Revision as of 22:36, 24 October 2006

Reference Desk

October 18

chess rice?

Hey, I'm looking for the origin of chess where it shows this guy asking the evil emperor for the same amount of rice of the chessboard he made for him-except that the rice is supposed to be multiplied by 2 for every square. I can't find it in Misplaced Pages's chess pages right now...does anyone know where I can find it? Thanks. --JDitto 04:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Don't know the origin but this is the fable. And here are the Misplaced Pages links Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple and Second Half of the Chessboard. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:30, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Dude!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU (Wow, I thought that this was widely accepted as fact, thank you for saving me from mass embarrassment!) --JDitto 05:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I've certainly heard it ascribed to Sissa who is mentioned on the Origins of chess page but the earliest written reference to the fable I can find is this in the works of Nasir al-Din Tusi illustrating population growth. MeltBanana 14:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

It seems that someone deleted the whole story you mentioned from the Origins of chess page, however :( --JDitto 07:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Are The Songs '8th World Wonder' & 'Wrong' By Kimberley Locke Covers?

Is '8th World Wonder' Vanessa Carlton's song but covered by Kimberley Locke? Thanks.100110100 08:04, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Geese

Whenyou see several geese flying over you in the sign of a V does this have a meaning?

It probably means that they are migrating, see vee formation. If you're looking for an augural interpretation, I have no clue what the meaning would be.---Sluzzelin 08:41, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Do we have a n article on V formation?--Light current 13:42, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

When geese or any bird for that matter flies long distance in groups of more than 4 then often fly in "V" formation as it creates slip streaming for the birds behind making it much easier for them on the long haul, the air here is at the optimum turbulance for natural wings. Althought I have never observed it with my own eyes, I have seen film of the front bird slowing down so that it can take up place behind a new leader. You'd have thought that they would fly directly behind each other for this but thousands of years of eveolution, as always, have found the best method. --AMX 17:09, 18 October 2006 (UTC)AMX

qiuz using letters and numbers

hello,im doing a quiz and would like help it all relates to letters and numbers eg;88 k on a p=88keys on a piano ,101 d =101 dalmations,8d a w-t b =8days a week-the beatles.

• 5 w o a c i t s - Five wheels on a car including the spare --froth 14:02, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• s w a t 7 d - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 惑乱 分からん 13:27, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 32 c i t l e – 32 capsules in the London Eye  --Lambiam 21:16, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• b c s 49 g f e - Bobby Charlton shot scored 49 goals for England. Solution added by Sluzzelin, 20:39, October 18, 2006 (UTC). I'd say "scored".  --Lambiam 20:53, 18 October 2006 (UTC) Much better, corrected. ---Sluzzelin 23:58, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 60 p f p f s - 60 pounds fixed penalty for speeding -THB 03:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
• 3476 k is t d o t m - kilometres is the diameter of the moon
• 100 l t i s – 100 letter tiles in Scrabble. To be precise, in the standard English edition there are 100 tiles, but only 98 have a letter. Several other languages have 100 tiles bearing a letter; see Scrabble letter distributions.  --Lambiam 21:12, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 4626 f i t s o t h b – 4626 feet is the span of the Humber Bridge  --Lambiam 15:06, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 27 i t t o t c b i s – 27 is the total of the coloured balls in Snooker – not counting red as a colour, that is.  --Lambiam 20:18, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 1 s s f m - One small step for (a) man?---Sluzzelin 20:39, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 9 s i t t t – 9 squares in Tic Tac Toe  --Lambiam 20:13, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 9 c i t w l - 9 contestants in the Weakest Link. Hyenaste  21:26, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• 12 m o a r c t in g
• c w ti 235 m h - Canary Wharf Tower is 235 meters high. ---Sluzzelin 22:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• a a c h 24 d - An Advent calendar has 24 days. ---Sluzzelin 22:36, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• b w 9 s - Beethoven wrote nine symphonies Hyenaste  21:10, 18 October 2006 (UTC). So did Bruckner (if you don't count the Symphony No. 0). JackofOz 23:29, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• j n w 18 m g c(i think this has something to do with golf) - Jack Nicklaus won 18 major golf championships –RHolton≡– 13:24, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
• p m w n 61 t p – Is it possible that "61" should be "6 i"? Then it is: Patrick McGoohan was Number Six in The Prisoner  --Lambiam 19:51, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

and

• 6 c i t p – Perhaps this: Six colours (or categories) in Trivial Pursuit  --Lambiam 20:11, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

thanyou to anyone who may be able to help

These quizzes are often based on cultural and social norms that vary from place to place, so it would be helpful to know which country you are in. It's also helpful if you sign your posts with four "tildes" (~~~~). --Dweller 10:29, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

This sort of puzzle is called a 1Ditloid, based on the book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. "27 is the times of three cubed by its self" would fit, but seems so clumsy, and the maths seems iffy. Laïka 13:20, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I googlead for : 32 (teeth ?), 235 (uranium ?), 61 (highway ?) ... no luck. -- DLL 17:23, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

How can you be sure your answer is "correct"? 惑乱 分からん 18:30, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Looks like "12 m o a r c t in g" is the stumper here. Ditloid star for whoever solves it! ---Sluzzelin 09:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

12 months on a regular calendar (t-something) in Gregorian? Laïka 15:31, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Better than what I came up with (12 marks on a regular clock ticking in Glasgow). By the way, I think the 'in' might actually be 'i n' (following the pattern of the other ditloids placed here), in which case the last three words could be 'is not g...'.---Sluzzelin 20:28, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Could be something close to 12 meridian on a Reference clock ticking in Greenwich - referring to GMT - but I can't come up with a better sounding phrase/clause. Sandman30s 13:21, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Easyjet Baggage/Box

My suitcase is damaged (hole). Will easyjet be likely to allow me to check a large box made from cardboard into the hold? I rang easyjet in the Netherlands and the lady said it "should be ok" but that's not reassuring. Maybe someone here would know - does it have to be a bag? --Username132 (talk) 13:44, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Airlines normally have a supply of stout platsic bags in which they deposit dodgy looking luggage. Meanwhile there's no a priori prejudice about cardboard boxes; it does not have to be a bag. --Tagishsimon (talk)

I've often seen Pinoys checking in their cardboard balikbayan boxes at the check-in counter. I don't know your destination, but it wouldn't hurt to line the box with a sturdy large labelled garbage bag, in case your box gets stuck in the rain on the tarmac.  --Lambiam 15:26, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Easyjet is not your normal airline. They are cheap as &^*%^$%^ and don't have a lot of extras. You would be better off calling them to check. -THB 03:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I did call them to check "and the lady said it "should be ok" but that's not reassuring." Anyway, I went with my box and they made me check it in through the 'odd sized baggage' route, but it was fine (no plastic bag though). However, I did get some people pointing at it on the baggage carousel and I got stopped by customs to ask my destination... --Username132 (talk) 15:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Dung Spreader

In the UK, i was was to take a dung spreader trough a town and blast everything in sight with said dung (shops, cars, etc), what laws if any would i be breaking? Theoretical question of course, we just can't seem to determine what law this might be breaking, illegally dumping waste? Cheers :) Benbread 13:51, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/975012.stm ... answerblob

How about vandalism ? It requires clean up, just like spray painted walls with gang signs. StuRat 15:24, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Probably a prosecution under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 as amended by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. And possibly under any of the following:

• Public Health Act 1925 and Byelaws
• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.25(5)
• Motorway Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 R.15(1)(b)
• Highways Act 1980 SS.137, 138, 141, 145, 148, 150-153, 155 and 156

or

• Public Order Act 1986 S.4A as added by Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 Part 1 S.154
• All sorts of other public health acts --Tagishsimon (talk)

--Tagishsimon (talk)

Thanks for the answers :) Damn that was some appauling spelling on my part in that question :| Benbread 21:09, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Appauling = Spelling so appallingly bad that even Paul would be ashamed of it ? :-) StuRat 21:40, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Interestingly (?), there was some farmer who, having been refused plannig permission on a structure he had already built, took revenge in the local council by plastering the front of the the council offices with dung from his muck speader. It caused quite a stink in the town. I can't remember what he was charged with: It may have been 'shit stirring' or possibly 'Pebble dashing a building frontage without proper consent'. 8-)--Light current 02:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh Ive just seen the above link. Perhaps it was a Bank he was arguing with.--Light current 03:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Of course, politicians would never pass a law specifically banning the dispersal of bullshit in a public area, as they would be the first to be brought up on charges. :-) StuRat 04:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, no. If they're brought up on chargers, that would be horseshit! 8-)

--Light current 16:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Question on animal horns

I have cut the horn from a male goat and now I need to know how to prepare them - take away the flesh and marrow parts and how to get rid of the smell. Where can I find such information?

Let it dry? 惑乱 分からん 18:28, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

An animal horn used in judaism is called a shofar. here are some links I found after searching for "making shofar" and . one site suggests doing the following

1. Buy a “nerf” ball (soft and pliable), an ear plug (the squeeze and insert type available at most drug stores), some fish tank gravel (not sand and not very big) and some alcohol.
2. Plug the mouthpiece with the earplug. Pour in enough gravel that it can be shaken easily. Plug the bell end with the nerf ball.
3. Shake it hard for about 15 minutes.
4. Pull out the nerf ball and empty out the gravel. Pour about a cup of alcohol in and replace the ball. Shake for about a minute.
5. Pull out the ball. Pour out the alcohol. Remove the earplug. Let it dry.

There is more information on those sites. good luck. Jon513 19:23, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

It took about 4 reads and 15 minutes before I understood what you meant. Hyenaste  00:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

First you cut off a poor animal's horn and then you wonder what to do with it? What on Earth did you have in mind? Do you have any idea yourself? Or was the goat already dead? (That would change matters a fair bit.) DirkvdM 19:40, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Unless he killed it for the horn :o --froth 00:29, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Do goats shed their horns?--Light current 00:55, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Professionals use Skin beetles. -THB 03:04, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

shau en lai

Do you know what or who shau en lai can be?

Could you be referring to Zhou Enlai? Marco polo 19:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Do you have any other information? Language? Context? SOunds like it could be Chinese to me... 惑乱 分からん 19:56, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

In Country Music...

Has any Country Music artist ever use the word "fuck" in any song?

72.24.89.164 22:19, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Probably. Mongol Man 22:39, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Indeed. See Nigger Fucker. -Elmer Clark 00:01, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Also "Go Fuck You" by Hank Williams III. --Aaron 16:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Also Gaye Delorme (I think) in his classic The Rodeo Song... 惑乱 分からん 16:20, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Who are the characters in Cate Tiernan books?

who are the characters shown on the cover of the second book(the coven) of the wicca (sweep) series by cate tiernan—Preceding unsigned comment added by Skyathar (talk • contribs)

The articles Cate Tiernan and Sweep (book series) might help. —EdGl 22:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream- Birthdys and death dates

What are Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, creators of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, birthdays? I'm pretty sure they are still living, so I don't need death date, just their brithdays. Thanks so much.

-anon

For $10,000 in small bills in a paper bag, I can arrange for whatever death date you find most convenient. :-)

Hah. Very cute of you to state *rolls eye playfully* but seriously. Can you someone please tell me?

It seems to be pretty well known that Jerry's birthday is four days before Ben's, but I can't find any reference to what actual date that was. --Canley 02:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

facebook him

1951 is all I could find for Ben Cohen. :\ --Proficient 05:08, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I've put a call into corporate headquarters nearby, but the guy who might help was out hosting Dutch milk farmers, and you are going to have to wait. But I will get an answer for you. Mothperson cocoon 17:39, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Here's your answer, anon! Jerry Greenfield was born March 14, 1951, and Ben Cohen was born March 18, 1951. This comes straight from corporate headquarters. And they are both most certainly alive and well. So, like, what are you going to do with this information, I wonder? I don't think they need an ice cream cake. Although... Mothperson cocoon 17:57, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

who would win the jaguar or the corvette?

anyone? Weaseljenkins 22:37, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not picky. I would like to win either. Hyenaste  22:39, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

how fast can a jaguar and a corvette go? --Weaseljenkins 22:50, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

The corvette, since the jaguar can't run on its top speed for more than a few seconds. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 22:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

thanks --Weaseljenkins 22:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

LOL

chandler woodcock?

do you think he will win the election? --Weaseljenkins 22:59, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Is a woodcock related to a woodpecker ? I suppose knot. :-) StuRat 23:24, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

How much wood could a wood-cock whack, if a wood-cock would whack wood? =S 惑乱 分からん 15:34, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Woodpecker = George Washington's less publicized wooden prosthesis. :-) StuRat 17:21, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

when will cars fly?

when will cars fly? -- Weaseljenkins

As soon as hover technology is feasible. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 23:03, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

See future of the car as well. Hyenaste  23:04, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

If cars flew, they would be airplanes or helicopters. -THB 02:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

They already can: Supercar (TV series)--Light current 03:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

When we redefine the word 'car'. DirkvdM 07:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

See this utterly brilliant link --Dweller 10:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It wasn't so brilliant, but I reformatted your syntax and now it's OK. Cheers. JackofOz 12:21, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Cars will fly when we strap flying pigs to them. :-) StuRat 05:10, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

See Flubber --froth 20:35, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

do you know the average land speed for a mini cooper?

My grandmother's name was Wilhelmina Cooper, and her friends called her Minnie. I would say her average land speed was around 3 mph. :-) StuRat 23:22, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Cars don't have a preset average speed. It depends on how fast you drive. Given that, it would be much more than the average water speed. -THB 02:57, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Spookily, this is also probably answered by the link I posted in the previous question. --Dweller 10:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

what is the smallest inamnate object? asap

i have no clue. --Weaseljenkins 23:10, 18 October 2006 (UTC) help asap

Are quarks or sub-protonic particles inanimate? Jamesino 23:12, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Well they certainly aren't animate. My guess is the up quark as smallest IAO. Hyenaste 

From our article Classical electron radius: "In fact, modern particle physics experiments indicate that the electron is a point particle, i.e. it has no size and its radius is zero." You can't get much smaller than that. This property would be shared, according to the Standard model, with other leptons – which included neutrinos – and quarks. On the other hand, theoretical physicists think that the notion of length as having physical meaning may break down below one Planck length. A radius of zero is definitely less.  --Lambiam 08:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

But according to J. H. Conway they have as much free will as we do. Rich Farmbrough, 14:05 19 October 2006 (GMT).

the higgs boson which allows matter to interact with gravity.193.115.175.247 15:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Isn't the history of science a catalogue of finding ever smaller particles, smaller than was previously thought possible? Who's to say whatever's the smallest known particle now is the smallest there is or will ever be? JackofOz 02:10, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

God real or not?

Does God exist? The Ayatollah 23:11, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

That depends on your definition of God. It is also hard to answer that question from the neutral point of view. THL 23:17, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Nobody can see God. Nevertheless, see God. JackofOz 23:18, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Also see Existence of God. --Allen 23:19, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Nice --froth 00:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Does it have to? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 00:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

How about this:

Let us have ${\displaystyle God}$ and ${\displaystyle Devil}$

Since they are opposite forces:

${\displaystyle God+Devil=0}$

But they are also complementary entities. Good cannot exist without evil and vice versa. They together form everything there is, and there can only be one of that. So we have:

${\displaystyle God\times Devil=1}$

Which gives us:

${\displaystyle {\begin{cases}God+Devil=0\\God\times Devil=1\end{cases}}}$

Solving that, we have:

${\displaystyle Devil=-God}$

${\displaystyle (-God)\times God=1}$

${\displaystyle -God^{2}=1}$

${\displaystyle God={\sqrt {-1}}}$

${\displaystyle God=i}$

Therefore, God is not real, but imaginary. The same goes with the devil, ${\displaystyle Devil=-i}$ ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 00:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, it says that "God is I". But of course only when I say it. Also note that God's sense of grammar isn't up to scratch. DirkvdM 07:28, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

That's an interesting way of looking at things... However, I was under the impression that Faith was a matter of faith. No one (or at least no normal human being) can tell anyone God does or does not exist. Russia Moore 01:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Put that in the Mathematical jokes article. As for me, God's real. bibliomaniac15 01:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

He exists in your mind, if you're a believer. And in the mind of other believers, but the problem is that that is their God, so it's a bit confusing to use the same name. Every believer has their own God in their minds, but since everyone is their mind they also are their own God. As was already mathematically proven by Kieff. Now you have a philosphical proof. Everyone is their own God, so, yes, God exists. There's just loads of them. DirkvdM 07:28, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah... I believe that in Christian thought, the Devil is a fallen angel. As a fallen angel, he cannot be pure evil, but must be flawed with at least a semblance of good. Also, I believe that Christian thought says that God is stronger. So therefore your God/Devil equations would be imbalanced. Anyway, not everyone who believes in God believes in the Devil. --Dweller 10:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah yes. The Devil is always in the detail. 8-)--Light current 11:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You sound like Kim Beazley. He's always saying that. (lol) JackofOz 12:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah well, he a bloody clever bastard then (forgive the Australian language) 8-)--Light current 16:10, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"He a bloody clever bastard" sounds like you're trying to emulate one of the c. 20% of Australians of non-English speaking background. We are very inclusive over here, but it's ok to speak standard English too.  :) JackofOz 02:05, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

just a note on his equation, instead of

${\displaystyle God\times Devil=1}$

it should be

${\displaystyle {\frac {God}{Devil}}=1}$

as the former equation would only hold true if god and devil were 1, but the latter would hold true for any values.

The end result is still the same. Zealz 23:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

whats your favorite eat out? around ny asap

--Weaseljenkins 23:17, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't know what the food is like around nyasap but I enjoy a good meal at the Olive Garden --froth 00:24, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I suppose I would too, if I ever got one there. --Trovatore 00:27, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If you enjoy eating out, and are visiting NYC, I can recommend the Time Out travel guide, or the weekly Time Out magazines for NYC. They feature restaurants for every cuisine, crowd, location, opening hour, and budget.---Sluzzelin 00:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What is the fastest computer in the world?

See Supercomputer#The_fastest_supercomputers_today. --Allen 23:51, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Here's a pic of the fastest computer in the world. It's circled in red --froth 00:22, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Depends on what you call a single computer. Is a multicore computer one computer? Does it have to be in a single case? If yes and no then the Internet. It's just never used to its full capacity. DirkvdM 07:34, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

check Sandman30s 14:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

October 19

White Wednesday

I can't find anything about White Wednesday. It's an American (in the south) tradition where high school students take toilet paper and roll anothers house with it in the night... It's done during Homecoming week on Wednesdays.

I finally found it.... but it really should also be called 'rolling' (as in "I'm going to roll your house tonight' or 'we are going rolling tonight.') and be associated with White Wednesday... as that's what it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/Toilet_papering

In New England (and apparently in Detroit, too, according to the article), some kids practice "Cabbage Night" on the evening before Halloween. There is egging, TP-ing, and pumpkin-smashing aplenty. Ahhh, memories...

cheapest international $$$ transfer

going travelling for 1 month. just found out my credit card charges 3% on all foreign transactions.

what credit or debit or atm cards charge a lower commission? (if a flat fee is listed, assume I always withdraw $100)

Not interested in travellers checks.

Thanks. -Bobby

Credit cards do tend to charge substantial commissions on foreign transactions. In my experience, ATMs are a better bet. Ask around at local banks in your area and find out if there is one that does not charge a fee for foreign withdrawals. Chances are that it will be a smaller, local, or regional bank, and not one of the big national corporate monsters. There is such a bank, Wainwright Bank, in Massachusetts. If you can open an account at such a bank and get an ATM card there before your trip, this would probably be your cheapest option. Marco polo 01:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What country are you in and what country or countries are you going to? Marco polo's advice is good for a United States resident going to Western Europe, but not as useful for a Canadian or Australian, or anyone visiting a less developed country.

It'll also depend on where you're going. Some countries have very few ABMs and some have millions. In some countries ABMs charge a percentage fee per use: most Canadian ABMs have a $1.00 to $2.50 fee for each use unless you're a customer of the bank that runs them. --Charlene.fic 15:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, the strategy I recommended above worked fairly well for me even in Tanzania, a country with about 4 ATM machines, two of which I used repeatedly. (The other two weren't connected to my network.) I did, however, bring some traveler's checks with me and was glad that I did when I was in towns without ATMs (though I loaded up on cash before leaving towns with ATMs). The same strategy worked flawlessly for me in Mexico, where there are linked ATMs even in small towns. Based on my research, I am planning to used this strategy in India, where ATMs seem to exist even in small towns. I think that there are few countries indeed today without ATMs. Maybe this strategy would not work if you are planning a trip to North Korea. As for the $1.00 to $2.50 (CDN) fee per transaction, it is often still preferable to using credit cards because of even larger fees and less favo(u)rable exchange rates offered by credit-card companies. The key is to withdraw as much as you are comfortable withdrawing each time you withdraw. This minimizes fees on a percentage basis. Charlene is right that some foreign banks also add a charge. Normally, there will be a display in the ATM window advising you of this charge. Try to find foreign banks that do not charge for access. In my experience, most don't. HSBC is usually a good bet, and they have branches in many countries. Marco polo 15:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sexual harassment in high school

Now, sexual harassment is a crime in all of the US. But, my question is how serious is this offense at the given age? A high school male student groping, if you will, a female peer's breasts. Just curious, no implications here. 71.250.22.208 01:31, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

This is an interesting question as it relates to the age of responsibility of the 'groper'. If t5he groper is under 16 (ie a minor), Im not sure if it could be considered a punishable offence in the UK. Other countries may have different laws--Light current 01:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Alright, to be more specific, I'm going to say 15. 71.250.22.208 01:40, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It's treated like any other sexual assault; in other words, as well or as poorly as is the norm for that juridsiction. In fact, regrettably, children as young as elementary school age have been indicted for sexual/indecent assault. Anchoress 01:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sexual Offences Act may offer some insight--Light current 01:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If only I could click on it.... :) 71.250.22.208 01:47, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Try now. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 01:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah thats an illegal page header (capitalisation)--Light current 01:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think the questioner was asking about the U.S. In Ohio, groping someone would probably be considered sexual imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor. A 15-year-old would probably be charged as a juvenile. However, I can tell you that when I was in school, this kind of thing went on all the time along with a lot of other stuff that is against the law, such as simple assault and menacing. -- Mwalcoff 02:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, apparently bullying is now against the law in UK, but it was rife when I went to school. How can it be stopped anyway?--Light current 02:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It's assault and battery. The victim should call 911. -THB

Not necessarily. Verbal abuse is not assualt & battery.--Light current 03:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What??? They said groping....breasts. -THB 03:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If I were to hit my work colleagues, or make fun of their physical abnormalities, I'd be fired. But when it happens in school, it's passed of as "just kids being kids." -- Mwalcoff 03:19, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes it is. But is it? Or do they need educating that it is wrong?--Light current 03:37, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Maybe if they're 5; not if they're 15. Anyway, school administrators are always willing to punish kids for swearing or being late for class. But they often ignore harrassment, or at least they did when I was in school. -- Mwalcoff 04:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Groping is assault, not harrassment. The groper should be arrested. But instead, he was elected Governor of California. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Who, arnold? How can you criticize him, haven't you ever seen Total Recall or Terminator?! --froth 20:03, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

U froth seem to be a big fan of arnie

blue gene

why doesn't blue gene design us some hiv inhibitors or do something useful instead of modelling how metal solidifies.

What makes you think that's not useful? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 01:54, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If you write a program that's guaranteed to "design us some hiv inhibitors", I'm sure they'll be happy to run it. —Keenan Pepper 02:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

what guarantee? Instead of using guided (but random) assay tests like the pharmaceutical industry does, just simulate it all.

Why don't you help instead of whining about it: rosetta? -THB 02:47, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't have the technical ability, therefore I'm trying to influence people--and via representative politics--policymakers who can force, via monetary incentive, those with technical ability to help. so stfu

I don't think this is going to influence anybody. Vitriol 17:52, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Name of essay by Mark Twain criticizing humans

I once read an excerpt from a Mark Twain essay (or was it a novel?) that criticized humans for killing more animals than they needed. He also talked about how humans are the only animal to blush and how we are actually at the bottom of the animal hierarchy. Does anyone know the name of this essay?--71.154.240.95 02:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Try thedamnedhumanrace.com -THB 02:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Thank you very much.71.154.240.95 20:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Alcholics Anonymous and religion.

Judges in the United States have sentenced people to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. As several of the twelve steps involve turning your life over to God, and acknowledging the existence of God, isn't this combining Church and State?

