clapping is: "clap clap, clap clap clap, clap clap clap clap, clap clap". The most famous instances of this rhythm were firstly, during the late 1990s when AAPT Smartchat released a successful Australian advertising campaign - "A, A, A A P, A A P T, Smart chat!". The rhythm can also be heard at the beginning of the Hoodoo Gurus song "Wipeout (Like Wow)"." Skittle 13:07, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Don't know if it's the original source, but sounds like Centerfield by John Fogerty. (Known from American baseball games and the line "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today.") KWH 16:11, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Thankyou, that is very helpful. Especially the part about the Shave and Haircut (as I was going to ask about it too).--Valuefreeperson2 01:19, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you for the question - this is a thing I've ocassionally wondered myself. I would guess it is old - possibly 19th century, maybe "ancient" - but I've no references. As it is apparent from the answers above that we don't know, how might one find out? -- SGBailey 08:03, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

I vaguely recall it being in the film The Italian Job as a celebration by the prisoners (I may mis-remember though). -- SGBailey 08:06, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

• Remember it at Football(UK) matches way before that.hotclaws**==(81.136.157.206 07:35, 19 June 2006 (UTC))