Yes it does seem to be draconian. Might as well just brainwash people and be done!--Light current 02:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Alcoholics Anonymous isn't a church or an organized religion. Their def. of God is "as you understand him". -THB 02:52, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What if you dont understand him?--Light current 02:54, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Being required to attend a meeting is not the same thing as being required to fully participate in the procedures or to believe in what they teach. You can lead a horse to water etc ...... JackofOz 02:59, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

NO. I believe you have to say that you believe in GOD etc. Otherwise they throw you out.

I seriously dispute that. JackofOz 03:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Find a ref. Mine is quoted below.8-)--Light current 03:40, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Daily prayer and/or meditation, as suggested by Step 11: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out." --Light current 03:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

My understanding is they can't make you do something with a religious component, such as AA or (for juvy offenders) the Boy Scouts. But they can give you the option of doing it instead of another form of "punishment," such as a fine or jail time. -- Mwalcoff 03:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Even if the court could force a person to attend AA meetings, it can't force people to profess a belief in God if they don't have such a belief. AA meetings don't work by forcing anyone to do anything. JackofOz 03:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree that it's a violation of the separation of Church and State, as did Penn and Teller in their episode of Bullshit! that dealt with just this topic. They also indicated that AA isn't any more effective than secular sobriety orgs. StuRat 04:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Not only that, they showed statistics indicating that AA isn't any more effective than no treatment.

At the risk of sounding like a miscreant, I was arrested for DUI about a year ago. Part of my diversion agreement (a way to keep first timers out of jail) was to attend two AA meetings. While at those meetings I was under no obligation to participate-so I didn't. I did however learn that THB is correct, it is "as you understand him." The anon who said they throw you out if you don't specifically mention God is wrong. As long as you are not disruptive they won't throw you out for anything. The whole point of the turning your life over to a higher power is to allow the alcoholic to realize they have absolutely no control over alcohol. As far as vio of church and state, I suppose it may be, but I wouldn't rely on that argument. In Oregon if you do not meet you reqs. for diversion you go to jail. Seems to me 4 hours of AA is better than 90 days in the lockup. And yes, some studies have shown that it isn't more effective than no treatment for most people, but that does not take away from the fact that is highly effective for some people. (btw I consider that arrest to be a good thing, otherwise I doubt my behavior would of changed unless something worse happened, and AA was a small part of that) Sosobra 00:18, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

wikipedia

why is it call wikipedia why not webapedia wikipedia sounds unapealing

webapedia is unapealing too please follow the rules at the top of the page -THB 02:52, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"Wiki" meant "quick" in a Papua New Guinean language or something, apparently... 惑乱 分からん 03:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

wiki alludes to teenage, goth "Wiccan" therefore it is unappealing.

Wiki is not an allusion to Wicca.See here: ] or alternatively,read this from the same page:"Wiki Wiki" is a reduplication of "waka waka", a Hawaiian-language word for fast. The word wiki is a shorter form of wiki wiki (weekie, weekie). The word is sometimes interpreted as the backronym for "what I know is", which describes the knowledge contribution, storage and exchange function." Serenaacw 05:32, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think that you need to read Wicca as it really has nothing to do with "teenage, goth". CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Reading Wicca should also make it clear that Wicca isn't all that unappealing either. You could've found out why Misplaced Pages is called Misplaced Pages by reading the article we have on the subject. - Mgm| 08:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like one of the most backward, strange, and unappealing cults out there, not that any of them are appealing... --froth 20:01, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Questioner, learn to use punctuation and write actual sentences, if you want anybody to understand you. StuRat 16:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A 'wiki' site is a site which allows antone to edit pages. so it is a wiki-encyclopeadia Englishnerd 16:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, please ask Antone to desist, immediately. -THB 20:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

bad newspapering

Why does reuters allow these sloppy number reportings?

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-10-19T005604Z_01_N18292773_RTRUKOC_0_US-ECONOMY-USA-REMITTANCES.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage2

"Some 12.6 million, or 73 percent of all adult Latin Americans living in the United States, will send a total of around $45 billion to their countries of origin this year, up from some $30 billion in 2004, the report said.

The percentage of immigrants sending money on a regular basis has increased from 61 percent in 2004 to 73 percent in 2006, said the bank, and the average amount of each remittance also grew, from $240 to $300. "

45 billion / 12.6 million = 3,571 which is not 300

3,571 / 12 = 300 meaning it's a monthly rate. why is this not made crystal clear to the reader? Why is this sloppy reporting allowed?

Please explain what is confusing to you. Did you assume that each immigrant makes one remittance a year? -THB 05:11, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Not all people send money monthly; some send it more often, some less often. $300 is the average amount of each remittance. Laïka 07:16, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think it said that was the average among those sending money "on a regular basis". I would suspect that far more people send smaller amounts, infrequently. StuRat 16:11, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

why does bbc allow false reports ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6063386.stm

Look at the table at the bottom. They interviewed 27,000 people in 25 countries, likely evenly distributed becaues you need ~1000 people for good sampling. Then, they simply averaged all the 25 countries together to get their 30% support some tortue.

Then, they put out false statements like:

"Nearly a third of people worldwide back the use of torture in prisons"

This is a false statement because their poll is not weighted by country population. Israel's 48/43 is weighted equally with a 58/36 from the US with 300 million people!!! and what about the other top 10 largest countries: Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, India. what a worthless polll. it should be higher if nothing else.

Not really; they simply talk about people world wide, giving everyone an equal value. Weighting by country would mean that the opinion of an American or an Indian would be worth much less than the opinion of a Vaticanite(?) or an Andorran. Incidently, the reason that they haven't asked in many of these countries (China for example) is these tend to be countries with secretive or controlling Governments, and I'm not sure these Governments would appreciate a load of Westerners flying into their country and asking difficult questions about human rights. Laïka 07:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

In general, when it comes to journalists who screw up interpreting statistical evidence, see Hanlon's razor - assume a cock-up, not a conspiracy. See this web page for some interesting discussion of the exceptionally poor understanding of statistics demonstrated by most working journalists. If you look at a lot of political blogs put together by economists and scientists, this innumeracy is one of the most consistent and strongest criticisms of the working of the news media, and to a large extent it applies across the political spectrum (though, of course, which misuse they get upset about varies greatly depending on your political outlook). --Robert Merkel 07:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

First: "When did you stop beating your wife?" - Don't ask loaded questions. Second: Yeah, it's bad statistics and the article draws unwarranted conclusions. So do you. And so does every news agency in the world on every poll-based news story I've ever seen. (When did you ever hear "As of the latest poll, the change if any in approval rating remains unknown, but within statistical error!") So get over it, already. --BluePlatypus 07:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

After edit conflict:

Laika, China is on the list. And about the question, you assume they didn't adapt the number of people to the population size of the country. This anti-terrorims bullshit is driving people nuts. This is scaring me. People don't seem to realise how easily 'some torture for some reasons' can lead to 'any torture for any reason'. And they probably also assume it will never happen to themselves. People should learn a bit more about Germany in the 1930's. DirkvdM 07:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh, I thought he was saying "where are Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, India?", not "why isn't data properly weighted from Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, India?". My mistake, sorry. Laïka 14:57, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

QUESTION: The business world: Ocean/container shipping

What does a ship agency do? Do they simply receive freight from shippers and then pass it on to the line that they are agents for, or do they also provide some service to the ship while it is in port? Thanks. Ketsitsos--Ketsitsos 06:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It's a broad term, can mean a business doing almost anything related to shipping. Things are done differently in different ports and different shipping companies. If you're talking about a major player like Maersk, they do just about everything within one company, the actual shipping, stevedoring, port ownership and management as well as port services. In other cases and places those tasks can be split over a whole bunch of different companies. --BluePlatypus 07:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I'll be more specific: I work for a freight forwarding company (logistics, air/land/sea transport, customs clearance, etc) and they want to become an agent for a ship line. This would give us certain cost benefits, among other things. But other ship agents that I've researched seem to offer certain services to the shipping line, such as port services. Can a ship agency simply bring in and process freight for the ship line, or do they have to be prepared to offer services to the ship in return?--Ketsitsos--Ketsitsos 08:37, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

By "ship line", do you mean a company that owns actual ships (the things that float on the ocean), or do you mean a shipping line, which is a completely different matter? A shipping line may own ships, but it also likely owns aircraft, containers, rights to ports, etc. They're different things. Charlene.fic 15:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

There is a book called 'The Box - how container shipping changed the world" by, I think, M Levinson. It is apparently a superb read and would probably answer your question. Container shipping is a very amazing industry. The plugging of some random person's book aside, a firm called 'Enrico Pernis' say on their website

"Our skilled staff are able to grant first class assistance to any kind of ship (cargo, tanker and cruise ships), and the expertise and professional commitment of the Pernis Shipping Agency is at your disposal for all technical or commercial matters, whether it is vessels, crew or cargo." Make of it what you will...ny156uk 18:09, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I think we're getting closer. My company wants to be a shipping agent--they want to forward cargo to the ship; but they're not prepared to be a ship agent, which is what Pernis is referring to when they say, " at your disposal for all technical or commercial matters, whether is is vessels, crew or cargo." I'm trying to get this distinction thru my bosses' heads, but I'm having a hard time (they're Bulgarian, I'm not; things are getting lost in translation...)

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine 2006

Hey I was wondering if anybody knew when this magazine is going to be released in new zealand????

Thank you, Kieran.

I can answer your question! Not with 100% certainty, but pretty close. The answer is, yes, probably someone does know, or at least has a pretty good idea.

I get such a thrill out of helping people. --Trovatore 08:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

...and the only people who know for sure are the distribution dept at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine 2006. I suggest you contact them--Shantavira 08:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You could always buy it online, if you don't want to wait. --Richardrj 09:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

NY Times archived article.

I'm researching a new Misplaced Pages article, for which I would like to read the article described here. Is there someone out there with a NY Times subscription who can provide me with a copy? Please use the Misplaced Pages email system to contact me about this. - Mgm| 08:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a microfilm of the original printed newspaper at a public library near you (or a central library in your city). --Anonymous, 04:37 UTC, October 20.
• I live in the Netherlands. Somehow I doubt they have microfilm for US newspapers... - 131.211.210.17 09:45, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

They offer a link to buy the article. A large public library or university library might be able to get it online, or you could request microfilm through interlibrary loan. Check with a librarian at a large library. The U.S. Library of Congress and large college libraries have foreign papers on microfilm going back a couple of hundred years, so there is likely to be a library in your country with NY Times from 1978 on microfilm. I'm not sure how to electronically send you a copyy without violating the copyright. They have to make a buck. Edison 23:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Another thought: Start the article on your sandbox or as an article, let me know the title and I can pull what you need from the article. A Sgt. Louis Vitullo at the Chicago PD had produced a standard rape kit, apparently that was a new concept, and it was used at Chicago hospitals to preserve evidence to help get convictions. There had been 1237 rapes and only 181 convictions before the rape kit was introduced.There were test tubes and swabs for sampling, bag for clothing, clippers for nails, comb for hair collection, slides with mailing boxes for smears. It took about 20 minutes to run the kit. The kits only cost $3. All this before DNA analysis was thought of.Edison 00:07, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Trio Mafuà

Hi,

I need your help. I have found a very great song on one of my Café del Mar Cd's. The song is named "Quente", the Band is called "Trio Mafuà". I didn't found anything useful in the net about them. If anybody knows something about this band, maybe the name of an full album, please tell me.

Jesse

I think maybe you used the wrong spelling. Try googling "trio mafua". -THB 15:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

best calzone?

? --Weaseljenkins 13:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Make your own. Rich Farmbrough, 14:11 19 October 2006 (GMT).

Oh, you didn't need that one 'ASAP?????? -THB 21:30, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A little cafe in the basement of the University of British Columbia Student Union Building back in the early '90s. (Alas, it was a storeroom last time I was there.) Best calzone I've ever had in my life. Sigh. Tony Fox (arf!) 22:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• It entirely depends on what filling you like. The best Calzone pizza I ever ate came from the local pizza shop. - Mgm| 09:47, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

what if you drank draino?

would you have to go to the hospital? --Weaseljenkins 14:03, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Probably the morgue, but why don't you try it? --Charlene.fic 15:06, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah and give us all a rest 8-(--Light current 15:16, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If requesting medical, legal or plumbing advice, please consider asking a doctor, lawyer or plumber instead. Edison 17:47, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ask this guy. Check if he still lives, however. :) Drano does contain ammonia, does it not?--JDitto 21:27, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Since when has plumbing been a learned discipline?--Light current 10:12, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What is Draino? I'm in England - Adrian Pingstone 12:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like a liquid for cleaning drains and pipes, etc. My mother had used something like that when the pipes started to get clogged up. If it is what I think it is, that's quite strong stuff... Frizzling and sizzling... 惑乱 分からん 15:45, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It's actually spelled Drāno. It's made out of liquid lye and sodium hypochlorite. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:25, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What if you cut your head off with a machete? Would it make you ill? What if you were wearing a mask at the time? Get real please!!--Light current 22:35, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Pancakes

I realize that objectively buttermilk pancakes are only different because they contain buttermilk vs. standard milk and also they contain baking soda (according to my cook book). But subjectively, what's the difference for the consumer? I don't really notice a difference between them. Dismas| 14:06, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

butter+milk equals buttermilk --Weaseljenkins 14:08, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

For the love of God, Butter + milk does NOT equal buttermilk. Buttermilk is cultured whey - whey is the low-fat liquid left over after they take the butter OUT of the milk. Read the label: commercial cultured buttermilk is usually 0.5 to 1% MF, like skim or 1% milk, and is far lower in fat than regular homogenized/whole milk.

People see the word "butter" and assume without doing any research that it must be high in fat. Buttermilk is actually very good for you.

The difference between milk pancakes and buttermilk pancakes is that buttermilk is slightly tart and gives a slightly sour taste to the pancakes. Buttermilk and soda will also make the pancakes rise higher than regular milk and baking powder will. --Charlene.fic 15:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

In this recipe, the acidic buttermilk is reacting with the baking soda to create bubbles which make the batter "rise". Otherwise you would have to add another acid like vinegar to the baking soda or use baking powder which doesn't require an acid. Baking powder being a later invention people got used to the tart taste imparted by the required acids and the recipe has come down to us long after the ingredients are no longer necessary. Rmhermen 16:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I see, thank you. And yes, I was ignoring Weaseljenkins and his vandalistic edit. I'm aware what buttermilk is. Thanks again! Dismas| 16:53, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

homicide

who killed cockrobin

{{spoiler}}

The sparrow Laïka 15:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Was it with a "little bow and arrow"... in the Dining Room? --Dweller 15:40, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

{{endspoiler}}

Dickbatman ? :-) StuRat 00:22, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Shazra syed amir ali

Asaloelkum! Sir, Aap ki bari mehrbani hogi k muja Syed Amir Ali (Al maroof Banno kohat wale main) Khandan Kawja Ghareeb Nawaz say talq hay.Aap sab say phaly Banno kohat main tashreef lai is k bad Alighar k zila athroli tashreef lay gay is k bad hukum howa to Ajmeer ga aur wahan say Jaypur gay aur waihn per wisal farmain jaypur ky bary qabrustan may peer matka shah k baraber may mazar hay Aap ka wisal 1920~25 may howa.ziyda murdeen Alighar k zila athroli may hain Aap Banno kohat wale main k naam say mashoor hain may pakistan rehta hoo aur inki Shakseat say mtaliq mazmoon likhna chahata hoon lakin maloomat na hona ky baraber hay. Aap say darkhwasat hay inky k baray may ksi qism ki maloomat hoto azrah karm mehrbani farmain ya koyee isi jga batadain k wahn per jaker malomat hasil ki jasaky.

Faqat Derkhwasat guzar.

Does anyone know what language this is? Maybe we could give him a link to the reference desk in the appropriate Misplaced Pages? Seems to be referring to Syed Ameer Ali. Marco polo 16:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Having done a little snooping around, my guess is our unknown author is from Pakistan, speaks Urdu and surfs via an Eutelsat connection. But to be sure, it would take more snooping. :-) —Bromskloss 16:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Asaloelkum to you, too! -THB 16:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If it's Urdu, this link to the Urdu wikipedia might be helpful. Skittle 21:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

The writer uses the English words "Sir.. wale... main.. say... hay... say... main... is...bad...lay gay is..bad..to...say...gay...per...ky... may peer...may...hay...1920-25 may...may...wale.. main .. say .. may .. say .. ky .. hay .. say .. hay .. may ... per." There seems to be some concern about seeing gay lays in the hay in Kentucky in the 1920's. Or it could deal with Willie Mays, the "Say hey!" kid.Edison 17:36, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Public Assistance

What year did the phrase "public assistance" enter the English language?

This would probably be better placed if it were on the Language desk instead of here. Dismas| 16:04, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Disagree. It's more of a sociological/historical question than a linguistic one. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:27, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, fair question. I hope we can dole out an answer. :-) StuRat 16:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

The first mention I found in the New York Daily Times (New York Times predecessor) in an index, searching back to 1851 was "America received from Europe private generosity and public assistance" Governor Kossuth to the Maryland legislature. Said on the Tuesday before January 15, 1852, per New York Times, Jan 15, 1852, pg. 1, "Kossuth in Maryland." This is not quite in the sense of dole or welfare. "The Central Bureau of Public Assistance" takes care of the poor in France, from the Paris correspondent of the paper,"Miscellaneous items of French intelligence." dispatch dated Nov 24, 1853, published Dec 15, 1853, pg2. So the modern use of the phrase is at least that old, although still it does not refer directly to welfare payments, mentioning only doctors appointed to take care of poor sick people in each ward.Edison 00:22, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Which nation would best survive a nuclear war?

A full-scale, all out exchange between Russia, China, the US etc. And by "survive" I mean the highest quality of living for its inhabitants, the most intact economy following the war, most well-placed to avoid refugees etc. Out of all the nations in the world, where would you want to be?

Argentina. -THB 15:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You would want a self-sufficient, isolated island, unlikely to be targeted by nuclear weapons and far from any place that would be targeted. It should also not be at the same latitude as a potential target, as fallout generally travels East-West, not North-South. Easter Island, perhaps ? StuRat 16:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I thought about this once and considered the global circulation of air in Hadley cells and prevailing winds, and I came up with Vanuatu. However, quality of life there may not be so great, and I'm not sure how welcome an outsider would be in the societies of those islands. In terms of quality of life, a better choice might be New Zealand. The main caveat is that New Zealand is directly downwind from Australia during the southern winter, and you have to hope that neither of those two is a target. The problem with South America is that some of the fallout circling over the North Atlantic will get sucked over the Amazon Basin southward. Fallout from Asia tends to get sucked in the same way toward Australia during the southern summer, but not much farther east. Marco polo 16:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

On the Beach by Neville Shute is set in Australia after a nuclear war but the fallout is coming ever closer... But as that article suggests a cloud of fallout enveloping the world is unlikely and it is the nuclear winter that will get you. Maybe an inaccessible hot spring would be the best nuclear holiday destination. MeltBanana 17:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

There's a convincing little story, and it's a grim one indeed, by Frederik Pohl called "Fermi and Frost" (it won a Hugo award). It's about a full-scale nuclear exchange in the 1980s and the implications regarding the Fermi Paradox. He suggests that Iceland is best placed to survive: they have most of the facilities to produce their own heat (geothermal ... ), hydroponics, as well as a general self-sufficiency. The memorable first sentence (if I remember correctly, LOL) was, "On his ninth birthday, Jimmy got no cake." Antandrus (talk) 17:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I've always read that if there were ever to be a true full-scale nuclear war, there would be targets taken out well beyond the usual suspects (US, Russia, China, Europe, etc.). Plenty of bombs would be going off in the Southern Hemisphere as well, so that's not necessarily going to be a safe place (though it would probably be a lot better off than the North for a while).

The good thing about nuclear war is that it's a lot easier to survive than most people think, provided you're not vaporized by one of the initial blasts. If you live in a small town that wasn't deemed worth targeting, and you're prepared enough to take proper cover the immediate fallout (very roughly speaking, from the first good rain that comes along after any upwind nuking), you'll make it, and there will be plenty of habitable land left to use.

So beyond that, it becomes more a matter of understanding both natural human instinct and the remaining technological, political and industrial capabilities of any given area. Natural human instinct, of course, is to panic, go into "every man for himself" mode or, at best, to coalesce into very homogenous communities. You'd want to be in a place with few preexisting multicultural issues, as the divisions between races and religions that are currently held in check by law and basic societal structures would be highly likely to break down entirely into "us vs. them" situations. So most of Europe would be right out, and to a lesser extent Australia and New Zealand. Someplace like Japan might be excellent under such conditions, given their extremely rigid social structures and near-100% racial homogeny; other parts of Asia would be good in this area as well. But the United States would also come out pretty well in this scenario, given that our culture is more one of assimilation than multiculturalism, so racial and religious issues tend to take a back seat to "being American". Combine that with the fact that we'd still have plenty of untouched land, and it wouldn't be a bad place to start, all things considered.

After that, the main problem would be: What can we accomplish given limited resources and transporation abilities? Given that a lot of infrastructure would be destroyed, you'd need natural resources and the ability to manufacture materials. A bigger country, like the US or Russia, would have much more of both even after a nuclear war than, say, Vanuatu, which doesn't have a whole lot of either on a good day. As for an "economy", my guess is that even if you were 20 years old on the day of the nuclear war, you'd be lucky if you saw even the most basic beginnings of an economy coming back before you turned 50. For the first couple of decades, the only things that would matter would be what supplies you had on hand and what skills you had to offer. Knowing how to grow crops or repair machinery is what would count, not paper money from a barely-functioning government, or even gold. --Aaron 17:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Minnesota. Hands down. Яussiaп F 18:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Whoever happens to be in the ISS at the time probably --froth 20:55, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• We'd better get on colonizing the Moon and Mars then(hotclaws**== 14:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC))

I would probabaly try to hide somewhere in Antartica. I assume that with a full scale nuclear war, no one would fire at Antartica because it isn't an independent country. Also I think that if all these nukes were flying around the world would get a lot hotter, so who wouldn't want to be in a naturally cool place. Just remember to bring sun screen. :) RENTASTRAWBERRY röck 03:43, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

You just have to help please please please!!!!

I have tried this here before but to no availe. I have tried official sites and unofficial ones, search engines ect ect ect. I am looking for the chords or tabs to any and all the songs on the 1979 Joan Baez album honest lullaby. If you cant help me i will have to go to the top of something high and start shooting people please please please help me.193.115.175.247 16:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Try this. -THB 16:35, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Why does this person need them so badly? Vitriol 17:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Or try this. -THB 20:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I am just really frustrated, as i can usaully work these things out for myself, and cant find it on the net, please, help me.

Many musicians (or just people with an ear for music) could tell you what the chords are by listening to the music. Do you know any good musicians you could ask to help ? StuRat 16:09, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

A Joan Baez fan talking about shooting people? Come on. Lrpelkey 08:18, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Praying Mantis in Greece

Hello, Could you please tell me why the Praying Mantis is called the Horse of Mary in Greece and specifically Crete. Thank you W. Lennard--82.13.45.7 16:08, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't know about the Mary part, but another English word for mantis, or possibly a type of mantis, is "rear-horse", because, like horses, mantids rear up when excited. ---Sluzzelin 21:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I guess Mary, as in the Blessed Virgin Mary, refers to the mantid's hands or tarsi folded in a prayer-like position in the same way the word "praying" does in "praying mantis". I suppose the creature could be likened to a praying Mary sitting on a (sometimes rearing) horse.---Sluzzelin 21:50, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"Mantis" IS Greek.

... meaning prophet or seer, true. It has the same root as -mantic or -mancy, but that hardly answers the question. Just because English borrowed from Greek, doesn't mean that Cretans don't have their own unrelated way of describing the same thing. ---Sluzzelin 23:36, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

The great Gadsby

In the book the great gadsby, How did gadsby make his money?

By spelling his name, Gatsby, correctly ? StuRat 16:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Something unknown but perhaps a little shady. -THB 16:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure the book implies he was involved in organized crime to some degree. --Fastfission 18:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I thought it was smuggling, but I don't think the book ever says clearly. The issue is not really how did he make his money, but why.--Srleffler 06:12, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Why does anybody make money? JackofOz

He made his money the old-fashioned way - offset lithography. -B00P 08:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I seem to recall that it was smuggling alcohol in from Canada during Prohibition ? StuRat 14:04, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

HAHA trick question... well done jackofoz, it does not say exept the old fashioned way

looking to start a small business

hey guys, im planning to invest money in a business of some sort. i would like to start something that is manegable. i have the resources...i just thought idpost somehting up here for some ideaas that you guys could give some feedaback and ideas on what one should do...just to let you know im currently residing in pakistan where im planning to start something...the ppl i will be targeting have the money and like to spend...just let youknow bout the culture here...ppl like to go out for coffee alot...they love food...since there is nothing else in this town of karachi to do...teenagers usually hang out at cofes and other eating joints where they lounge...apart from that theres nothing that one does here for one...ppl are very social...they are open to new ideas and other sorts of entertainment....i guess that about sums it up...once again any ideas or business proposals would be greatly appreciated....thanks in advance to all those who will be replying with constructive ideas...thanks guys...

Azi

Business plan should help you focus on defining a market and selecting a product or service, pricing and advertising it, etc. There are a lot of good links on that page. You should also think about what you enjoy doing. -THB 17:03, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Beware that, being in Pakistan, if you do anything seen as "Western", you are likely to be targeted by terrorists. StuRat 17:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

its actually the total opposite in Pakistan. i must say the people here are very liberal and quite open minded. whether western or not, people here are tolerant and enjoy new things. just to give you the feel of how western Pakistan is becoming, we have various franchises her including mcdonalds and pizza hut and the like...parties and raves here are a daily affair. rest assured Pakistan is nothing like the media has potrayed it to be. you will find it to be the most liberal and open minded muslim country. anyways, once again, lets not deviate from the topic at hand...once again, constructive feedback and ideas would be appreciated...thank you once again

thanks THB...much appreciated...

So did the media just make up the part about western Pakistan being completely beyond the control of the government, but instead being under the control of local warlords, many of whom are pro-Taliban and pro-al Queda ? How about the murder of Daniel Pearl, in Karachi, 4 assassination attempts on Pervez Musharraf, and numerous bombings ? StuRat 21:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

He lives in Karachi. It's a huge city. Things like that happen in NYC, too, but that's no reason not to live there or do something. -THB 22:15, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes, but to continue your comparison with the US, the US doesn't have several states controlled by warlords, hasn't had 4 assassination attempts on the current President, doesn't have a terrorist organization making it their base of worldwide operations, and doesn't have many people within the government who directly support that terrorist organization. StuRat 23:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Set up an internet cafe. High speed internet connection, computers (pay by the hour), coffee and pastries for sale, newspapers and magazines to read. Couches and chairs for conversation and meeting people. There are places like that in the US. --GangofOne 00:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It would probably require a reasonably democratic (or lax) government, though... 惑乱 分からん 01:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

sturat i just need some postivite """"constructive"""""" feedback and ideas...please dont deviate from the topic.

I believe my advice to avoid being targetted by Islamic extremists by opening a "Western" business is on topic, and may very well save your life. Don't, for example, buy a McDonalds franchise. StuRat 13:58, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Forgetting how to breathe

This isn't a "Go see a doctor"-answerable question at all. ;) I have watched a few times how people can forget how to breathe. Last time, it was a young man who had slept on a table (can't have been comfortable) woke up to start panicking, not being fully able to breathe. It looked nearly like a case of astma, except that the person didn't suffer from it. In Norwegian we sometimes refer to "swallowing one's own tongue", but I don't know the origins of that. This has never happened to me - but it must be relatively widespread? What causes it? The young man survived, just to point that out. 81.93.102.3 17:37, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It happens to me all the time. I never gave it much thought or worried about it much however. --Filll 17:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

This sounds like sleep apnea. It can have serious health effects, and I'd seriously recommend that you consult a doctor. --Trovatore 17:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It happens very rarely. I just wake with a start and immediately realize there is no problem and I am fine.--Filll 18:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If requesting medical advice, please consider asking a doctor instead. Why would you say this isn't a 'go see a doctor' question? GO TO THE DOCTOR! Tongue swallowing is not a good description, but there are appliances which move the lower jaw forward to prevent the airway being closed off. A sleep study, {Polysomnography) can monitor breathing and oxygenation and document the nature and extent of the problem, and determine if a CPAP device corrects it. See Respiratory system, and see Apnea. Some people have many periods of non-breathing due to neurological problems, i.e. central apnea or obstructions in the airway, i.e. obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP or surgery can help, and allow them to get a good night's sleep. Uncorrected sleep apnea can reportedly increase the likelihood of heart attacks. Many people, particularly if overweight, snore and then actually stop breathing for a long time, then gasp and draw a loud breath when they wake up a little due to low oxygen level. They scare their family to death with the noise, then deny they snore. Edison 18:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Thank you for the answers, but I feel like stressing that I am not experiencing these difficulties. I WOULD, if I could, go to a doc and ask "Hey, why do these things happen?" - but I think they have better things to do. Like, take care of patients. ;) 81.93.102.3 20:45, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• However, Filll should see a doctor. The thing about sleep apnea is that you don't remember most of the times you stop breathing, because you're not fully awake. If you notice this sort of thing happening at all, even "very rarely", that's still a reason to see a doctor. (All the more so if you have it happening "all the time", as Filll said first.) This is important! --Anon, 04:45 UTC, October 20.

Sewing Machine Problems

I took a Home & Careers class in junior high school and learned the basics of using a sewing machine, and I thought it would be like riding a bicycle... you can't ever forget... so, I bought a sewing machine and read the instructions, set up everything (like threading the machine and pinning the fabric) and was ready to go!

For some reason, the machine won't make an inch of chain stitch before running out of thread. It's not taking it from the bobbin on top, but the length I pull through the needle and set to one side. The machine's not in reverse, so what am I doing wrong? I just want to do some basic sewing and get my Halloween costume together in time for the big party. Any help would be appreciated!

Look at the first animation here. It's a chain stich. Either your machine is not doing a chain stich or else you did not thread from the bobbin to the needle. I think. -THB 18:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

And I forgot to tell you to notice that there is only one thread in a chain stitch. -THB 19:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Not necessarily, a chain stitch can also include a locking thread from a spool below the needle bed. We do not know what type of machine or stitch mechanism the questionner has purchased. Perhaps he/she will provide that info. Maker/Model etc?

It was just a simple $30 machine from Brylane Home, the Sewing Wizard. I've provided a link. Thank you all for your help so far! http://www.brylanehome.com/product.aspx?PfId=82673&producttypeid=1&DeptId=7500&PurchaseType=G

I really would appreciate any and all help I can get on the matter. Thank you for your interest so far!

I just had a look at the link you provided to the supplier of your sewing machine but didn't see any instructional guidance so unless you want to send me the airfare to your place, from mine here in Scotland, to have a look and fix it for you, I would suggest you either return it via the return instructions given in your link, or ask a local tailor/dressmaker have a look at it. Good Luck.

average rent that a high-end retailer pays for space at the Galleria Mall in Houston

What is the average cost for rent that a high-end retailer pays for space at the Galleria Mall in Houston?

Simon property group owns the mall. Their press releases and annual reports give only averages for base rents for all their malls together. It generally works like this:

Base rent = # of square feet X $ per square foot = $x.xx

Percentage rent = y% X gross sales over $z.zz.

Base rent + percentage rent = Total rent

Usually the $x.xx and $z.zz are equal and the percentage rent is calculated on the amount of gross sales over the base rent.

So total rent depends on how large the store is and total sales as well as the percent charged, base rate per square foot charged, and the amount exempt from percentage rent.

Simon's average base rent for all malls in 2005 was about $35.00.

If you assumed a store size of 20,000 sq ft, a base rent of $50.00 because it's a high end mall, 6% of sales for percentage rent, and sales of $800 per square foot, to pull figures out of the air:

total sales would be $800 X 20,000 sf = $16,000,000

base rent= $50 X 20,000 sf = $1,000,000

percentage rent = 6% X ($16,000,000-$1,000,000) = $900,000

total annual rent = $1,000,000 + $900,000 = $1,900,000

and the total annual rent per square foot = $1,900,000/20,000 sf = $95 psf

Note that I don't know what the square footage, likely sales, likely percent of sales, etc. are--I just pulled them from the air. Maybe someone who works in real estate can just give you an approximate $ amount. See sales per unit area for possible $psf numbers. -THB 19:36, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Contacting people who post

I am interested in a certain part of the entry Magnolia, Seattle, WA. I would like to contact the writer of that entry in order to ask them more questions. Is there anyway i can do that?

You can leave a message on their talk page. Click on their name, go to their page, and click on "Discuss this page." Next time they log on, they'll see something to the effect of "you've got messages". -THB 19:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

First you will need to go through the page history to find out who wrote the material. It might be multiple editors. StuRat 21:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Choking and joking

Has anybody ever died by choking because they said "I'm choking!" but people thought that they said "I'm joking!" and didn't help them? --216.164.192.242 20:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, because the rule in CPR is that if you can talk or make noise while choking, then you are still getting air into your lungs, so you don't die from asphyxiation. If you were going to die from choking then you couldn't say anything. -THB 20:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What if they said it rght before they actually were fatally choking. --216.164.192.242 20:15, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh, I got you now. It's possible but there's no way to know for sure. If it has happened, it was likely a German tourist in an English-speaking country: see here. Apparently, linguists find dead German tourists amusing, but this sort of senseless death can be prevented by saying "Bhh". -THB 20:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

One time I saw a guy choking, and so I figured it was a free-for-all killing opportunity. So I cut open his throat and pulled out the beef.

Did you eat the beef? -THB 21:32, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"And then he died for real..." as a doctor taught me... =S 惑乱 分からん 21:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

NYC law requires a "choking poster" be placed in restaurants. Although I was taught in CPR class to ask the person if they were choking before doing the maneuver, I am not sure that they would even be able to nod if in the midst of dying. Asking might be a good thing in that you might then avoid doing a Heimlich on someone having a heart attack though it also smacks a bit of some weird PC idea like "heaven forbid I should touch another person without asking first". The poster does not mention asking.--Justanother 14:35, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

As a Red Cross licensed professional rescuer I can tell you that you are not supposed to give medical treatment without consent of the patient. Asking someone who is choking is a formality of this. It protects you from bastards who will try to sue you for bruising them or something while performing first aid. If the person is conscious you must ask for permission first. If someone is unconscious they, by law in the United States, have given implied permission for you to give medical care to the extent of your training. The person will not go from actively choking to dead. They will pass out and then slowly suffocate, thus there will probably be time to remove the obstruction and perfrom resucitative CPR after the person loses consciousness. Choking has the same effect as holding your breath, so it takes much longer to actually die than if someone were strangling you, which involves cutting off the blood supply to the brain.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 20:15, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Hunger right after waking up

Why am I never hungry after waking up late on weekends? Is there some biological mechanism at work here? The reason I ask is that I just got up (5pm) and if I don't go to dinner now I won't eat probably until dinner tomorrow but I'm not the least bit hungry... even though I haven't eaten in 24 hours --froth 20:59, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Hunger explains the biological mechanisms. Did you mean you won't eat until dinner or breakfast? -THB 21:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I meant dinner because I probably won't get up until 3 or 4 tomorrow too :) Fall break. By the way hunger says nothing about not being hungry right after waking up. Surely you experience this too? --froth 21:50, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, I'm pretty much hungry all the time. I'm sure it has something to do with your hypothalamus, everything does. Probably boils down to being off schedule by sleeping late. The human body is very cyclical and it doesn't like to be interupted. Maybe try the same question over at the science desk. -THB 22:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sounds to me like your metabolism is seriously awry. I'd suggest looking over the healthy eating article to see if there's any tips there that appeal to you.

A couple years ago I was getting quite obese, unhealthy, and altogether at a loss as to how to improve my diet. When I got up in the morning, I didn't really feel hungry, but I ate regardless. I took no pleasure in food. All the traditional advice at the time proved entirely useless. Both fad diets (Atkins) and the usual nutritionist's advice (eat lots of fruits and veggies) simply did not appeal to me.

Anyway, in January 2005, I had an epiphany: I went completely off meat. Anything with legs or wings was right off the menu. Also did away with all dairy with 'uncleaved lactose' -- which basically amounts to no milk/cream/ice-cream, but sour cream/cheese was fine. Also, I minimized trans fats, and any unnatural preservatives/color additives etc.

It took about 18 months, but that major change in diet finally began to show. Now I'm way more energetic. I usually go to bed a little after sunset, and get up around sunrise. I enjoy food again, and I'm taking up ice hockey, mountain climbing, 10 mile walks, all stuff that was completely untenable only 2 years ago.

Also, after about a year, I felt like having dairy again, so I'll eat things with milk in them again. Mostly gelato instead of ice cream, however, and no milk-cereal that was the cornerstone of my diet from about age 5-25.

Hope this is of some help. I can only assume that you're not all that happy about being uninterested in food all day. -- Chris 22:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• I think you need less energy to sleep than you need if you're awake and active. - Mgm| 09:54, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What is the least number of edits that makes me an administrator?

Hi, I am Meno25. I want to be an administrator. I started contributing in Misplaced Pages in April 14, 2006. I have 501 edits. I have special interests in cleaning pages, categorizing uncategorized images and pages, and fixing dead-end pages. I sent this message from a public computer, so, I am not signed in.

--196.202.92.192 21:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

There is no minimum number. But on the other hand most of the time people look for 1000 - 2000. Take a look at Misplaced Pages:Requests for adminship and see what sort of things others looking for. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:19, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I would personally like to see that edit count above 5000 plus at least 12 months experience. You must ask yourself why you want to be an administrator. THen write down the answers somewhere we can all see! Remember, most of the useful tasks on WP can be done without being an admin. --Light current 22:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Besides what has been written about the number of edits and the length of experience, the quality of the edits counts too. Large numbers of edits where you merely add redundant spaces and blank lines in places where they will not affect the displayed article will not qualify you to be an admin faster. In fact, it may have the reverse effect. The voters are apt to be sensitive to attempts to artificially inflate your edit count.

Other things count too: some voters look for broad experience, editing not just articles but also talk pages, images, policy pages, etc. Many voters expect candidates for admin to fill in the Edit summary box on the vast majority of their edits. --Srleffler 23:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I would say that voters are probably also looking for someone who can find this information on their own, or at least find the correct place to ask this sort of question. --Maxamegalon2000 03:34, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• I am Meno25. I would like to thank all the users who answered my question. The information provided here perfectly suits me. I plan to be an administrator by July 2006. By then, I will have been a user for 15 months, and will have many thousand edits.

--84.36.143.135 17:38, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

You cant really plan to be an admin, it isnt just a switch you can flip, and you have to ask yourself why you want to be so. People who want to be admins for the prestige and "Fame" (for lack of a better word) are often unsuited for the job. Best of luck to you, nonetheless, I suppose. --The Corsair. 04:22, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

But you can plan NOT to be an admin (like me) 8-)--Light current 15:05, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Geography

What is the term that is used to describe an area of high, flat or mainly flat land?

§ Navaeh Htrae §

Would mesa do it for you? You might also try at the language desk or the science desk, even. -THB 22:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A larger area might be called a plateau, a very large area might be the Altiplano.---Sluzzelin 22:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think plateau is the right answer. A mesa has steep sides and that was not specified. -THB 23:04, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Mercedes 1994 SL500

I am in need of some help on a 1994 mercedes SL 500 convertible. I am replacing the plastic windows on one and needs the installation instructions on the top. Is there a web site that I may get a pdf or something?

All though I have installed hundreds of tops in my life time, I have never installed one on this type of car. I was wondering if you would have someting on directions of such a top installation. Or any pointers you may have. Look forward to hearing from you.

If so please E-Mail to xxxxx

Sincerly

Darlene

Sorry, I don't have the answer, but I removed your email address. See the groundrules up top. It's for your protection. -THB 23:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Your local library should have either Chilton manuals or online automotive databases with repair info. Nowimnthing 23:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Who wrote Bible?

Who wrote the Bible? --Jamesino 23:22, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Which Bible? It's basically an anthology with multiple authors. Unless this is another trick question and you mean God. -THB 23:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Like I meant the entire Bible. And no, it is not a trick question.Jamesino 23:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A bunch of guys, some delusional, some with good intentions, others trying to push their morals unto others, etc. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 23:29, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Then: "Many people, but no one knows who they were." -THB 23:31, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

See Books of the Bible, each of the books supposedly had a different author and there is different amounts of scholarship about the accuracy or inaccuracy of the traditional attribution of authorship. Click on each book and the first section often talks about this in great detail. Nowimnthing 23:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No one knows any of the authors? Jamesino 23:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

See Documentary Hypothesis, Jahwist, and The Bible and History for some more information. ---Sluzzelin 23:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You are correct in saying that no one knows as a fact any of the authors and no one has for a long time. The bible is a collection of books, some of them so old no one even knows how old they are, some of which have different versions, and to which many authors contributed. About as close as you're going to get is "Jews wrote the Old Testament and Christians wrote the New Testament." -THB 23:53, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Really the only thing known for sure about the authors is that there was more than one. THL 00:48, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I wonder whether all of the oldest writers of the New Testament were Christians rather than Jews... =S 惑乱 分からん 00:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

God wrote the Bible. --84.71.11.212 01:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

No, he already said it wasn't a trick question. Natas si dog. -THB 01:25, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Christian theology holds that God inspired the people (told people what to write) and the people wrote them down. Several of the books are self referencing- In several of the epistles Paul gives his own name. Though of course it's disputed whether there was some conspiracy or something to rewrite the bible circa 1000ad.. but to me that seems a little far-fetched. The real controversy is over the books that aren't credited, and nobody really knows the authors of those, though we can be pretty sure to varying degrees --froth 02:22, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

This is a vast oversimplification. While virtually all Christians hold that some form of divine inspiration was at work in the authors of the various books of the Bible, there is nowhere near uniformity of theology on how that inspiration interacted with human agency. I can't quote numbers, but I'm fairly certain that the number of educated theologians who would agree with "God told them what to write" is less than the the number who would have a more nuanced understanding. –RHolton≡– 03:32, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I used a simplification because that wasnt the point of what I was trying to say and the simplicication sufficed --froth 05:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Some of the books of the Bible give the name of their author. Most have an author "traditionally" associated with them; the four Gospels in the New Testament are named after their supposed authors, and many of the other New Testament books are letters from various early Christian leaders to Christians in other places. Similarly, tradition attributes an author to most of the books of the Old Testament. The issue is that, viewing the Bible as a historical document subject to usual scholarly scrutiny, there is little hard evidence that many of these traditions are correct. An additional problem is that in some cases there was more than one individual with the same name. For example, the Epistle of James gives the first name of its author, but there are three or four important early Christians named James, leading to confusion about which one of them is the author of this book. (James the Just is usually considered to be the author.)--Srleffler 06:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

THB, most of the books in the New Testament mentions the writer of the book. This is one. So I believe you were incorrect in saying "You are correct in saying that no one knows as a fact any of the authors and no one has for a long time.". So in a way, this answers much of the original question by saying that many New Testament writers acknowledged themselves.

And Rholton, I believe theologians/people who study the Bible are more likely to believe that the Bible was inspired by God-since Paul claims this to be so in 2 Timothy 3: 16-17.--24.76.234.98 04:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The problem is in interpreting "God-breathed" --froth 05:58, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What's the problem? This is a more descriptive/poetic way of saying that it was inspired by God because it (the idea for writing) was literally breathed by God into the writer. Thus, while the initial idea came from God, the writer's interpretation makes it different-which is why the Bible is so unique. (This also proves the point that God DOES NOT suppress free will when one tries to do according to His will.) The King James version also translates this (from the greek definition) verse into "given by inspiration of God".--24.76.234.98 18:52, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The position of 24.76.234.98 (whom I shall call 24) is the position of a person of faith, but not of all persons of faith. Persons who do not share this person's faith in the literal truth of religious texts do not accept at face value claims made by those texts. For example, in the passage cited by 24 we have a text claiming to be written by someone named James. But we do not know the circumstances under which this passage was or was not passed down by word of mouth, written down by students or followers of the named person or by those claiming, for whatever reason, to have received a letter from the named person. We do not know the circumstances under which it was embellished or revised as it was copied onto a new piece of parchment, as the old one was crumbling, perhaps by a person who considered himself or herself "inspired by god" to add language more fitting for such a holy piece of writing. On the other hand, it might be a verbatim copy of a letter actually penned by someone named James. But, unless we have faith, we do not know. Marco polo 19:55, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Simplifying enormously, traditional Jewish belief is that God is the author of what is known as the Pentateuch, although He got Moses to write it down for Him. The rest of what's known as the Old Testament is believed to be inspired by God, but authored by man. Generally speaking, we "know" who each author is, although one man's "know" is another man's "believe". Taking an interesting and slightly complex example, much of the book of Psalms was by King David, although parts are attributed (often in the text itself) to others, including Moses, King Solomon and even the sons of Korach. Hope that helps. --Dweller 08:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The believed writers of the Bible are:

• various generations of the jews
• A babylonian exile
• unknown scribes
• some psalmists
• King Solomon
• Jesus Ben Sira
• Various (3) people called Isiah
• Jeremiah
• Baruch
• Ezekiel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• Gentile Christians
• Non-Gentile Christians
• Luke
• Paul
  • Disciples of,
• James
• Peter
• John

And of course God! The bible was written a long time ago, so, obviously, not all the names are know, and some are educated guesses. Englishnerd 14:32, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• Note that there were some "books" that weren't included in the bible, however they were covering the same topics. This desicion not to include them was made by I believe Constantine and some Roman Council (I don't rememeber the name). So you may be looking for some other nonbiblical writers as well. They are almost more interesting to study because they aren't really mainstream. RENTASTRAWBERRY röck 03:53, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

help!!!

can you please tell me a food that starts with the letters "I" "x" "q"

Ice cream

X--none unless you use a brand name

Quince

-THB 23:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, there is "xo", a chinese sauce, but it's a Chinese word. -THB 00:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

How about Xanthan gum in lots of foods, Xianbi, Xacuti, Xerosis, Xmas pudding and Xenarthra MeltBanana 01:04, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Damnfine job. (Except for xerosis!) -THB 01:23, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Newspeak! :o --froth 02:24, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

quiche (i think its spelt like that, i thougt you spelt it like its said, cus im stupid, (kiesh) lol)

If you're allowed to include a dish (like quiche), as opposed to a plain food, there's Imam Bayildi, a popular Turkish eggplant dish. Actually there are probably a fair number of "dishes", but singular food products are a different thing. Which are you looking for? Do they have to be in English? And if Xmas pudding is okay, there is also Xmas cake. Plus icebox cake. And idlis!!! Could you be more specific? Mothperson cocoon 15:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quark! That German version of cottage cheese? And how could I have forgotten icing? Mothperson cocoon 20:08, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

And my niece dogs ate pan-fried ika last week (a Japanese cuttlefish-squid). Mothperson cocoon 20:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quinoa. Anchoress 20:15, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Xanthosoma. Anchoress 20:19, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quesadillas. And, oh, dear - quail. Mothperson cocoon 04:45, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Imokake-dofu,inari-zushi, iridofu, irimame, iritsuke-dofu, irore mame, iso agé, isobe-maki. Obviously the Japanese soy foods section needs some work. Mothperson cocoon 12:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Indian pudding and Irish stew, and I'm stopping now, because I'm getting the feeling this is one of those tests to see how inane a question can be and yet still get answered. Food geek hereby candled. I will remember your name, THB. Mothperson cocoon 15:04, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

October 20

Use of your image

We would like to use an image appears on your site for our client's web page. It's the image of Social Security Card. http://en.wikipedia.org/Image:Ssi_card.gif Is it legal to use the image on my client's web page? Do we need to purchase a usage right?

Please let me know, thanks, Akemi Allen

I removed your email and phone number: see the rules at the top of the page. The image in question does not belong to the Misplaced Pages, but was created by the US Government, and its use is governed by the information given on the page you listed above. You're perfectly free to use it--you don't need anyone's permission. Probably came from the SSI website. -THB 00:27, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Read the copyright notice on that page: "This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code. See Copyright." So yes you can use it without asking for rights --froth 01:32, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Everything on Misplaced Pages is licensed under the GFDL (provided it was contributed by someone who was entitled thus to license it). So even if it weren't public domain, you could still use it, provided you complied with the conditions. I'm not sure what the conditions are precisely; you should read the license for that. But my understanding is, they boil down to: (1) you have to give credit, (2) you have to let anyone else use it under the same conditions, and (3) you have to tell them that (that is, point them to the GFDL). I don't think you need to GFDL-license the content on the rest of the page, but I'm not sure about that. --Trovatore 06:06, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I think Trovatore is clouding the issue. Forget the complexities of GDFL, if its Public Domain then you can use it, modify it, publish it or whatever without asking anyone's permission and with no need to even credit where you got it from. That's the beauty of PD - Adrian Pingstone 15:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Trovatore is also incorrect that everything is licensed as GDFL. All text is supposed to be licensed as GDFL at a minimum, but images have many different licenses, and some are unlicesed alltogether (fair use). --Fastfission 19:35, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Legality?

Is it legal to kill somebody if they hit you first? Is it legal to kill somebody if they verbally threaten you first? If not, what if they have a weapon with them? Is it legal to act like a cop even if you're a civilian, and arrest people and stuff if you do exactly what a cop would do? If not, what if you're wearing a mask? --216.164.192.249 01:46, 20 October 2006 (UTC) --Rentwa 02:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Of those, the only two reasons I see which may be legal are:

• Self defense, if you have good reason to believe the person with the gun means to kill you.

• Citizen's arrest, if legal in your jurisdiction.

StuRat 02:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Impersonation of a police officer is generally illegal in america. --froth 02:17, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Whoever said this was about America? There's a whole world outside the US, you know. JIP | Talk 08:51, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

You have to talk to a lawyer, see the top of the page, and it would depend upon where it occured, anyhow, and you didn't say. Most importantly, this sort of question is an "illegal/illegal in a mask" question and should be posted on that page. Thanks. -THB 02:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I wish people would stop recommending people talk to a lawyer about every little legal question that pops into their head. It's not practical and I'm getting tired of reading responses that begin with disclaimers... --Username132 (talk) 15:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Killing someone in self defence in Scotland UK is a very narrow concept. Before that defence can be proferred to the court, the defendant must prove that every and all other avenues had first been considered and where appropriate pursued. You are looking here at options such as fleeing the scene; negotiating with your attacker; using reasonable force to resist his attack; summoning assistance by screaming for help. You must also prove that after attempting all other tactics that you were in genuine fear of losing your own life. If someone is trying to steal your purse (in Scotland) you cannot shoot him through the eye and then plead self defence. You could however plead Guilty to the charge of Murder and expect a life-sentence with a recommendation from the judge that you serve a minimum of 15 years before you could apply for parole on licence. Now down in Good 'ol Texas????????????????

Unfortunately, in the US self-defense can be claimed if somebody "feels" threatened, which, for some nut jobs, is apparently always. The case of the Japanese kid "playing cowboy" and drawing a play gun at Halloween comes to mind. A homeowner felt threatened and shot him to death, and was then acquitted StuRat 15:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I recall a similar incident in which a British tourist who got lost in the middle of a "respectable" residential area, stopped his hired car and knocked on the glazed front door of a house that was lit up for the evening - to ask for directions. The occupier admitted afterwards that he shot and killed my countryman without opening the door and was ably assisted by being able to see his profile through the glazed door - and he successfully claimed that he was entitled to do so - in self-defence. The right to bear arms in the land of the free? You can keep it.

And then there was the Turkish teenager on a student exchange who went up to his host family's neighbour's house at Halloween (no toy gun, nothing) and got killed. No charges. --Charlene.fic 17:22, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

So it looks like - assuming that the questionner is American - the answer to his prime question is yes, you can. God Bless America????????????? It's amazing that their population has just this week INCREASED to over 300 million, despite the best efforts of George W. Bush; Charlton Heston; and the US National Firearms League to achieve exactly the opposite effect. They should change the anthem, "Out of my cold dead hand:", to "Over your cold dead body".

Strange that no-one remarked on the flaw in the question "Is it legal to kill somebody if they hit you first?" What do you mean, first? You're mixing up two things. If the reverse were possible, it might not even be legal. But, sticking to something more executable, "Is it legal to hit somebody if they hit you first?" In a civilised country, no. The state has (or is supposed to have) a monopoly on violence. In a civilised country, that is. Same for killing. The state will also not hit someone for you if they hit you. Or kill them, of course. In a civilised country, that is. DirkvdM 05:30, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Answer from a lawyer. Iam a lawyer you can only kill a person if you reasonably that the person question poses immnent danger of causing death or bodily harm to you or another.

Malaysian coordinates

I'm interested in knowing the precise coordinates for the following Malaysian business address:

Lot 28 & 30 Jln Beliong 15/11 Seksyen 15 40200 Shah Alam Selangor Malaysia

I know almost nothing about Malaysia so I'm not sure how to get this out of something like Google Maps or Earth (entering the above doesn't get me anywhere, and Shah Alam is a pretty big place). Anybody have a clue? It should be the address of one factory. I'm not really sure which parts of the above are streets, for example, much less where I might find (in English) a way to pinpointing where the streets are on a map of Shah Alam. --Fastfission 03:40, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Apparently the street is Jin Belion, 15/11 identifies either the street location or a block on the street, the lot is like a street number, Seksyen is "Section", 15 is the section number, 40200 is the postal code. You already know the city, state, and country.

Here's how I figured that out: see http:// www.dromoz.com/directory/place/?id=655&p=Seksyen+11%2C+Shah+Alam -THB 03:50, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

That helps a lot, I think. Thank you! --Fastfission 18:51, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Wikilyrics?

What are the chances of a wikilyrics site being developed? I'd like to see it. Dave

I'd say 1 in 1: http://lyricwiki.org/Main_Page ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 05:37, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• Wow, apparently people still have no clue about copyright. I wonder how long will it take for them to get sued. - Mgm| 10:00, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I also wonder about copyrights the other way around. The fact that it's a wiki seems to be no guarantee the content is open source. I wouldn't participate in something like that if they don't specificallly state it's open source. I'd just be making money for other people. Note the ads. DirkvdM 05:47, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

MARKET SYSTEM

I have to make a presentation for my school on the topic : - Market System -- a double- edged sword. I am havin problems as to what to write in it. i want to know about a few points as to how is the global market system disadvantageous. PLEASE HELP. URGENT.

I would look under market economics to start.--Light current 10:17, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The biggest disadvantage may be that it favors owners of companies (stockholders) over workers, which is another way of saying it takes money from the poor and gives it to the rich. The reason is that, with a global pool of potential workers, employers no longer have to pay local rates, which are almost always higher than labor prices somewhere in the world. This disadvantage could be overcome if society intentionally countered with more taxes on the rich and benefits for the poor, like universal free college education and health care. StuRat 12:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I would be weary of Sturats comments. The movement of work from one nation to another on a basis of lowering costs can ensure the future longevity of company - beneficial to all its workers and stockholders. It can benefit consumers as the cost-savings are passed onto them (at least in competitive markets). It can benefit the community they go to as it provides them with economic activity and will help build up skillsets and knowledge for use in the future and to attract/create new jobs. The advantage of global-operation is that one can look for the best value employees - just as an individual can look for the best value for their product online. There will be some firms that favour value over quality, others not.

The good and bad of the system are down to your interpretation. The bad may be that it makes it harder for governments to control the actions of corporations. Though the good may be that it makes it harder for government to meddle into the running of a corporation. Each side can drown the other in facts and statistics, the difficult is on you to look into those and find a case you find cohesive argument that can be used to highlight your understanding of the situation. As always in politics no answer is entirely correct, no answer entirely wrong. Good luck ny156uk 17:49, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I know some people might be wary of my comments, but have I really made so many comments as to make people weary ? :-) StuRat 12:48, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Do you need to ask? 8-)--Light current 20:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Just very briefly: The market economy is a good thing because it allows us to create more wealth (food, clothing, MP3 players...) than any other economic system we know. The main disadvantage of the market economy is that the wealth is not distributed equally among people (or countries, or whatever), because those who are good at doing what the market wants can very easily get much richer than the others. Actually, our experience with economic systems shows that in every system there tend to be few rich people and many (relatively) poor people. But since these other systems are usually not found in democracies, this is not a practical problem for the leaders in these systems, because what the many poor people want does not matter. Market economies, however, tend to be a feature of democracies, so if many people feel they do not get enough of the wealth, they make the state do something about it. This is most of what politics is about. For more info, as suggested, please see the article Market economy. For alternatives, see Economic system. Sandstein 19:27, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The game is more and more in the hands of the rich. Poor workers in developed countries are sometimes stockholders : both their stocks ans work may disappear if they go on buying products made in low labor prices countries. Education and high-value products are no more reserved to developed countries : they might wither quickly. Be bold! Imagine! -- DLL 19:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

You are looking for disadvantages; here are a few. In a democratic political system, each person (or each adult anyway) ideally has one vote. Thus each person has an equal chance (in theory) of achieving his or her desired outcome in the political process.

In a market economic system, each economic actor (an individual person, organization, or corporation such as a bank or oil company) has influence that varies according to the financial resources that the actor can bring to bear in the market place. Thus each economic actor's chances of achieving his or her desired economic outcome is directly related to his or her net worth. This feature of the system is an advantage to large corporations and the superrich, who can outbid almost anyone else in a market transaction. However, it is a disadvantage to the vast majority, who must earn a living by competing with thousands, millions, or, with globalization, potentially billions of others to do the job. The rich corporation dispensing salaries will normally give the job to the person with the necessary skills who accepts the lowest wages. This has the effect of driving wages down globally. If a category of workers in one place begins demanding higher wages, the corporation is free to close up the shop and hire cheaper workers elsewhere. Corporations have a far greater ability to organize globally than does labor, not least because trade liberalization (outside the EU) typically allows corporations to hire labor in any country they choose but does not allow workers to seek employement in any country they choose.

Proponents of a global market argue that it brings down prices for consumers. However, if wages for those consumers are falling simultaneously, falling prices bring no benefit. If wages are falling relative to prices, as they have been for many years in the United States, workers lose out. Those who gain are those whose income comes from the ownership or management of corporations rather than those who must work for a living. The owner class have seen their earnings soar as corporations have exploited workers to extract record profits. So for the rich and corporations, the advantages of globalization and the market system are obvious. For those who rely on wages (although they may a small amount of stock in a retirement plan), the disadvantages are clear. Marco polo 20:27, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Could we keep individual POVs out of the answers? THe questioner obviously has an school/college assignment problem where he needs to quote reliable sources. So lets direct him rowards some 8-) --Light current 22:11, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

"Rowards" = The direction you row the boat ? StuRat 00:11, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I have only one reply to that: Rowlocks--Light current 00:29, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, the questioner said nothing about needing to quote sources. The questioner specifically asked about disadvantages. I mentioned some. Our market economics article extensively quotes Milton Friedman, who is noted for his pro-market POV, not particularly helpful to someone looking for disadvantages of the global market. If the questioner in fact needs to quote sources, he might want to look at these comments by the Nobel-laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz, who is more critical of markets. He might also want to review our article Anti-globalization, which presents (and critiques) some of the arguments made by opponents of globalization. Marco polo 01:12, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

benefits package

on average, for an entry-level engineer in a fortune 200 corp., how much is a standard benefits package worth?

Please don't say "well, it depends on xyz..." or "well, what do you mean by benefits?"

Just give me a + or - 30% range without thinking too hyper-analytically.

Thanks.

• At the very least it depends on the country you're in and the currency you're using. If said engineer worked "on the road" they may get a business car. They might not. So there's at least 20000 euro difference there on full value (do you want it per year or month?) - Mgm| 10:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• Without specifying the location, country, type of engineer, etc., you would be lucky to get + or -100% range. I will say the benefits cost the company somewhere around $30,000 a year, on average. Note that what the benefits cost the company is not exactly the same as what they are worth to the employee. StuRat 16:51, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

How to delete the image I uploaded?

i uploaded a wrong image into wiki. Instead of a celebrity pic, i uploaded a family picture. How do I delete it?

This isn't the place for questions on how to use Misplaced Pages, that would be the Help Desk. Though to answer your question, just put the tag "{{db|reason}}" on the image page, replacing "reason" with the reason why you want it deleted. It will be deleted by an admin soon then you can upload the other image. Dismas| 11:50, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

An easier way is to replace that pic with the one you wanted to upload. StuRat 11:52, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

"Replace" meaning, I understand, uploading with the same name again. -- DLL 19:22, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Which, while easy, does not actually remove the family picture from public access. If you don't want the entire world to be able to see your family picture, use the "db" method above. Otherwise it is still there for everyone to see in the image upload history. (If it is deleted, it can only be restored by admins). --Fastfission 19:29, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I think you can use {{db-author}} for such cases.  --Lambiam 23:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

paris hilton sex tapes

who knows where i can watch one of those tapes for free.the paris hilton tapes..the home made sex tapes?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.49.84.4 (talk • contribs)

Your most obvious bet would be file sharing networks. But why would you want to see that? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 15:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It's actually a very unimpressive tape. During sex she looks uninterested and she's too skinny to be really attractive.

It's dark and very murky, too... 惑乱 分からん 16:27, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

kuma ?

what does kuma mean?its a kiswahil word.

This belongs on the Language Ref Desk. StuRat 13:54, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Would you care to move it old chap?--Light current 00:36, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

No, that's the responsibility of the asker, if he expects to get an answer. If we do it for them, they will never bother to put things in the right place. StuRat 11:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quite right !--Light current 17:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

But you're also supposed not to double post. Catch 22. So I'll answer it for you. It means 'vagina'. Wonder where you picked that up. DirkvdM 05:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

determining relevance score

Please explain how, or what parameters you use, you arrive at the 'Relevance' number that is displayed (under the various links) sometimes when there are multiple links from a search result. > Eg: "Relevance 0.4%

Thanks -p

Our Help:Searching page does not tell. Anyway, our search engine is quite poor and the relevance is better when you try a yahoogle search. -- DLL 19:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Interaction with a dog.

There are many books about interpreting a dog's behaviour -- a dog licking your face is submission to you, lowering its chest to the ground and raising its hindquarters indicates playfulness, etc etc. Are there any guides to how dogs interpret human behaviour? Does my dog actually appreciate me petting his head? What would he think about the fact that I've never licked him or had him bring me food? Often my dog will lay on his side and lift one of his arms, exposing his chest to me -- what does he want me to do? He doesn't appear to react at all if I pet his chest when he does this. Pesapluvo 15:36, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I believe most dog training books go into great detail about how dogs interpret human communication and behavior. Realize that much of human communication and behavior is well beyond their ability to interpret, they can only handle a few basic signals. For example, sitting your dog down and discussing why he shouldn't drink from the toilet isn't nearly as effective as swatting him on the nose and yelling "NO ! BAD DOG !". StuRat 15:57, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I suspect that the rolling over on the back and exposing his chest is a show of submission. StuRat 16:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I was jamming on guitars at my friends house, the dog was listening/sitting there. His wife came home and called the dog upstairs, my friend said noooo, he's enjoying the music, arent you bruno? and the dog nodded.

He probably trained the dog, intentionally or not, to nod when he says something that sounds like "arentyoubruno". Try having him say, "You're a miserable good-for-nothing kur, aren't you Bruno ?", then see if he nods. StuRat 16:44, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps it was just one of those crazy 'nodding dogs'--Light current 17:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Um, when dogs roll over and lift their arms, THEY WANT YOU TO RUB THEIR STOMACHS! And of course he's not going to react, because you are just being a good ape. They own us. We don't own them. Maybe I shouldn't be telling you this, but you might as well get used to it. Mothperson cocoon 17:14, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

While I don't really agree with the "they own us" sentiment (dogs, unlike cats, seem to be nothing if not creatures begging for approval and acceptance; cats don't seem to give a damn and do think that they are entitled to care from humans), the display of the chest is almost certainly both a submission activity (exposing a vulnerable part of their body) as well as a request to have it scratched (which dogs love). --Fastfission 19:32, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I live with dogs and cats, and I still think they both own us. Dogs are just sneakier about it. As I type right now, I am furniture (a nice warm chair with thin skin convenient for claw traction) for my principessa cat. Not much subtlety there. But if you've ever been out in your yard on a cold dark night, calling and calling your beloved dog, who has gone missing for half an hour, only to turn around and find him or her sitting behind you silently, grinning... Actually, I'm with Lambiam's theory more than I am with my own. Mothperson cocoon 15:02, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

A human feeds a dog and the dog thinks that the human must be a god since they can provide food. On the other hand, cats get fed by humans and think that the cats must be gods since the human is the one bringing the food.

And yes, your dog likes it when you pet him on the head because you're the alpha dog and you're bothering to show him attention. Dismas| 20:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Somehow there is this fad of viewing all human-dog relations on a one-dimensional scale of dominant to submissive, as if it's an SM relationship. From my interaction with family dogs as well as watching dogs interact I recognize nothing of these rich behavioural patterns in this "alpha dog" stuff. I've seen dogs become aggressive, but that's something else, when they were provoked or threatened. And I've seen dogs "submit", but that was clearly like a judoka slapping the floor: a signal "OK, you win". For the rest you can see almost everything you also see going on between humans. Dogs may fight for no other reason than that they can't stand each other. A dog obeys you because he or she cares for you and wants to make you happy, not because you are the "top dog". And just like you are mad every now and then with your little brother/big sister/spouse/mother/granny, or just want to be left alone, so it is also with your dog.  --Lambiam 23:40, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What do you know about the moscow coup attempt?

--Moscowcoupattempt 15:40, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

He/she seems to have some identity confusion... 惑乱 分からん 15:46, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What do you mean? --Moscowcoupattempt 15:47, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

They mean that your user name is the same as your question. I suppose that's OK, just a little weird. StuRat 15:51, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I know everything about it as published and reported by the then Scottish Media.

Anything else? --Moscowcoupattempt 15:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I know our article on it is named Soviet coup attempt of 1991. StuRat 16:39, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The last section in David Remnick's Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire is an excellent and exciting account of the subject. I highly recommend them if you are looking for a good synopsis (the book as a whole is wonderful as well). --Fastfission 19:33, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Fear of sleep

A new question have you heard of do you fear sleep? --Moscowcoupattempt 15:58, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The term for the fear of sleep is clinophobia, if that's what you meant to ask. StuRat 16:23, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

(I would have guessed for hypnophobia, but couldn't find any link...) 惑乱 分からん 16:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Start a new headline for new questions... Don't just ask questions at random unless you really want the answers... Sorry for joking around with you, before... 惑乱 分からん 16:10, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Which is lighter, a feather or a moth's wing ?

What is lighter a feather or a moth's wing? --Moscowcoupattempt 16:11, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Feathers vary dramatically in size as do moth's wings. While, on average, I would say feathers weigh more, there are certainly also some feathers which weigh less than some moth's wings. StuRat 16:17, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

black bull stickers on cars

do you know the relevance of the black bull sticker which some people place on the rear of their car? i have seen it on many cars here in ireland and have been told that they appear in other countries also. it is not limited to any make or model of car and is not limited to any race or class of driver? is it some kind of secret society medal? or is it just a sticker with no meaning?

Maybe they are making out that their car is "The vehicle called Black Bull used by Black Shadow in F-Zero GX."?--Shantavira 17:36, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

This one http://www.theblackbull.org/? MeltBanana 20:25, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Student with concern

Hello, I am contacting you because I was recently told not to use information from this website when preparing reports for school. My professor told me to find more legitimate sites or books for research. I told him that in most cases I always do follow up reasearch and try not to compile information based on one resource. I also told him that I have never had a problem with bad information from your website and simply would like to continue using it for research. He told me no and that wikipedia is unreliable. This issue would not have come up but as a student I must cite my information. My question is, Should I look for information elsware do to the editing aspect of this site and can you provide a rebutt statment to change ny professors mind. Thank you

He's right. Jimbo Wales, Misplaced Pages's founder says so, and that college students shouldn't be citing any encyclopedia, not just Misplaced Pages. A good wikipedia article will have plenty of citations to reliable sources which you can check, and which should be of a scholarly nature: cite those sources directly (assuming you've actually checked and read them yourself). A wikipedia article which doesn't cite reliable sources (which doesn't allow anyone to check its veracity) is worthless. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:59, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Hes right. Use WP to get a general flavor of the topic and then follow the article links to lead you to primary sources which you should then READ!--Light current 22:07, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages is an excellent tool for students, especially if you learn how to use it correctly. Your teacher may disallow Misplaced Pages as a reference (many do, pah), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it. I like to remember that Misplaced Pages is just an encyclopedia that covers an extremely broad range of subjects. You shouldn't cite an encyclopedia, but instead use references that are more specific to your topic. Most of our most accurate and cited pages are on academic topics that are likely to be useful to a student. Let's say my topic was on Teddy Roosevelt. I would go to the Theodore Roosevelt article, and read over it. I wouldn't take any notes, just read it to get a good understanding of him. But at the bottom of the page (and by bottom, I mean the last 20%), there are links to dozens of websites, a list of several printed books, and even some newspaper articles and such thrown in. These would be what I use for hard research. Why cite Misplaced Pages as one paltry source when I have a list of over a hundred reputable sources in my lap? Even if you chose a few at random, you'd probably have substantial material to build a satisfactory school paper. Unfortunately, there's likely nothing you can do to change your teacher's opinion of Misplaced Pages. Just grin and bear it, since he's the one grading the papers. Hyenaste  22:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages:Misplaced Pages is not an acceptable citation Durova 00:47, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Also, remember no source is infallable. -THB 06:47, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Which includes those sources that are mentioned in your sources. Misplaced Pages should not be used as a source not because it's unreliable but because it's an encyclopedia. Any source is unreliable. Which includes paper sources. Any nut can write a book. Let alone a web page. So you should check the background of the author (and leave it if you can't). Is there any indication they're an expert on the subject? With some publishers you can assume they did the checking for you. But even then it makes sense to use different sources, especially when it comes to the social sciences, where opinion may prevail over fact. Especially with controversial subjects. It is near impossible to find reliable information on, say, Cuba or tobacco. DirkvdM 06:06, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

weird question

I have a quesion for something that I would like to know if anyone could tell me what it is and anything about it, but I'm going to give an example, as that is the best way to explain it:

You are walking through a hallway and you all of a sudden fell as though a force is pulling your head into a violent headbanging motion. You don;t know if you actually just did it, but you feel as though you may have. You have to hold your hand on your head the rest of the time to stop this urge. Now you are walking up a stairway and you trip on the stairs. It is no big deal and you are in no way mad. You even have a nice person help you up. You come to the top happier than at the bottom, thinking about the incident. Then, all of a sudden, a random thought enters your mind of you tripping and then yelling "s***" fairly loud. This, of course, did not happen, but then you all of a sudden feel the urge to yell "s***" very loudly and you seriously believe that you just have. The urge keeps coming and unless you focus on one spot on the ground, and keep your mind focused strongly on something else, the urge keeps coming. If you look up at someone it's all of a sudden like you're being possessed to yell "s***" at them. Also, if you are walking near a (seriously, i do not mean any of this in a racist way)black guy around you;re age and you love black people but you for some reason you're mouth undergoes the possession-like urge to say things like "stupid black people" and stuff like that (that is not at all my opinion and i'm just using that phrase for the question), and like i just said, this is not at all coming from you or your thoughts. And then there's the whole possession-like thing of just calling people random horrible names. What is going on here and how can this be stopped?

Serious question, not just bs. Thanks. Temp 22:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Schizophrenia? I'm no psychologist. Hyenaste  22:29, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Possibly some kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder(?)... 惑乱 分からん 22:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• If this is a dream: see a head doctor
• If this is not a dream: see a head doctor immediately!

--Light current 22:33, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Sounds a bit like coprolalia, though I have no idea if it can work exactly that way. In either case, like Light Current says, you should see a doctor. If you're feeling you're losing control to do these things, it could get serious, so the best is to see a professional. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 22:48, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• Well, the urge to suddenly blurt out obscenities and targeted epithets is usually Tourette Syndrome, but if you're older than 18, I'm not sure why it would suddenly show up in you out of nowhere. In any case, Tourette's isn't a threat to your physical health. It's the feelings of headbanging and dizziness that I'm more concerned about. This is a case where you should consider all of us on Misplaced Pages to be idiots, and get to a doctor. --Aaron 23:08, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Aaron sounds spot on, but we are not qualified to give medical advice. This sounds like it could be a neurological problem. Please do not ask for medical diagnosis or advice on Misplaced Pages, because you know nothing about the qualifications, if any of the people answering the question. If it were me or a family member, I would see a doctor or maybe a neurologist as soon as possible.Edison 00:29, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

"Coprolalia" is the correct medical term for the obscenity aspect of Tourette syndrome. But considering that the guy doesn't seem to completely discern between reality and fantasies, to boot, I gigure it might be a more complex problem than simply that... 惑乱 分からん 02:06, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Legality 2: The Fellowship of the Law

Is it legal to walk around a town naked? What about on your property, outside? What aboud inside your property, next to a window? If any of these are illegal, what if you're wearing a mask?--216.164.199.234 23:14, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, it is legal to stand next to a window, inside of your property naked. Didn't see that one coming, did ya? THL 23:36, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

There are places where you may not even smooch or consume alcohol on your own property, inside, if you can be seen from the outside. It really depends on where you are and what the local rules are.  --Lambiam 00:01, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Where are we talking about? These types of laws vary from town to town. I'd say almost all towns have some form of an Indecent exposure law. Obviously, if you start walking around naked in public you will end up with a police officer who will arrest you on some law based on lewd behavior. I'm sure most places as well would legally allow nudity on private property, but once again it depends on where we are talking about. —Mitaphane _talk 00:10, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Hi, again. Thanks for signing your post but it should be on the illegal/illegal in a mask page. Besides, if you're wearing a mask, you're not naked. Duh. -THB 02:08, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Is it just something I've imagined or does Toronto have some sort of law that allows women to walk round topless in public? Lemon martini 13:16, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

October 21

Games on the TI-84?

Are there any other games for it, besides the one with the shapes? Pacific Coast Highway 00:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

You can download games, or you can make your own, just using the calculator(it's not complicated), or get ones that your friends have made. I've made minesweeper, connect four, hangman, and some other stuff.

If you have the cable (they're like $15) you can put assembly games on your calculator. Go to the archives at --froth 05:34, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I have a TI-84 Plus Silver Edition. It will happily run almost all of the large number of games written for the Ti-83 Plus. Loganberry (Talk) 16:24, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Military Corpmen

I am not using the following information for experiments of any form of surgery. How do US military corpsmen treat fellow soldiers if the following occurs: a bullet to the arm, a bullet to the torso, a shot-off finger? Do they, for example, inject the fallen soldiers with drugs such as morphines and surgically remove the bullets? Also, what anesthetics do US corpmen carry? Thanks --Jamesino 00:51, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

The corpsman will render first aid to make the casualty stable enough to go to a Aid Station and/or MASH unit. They do use drugs to alleviate the pain as they stabilize the casualty for transport, be it by a land conveyance, a helicopter, boat, etc. Martial Law 03:09, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

US MASH units have now been replaced with Combat Support Hospitals. StuRat 11:18, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Usually it may be morphine, but that has been replaced, to avoid creating junkies on the battlefield. Martial Law 03:11, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

What kind of drugs do they use now? What if a US Navy SEAL platoon is out on a mission and one of its members got a finger shot off and took a bullet to the arm, what does the corpsmen do in that case when they are nowhere near a hospital? Jamesino 23:42, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Possibly Novacaine. First aid is rendered, if not, the guy may be "terminated" to keep the enemy fom getting to him/her. Most of those missions are classified, even classed as "black ops", such as assassinating a enemy general or even a enemy head of state, rescue of hostages, demonstrated by Israel in the Entebbe Raid. Martial Law 20:53, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

manual information on Technics Compact Disc Changer SL-MC 50

Hi! I'm looking for the manual for the Technics Disc Changer SL-MC 50. They don't make this product anymore. We have one and need a manual for it.

Thanks. Bob

Google is your friend Bob. —Mitaphane _talk 03:43, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

soviet union breakdown

I was alive in 1991 but I have no idea what happened with the USSR in that year. can someone give me a very brief summary of what happened? Or link. Thanks.

Try History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991) and please sign your posts with four tildes! Thanks. -THB 06:29, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

WP and War

Since WP has servers in South Korea, what would WP do if war breaks out. The expectation of war is real, since N. Korea may go to war real shortly. Will WP relocate these servers in the event of war ? I've been watching the situation on FOX News, CNN, other media for quite some time since the nuke test crisis started. Martial Law 03:19, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not completely sure of the details of wikipedia's servers setup, but I'm guessing the servers in Korea are caches of the servers located in Florida, done so to minimize access time for people in the Eastern Hemisphere. If this is the case, it wouldn't take much to make another backup and place it on a server located in another stable region. —Mitaphane _talk 03:52, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I'd suggest Japan to be WP's alternate location, yet still serve the Eastern Hemisphere's clientele, unless Japan goes to war to protect itself. Martial Law 04:28, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

A alternate suggestion would be Guam. No wars, no earthquakes either. Martial Law 04:42, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

WP should make a back-up and be ready to move it should war indeed comes to the Korean Peninsula. One other question, is WP monitoring the situation ? Martial Law 04:50, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

If war does break out in that area, it's going to be so nasty that I doubt there's going to be anyplace in S. Korea to put any servers for quite some time. In any case, it's all backed up constantly; Misplaced Pages would simply switch the relevant domain names to another IP address somewhere else in Asia. Beyond that, it would be up to the various Internet backbone sites in that region to make sure anyone could actually reach S. Korean sites. --Aaron 04:57, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

North Korea may go to war real shortly? What on Earth makes you think that? And with South Korea, with whom they are developing ever more amicable relationships? You admit you watch Fox and CNN. But you also claim to use other sources. Any reliable ones among those? Maybe I should start making bets about what will happen in world politics with people who watch Fox and CNN. I'd be a millionaire in no time. DirkvdM 06:14, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

According to the WPSP (I think), WMF is looking to shift everything back to pmtmpa (The Floridian svrs) and depreciate the Korean ones. 68.39.174.238 03:59, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

My Own Page?

When editing my own page, is it still necassary to leave an Edit summary?. —BeefJeaunt _talk

Yes, it is. Martial Law 04:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

No it isnt Martial law. We are still under civil law. 8-)--Light current 06:19, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Necessary in what sense, ML? It's certainly not required. Anchoress 04:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

~after edit conflict, a completely different answer to the above one! It's never necessary to leave an edit summary, but there are counters that measure summary compliance, and undiscerning people might look at poor edit summary compliance and deem it to be an editorial fault (in the case of adminship application, for instance). Anchoress 04:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I always try to leave an edit summary on actual articles, but not on talk pages, my own user page, and the Ref Desk, as those comments are typically self-explanatory. This edit, for example, would just say something like "Answer", if I bothered. At some point, "talking about talking about talking" becomes silly. StuRat 10:57, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

You could be creative and say you were "meta-talking".  :) JackofOz 12:41, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Replacement cap for flash drive

I lost the cap to my 512MB flash drive. Where do I go to get a replacement? Will a replacement cap from, say, Lexar, work on a SanDisk drive? --Blue387 05:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Ask on the IT/Computing desk--they should know. -THB 06:25, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

But really, would you need a cap, can't you put it in plastic foil or something, if you worry about dust? I doubt a cap would be worth its prize... 惑乱 分からん 14:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

The simple intuitative answer that comes to me is contact the company that makes the product. See if you can buy a replacement from them. As far as caps that will work across difference flash drives. That depends on how the plastic is molded and shaped to fit together. —Mitaphane _talk 17:18, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

more french riots

what's wrong with these people? ?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/world/europe/21france.html?hp&ex=1161489600&en=64d3fb6fee7840ce&ei=5094&partner=homepage

why don't they just go to school and get an education and get a decent job . why are they ambushing police? If they don't like the french system then they're free to leave. wtf is wrong with these people!?!!?

Theyre French 8-(--Light current 06:17, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

It ain't just in France--see Race riot. -THB 06:43, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

The article explains why they can't get a job. It is called "racial discrimination". What is the point of getting an education if you know you won't be able to get a job? Also, what notion is this that "they're free to leave"? To where? Danmark? The United States? Will you sponsor their visa applications?  --Lambiam 09:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Well 2005 civil unrest in France covers the event of about a year ago (maybe you have already seen this article but you never know).

Are they French? I mean : do they have the French nationality and the right to vote? I guess not, because if that were the case France could lose its identity pretty soon.

Lambiam, last year they killed an old retired man who tried to put out a fire and set an old lady on a bus on fire. I find it hard to sympathize.Evilbu 09:56, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Did I say anything to condone their behaviour? As always with riots, there are some people who riot just for their idea of fun, not much different from soccer hooligans, and many who are swept up by the mob psychology. It's always been like that except that now we have missiles and generals, which is so much more civilized. And as always, the people who suffer most from such riots are the people who live right there, in the banlieux, the vast majority of whom do not participate in or even approve of the rioting. Then the hardliners come and want "hard measures" that are completely ineffectual except that they punish the people who live there a third time, making it harder and harder for those who are working hard there to build a sense of community. The riots wouldn't be so fierce if not so many of these youngsters were bored and without purpose, and they would also not be so fierce if there wasn't a lot of justified bitterness and anger. Most of these young people were born in France. They have nowhere to go.  --Lambiam 12:52, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

For those who aren't French citizens, I would deport them back to their country of origin, after they serve any prison sentence. They have claimed asylum because they didn't feel safe at home ? Well, they should have thought about that when they decided to go rioting, shouldn't they ? StuRat 10:37, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

If they're citizens of France then they can move anywhere they wish in the European Community without asking or telling anyone. -THB

This shows the character of rioters:

"On Saturday, 26 May, the Live and Let Live pub, which was occupied at the time, was pelted with bricks, stones and petrol bombs."

Exactly...exactly

It is important to understand that most of the young men responsible for the violence were born and raised in France, yet because their ancestors were not European, they are not accepted as French by French people of European origin. Unemployment is very high for French young people, in the neighborhood of 25% I think. It is much higher for young men from visible minorities because of racism. So suggesting that they just get a job ignores the fact that many of them would like to do just that but can't. Getting an education does not offer much hope of improvement. The job market is very tight for French graduates of European origin, and much tighter, again due to racism, for young men with darker skin. Leaving France for some other EU country is also not much of an option because similar forms of racism exist in most other parts of Europe. These young men are harassed from the time they reach puberty by the local police, so it is not surprising (if also not really excusable) that the police are targets for their anger. The behavior of these young men is certainly problematic, but so is the intolerant and racist French culture that produces them. Marco polo 19:16, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

If they don't have a job but they don't starve either that means they do get some sort of minimum amount of money to survive without working. The lady whose retired husband was killed while trying to put out a fire referred to them as "those lazy bums". I can imagine that if my wife,after years of hard working (partially for people like those) and finally retiring, were killed for fun by the same people, I'd say about the same thing.Evilbu 19:22, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

guess that's why people move to the US. you can do whatever th e fuck you want with a decent education. opportunity abounds.

I never understood the mentality that you had to find a peaceful solution to the rioting.. if someone's coming at you -a police officer- with a metal bat, shoot him in the face or at least the leg. Get a helicopter with a mounted chain gun and spray down the riot. That would dissolve it awful fast and they would get what they deserve, and it would keep innocent people from getting hurt. --froth 22:38, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

um.....16th century despotism called and they want their draconian laws back...

I'll assume that was irony, but I'm not entirely sure. Irony doesn't travel well over the Internet. Use emoticons to show how you mean something. (And maybe I should start prcatising what I preach. :) ) DirkvdM 06:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

You aren't David Blunkett in disguise are you, Froth? Laïka 13:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Mask

Is it illegal to wear a mask? If not, then what if you're wearing a mask? And is it illegal to wear a mask if you're NOT wearing a mask? -THB 06:50, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Depends. Do you own a cactus and\or a baseball bat? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 06:59, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes and if you do, you know what you can do with them 8-)--Light current 07:53, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Generally you are fine with wearing a mask. Jacko does it all the time. But they may be restrictions. In Germany and parts of Switzerland for instance you are not allowed to participate in a demonstrations and hide your faces, so the security forces can film the demonstration. (in German). Besides that, i know of no restrictions.-- ExpImp 11:36, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

Nation of Islam dress

Why do members wear red bow ties as part of a uniform?

lots of issues | leave me a message 10:21, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't know about the color (revolution ?), but I once heard Louis Farrakhan say they wore bowties because they could be lynched with regular neckties. StuRat 10:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

WATS THIS SONG???

Whats the first song on the video and who was it by? Video: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2697258554453923478&q=liverpool+fc --84.69.123.27 10:28, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

It's "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 10:35, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

GOOGLE EARTH

look on google earth at these coordinates: 53°50'39-North, 1°20'34-West

what happened here...builders having a bad day???

--84.69.123.27 11:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

If you mean the thing that looks like an incomplete bridge - it's a tunnel. If you mean why does the road appear weirdly bendy - that's just an artifact of Google Earth's montaging different satellite photos together, the road really isn't bendy. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 11:51, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

i would disagree with you....it cant be where the ariel imageing has been put together because if it was there would be a clear line across the surrounding land with the same 'bendyness'; and there isnt, also if there were 2 images being put together there then you would be able to see a difference between the two, and there isnt.--84.69.123.27 12:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Ariel image ? Perhaps like this:  :-) StuRat 12:35, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Finlay is correct, you are seeing an artifact where two images have been stitched together. You can't see the line very well in the rest of the image because so much of the image is fairly plain: the mottled green fields don't have many recognizable repeating features, unlike the white dashed lines on the highway. If you zoom in and pan around, you can see other evidence of the image stitching, especially to the south and west. Note on the freeway, just to the north of the 'bend' the pavement changes color along a very well-defined line. That's the line along which the images were stitched. 192.168.1.1 10:30, 21 Rocktober 2006 (PST)

There's something more going on here than mere image stitching. Image stitching never makes sharp geometric lines like that (at least, not in my experience); it's usually a fuzzy/blurry effect. There's a pronounced one in Corinth at 37°33'42.45"N, 21°34'50.89"E which you can compare.

I really don't think the line where the pavement changes color is an image-stitch line. The pavement markings on either side of it line up too perfectly, and you would also expect to see some vehicles cut off. Look at the big white caravan towed behind the yellow minivan: I think it's right on top of where the pavement-change color would be in the northbound lanes. The pavement-change color is either real (perhaps due to the construction of that underpass), or it's a line along which the brightness of one image was abruptly adjusted.

Similarly, if the bendiness isn't the result of "builders having a bad day" (which I agree seems unlikely), I think it must be the result of some kind of skewing or stretching of one image (perhaps to make it better line up with other images elsewhere), not directly a stitch line between two images. —Steve Summit (talk) 13:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

JESUS

what was his last name??? did he have one???--84.69.123.27 12:34, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

At that time, in that culture, last names were rare. It was more common to identify yourself by your father's name or your home city or profession. In modern times, we might call him Jesus Josephson, Jesus Bettlehem, or Jesus Carpenter, I suppose. StuRat 12:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

In the Bible he is often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth. (For his possible middle name, see Jesus H. Christ.) --Shantavira 14:28, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

But Jesus H. Christ is just an Anglo-Saxon thing, anyway... =S 惑乱 分からん 23:56, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

He'd be Jesus ben Joseph, but that would be a pretty common name. --jpgordon 15:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Or Jesus ben God, since he identified himself as the son of God not Joseph --froth 22:32, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Wouldn't that actually be Iesus Ben Iawheh, or something? 惑乱 分からん 23:56, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

More likely Jeshua Bar Joseph, since he spoke Aramaic. Joshua ben Joseph in Hebrew. "Jesus" is a Greek translation of his real first name. Although most people in the Middle East spoke some Greek back then (it was the lingua franca and more commonly used by the average person than Latin), I don't know if he would have even recognized the word "Jesus". The translation was probably devised after his death. --Charlene.fic 03:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

AV club

What is the "AV Club" (and not the supplement of the Onion)? It seems to be a common way of indicating that someone is a nerd on American TV (it's also mentioned in White & Nerdy). I'm guessing that it has something to do with Audio Visual, but can't see what kind of school club could be based around this. Laïka 13:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

My guess would be audiovisual club, a group of students who work with audiovisual equipment (speakers, projectors, microphones, lights, etc.) Sorry if this answer isn't definite enough --WikiSlasher 13:46, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Adult Video? =S 惑乱 分からん 14:17, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

No. WikiSlasher is correct. The kids in the 'audio visual club' are the stereotypical geeks -- but what those perpetuating the stereotype don't realize is that the AV club kids get out of class a lot to help other classes with the projectors (or, I guess, TVs nowadays), so they might be geeks, but they're having fun doing it. --jpgordon 15:39, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Geeks could make a 16mm movie projector, a Public address system, or a reel-to-reel tape recorder work, and many teachers couldn't. Edison 22:06, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I was a proud member of the Audio Visual club whilst in high school. (Incidentally, the name of the Onion supplement is probably at least a nod in the direction of us proud proto-geeks). In my school, this allowed me to spend my study hall periods in the AV office, full access to the copy machines, dry-presses, and even the photographic darkroom; there was a broad overlap between the AV and photo clubs. We also could earn some extra cash by working after school or on weekends when outside groups had rented the school facilities; we'd be responsible for supplying microphones and running the PA system, and possibly the stage lights as appropriate. There was also a small subset of us who had managed to get master keys to school. But of course we only used our powers for good. --LarryMac 14:20, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Freedom Passes in London

On the Freedom Pass cards in London, there is a sillohett of a London Skyline. It goes something like - from left to right - The Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the BT Tower, a building which I can't place and then London Eye. I'm wonder what it actually is between the BT Tower and the London Eye! Any ideas? Thanks in advance Loserdog 14:08, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

St Paul's Cathedral.--Shantavira 14:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Doesn't look right to me Loserdog 10:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Nor me. Not sure what it is, though. Interesting. --Richardrj 13:29, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Maybe HMS Belfast? Warofdreams talk 04:43, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Through rain, through sleet...through employees' apartments?

After reading about postal workers who stash mail in their apartments or just toss it out, does the post office do any sort of checking to see if the mail gets delivered? Clarityfiend 17:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes they do. My pal in Edinburgh is a sorting - office manager and he tells me that every delivery route is periodically loaded with dummy letters that are physically tracked and timed to check up on the postie (postman). And severe retribution follows where evidence is discovered that mail is being withheld/disposed of/ opened/interfered with. It is after all, Her Majesty's Mail whilst it is in transit between the sender and the recipient. So yes, your concerns are taken extremely seriously in the UK.

I know of no such actions taken in the U.S. In the latest incident of a postman not delivering mail, from what I've read in the news, it consisted mostly of junk mail. So if someone were to not recieve something that they didn't know they were getting in the first place, they'd never know it. Dismas| 18:59, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Interesting, but apparently, so-called junkmail is also monitored by The Royal Mail for 2 main reasons; 1) The customer i.e. the advertiser, has paid The Royal Mail to deliver the junkmail; and 2), The postie gets paid a per-letter/packet premium based on the number of letters/packets on his route. So it's not just a question of dumping the mail; it's also a question of fraudulently accepting money for services NOT rendered. Sure, it happens from time to time, but the questionner can still be satisfied with the answer given above.

Im sure some customers would gladly pay not to recieve some mail like bills and junk mail.--Light current 20:07, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I actually enjoy getting bills, since I need something to stoke in the fireplace for warmth. :-) StuRat 21:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

There is a mail verification system in the U.S. Volunteers get advance mailings that a piece of test mail will be delivered in a given time frame. They then notify the verification service what day the mail was received and in what condition, as a check against nondelivery or "curtailment" in which the carrier holds it for a time before delivering it. The volunteers are added to the junk maiil address list only for the test mailing. Edison 22:10, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Who is this guy from - Sky News - British TV - 11pm Friday 20th October - Last Night

Last night on Sky News they did their usual look at the Saturday (today) morning newspaper headlines, and as usual, invited 2 "celebrity" personalities to discuss their views. One guy was Mike Reid, an "ageing" British Radio and TV Disc Jockey; the other was a much younger Asian looking guy who was introduced as a "Conservative Party Activist", whose views and political astuteness were quite refreshing and well-informed. His English language diction was southern England and very well spoken. His name was something like, and I apologise for my ignorance and bad spelling, Rishi Asah. But that is my quest for help. Does anyone know his real name? Thanks. And as a rider, what on earth is a Conservative Party Activist?

Don't have Sky, but a Conservative Party Activist is a poor fool usually young and energetic, although demographically the Conservatives have tended to be older, this might be changing with David Cameron as leader, who go on the media/walk door to door/deliver leaflets, etc, etc, working to try to get the Tories elected. All parties have activists, the general rule of thumb is that out of the people who can be bothered to join, perhaps 10% of them will be motiviated enough to be an activist. A subset of those are the ones who go on to Party Conferences, and the like. Basically, the guy you saw is either working of volunteering for the Conservatives, trying to raise their profile on issues and persuade people to vote for them - an activist. --Mnemeson 19:41, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Rishi Saha? if so activist means someone who keeps losing elections in Brent South MeltBanana 22:34, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

You call them 'activists'? In Canada we call people who keep losing elections "pundits". There always seems to be one yapping on CBC Radio One no matter when you tune in. --Charlene.fic 03:42, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks meltbanana. I had the right letters in the wrong order. But I'm not dyslexic, just pre-senile dementia. Thanks again.

In Australia, a pundit is a person who tries to predict the outcome of an election. Well, to be precise, they always predict the outcomes, but not always successfully. Our best known pundit is the psephologist Malcolm Mackerras. He's best known for consistently getting it wrong. But he doesn't put his own hat into the ring as a candidate himself. A person who keeps on losing elections is called a "failed candidate", a "tryer", or a "loser". JackofOz 12:39, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

european borders

is there a border checkpoint anymore between the nation-states of the EU?

As you fly into Barcelona Airport approaching from the North-East over France, you can see the main road betweeen France and Spain quite clearly. And the traffic tailbacks of Spanish-bound cars heading towarsd Barcelona go back literally for miles as their occupants check in their documents at the numerous checkpoint cabins.

so....the EU is far from the tight confederation model of the USA where the individual states actually trust each other?

You got it> But whereas the US has only 2 bordering states and are friendly with both, we in wider and ever-widening Europe have many more whose citizens all speak different languages, have different passport styles and visa documents; have different work and residence permits; use different currencies (the Euro and Sterling for instance); some of which countries themselves border with newly integrated -into-Europe states (Rumania, Bulgaria, Poland etc) and others that want to but can't just yet, that have created a disproportionate number of emigrants/immigrants between the wealthier western states and the poorer and post-communist emerging economies. And sadly (for me) a decent 70cl bottle of Whisky here in the UK costs me about £15 whereas I can buy the same brand in Spain for about £11 a Litre, and cigarettes in Spain are about 20% of the price in the UK. So the individual Governments are seriously concerned about the inbalance in reciprocal trading values caused by immigrants/travellers shifting large amounts of contraband between the member states. I believe that's the main reason why the developing United States decided to have a Federal Government in the first place? To create a "Free-State" within their own collective boundaries. Well, just wait and see. Europe will one day move to that happy position. Imagine being able to buy a litre of whisky where it is made (here in Scotland)for £11. Happy days.

Depends on the border - I'm surprised at the report of tailbacks on France/Spain, because both of them are Schengen treaty signatories - are you sure it wasn't the Andorra border? All Schengen states (in theory at least) have passportless internal travel, so you can drive from Granada to Berlin to Bergen and then fly to Reykjavik without ever needing a passport (although you will need valid photo ID like a driving license to get on the plane at the end). Ireland and the UK have a Schengen-like agreement between themselves, but neither state is part of Schengen (neither one trusts Italy or Spain to manage their coastlines). You cross the border between France and Germany at 100kph without ever needing to slow down as the Autoroute turns into the Autobahn. --Mnemeson 19:35, 21 October

Thanks Mnemeson. You are probably correct but we were so close to the sea I was pretty sure it was the France-Spain border. I'll keep a special look-out next time I am flying into Barcelona for a stock of cheap whisky to bring home. Is that what the Andorran's are queing for too perhaps? It's also galling to have to fly into Edinburgh Airport and show my UK Passport after having returned from Spain where I have had to show it before I got on the 'plane.

I have once crossed the border between Finland and Norway without even noticing it. And it's the border of two unions too. Finland is in the EU but Norway isn't, and Norway is in NATO but Finland isn't. JIP | Talk 07:21, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

But Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland are in Schengen even though they're not in the EU. It's all a little complicated... - Arwel (talk) 16:50, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

California has checkpoints along its land borders with the rest of the country, although they are not right on the border, but several miles inland. They are run by the state agriculture department to make sure that people don't bring nasty beasties (like bugs and, believe it or not, ferrets) into the state that might damage crops. There is also a checkpoint on Interstate 5 several miles north of the US-Mexico border, verifying immigration status. User:Zoe|(talk) 20:34, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Gibraltar-Spain is a funny border since Gibraltar isn't in the EU. It was shut for about 15 years from 1969-1985.Nowadays it's a doddle.You literary just wave an ID card or any passport(if it's busy,you could probably get through with a cornflake box top).Quicker than a toll bridge. Lemon martini 13:24, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Rucum or Rucuum Hill

I am looking for the origin of the name. It is located near Woodbury Connecticut and is noted on the U. S. Geographical Names government website. However, that website gives no information about the derivation of the name.

Thank you,

Sorry, but even the United States Board on Geographic Names could not discover the origin of the name. See p. 13 of this pdf document. Please sign your posts using four tildes. -THB 21:32, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I found this:

UNITED STATES BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES, Docket 381, September 26, 2002:

Rucuum Hill: summit; elevation 265 m (871 ft); located in the Town of Roxbury, 0.8 km (0.5 mi) NE of Bronson Mountain; Litchfield County, Connecticut; 41º32’00”N, 73º16’05”W; USGS map Roxbury 1:24,000; Not: Rucum Hill.

1. Proposal: name change to recognize the name reported to be in local usage

2. Map: USGS Woodbury 1:24,000

3. Proposer: Town of Woodbury Selectmen

4. Administrative area: None

5. Previous BGN Action: None

6. Names associated with feature:

GNIS: Rucum Hill (ID 09005849/FID 210342)

Local Usage: None found

Published: Rucum Hill (USGS 1904/23, 1949, 1955/84)

7. Case Summary: This proposal would change the name of Rucum Hill, a summit in the Town of Roxbury, to Rucuum Hill. Although the summit lies just outside the boundaries of the Town of Woodbury, the Selectmen of that town submitted the change, because a recently-published map of Woodbury includes a reference to Rucuum Hill Road, which runs from Woodbury westward into Roxbury. The name Rucum Hill has appeared on U.S. Geological Survey maps since 1904, and was listed as such in Connecticut Place Names (Hughes and Allen, 1976). The latter volume indicated the origin of the name was unknown, but cited an 1859 description of “a large tract of land called Rucum”. The summit does not appear on the 1967 Litchfield County map, although Ruccum Road is shown and named.

Presumably this is what the questioner referred to. I suggest contacting the Selectmen of the Town of Woodbury, who may know more, or may be able to refer you to a local historian.  --Lambiam 06:50, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Post-suicide-attempt care?

This is by far the strangest question I've posted here, but I'm working on a novel, and that tends to raise some peculiar questions. I need to know what kind of care would be mandated--both medically and psychiatrically--after a sucide attempt by overdose of antidepressants. I've done some research on Google and within Wiki, but most of it seems to focus more on medium-long term care, and not what would happen immediately after the attempt. Any further (or shorter!) information would be appreciated. Thanks! -Moriane 19:16, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

It depends on (1) the specific antidepressant used, (2) the mental state of the person after the immediate danger is past, and (3) the availability of a psychiatrist in the immediate aftermath. Check a poison center site for the risks and likelihood of unconsciousness for any specific antidepressant. After that, it will depend on the treating physician's assessment of the mental and mood state of the patient. In many cases, no psychotropic agent would be immediately restarted until a psychiatrist had seen the patient. Psychiatrists do not treat serious overdoses, and doctors who treat serious overdoses are rarely comfortable prescribing psychotropics. Commonly, the patient's original psychiatrist may not even have privileges at the hospital where the overdose is being cared for, so another might be used temporarily to determine whether the patient can be discharged or transfered to a psych ward. alteripse 19:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

While the patient is in the hospital (assuming that's required), they would likly have an attendant with them at all times, just to make sure the person doesn't attempt suicide again.–RHolton≡– 10:44, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

skin cancer

do aussies and kiwis and south-south Americans have higher skin cancer rates because of their ozone hole?

Do they have a higher rate of skin cancer? Please sign your posts with four tildes. Thanks. -THB 21:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I understand that there is quite a high rate of skin cancer in Tierra del Fuego, and among Australian opal miners. User:Zoe|(talk) 20:36, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Why is British?

Why is British the dominant language on Misplaced Pages, even though Mr. Jim "The Man" Wales is American? Is it a rule, or is it just because there are more British here than Americans? --216.164.249.137 19:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Wouldn't you think someone named Wales would speak British English (along with Welsh) ? :-) StuRat 11:14, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

British-English isn't necessarily the dominant language. Our manual of style says that British v. American spelling is determined either by the first editor to the article to use a word that differs between the two or by the subject of the article, i.e. Tony Blair uses British spelling while George W. Bush uses American.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 19:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Hehe, it would have been funny if the other party was there first! :-) There will of course be more chances to try that, as their respective countries get a new leader. —Bromskloss 21:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

More likely it is because many of the brits are more obsessed with which set of spellings are used than the americans. I think the ratio of "guerilla spelling changes" is about 3:1 for A to B over B to A. Most Americans are bilingual enough to at least read British English and don't think it worth arguing about; apparently that may not be true of most Brits. alteripse 19:36, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

That's not entirely fair Alteripse. I am a frequent and enthusiastic Brit. traveller to the US and despite the gargantuan size of some of your diners (people), I can always be sure to differentiate between them and a place to eat (diner).

Well, it's good to know that some Brits have been culturally broadened. Most of us Americans are just gastronomically broadened. Next time you are in Philadelphia, give me a call and I will take you out for dinner. alteripse 20:04, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

How many dinars to dine or eat dinner at Dinah's diner ? StuRat 21:01, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps the rest of the world is inclined toward British. Here in Sweden, for example, British English is taught in school. Personally, when trying to determine what flavor to adhere to, I at first said British, to myself, because I saw it as the origin of other variants (that's true, right?). I have realised, though, that that's not really a valid argument by itself, since truly sticking with the original would make me speak languages that no longer exist! Anyway, I settled (a bit vaguely) for British, just for the sake of tradition. (Wouldn't it be all to appropriate if I, through my unspeakable ignorance, was shown having used non-British language in this very comment?) —Bromskloss 21:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Yup, you used the word flavor. :D Hyenaste  22:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

What? I… um… It was a typo, really! Eh? —Bromskloss 20:29, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

And I think you meant "all too appropriate". Although that's not a British vs American thing, just more evidence of a world-wide merging of to, too and two. Damn shame, really. JackofOz 23:44, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I don't think so. India and perhaps Hong Kong might be inclined toward British English, but I think in Japan and South Korea etc. people generally try to learn American English. Also, in Sweden, British English is taught in school, but most popular media contains American English, so I think that dialect is more common among the younger population in Sweden. (Personally, I probably know more slang, for instance, from American than British, which often baffles me.) 惑乱 分からん 23:44, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Can we compromise and say Misplaced Pages is written in Canadian English? --The Dark Side 03:01, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Why not, eh? --Charlene.fic 03:32, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure that US English deviates any more from, say, Old English or Middle English than modern British English. I also strongly object to those who call British English "International English", since US English is spoken in many places around the world, as well. StuRat 11:12, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

To WAvegetarian, the Misplaced Pages:Manual of Style#National varieties of English indicates that it is not always the first person there that dictates the spelling. Even if I was to be the first person to create a United States based article I should use American English. To Alteripse, I have seen it written that it is more likly for US based publishing companies to change the spelling of British authors to reflect American usage than the other way round. In fact I have seen the British "Labour Party" spelt as "Labor Party" in US newspapers. I suspect that if you are seeing a 3:1 ratio you are probably looking at more US based articles than British based ones. I think the spelling changes is about 1:1 CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

A Scottish guy and his wife drive into a petrol station in US and ask for their tank to be filled with petrol. Old attendant says You mean Gas. Wife asks hubby what attendant said. Hubby explains. Hubby asks attendant to check oil. Attendant asks where the filler is. Hubby tells him it is under the Bonnet. Attendant says You mean hood. Wife asks what attendant has said. Hubby explains. Hubby asks attendant to check tyre pressures including spare in the Boot. Attendant says You mean trunk. Wife asks Hubby what attendant said. Hubby explains. Attendant asks Hubby where he is from and Hubby explains Edinburgh near Redford Road Barracks. Attendant says he was stationed there during WW2, and tells tale of how he spent a cold wintry night with a young woman of the Redford Road Barracks area trying to talk his way into her knickers (panties) after having taken her to the local pub and plied her with drink but she still wasn't having any. In fact, said the attendant, she was the coldest and most frigid sad ass I ever had the misfortune to meet in my life. Wife asks Hubby what attendant is talking about and Hubby says, "He says he thinks he knows you dear."

Origin of a name

Hello,

I've been trying to resolve this query that I've had for a long time. The meaning of my middle name. It's Evadney and I've never heard any-one else called this name. I've searched through so many different websites, asked my family members read books, searched my family tree to see if any-one else had been called this name. My mother has passed away and so I can't ask her and I would really appreciate it if some could help me. I'd like to know where it originated from, what does it mean. It would be greatly appreciated if some-one could help or give me a few pointers as far as where I should look for some answers. Thanking you in advanceAuroradd^^

There used to be a character on the UK TV by that name. Perhaps it was spelt 'Evadne'. I think her last name was either Hinge or Bracket, not sure which.--Light current 19:36, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

See Hinge and Bracket. --Auximines 10:13, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Well the Readers Digest Encyclopaedic Dictionary says it perhaps means "well-tamed". Possibly not what you wanted to hear but i'm sure you would not kick up a fuss. MeltBanana 22:45, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Did you try google? It's a misspelling of Evadne, which is a Greek name meaning 'good fortune' (as indicated by the first Evadne referred to in Lightcurrent's link above). There are a few Evadneys around; I've known three personally, who have all been from the Caribbean (two Jamaicans, one Grenadine) - is your family from the Caribbean? Natgoo 09:20, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Schengen_treaty

what's the little yellow dot to the east of switzerland

All the little dots are micro countries. The one east of Switz is Liechtenstein. alteripse 19:51, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

oh

Could be someone skiing in the French Alps, wearing a yellow hat. DirkvdM 06:36, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

That's the yellow snow. Don't eat it. - AMP'd 18:52, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

swiss banks

what're some real life anecdotes that havel ed to the swiss bank Hollywood cliche? (this is not homework)

Which cliché is that? It would help if you could be more specific, and please sign your posts with four tildes! -THB 21:21, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

He's referring to the image of "bad guys" always having a secure offshore account in switzerland. See Banking in Switzerland or Offshore bank for real-life examples --froth 22:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Froth, how do you do that? Telepathy? -THB 09:54, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

How does he do what? I understood what the questioner was looking for as well. I guess froth and I have seen enough Hollywood movies to just know. Dismas| 11:22, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Yep --froth 20:52, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Here is the Straight Dope on Swiss bank accounts, written by the master. —Steve Summit (talk) 14:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Diversity

How can I measure diversity in an education institution.

What kind of diversity? If you mean ethnic diversity, one way would be to compare the ethnic composition of the institution to the ethnic composition of the population from which the students, faculty, and staff are drawn. Please sign your posts by inserting four tildes after them. Thanks. -THB 21:44, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Diversity of topics studied? Diversity of languages spoken? Ethnic diversity? Be more specific.--The Corsair. 06:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

At least 5-10 years ago, diversity was an American academic codeword with a very specific meaning. It denoted having (1) a more noticeable fraction of non-white ethnic population than would have been seen at that same institution a generation earlier, (2) a much larger and more visible gay population than in the general population, and (3) a pervasive institutional intolerance for Christianity and traditional American social values. Those attributes could not be plainly stated in plain words to prospective students and families. Diversity did not refer to diversity of allowed public political or social values expression, or to a greater range of other student characteristics, such as age or family socioeconomic status or intellectual interests. Many less prestigious schools (i.e., the second-tier state universities) have higher proportions of non-white students and non-traditional students, and more actual diversity of social origin, intellectual talent, age, life experience, political attitudes, and tolerance for Christianity, but in the 1990s were less likely to tout "diversity" as one of their main defining attributes to prospective students. In recent years, as more and more US schools are claiming "diversity", the word may be losing that specific meaning.

Why do you keep mentioning Christianity? Totally loaded language, amirite? Vitriol 20:56, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

It was the one religion conspicuously not respected on the campuses that made the most of diversity claims. For example, on one campus (TU, about 2000) students had just held a march demanding that the student Christian group be expelled from campus because they had not elected as president of their own group a publicly gay candidate. At OU in 2001, a student bragged to us on a tour of the campus that many students refused to participate in the traditional graduation procession that went through an arch erected in the 19th century in honor of martyred missionaries. Can you imagine students at these schools demanding a Muslim group be expelled for not choosing a gay president, or students refusing to attend graduation held in a garden with a Buddhist shrine? That type of public display of contempt for any other religion or culture would not have been tolerated, let alone admired. And I do not understand the point of your comment about "loaded language"-- I spelled it out as personal experience and opinion, and didn't put it in an article. The ref desk answers are riddled with differing personal opinions and perspectives. Note that my comment is the only one of the answers that probably responds directly to the question.

List of PS3 Games

Is there, on this site on any other websites, a list of PS3 games, with their release dates, sorted by their release dates? On WP I can only find a regular list of games, no release dates. I want to know so I can find out what games are coming out close to the system's launch, short of the launch ttles(Because all the launch titles suck). Яussiaп F 21:21, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Go to their offical website. http://www.us.playstation.com/ Taida 22:26, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Game-show buzzers

What is the best way to buzz a game show (e.g. Jeopardy!) buzzer? Is it faster to use the thumb or the index finger? --22:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Use your whole hand.Taida 22:23, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

probably the palm --froth 22:23, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

When I have watched Jeopardy )Swedish edition) on Swedish television, it seemed as the contestants used their whole palms. 惑乱 分からん 23:39, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

What is "I held it like a pen you're about to click to extend the point and used my thumb." Didn't help. It's more the timing, waiting for the moment when the trigger goes "live". On Jeopardy, the contestants can see a series of lights that go on or off in sequence (can't remember which) which signals when you can buzz in. Clarityfiend 01:05, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

It would depend on what kind of buzzer. "Jeopardy!" has a hand-held buzzer that you have to click with your thumb, but there are some attached right to the desk and you could hit those with your palm. Oops forgot sig. --Charlene.fic 03:29, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I've seen Jeopardy contestants use that same buzzer by hitting it with their palm. It was an odd two handed way of doing it and thus stuck in my memory. Dismas| 11:20, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Loop-hole to Schrodinger's Cat Box

Hi, I'm using the following information for a casual arguement, nothing serious. Is there a loop-hole to Schrodinger's Theory of the cat in the box with poison and you couldn't really know if the cat was dead unless you open the box and observse it? For example, can you listen instead of looking or zap it with x-ray? Jamesino 23:38, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

you're using a dictionary definition of "looking" where in this case listening and x-raying would also qualify as "looking".

So is there a loop-hole? Could you close your eyes and ears and throw it into a volcano to guarantee its death? Jamesino 23:44, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

well yes, you could. The paradox is the interface between discrete events (e.g. "death", or any other macroscopic events) and a probability continuum (represented by how radioactive particles decay).

chucking the box into the volcano would be using a discrete event to ensure another physically discrete event. If you want a loophole, you'll have to read up on criticims of treating particles as probability waves.

To be really really sure the cat is dead I recommend opening the box to check after you chucked it into the volcano. For the rest, zapping the cat with an x-ray gun sounds like a cool way to kill it.  --Lambiam 07:10, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Any way of actually seeing or feeling or hearing etc etc the contents of the box is defined as "looking". And throwing the poor thing in a volcano will just get you sued by PETA.--The Corsair. 10:08, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I'm sure PETA would like to put Schrodinger in a box with prussic acid. StuRat 11:04, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Of course there is a loop-hole. It is quite obvious that you know the state of the cat. The cat is "pissed off". It is well known that after a certain period of time all cats reach the state of being pissed off. Now, if the cat is alive it has been shut up in a box for an hour and is now pissed off. If on the other hand the cat is dead it will be really pissed off. Either way it is best not to open the box as the cat will shit in your shoes. And you will not discover this state until you put your shoes on. All in all Schrodinger should have used a dog as it would just sniff your crotch and lick your face. Or vice-versa if you are lucky. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Harrumph! Why did they need to redefine what "looking" means? We already had the perfectly fine word "observing", which includes all types of sensory perception. JackofOz 19:41, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Or a practicioner of bestiality o_o --froth 19:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Surely the obvious loophole to find out exactly what happens to the cat is to climb into the box with it... :) Lemon martini 13:30, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

October 22

ford mazda motors

Can I fit a mazda 3.0 Vulcan motor in my 1994 Ford Ranger.

If you have the know-how, the tools, and the money, you can put nearly any engine in any vehicle. I've seen motorcycles with 454 Chevy motors.--Shuttlebug 05:06, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

     I need to know if the mazda motor is compatible with my Ranger

Football

How are points awarded in a league? And how are points awarded in a tournament group stage? Can someone tell?--203.124.2.16 08:26, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

That depends on the league and the version of football you are discussing, I gather. Skittle 11:34, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

You can probably use algebra to work it out, assuming points are awarded only for wins and draws, and that you know how many of each a team has. In modern soccer, it's almost always 3 for a win and one for a draw.  sʟυмɢυм • т • c  15:07, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

radio code

I bought a new Dacia Logan 1.4 but I don't know How to enter the code ( Radio Code ) help me please

Check the user manual that came with your car - it's probably in the glove compartment. Failing that, go ask your dealer (or whoever you bought the car from!). — QuantumEleven 11:03, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

please tell me which fossil is this .

please tell me which fossil is this . i found it near a empty ground in jaisalmer. i am attaching picture,video of this. i have many more similar to this. i think that it is a skull of an reptile contact me by mail <EMAIL DELETED>

Where are the pic and video ? StuRat 11:00, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I think you have to contact by email so the person can send it to you. --WikiSlasher 11:30, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

No thanks, that's not how the Reference Desk works. Imagine calling up a library reference desk and telling them they need to contact you to get the pic that you need help to identify. StuRat 15:59, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I've also deleted your email address; posting it can result in spamming. Please read the guide at the top. 65.96.181.140 01:06, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

cost to play one song over the radio?

how much does it cost to play the no.1 song on the charts once over the radio in Australia? Is it more to play it over internet radio? thanks for you knowledge!

Which costs do you mean ? Here are some possibilities:

• Royalties to the artist/record label.

• The cost of the transmitter, antennae, and other fixed equipment prorated by the number of songs expected for the life of those items.

• The cost for the DJ and production staff, so prorated.

• Maintenance costs, so prorated.

StuRat 15:52, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

You could ask the Australasian Performing Right Association about fees/royalties for licensing a particular song for broadcast. --Canley 03:25, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

1944

Can you tell me on what day did the 18/09/1944 fall.

Monday. Dismas| 12:51, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

use the "cal" or "gcal" utility that comes with unix. --GangofOne 04:46, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

-> cal 09 1944
   September 1944
 S  M Tu  W Th  F  S
                1  2
 3  4  5  6  7  8  9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Or if you use Windows and Excel, =TEXT(WEEKDAY(DATE(1944,9,18)),"dddd") Laïka 16:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

The nix way is actually easier for once --froth 19:40, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

How do I get a job as a caretaker of a sexily luxurious hotel?

How could I get a job as a caretaker of a sexily luxurious hotel, like Jack Nicholson did in The Shining? What duties would that person have to perform? I would love to have his job.

You need to look in the trade journals, and have experience in a variety of practical maintenance jobs, as it will mostly entail building maintenance, with possibly some janitorial work. I don't think The Overlook Hotel is very typical (most hotels can't afford to close for a season), and don't expect your accommodation to be sexily luxurious either.--Shantavira 13:57, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I assumed the caretaker would reside in one of the hotel rooms for the season.

Just take care not to go crazy and attempt to kill your entire family with an axe. Яussiaп F 14:16, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

What weapon should you use to kill your entire family ? :-) StuRat 15:44, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Thus speaks someone who's never worked in the hotel industry.The job sucks,the hours and pay are lousey.The luxury is for the guests,you get to sleep in a broom cupboard.P.S. you did realise it was a movie and not real life?(hotclaws**== 15:06, 22 October 2006 (UTC))

I assumed it was a reality show. I'd heard stories about Jack Nicholson's temper before, but jeez...

Keeping the place clean would be a priority, so I would assume they would close off all areas that don't need to be accessed for normal maintenance. Also, I would think security would be a major part of the job, with a large part of the day spent watching security monitors. StuRat 15:48, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Investing

What are the pros and cons of investing in two competing companies such as Home Depot and Lowe's or Target and Wal-mart? Dismas| 13:38, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Here's one: Pro: if the two companies are an oligopoly, market share lost by one is picked up by another (thus protecting you from a loss). Con: if something happens in that companies' market that drops sales across the board (e.g. retail sales tank because of low consumer confidence). you're going to take a hit that would be twice as much as opposed to investing in 2 different companies that work in two different markets. —Mitaphane _talk 14:12, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Right. In stock market terms, you are limiting your risk exposure while reducing the maximum possible return. If one appears to be a better investment than the other, you may also be reducing your average return by investing in both. StuRat 15:39, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Rush Hour 2

When I was watching Rush Hour 2, the tv. network said it contains nudity. Which part of the movie had nude scene?

They might be refering to partial nudity (e.g. scantily clad women), because most TV networks don't show nudity during the day. If I remember, wasn't there some scene in a massage palor with skimpy dressed girls? I'm betting that's what was referred to. —Mitaphane _talk 13:58, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

A sneaky trick of keeping innocent viewers for the entire movie, I'd say... 惑乱 分からん 14:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

There's the scene where Carter and Lee runs through the streets covered only by trashcan lids and newspapers.

There is a web site that collates reports from people who seem to live for seeing attractive celebrities less than fully clad. It's called the Celebrity Nudity Database, and you can look this movie up in it. --Anonymous, 04:35 UTC, October 23.

CNDB lol, running down the highway nude for Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 06:31, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Aaahh, CNDB is a classic. You could get time estimates on where in the movie to stop, as well as ratings for the actors' nudity. 惑乱 分からん 14:47, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Micronation website

Is there a good website on micronations, secession, and that kind of thing? The ones I find with a google search seem really shitty. Thanks! --216.164.249.1 16:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Did you check out the article, Micronation? There's a number of external links and references in that article. —Mitaphane _talk 16:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I checked it out, they're bad too. (This IP is probably different than my other one because I use dialup internet. --> )--216.164.200.189 18:11, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, what's "good"? What are you looking for, specifically? —Mitaphane _talk 20:39, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Not a website, but I believe one of the latest books in the Lonely Planet series devotes itself to micronations. Confusing Manifestation 04:31, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Real-life CTU equivalent

What is the real-life equivalent of CTU, from the TV show 24? If a nuclear/biological/whatever attack was threatened on a city, what specific agency would be assigned to try to stop it? Another question: what kind of agency would deal with it if it occured in Australia? I'm more interested in that one, since it's where I live.

For terrorist activities within the United States, FBI generally has jurisdiction. Night Gyr (talk/Oy) 21:44, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

And United States Department of Homeland Security. --Fastfission 01:28, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

In Australia, counter-terrorism is the responsibility of the Australian Federal Police. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) would also be involved, as would the police force of the state in which the incident occurred or was threatened. The Australian Defence Force could also be involved if requested. For more information see http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/ --Canley 03:19, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Salary of secret service

What would an average annual salary of a US Secret Service Presidential bodyguard be? What about a USSS Sniper? Jamesino 20:17, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

USSS employees are paid according to their General Schedule grade. The Washington area payscale is here. I've not managed to figure out what grades those jobs are (they don't, unsurprisingly, seem to advertise them), but they do advertise a CSI at GS-9 to GS-13. GS-13 is a pretty senior rank - US Army Regulation 210–50 says it's roughly the equivalent of O-5, a Lieutenant Colonel. If we were to assume (and for sure it's a big assumption) that a presidential bodyguard is roughly equivalent to the most senior CSI, that means they'd earn between $77353 and $100554. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:50, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh, and this notes that they'll also get LEAP, which gives them another 25% to account for the large amount of overtime they'll end up doing. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:05, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

If I understand the structure correctly, GS-13 is the highest grade of Special Agent, and GS-14 is Supervising Special Agent. I think the guy in operational charge of the detail will be a SSA, the rest SAs of GS-13 or lower. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:25, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks al ot =) --Jamesino 23:45, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Average Temperature

I need to find the average temperature in the midwest United States during summer (June, July, August) I haven't found anything like this on wiki, so some help would be appreciated. I need: the average temperature during those months (separate night/day temperatures would be nice) as well as the average precipitation during those months in the summer. Thanks - Ridge Racer 20:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

The Midwest is a large region. People disagree about which states are included in the region, but according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it stretches from North and South Dakota and Nebraska in the far west to Ohio in the east, and from North Dakota and Minnesota in the north to Missouri in the south. The summer climates at different extremes of the region vary considerably. Northern Minnesota is much cooler than southern Missouri. Western Nebraska and South Dakota are much drier than Ohio or Michigan. If you have a particular city in mind, you can look it up at this site. Or you can search cities in different parts of the Midwest on that site to get a sense of the range. Marco polo 23:03, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Thank you very much! That was just what I was looking for. - Ridge Racer 23:49, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Drunk Driving Laws

I am trying to find when the it first became illegal to drink and drive and how the law came about. Can anyone assist?

Lisa

There were laws against public intoxication before there were cars, so I suppose that if the driver of the first car had been roaring drunk, he could have been arrested regardless of the driving. Laws later made it illegal to have open liquor in a car, or to drive with even fairly small amounts of alcohol in the system, like .08, which would probably not have resulted in an arrest for public drunkenness. You might find someone in a law office with Westlaw on their computer who could look it up. Edison 23:14, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Note that Edison's answer is country-pecific. My guess is it's the US again. (sigh) DirkvdM 06:44, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

You mean there are laws outside of the US? ;-)

Wan't drunk driving outlawed in Rome during the dictatorship of Sulla, after his beautiful but somewhat dimwitted granddaughter Pompeia (the later wife of Julius Caesar) had almost been run over by a lorry with a drunken driver? Or am I confusing several incidents now? In any case it was not something one should do in most Medieval European towns, if being drunk in public was allowed at all.  --Lambiam 16:45, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

A law stating the amount of blood in alcool needed the testing device. And in was found only in 19xx (try Misplaced Pages, the free contributing encyclopedia). -- DLL 18:54, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

NFL

Why isnt there a Sunday night NFL game tonite? Is it because of the World Series? 72.70.12.167 22:53, 22 October 2006 (UTC)moe.ron

Perhaps. Maybe ratings would be low for that particular game because of the World Series, as you said. --Proficient 22:58, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

The Providence Journal says it's a "gentleman's agreement" between the NFL and MLB not to have a football game on at the same time as the World Series. Note that tomorrow night (Monday) is scheduled to be a travel day in the Series, so Monday Night Football will air as usual. -- Mwalcoff 00:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

• They're going to change the days the World Series is played next year because of this schedualing clash I believe(hotclaws**== 16:45, 23 October 2006 (UTC))

Jews

Can you help me to find the page where the Jews of New York do not believe there should not be an Israel.

Also I have seen the documenteries concerning the holocaust since the end of the fifties and the beginning of the sixties.I have books and books to report the Holocaust. I would like to know if there was a camp run by a woman who made things out of the skins of the prisioners. maybe there was not such a camp?

Mary xxxxxx Maryxxxx@xxxx xxxxxxxx

As our Zionism article notes, some Jewish people believed "any attempt to re-establish Jewish rule in Israel by human agency was blasphemous, since (in their view) only the Messiah could accomplish this." -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:03, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

You may be thinking of Neturei Karta or Satmar (Hasidic dynasty) see also http://www.jewsnotzionists.org/ MeltBanana 23:57, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I removed your personal info. BTW, there it is impossible to say what "the Jews of New York" believe. -THB 01:13, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

As for your other question it is uncertain but not impossible although a factory is probably unlikely http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040604.html See also Anthropodermic bibliopegy MeltBanana 01:30, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

The woman you are thinking of is probably Ilse Koch. --Fastfission 01:33, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Making the camp in question Buchenwald concentration camp. GeeJo ⁄_(c) • 07:41, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Their may many left leaning secular jews, who are anti isreal, and have allingned themselves with palestian intrests. Many of them are attach to groups such as move on and the national lawyers guild.

Computer Games

I have heard rumours that one will be able to play computer games on the play station three. Do these rumours have any credibility? Musli Miester 22:59, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

If you mean PC games, that seems unlikely. The PS3 has a Cell microprocessor rather than the Intel architecture microprocessors that PCs have, so it certainly couldn't run PC software natively. In theory (particularly given how popular we're told the Cell is) someone could write an emulator (with a fancy dynamic translator), but it's very hard to see how they'd really make enough money to justify that, and it's very hard to imagine Sony allowing them to release it anyway. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:07, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

It doesn't say anything in the PS3 article about PC games. Яussiaп F 00:21, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

October 23

artemis fowl-the book after the lost colony

i've read every single book in the artemis fowl series. ive even read the first chapter of the new one, the lost colony.does anyone know what comes after the lost colony? im curious.

thanks, richard.

According to Artemis Fowl (series), The Lost Colony is the last in the series so far. There will probably be more in the series, but these haven't been announced yet. --Canley 03:08, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

ship a car

how much to ship a car from NYC to Chicago? I'm not flying and driving it back. thanks.

http://www.shipmyvehicle.com/default.aspx --Proficient 05:45, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Building a wall

I want to build a clay brick wall in my garden. It'll be in sandy soil and about 3.5m long x 1.8m high. My question is, what size concrete footings should I use? I was thinking about 300mm x 300mm. — Moondyne 05:53, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

You'll want to put the footings deep enough to go below the frost line for your area. Otherwise, in winter the ground may heave and put a lovely crack right through your new wall. Dismas| 10:37, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Depends on the strength of the soil as well, and the thickness of the wall, which presumably will be about 200mm wide (a brick length rather than a brick width for a wall of that height). 300mm doesn't sound deep enough for that sort of weight. Depending on the purpose of the wall, you might find it has to conform to local building regulations.--Shantavira 12:57, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Hah! no frost line where I am. Wall will be 100mm thick with 4 piers (200mm, 1 at each end and 2 midway along) and will not be load bearing. I'l make enquiries with my local council I think. — Moondyne 14:41, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Number one rule for these things is to look around at what has worked, and do that! --Zeizmic 15:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Paradoxically, a narrower footing may work better. Imagine a footer with a circular cross-section. When a horizontal force is applied to the lever that is the wall, all that keeps the footing from turning in its place is the friction with the soil. No soil is displaced in the process. Now a square is not a circle, but it is a better approximation of a circle than all other rectangles of the same cross-sectional area. Turning an embedded square cuboid around its axis displaces less volume than a non-square cuboid. Assuming one side is not buried but flush with the surface, if the rectangular cross-section has width W and height H, the displacement for a small angle δ is roughly proportional to (2H+W)δ. Maximizing this while keeping HW constant gives H = 2W. My intuition tells me that the turning point will actually be lower than the centre of the rectangle, suggesting an even larger ration of H : W, for example H = 450mm and W = 200mm. If you are not restricted to rectangular cross-sections, you could consider a buried upside-down T shape. Disclaimer: All walls I've built until now have toppled over.  --Lambiam 17:47, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

The depth of 300mm is fine as depth is not the issue. We are looking for vertical bearing capacity here and only the x-y plane will matter. See soil mechanics. You do want it deep enough so that if the wall is in one direction only and unsecured at the ends that it won't tip over, 500mm from the surface to the top of the footer will do. Sandy soil has decent bearing strength if it is undisturbed, if disturbed you should compact it first, just bash it with something heavy if you do not have access to a soil compactor. I would go with 500 - 600mm for the width. Put two pieces of #15 M reinforcing rod longitudinally for the entire length and tie your vertical stub bars into these. Oh, and I disclaim any responsibility if it falls over. --Justanother 18:19, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

ford focus hatchback

APPROXIMATELY, withing 15% how much did a new ford focus cost in 2003 in 2006 money? A new 07 model today costs about $14,000

2003 Ford Focus; SVT was $19,085 / $18,585 (4-door / 2-door), and the ZX5 started at $15,525 (4-door). The dollar hasn't changed that much in 3 years, so "2006 money" is just about the same as "2003 money".

Google works well for this question, check out the first, second, and third results of this search.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  10:38, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Liar paradox (header added)

what is it that to be true it must be false.the only clue i have is that it has sumthin to do with time.i have tried looking it up but nuthing.................... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.49.84.87 (talk • contribs)

I am lying to you.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  10:40, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

See liar paradox. Time comes into it because if someone says they lied, or they will lie, that makes logical sense, but if they say they are lying (now), you cannot tell whether they are lying or not. --Shantavira 12:39, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

See the above statement I am lying to you. If he was really lying, then it would be a lie, or untrue, that he was lying, and thus he would be telling the truth. But if he was telling the truth, then he is lying, which he cant be, because hes telling the truth. Complicated, I suppose, but interesting.--The Corsair. 22:07, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Micro marketing

What is meant by micro marketing in the world of advertising?

Sarah Lord

Micro marketing is targeting individuals rather than large segments of the population. Made possible by the technology that allows individuals to be reached. michellevieux

Sounds like the ultimate extension of market segmentation. StuRat 20:29, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Also see niche market. 惑乱 分からん 17:45, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

In other words, those arseholes who ring you around diner time. If people here think I am rude at times, they haven't heard me fulminate against those bitches. People complain about spam (another form of micro marketing?), but that's nothing in comparison. I am exposed to spam when I choose to (when I check my mail) and getting rid of it takes but a second. But when they call you, they determeine when and I have to get up for it and then they start lying about their real purpose, trying to keep me on the phone. Luckily, there is talk in the Netherlands of making this form of advertising illegal. DirkvdM 07:07, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Let me use a typically DirkvdM-style reply:

"We have a no-call list in the US, with strict penalties for anyone who calls those on the list. Perhaps if your country was as civilized as ours, and had a proper democracy, as in the US, you would have this, too." StuRat 15:21, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

To misquote Yul Brynner, "just hang up".  :) JackofOz 12:27, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

powdered doughnuts

Hi, What year were powdered doughnuts commercialized, in other words, when were they made available in stores for purchase? Thank you very much, Cindy

Look for the inflection point for obesity and tooth decay. --Zeizmic 14:07, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Haha nice one Zeizmic --WikiSlasher 14:16, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Ok, they're sugar powdered because they're greasy for your fingers (or you have to open a very big mouth). Every fat pastry in the world needs something like that. Have you known a time when it was not so ? -- DLL 18:49, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately, the confectioner's sugar falls off and leaves a trail on your hands, clothes, and all over any office or household unfortunate enough to be afflicted by a a box.  :-) StuRat 20:23, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

But theres no denying the yummy deliciousness. --The Corsair. 22:05, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, pretty much any donuts I've had left a horrid chemical aftertaste. I'd rather have an apple. In fact, I'm eating an apple right now. StuRat 22:43, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Is it a karma apple? JackofOz 12:26, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Chocolate bars

The Kit Kat article says it is "...the world's #2 chocolate bar after the Mars bar." Interestingly, Snickers says its the "best selling candy bar of all time". Is there a table somewhere that lists other top selling bars? I'm curious to know where Freddo Frog sits in the rankings. — Moondyne 15:02, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

I think it would rank quite low, since it's neither sold in USA, Asia or the European continent... 惑乱 分からん 15:22, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

FWIW, I've never seen or heard of a Freddo Frog in the UK either. Also I think it would be reasonable to ask for a citation for claims like this in Misplaced Pages. Manufacturers don't always want to make sales figures public, but if they're availabble at all you should find them on the appropriate company websites.--Shantavira 17:23, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

You've never heard of or seen Freddo Frog in the UK? May I assume that you didn't spend your pocket money at a newsagents? Skittle 21:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

USA place name

Does anyone recognize the place name Marcorop {this may not be the correct spelling}. I have a ancestor who, according to the census, was born there in 1876. I believe that it is in Pennsylvania but can not find any reference in gazetteers, google etc.

stmartins

The US Geological Survey database has no entires for Marcorop (and no entries for anyplace starting with Marco- in Penn.) You could try other possible spellings at this link. Or it may just be a place that no longer exists. Rmhermen 16:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Looking for 70s Board game

I have been looking for a card game I use to own that was played on a hard plastic board. I thought was called "Solitaire" or "Poker Solitaire" and I don't remember if it was a Parker Brothers game or Milton Bradley game or something else. I've been searching both of their web sites and everwhere else on the web without successfully finding any evidence of its existence. Your reference page to "poker solitaire" or "poker square" is exactly how this game was played. Can you help me find information on this game?

I'm sure I have one of those ugly green plastic things at the cottage, but it's all sealed up and frozen solid now. --Zeizmic 21:27, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Purple streaks

Hi... I've been noticing these short, fairly narrow purple streaks on my legs, buttocks, and recently my right knee. Anyone know what these are? --Anonymous coward

As far as I know they are veins/arteries, I have them on the inside of my left knee, no-doubt I will have them on my right as well soon now that I have started cycling once more. I'm not really sure WHY they are they, one would guess for rapid heat loss. Although if you don't exercise that much it may be your age - I've seen it on various ages, mostly over 50s however. --AMX 19:39, 23 October 2006 (UTC)AMX

(medical disclaimer) - Have you recently been pregnant/lost huge amounts of weight? When one of the two (:P) happened to me, I got stretch marks all over my back and some on my thighs. Hope this helps. Martinp23 23:11, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Another condition which might fit the description is telangiectasia aka spider veins. We don't have any images of them but if you do a Google Images search for "spider veins" you'll see a lot of them. --Fastfission 00:58, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Thread veins?--Light current 01:20, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

airport luggage checking

My local airport is BWI. Whenever I go there, I check my bags outside the main room (since I get my boarding pass from the internet) on the street.. they have little kiosks where people line up and give the guys their bags. The guys wheel the luggage inside themselves in big loads. Every time I go almost every group in line gives the main guy a $5 or $10 tip.. and this guy serves a family every minute or two! And it's just some scruffy looking airport lug.. making possibly $100 an hour. So I was just curious.. is this job given to the most senior lug, or is he chosen at random, or chosen for the "employee of the week" kind of thing or what? --froth 19:33, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, comparatively, bartenders can make over a grand a night at a busy station. Tip based jobs are just like that, very chance based. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 23:26, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Floppy disk as "save" icon

Floppy disks have been deprecated for several years now, it is practically impossible to find them on retail any more, new computers are sold without floppy drives, sysadmins are discouraging their use and telling people to transform their files to more reliable media. Yet, the floppy disk is almost universally still used as the icon for "save file". Surely this will lead to problems in a few years' time, when the average user has never seen a real-life floppy disk? JIP | Talk 19:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

It's more easily associated with saving than a plain grey platter or something --froth 20:05, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Not necessarily. We use many symbols and icons that are based on obsolete theories. One of the most common is falling in love "with all your heart". The heart is just a muscle, not the seat of emotion, that comes from part of the brain. Yet we continue to send Valentine's Day cards with a prettified version of the human heart on them. Kids just learn that the heart is a symbol of love from an early age, as they now will learn that a floppy disk is the symbol for a removable storage device from an early age. StuRat 20:06, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh, Stu, how unromantic of you. You need to fall in love again (assuming you've ever done that before) - and fast!  :) JackofOz 20:29, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, should I ask which organ appears on the Valentine's cards you and your significant other exchange ? :-) StuRat 01:33, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

It's ... wait for it ... hearts. Can you imagine telling your beloved that you love her with all your brain? The almost certain emotional response to such a statement would be intense disappointment and disillusionment. This might suggest that the scientific approach to things is not always appropriate. JackofOz 12:24, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

We still "dial" a telephone, even though most phones haven't had dials for years. User:Zoe|(talk) 20:44, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I just paid US$20 for a nice old Western Electric manufactured type 500 desk set, with a dial and real bells for the ringer.  :-) --LarryMac 20:55, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Cool. I've been thinking about changing the ring tone on my cell phone to an old analog telephone ring. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:58, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

In the 2870s a professor of Symbology will study an early 21st century text editor programme and, from the strange glyphs of the interface, will determine the exact appearance of the mysterious "floopydiks" (hitherto regarded as simply an ancient knob gag) and will conclude that this is the vessel most likely to contain the long sort after, fabled, LINUX he suspects has been suppressed by the evil church of Microsoft. MeltBanana 21:40, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Someday people will wonder what is this "sheet of paper" thing used to be which is still used to signficy a "new file". ;-) Realistically speaking, who knows if the iconography of software functions will change over time — they have only been around for two decades or so, which is just a blip in the history of human kind and human technology. --Fastfission 01:02, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I know some people who ask why the copy-to address line on e-mails is labeled "cc." When I explain it means "carbon copy," then I have to get into a whole explanation about what carbon paper was (do they even make carbon paper anymore?) and the workings of a typewriter, etc. — Michael J 01:17, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Just tell them CC means "computer copy", which it mostly does, these days. As for paper, I don't see it going away anytime soon. I don't think there has even been a reduction in paper usage as a result of the computer revolution. For example, as a computer programmer, I find there is still no substitute for printouts. StuRat 01:26, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes you can still buy carbon paper. --WikiSlasher 07:36, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I believe "CC" now officially stands for "courtesy copy". howcheng {chat} 20:49, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

OK Suggestion. Replace symbol with a safe and an arrow pointing into it! 8-)--Light current 01:27, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I think if you ask a kid, they'll just say: "Oh, that's the save symbol!" --Zeizmic 01:32, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I used to buy tons - yes really - of A4 copy paper when I worked as a buyer in the civil service. I recall in one buyer/supplier interface aimed at reducing costs, I asked when the paperless office would really arrive, thinking my supplier's strategic thinking would know the answer to such a simple question. Yes, he said, the paperless office will follow shortly after the arrival of the paperless toilet.

And in a similar meeting with my toner cartridge supplier he explained that within his industry, toner ink was otherwise known as "Black Gold".

Morrisville, North Carolina

I'm about to visit the US for the first time and I will be in Morrisville, North Carolina. I doubt I'll have much spare time outside the meeting I'll be attending, but if I get any. What places should I visit there? - Mgm| 20:03, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

I would ask them to move the meeting to a more interesting place. alteripse 20:51, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

• You mean there's nothing remotely interesting there? Not even encyclopedic for an article? - Mgm| 21:45, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Your meeting has probably been located in Morrisville because it is adjacent to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Morrisville is also located along Interstate 40, one of the most important east-west superhighways (motorways) crossing the United States. I don't know the site of your meeting, but it is probably in one of the corporate hotels or office complexes that cluster near major airports and along major superhighways in the United States. Since this is your first trip to the United States, this will be an excellent place to view the vast and mostly low-density, car-dependent urban sprawl that typifies development patterns in the contemporary United States. The lack of noteworthy sites mentioned in the Misplaced Pages article suggests that Morrisville, like so many other suburban entities in the United States, is an area of recent residential and commercial development with little of historical or cultural interest. Because of its car-dependent nature, you will need a car to visit the places nearby that have some cultural interest. Among these are two of the most prestigious universities in the southern United States, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The twin cities of Durham, the site of Duke University, and Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, are both nearby. Together, these cities form an urban region that encompasses Morrisville and is known as Raleigh-Durham or the Triangle. Marco polo 22:13, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

That's also the site of the historic US tobacco industry, if that thrills you as much as it does me. StuRat 22:36, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

ask the locals where a good barbecue place is . you won't be disappointed with southern bbq.

Go to an Atlantic Coast Conference basketball game, if you can get tickets. Quite an experience, even if you're not a big basketball fan. Or a high-school (American) football game, if the season's still on. -- Mwalcoff 00:54, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Croissants

I'm looking for a croissant recipe, but they're all talking about packages of yeast when I have no idea how much is in such a package, I'm trying to figure out how much fresh baker's yeast I should be using for it. Also, I'm finding cups an terribly inconvenient measure for non-melted butter. Can anyone help me track down a metric recipe? - Mgm| 20:03, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

I believe butter sticks are marked in cups on the side of each stick. For butter in a tub, look at the volume of the tub. If you have a 24 oz tub, you need 1/3 of that for an 8 oz cup. A packet of yeast sufficient for my 1.5 lb bread machine is about 4 g or 0.14 oz. StuRat 20:11, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Stu, do you have cook books you can reference? If so, the Cup (unit) article could maybe do with a list of weight equivalents for common ingredients, to give an idea of these things. I would, but none of mine feature 'cups'. Skittle 22:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

A fluid ounce of water also weighs one avoirdupois ounce. Therefore, a US cup, at 8 fluid ounces, also weighs 8 ounces, or half a pound. The density of milk is quite close to water, so the same conversion more or less applies. Oil is a bit lighter, but this approximation still isn't bad, at least for cooking purposes. StuRat 01:57, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

• I probably should've mentioned I'm in the Netherlands. We mark our butter in grams. - Mgm| 21:05, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

• Well, you already stated "metric recipe"... Otherwise, you could check out oz and lb for Metric conversion. 惑乱 分からん 21:58, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

My recipe book has a list of those it lists a conversion for oz. to ml. Kind of useless when you're using non-melted butter. - Mgm| 23:23, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

You could try this recipe, if you're any good at French. Maybe Babel fish could help you. If you just wanted an ingredients list, it asks for:

40 grams sugar

10 grams salt

15 grams baker's yeast

300 ml milk

500 grams flour

300 grams butter

1 egg

Skittle 22:17, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

• Thanks. A list of ingredients will help. I can use those. - Mgm| 23:23, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Black Marked Book

Why do some of the books that I buy on line have a black ink mark across the pages on their edge? They are defiantly not accidental markings and the books do not come from a single source. What do they mean?

Thank You, cckst11

Many books are marked like that by bookstores when they are put on the sale shelves. It usually indicates that the person you got it from did not pay full price. alteripse 20:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

It might be a way to sell a book below a fixed price, which may only be possible if it is damaged. So they damage it, but not too bad. I used to but lp's that had holes punched through the cover for that same reason. DirkvdM 07:24, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

alteripse and Dirk are correct - it's a remainder mark, indicating that the book isn't to be sold at full price (although I disagree with the article that this isn't often used for paperbacks - I've bought many with the same marking). Natgoo 12:53, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

What color are tigers?

Tigers are obviously a dark shade of green. Their "stripes" are only reflections of the moon that bounce off the soft tone of green in their fur. I have found this through many studies in the bermuda triangle. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.73.192.130 (talk • contribs)

Uh...pschemp | talk 21:17, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Most tigers have white bellies with orange backs and black stripes all over. Siberian tigers have slightly different markings. StuRat 21:46, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Paper tigers often have yellow streaks, though... 惑乱 分からん 21:52, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

And African tigers are usually monochrome (unless the old movies in which they appeared have been colorised)  :) JackofOz 01:10, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The African tigers in the Phantom comics used to be monochrome here in Sweden, but since the 90's the comic book's colorized... 惑乱 分からん 01:36, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

My general knowledge isn't too bad, but it wasn't till I was in my mid 30s that I discovered there are no tigers in Africa. Such is the pervasive influence of Jungle Jim, the Phantom, etc. JackofOz 03:05, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

And lions do not live in the jungle, they live on the plains. Such is the (American!) influence of 'In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight' from The Tokens, Lion King, etc. And no, lions do not walk the streets of our cities in Africa. Sandman30s 08:17, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

• Detroit Tigers are blue and white(hotclaws**== 16:24, 24 October 2006 (UTC))

Alternative name for fins

I am stuck on a crossword I need another name for surfboard fins can anyone help me please

How many letters? Have you got any letters already? (You could write in clues here in **X**XX** or similar format...) Also, check out the surfboard article for possible information. 惑乱 分からん 21:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

where i am from they are called "gualaja"

What about 'rudder'? Anchoress 23:26, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

I am surprised that people don't ask here for crossword help more often. Яussiaп F 23:55, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I think that may lead to more cross words between editors. 8-(--Light current 01:18, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Skeg --Zeizmic 01:28, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Many of our regular visitors are cruciverbalists. JackofOz 05:29, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

how do proofreaders miss the blatant error in the headline

especially when they got it right in the first sentence.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDyskVjHQCNI&refer=us

Sometimes you miss the thing that's right in front of your face. --Fastfission 00:54, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

"Perdue" probably passed the spell-checker. -- Mwalcoff 00:58, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Sometimes, it's a case perdu, I guess... ;) 惑乱 分からん 01:03, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

stfu

I've noticed blatant errors in headlines myself, including the failure to capitalize the first character, and a lack of a question mark at the end of a question. The only way I can explain it is that the editors just don't care if they write proper English sentences or not. This is even true of many of the question askers here on the Ref Desk. StuRat 07:15, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Although few are as bad as the one two threads down, under 'Jews'. Then again, that one is mostly just weird. DirkvdM 07:29, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah the little kids!

Help! What does one do with little kids on the internet for an hour and a half? They can barely read, and the computers I have suck badly (school computers, no downloads allowed, no sound, only a few have good media software, and I don't know which ones). I have my laptop (sound, media stuff, downloads allowed), so if someone suggested a few videos, I could show them those...? 204.147.94.154 23:12, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

I think you're missing out on the value of a computer if you just use it to play movies. Show them MS Paint, and let them each draw a few lines on the computer, so together it makes a picture of, say, a house. Then print it out when you're all done (if you have a printer) and pass it around, then post it on a wall. They will like that they each contributed to it, and it will teach them about computers and cooperation at the same time. StuRat 01:19, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I well know the value of the computer and I reget that I was not more clear. The only programs available for my use are Word and IE. Plus, I'm supposed to be teaching them about the internet. 216.160.53.151 02:38, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

My suggestion would be FunnyAnimalVideos.com - it doesn't need sound, but it does need at least a 512Kbit connection. It plays embedded Youtube clips of cute animals doing odd things. There's also CuteOverload, which is a similar archive of cute animal pictures. Other child-friendly sites I know of are Simple English Misplaced Pages and Pogo. Pesapluvo 03:05, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

1. Take them to some age-appropriate sites they might find interesting (like Animal Planet, Sesame Street, the Spider Man movie site, fansites for some of their fave stars and characters, the NASA site, Discovery Channel, etc. You should be able to find home sites for all their fave shows. Show them how to bookmark the sites (they don't need to be able to read to do that), show them how to size windows and how to drag icons of their fave sites to the desktop and then open them.
2. Show them how to copy pics from web pages and paste them into Word.
3. Take them to the home pages of some of their fave authors; JKRowling has an awesome website that's really interactive and a great time waster. Also www.the-leaky-cauldron.org and other sites are great fansites for Potter fans.
4. I'm too lazy to look for you, but I know there are lots of free online games for kids of all ages (down to 2 if you can believe it). Tip: lots of kids movies and stories have interactive mini-games on their sites; I know the WB Harry Potter site has a few. It's not my cup of tea, but sites like the McDonalds home page probably have them too. If their parents wouldn't object, the www.simpsons.com site is kinda fun. Not too fun, just a little bit.

--Anchoress 05:54, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Show them google earth, or some other sattelite world map website. I don't know if they'll like it, but it fascanates me. :) Яussiaп F 11:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Google Earth is especially good if you live in a reasonably big town or city, since Google has high quality images of most big settlements, and they should be able to find their houses. Laïka 12:31, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

October 24

Jews

Thankyou for the information.Neturei Karta was the page I was on and did not bookmark. I have put the page on my list and all the other information as well. I lived in Germany for 15 years. I saw one of the camps and I had read about them for a long time. I met many people from other states also. ery interesting. Thank you again.I have a lot of reading to do.Thank you for erasing my private information.

Mary

Karma

Does Karma really exist? Kyle James

Of course. But it usually is accompanied by its other half 'Sutra' 8-)--Light current 01:23, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

That's Kama! 216.160.53.151 02:39, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I always enjoy a nice karma apple. :-) StuRat 01:38, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Yup, karma exists, at least in the form of karmic retribution. If you want to prove it, here's what you do. Go to a crowded place and look around. See the big buff biker dude with his girlfriend? Okay. Go up and smack her (hard, but make sure it is open handed). That's the karma. Now wait... You feel that pain from being beat up by the biker dude? That's the retribution. BAM! --AstoVidatu 02:13, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Or he can just see karma. It's amazing how much you can learn by not having the crap beat out of you by some biker dude. Яussiaп F 11:51, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Is the fact that you feel it sufficient to establish that it really exists?  --Lambiam 15:34, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Karma is an issue of faith. If it makes sense to you and helps you to lead a better life in your own eyes then it has value. There is no way to prove or disprove that it exists; it is metaphysics not science. That does not in the least reduce its value. If you like it or you like the philosophy or religion it is a part of then it exists for you.

Check out Reciprocity. Whether Karma exists as it is described by religions is a matter of your beliefs. However, if by Karma existing you mean your actions will effect how people will treat and think of you then yes it does exist. It's human nature. —Mitaphane _talk 18:03, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I knew of a shop that sold delicious Karma Corn. Edison 22:18, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Headphones/Microphone on NFL

I left a question here a while ago, but forgot about it, and can't find it. Something about Motorolla making the things you see coaches wearing at the football game, with a speaker on only one side, and a microphone. Thanks, X (SUPERDESK|Help me improve) 07:22, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

There are five pages of description in the following book. Cheryl Dangel Cullen and Lynn Haller (2004). Design Secrets: Products 2: 50 Real-life Projects Uncovered, pp 94-97. Gloucester, MA: Rockport. ISBN 1-59253-071-0. Let me include a couple of quotes. Coaches are highly visible to millions of fans every week. Moreover, their status as team commander-in-chief carries a cachet that is hard to beat. "How could you have a more positive product placement than a commander marshalling his army down the field using technology to succeed?" "Ultimately, the goal was for consumers to see these products on the heads of head coaches and link them to consumer products, so that consumers who see the headset on TV and then walk into a retail establishment and see a product that's similar will buy it." --Chan Tai Man 10:01, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I recall answering that question though don't have the time right now to dig around in the archives. Basically, they are headsets to communicate with other coaches like the defensive coach, the offensive coach, maybe some assistants and such. There is also a spotter for each team who sits above the field near where the news reporters have boxes. These spotters need to communicate with the coach so they have a headset as well. Dismas| 13:04, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I was kind of looking for it's name more, or the Misplaced Pages article. X (SUPERDESK|Help me improve) 18:21, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Powers of observation

How does one go about increasing his powers of observation consciously? sumal 07:24, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Besides for constantly watching things and observing things, I don't think there's a way. It seems like a natural thing. I remember when I tried to be more observant, such as knowing how many steps I walked up (after reading Sherlock Holmes, of course), it stopped without my noticing after awhile. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 07:37, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Try keeping a journal and record details of things you observe. Writing them down will make more apparent what you saw and what you missed. StuRat 07:50, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

You ain't gonna like this but you can study Scientology. It frees up more of your attention and makes you more extroverted. If you are more extroverted you will observe more, assuming that you are looking, of course. Not a popular comment here on wikipedia but I would be remiss if I failed to make it. Otherwise, take up a hobby like birdwatching or geocaching that requires keen observation and you should make improvement. --Justanother 17:09, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I would like to expand. Observation can be thought of as dependent on a number of factors; how much attention you are giving to your surroundings, how much you are willing to observe your surroundings, and how much knowledge you have about what you are observing. On the first, a person can be thought to have a fixed number of "attention units" (or simply amount of attention). You have probably experienced this when driving a car; on a lightly traveled highway, you can drive, eat, smoke, and carry on a conversation at the same time. Only a few of your attention units are busy driving. But what about in a heavy rainstorm, in heavy traffic at speed. Then you kinda suck all your attention units back in from where there were floating and put them all on the job of driving. If you did not have a fixed amount of attention you could continue with all the other stuff too, but you don't. In general life, if your attention is tied up in matters internal to your head, you have less to observe with. I use Scientology to get my attention out of my head but you can use whatever works for you, start by eating well, getting a good night's sleep, and some exercise. Take care of those situations that are bothering you. Regarding willingness to observe, I don't know what area is on your mind but just gradually increase your willingness to be a part of it by finding some part that you are willing to participate in and do so; get out the world of computers and books and into the real world. Charity activities and volunteerism are good for that. Finally, how does knowledge fit in? When you know about a subject you can pick out details in what to another is a confusing black mass. The trained mechanic can listen to your engine and tell you that you have a vacuum leak or a sticky valve where all you hear is "normal engine noise". So learn about the subject or area where you wish to improve your observation skills. But don't forget about the birdwatching. I don't mean this to sound like I am saying that you are "in bad shape" or something of that sort, I simply wanted to address your question. --Justanother 20:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Special Economy Zone

what is special economy zone

Usually a low tax (or no tax) zone, to encourage businesses to grow. StuRat 14:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Illegal music download sites

hi..

i just wanted to noe,..

how can i noe weather a music downloading website is legal or illegal?

what should i look out for in a legal music download website.??..thx

I don't know the answer to your question, but one of the links from our online music store article is called http://www.museekster.com/legalmusic.htm and they list lots of (presumably legal) sites. --Shantavira 12:59, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

More importantly, how can you know whether your spelling is correct ? :-) StuRat 14:53, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Misspelling is a big noe-noe here.  --Lambiam 15:37, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

A legal music download site would be the iTunes store, or Walmart's. If you don't pay for it, it is illegal. If you pay for it, it might or it might not be. If you are using Limewire, Frostwire, or eMule to hook up to Gnutella it is almost certainly illegal whatever songs you may be downloading, and the same goes for Kazaa. Bittorrent and its tracker sites are mostly illegal downloads, although many sites offer legal downloads, such as Misplaced Pages and many free game demos. X (SUPERDESK|Help me improve) 18:28, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

It's not true that all free music is illegal. There's lots of old, public domain music, and some artists give away some of their songs for free, intentionally to build up an audience for other songs which they sell. StuRat 20:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Red masks

Some of you may remember the person who repeatedly asked about the legality of several actions while wearing a mask. Should this person resurface, please direct them to Snopes. The site posted an entry on several fake laws from Arizona. Among other things it says the following about "Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony.":

The notion that the wearing of a red mask during the commission a crime was once considered so heinous for some arcane reason that even today a person who jaywalked while wearing such a mask could be charged with a felony is amusing, but untrue. Nothing about red masks appears in the Arizona Revised Statutes. - Mgm| 10:25, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Save Illegal in a mask --216.164.197.58 22:25, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

CHINA

Why on earth has China got so many people??? And why has Asia got so many people in general??? Climate??? Im pretty sure its not to do with size because, for example Russia has a population of about 142 million people and someting like Indonesia has a population of 227 million and its like a tenth of the size lol.

have fun, --William dady 10:39, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

No one really knows the answer to this question, but here are some likely reasons. 1.) The heavily populated parts of Asia have a more suitable climate for intensive agriculture than does Russia. The growing season is longer, and the monsoon rains are predictable in most places. They also tend to coincide with the the solar maximum in the summer. 2.) Partly for this reason, these parts of Asia have histories of agriculture and civilization going back thousands of years. Over thousands of years, the population was able to grow large relative to other parts of the earth. 3.) Asia benefited from most of the population-enhancing technological developments that gave Europe its edge in early modern times. In fact, with the important exception of industrialization, many of these technological developments (writing, metalworking, the plough) were pioneered in Asia. 4.) This is a bit speculative, but the religious ideologies of Hinduism and Confucianism stress the importance of accepting one's place and the existing power relations in society. This may help to explain the relative stability and size of states in much of Asia compared to other parts of the world. Large and stable states allow for greater economic and population growth than a fragmented and unstable political landscape, which tends to disrupt agriculture. 5.) Intensive rice cultivation produces a large yield per acre. It is also fairly labor-intensive, and requires a large agriculture labor force to maintain. Both of these features of rice cultivation encouraged large populations. 6.) You discount size, but Asia is of course the largest continent. Europe has similar population densities to those of Asia, but its smaller area means that it has a smaller total population. Marco polo 12:57, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

And he should know!--Shantavira 13:25, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Lol. To be honest, I don't claim special expertise on China, though I'm interested. I chose the login name because I am interested in geography, history, languages, and travel and have some knowledge in those areas. Also, Marco has been a nickname of mine. Sorry to disappoint anyone who thought that the great Italian travel writer had come back to life! Marco polo 15:03, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree with most of what Marco Polo said, but not the religious stability issue. Most of the worlds religions were formed in Asia, and fought amongst each other there, as well as exporting their religious hatred to other continents. I don't think Asia has a history of any less war than other continents. StuRat 14:47, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I wouldn't argue that Asia has had less war than other continents. But I think that war has been mostly confined to the edges of the great centers of population (Ganges Plain, eastern China), which have enjoyed remarkable political unity and stability over long periods of time. While the Pax Romana was an exception in the history of Europe, similar centuries-long periods of peace were the rule, especially in China. Several dynasties lasted centuries. These tended to be centuries of population growth. Even in India, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire ruled for hundreds of years in relative peace, although they began violently.

As for religious hatred, this seems to me mainly a western thing (if we include Islam as a western religion). And in fact, the Middle East since the rise of Islam has had a relatively low population. The Middle East has not been one of the great population centers of Asia since ancient times. Religious hatred, according to the historical record, came to India with the Muslims. While Hindu nationalists are hostile to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains lived together in mutual toleration. India also welcomed non-hostile Christians and Zoroastrians in pre-Muslim times.

Marco polo 15:03, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't consider Islam to be a Western religion. While it's origins are quite close to that of Judaism and Christianity, it has since spread primarily to southern Asia and Northern Africa, whereas Judaism and Christianity primarily spread to Europe, Australia, and the Americas. StuRat 15:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Islam is not a western religion. The lack of faith in the west cannot be wholly supported by the Asians or the Middle east for that matter. The west is a clear reflection of impatience for desires.Kjvenus 21:07, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Okay, forget that I called Islam a western religion. It was a poor choice of terminology. However, I stand by my claim that religious hatred is primarily a phenomenon of Islam, Christianity, and perhaps Judaism, which share a common origin as Abrahamic religions. Marco polo 21:49, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Ukraine

Other than russian, what language is spoken in the Ukraine? Ukaranese?

Ukranian. Яussiaп F 11:47, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

(after edit conflict) This is a question for the Language Ref Desk, but Ukrainian is the sole official language of Ukraine. It is the native language of 67.5% of the population; Russian is native for 29.6%. JackofOz 11:49, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I've not been to Ukraine for a while, but when I was last there, Polish was a popular language choice in Ukrainian schools. --Dweller 14:01, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

WHAT DAY WAS THIS

1st September 1923

thx, --William dady 11:39, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! NO NEED TO YELL!

Seriously, you don't have to put the title in all uppercase letters. Яussiaп F 11:58, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The 1923 Great Kanto earthquake. Laïka 12:22, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Saturday. In future, this site is best for these questions.--Shantavira 12:45, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Tinkering with your car

Hi! What parameters are usually easily adjustable for the owner of a stock car? What I have in mind are things having to do with suspension (damping, caster, camber, …), fuel and air flow, power steering, electronic systems (non-locking brakes, speed control, …) or the like. By "easily", I mean without having to buy everything new, because then, of course, anything is possible. It might also be interesting to know what can be done slightly less easily. An example of the latter would be changing springs, is that feasible? —Bromskloss 12:43, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

What are you trying to achieve? --Justanother 16:51, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Simple Simon Restaurant in Grafton New South Wales

I am searching for the owner (possibly previous owner) of a restaurant which was called "Simple Simon".

My Grandfather's brother used to run the restaurant. I believe he was born between 1915-1920. My Grandfather recently passed away and had lost touch with his brother "Joseph Ryan also known as Francis (Frank) Ryan.

The Manager of the restaurant was named "Pearl".

If you have any info on the restaurant as it may have changed names, I would be really greatful. I would love to get in touch with either my Grandfather's brother if he is still alive as I have many unanswered questions.

Thanks,

Maria (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)

The restaurant seems not to be in existence. If you go to this site and search under "Residential" for Ryan in Grafton, NSW, you will see some listings. Another approach might be to contact the Clarence Regional Libary, which is the public library for the area around Grafton, to see if they have old directories that list the restaurant or your great uncle and their addresses. You might then contact the occupants at those addresses to see if they know anything about your great uncle. Marco polo 15:20, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The most famous photographs of all time.

What are some of the most famous and recognisable photographs? I'm attempting to gather a collection of them. I already found photos of Raising the flag on Iwo Jima, Marilyn Monroe's dress rising up, Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, Albert Einstein sticking his tongue out, Che Guevera, Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse and the September 11 attacks. Are there any others? Pesapluvo 16:30, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The picture of Sharbat Gula is very, very famous. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 16:51, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Apollo 11 First step on the moon and the one with the flag. Very famous. And the one below with the little girl - good pick. --Justanother 16:54, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Two from the Vietnam War - the one of the guy being executed with a gunshot to the head, and the one of the little girl fleeing from a napalm attack. Sorry but I can't provide references for either of these, although I feel sure we must have articles about both of them. --Richardrj 16:58, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Found the first one - Nguyen Van Lem. --Richardrj 17:01, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Second is Phan Thị Kim Phúc. Rmhermen 17:47, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah, I too have thought about making such a collection. Please do let us know what you end up with (or how you proceed along the way). For now, let's make a list right here. I include suggestions already made and some of my own (but you keep stealing them from me!). You're welcome to extend it as more images drop in.

• Raising of flag on Iwo Jima
• Marilyn Monroe's dress rising up
• Thích Quảng Đức's self immolation
• Einstein sticking his tongue out (flipped version, or is it the other way around?)
• Che Guevara
• Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
• Attack on World Trade Center in New York City (there aren't many pictures of the other sites, are there?)
• First step on the moon (Did you mean this one, or perhaps this? I can think of several other.)
• Sharbat Gula
• Execution of Nguyen Van Lem
• Phan Thị Kim Phúc, running naked after napalm attack
• Atomic bombing of Nagasaki
• Tiananmen Square protests (alternative)
• Wright brothers and their flying machine
• Normandie landing craft
• Soviet flag on German Reichstag
• Sailor and nurse celebrate the end of World War II
• View from the Window at Le Gras – early photograph
• Cottingley fairies
• Richard Nixon V sign (alternative)
• Migrant Mother
• John F. Kennedy Jr. salutes his father's casket (more versions)
• Loch ness monster
• The Stairs
• John F. Kennedy motorcade (high resolution) (Perhaps a photograph from after the shooting is more recognisable.)
• The Blue Marble
• Toppling of Saddam Hussein statue
• Saddam Hussein, captured (not too sure about this one)
• Mahatma Gandhi (Is this one well-known?)
• Juri Gagarin (Or is it just me that's too much of a space flight junkie?)
• Earth rise (Apollo 10) (Probably better version (Apollo 11))
  • Actually, the famous one is the one from Apollo 8. howcheng {chat} 20:41, 24 October 2006 (UTC)
• Kiss by the Hotel de Ville (Or is it Kiss by the sidewalk?)
• Kent State massacre
• Malcolm X behind curtains
• Conrad Schumann flees East Germany (alternative)
• Abbey Road
• Construction workers on a girder (More info, please.)
• Valley of the Shadow of Death

—Bromskloss 17:58, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Note that some of those pics were staged, such as the Marilyn Monroe pic (anything from a movie is obviously "staged"). I believe the Iwo Jima pic was also staged, as the actual flag raising was not dramatic enough for the photographers. StuRat 20:51, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Not true re: Iwo Jima pic. See Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima for the full story. howcheng {chat} 20:54, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Of course we can always google "most famous photographs" and look here --Justanother 17:04, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

How about the pic of a US sailor kissing a woman after WW2 had just been won:  ? Or JFK Jr. saluting his father's casket:  ? StuRat 17:05, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Then there's this pic of a mother and her two children during the great Depression: . StuRat 17:18, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Then there's the man standing in front of a line of Chinese tanks, famous everywhere but in China, where the entire event has been censored from history: . StuRat 17:24, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Then there's this pic of Richard Nixon: . StuRat 17:32, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

That german soldier throwing a grenade, where is that from? Joneleth 17:27, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

See the photographs listed in Category:Photographs (includes "Tank Man" and several of the others mentioned above). --Shantavira 17:35, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Another (and another military one) is Robert Capra's image of the soldier dying during the Spanish Civil War. Going farther back you would include the Valley of Death picture from the Crimea and the Sniper's Nest image by Mathew Brady from the American Civil War. Rmhermen 17:47, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

That famous faked photo of the little girls with the fairies. The famous 'Loch ness' photo (the grainy one). Anchoress 18:00, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Karsh's pictures of Hemingway and Churchill, the picture of the rainy staircase at Montmartre. The pic of pregnant Demi Moore.

Robert Doisneau's The Kiss. The one of a group of construction workers sitting high up on a girder, eating their lunch. Anyone got a reference for that? --Richardrj 18:19, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Charles C. Ebbets http://www.globalgallery.com/prod_images/bm-l191.jpg MeltBanana 19:01, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

What is really the deal with this and similar photos? I mean, are any of them real or anything? (Not that fake ones necessarily are disqualified from our list.) —Bromskloss 22:10, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

• The shootings at Kent State University --LarryMac 18:36, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

They're really in a different category (historically), but there are a lot of really famous celebrity photos: the one of Muhammad Ali with his baby, the pic of Hendrix at Woodstock, the pic of Mick Jagger at Altamont when he realised what was happening in the audience, the pic of Audrey Hepburn (I think on the cover of Time), a few Annie Leibowitz pics; the one of Whoopi Goldberg in a tub of milk, the one from the Rolling Stone cover of Fleetwood Mac all in bed together. Paul McCartney in Japan when he was busted for marijuana possession. The famous Sir Edmund Hillary portrait. Also a few sports pics; Jesse Owens crossing the finish line, the photo finish at the '88 olympics between Johnson and Lewis, the pics of Zola Budd being tripped. Also, they're not individual shots necessarily, but some of the photos of JFK in Dallas, Dr King and Malcolm X at the times of their assassinations are really famous. Anchoress 18:50, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

More info (links, really) would be nice. I'm afraid most of them are unfamiliar to me and were not to be found in their respective articles (or Commons, as far as I could see). —Bromskloss 21:29, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

How about Image:Yalta Conference.jpg, Lenin & peekaboo Trotsky and , Image:Pepper's.jpg and, not as famous as it should be, Hirohito examines his tubas http://www.badscience.net/?p=242 MeltBanana 21:46, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Are they really famous? I'm not sure I have seen them before. But lol, those tubas. :-) —Bromskloss 21:59, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Sergeant Pepper's can't count. It's a collage, not a photograph... 惑乱 分からん 22:09, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah, but Abbey Road must count, right? —Bromskloss 22:15, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I have seen one where a train has just been unable to stop and crashed through the wall at the second floor of a building (from the inside). Anyone knows what I'm talking about? —Bromskloss 22:10, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Barak Obama or Hilary Clinton? ASAP Please.

next president? what do the polls say? --Moscowcoupattempt 17:46, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

See 2008 U.S. Presidential election and Potential Democratic candidates in the 2008 United States presidential election. Rmhermen 17:48, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I bet my right arm neither will win or even make it very far at all. X (SUPERDESK|Help me improve) 18:28, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I wouldnt care for either, and like Mac, dont think either will go far..--The Corsair. 22:34, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon

Can someone help me? I am trying to find Winona Rider's Bacon number. Any ideas? Thanks. 18:47, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The number is two. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 18:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

On Misplaced Pages, her Bacon number is three. Kevin Bacon's Ryder number is, however, only two :) GeeJo ⁄_(c) • 19:46, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Peanut butter demographics

Do more men or women eat peanut butter? Race, class? X (SUPERDESK|Help me improve) 19:13, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Friendster and MySpace

Friendster was basically the same kind of site as MySpace, but it never took off in the way that MySpace has. Why was this? Was it an idea that was ahead of its time? --Richardrj 21:22, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Freedom

What is the exact definition of freedom? Is it the american mindset or way of thinking that is being imposed around the globe? Can there be a difference between freedom granted in Iraq and that being practiced in the US? What exactly is the whole idea behind the american dreams? Is it a world of illusion and materialistic contentment that the world is compelled to chase? Why is there high levels of impatience for desires? Kjvenus 22:12, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Note to anyone that was thinking of responding with fury: Don't. That is, do respond if you wish, but pleas do it calmly and with a forgiving attitude. Thanks. —Bromskloss 22:19, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

…and pleas teach me how to spell. —Bromskloss 22:20, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Woo. Lets see. A toughie.

1.Freedom, I beleive, is the ability to do what you want, as long as you dont impede on others freedoms. I think freedom would be pretty well liked all across the globe, and by its definition, it wouldnt be imposed on anyone.

2.Can there be a difference? I dont really understand that. I think that there could be the same level of freedom in Iraq as that in the US, if thats what you mean. I beleive they would like freedom, such as the ability to wear what theyd like without getting their heads lopped off and their bodies incinerated. Saddam certainly wasnt giving them that. 3. The American dream, as defined by Misplaced Pages, is:

The American Dream is a subjective term usually implying a meaningful, successful and satisfying life. This term usually implies financial security and material comfort, but can also imply a dream of fame, exceeding social, ethnic, or class boundaries, or simply living a fulfilling life. Perceptions of the American dream are usually framed in terms of American capitalism, its associated meritocracy, and the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of Rights.

As to whether it is a world of materialistic contentment the world is compelled to chase, I suppose that depends on your interpretation of it and your outlook on life, as well as your religious beliefs and personal standards. I think its the fundamental want for a stable life for you and your family, and as such, I dont find it to be wrong.--The Corsair. 22:26, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

I counted 6 questions, unfortunately I can only answer one. SO please choose which of the 6 question , you want me to answer. 202.168.50.40 22:30, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The respondents are giving or unable to give a concrete and a constructive response. There are many who despite not having attained the american tag name have yet a materialistic and fulfilling life. Like the consumer spending in India is rising at an alarming rate, people in the middle east like dubai , and other modern arab states also have a materialistically fulfilling life. What is the ideology behind the spirit of freedom? How can one draw the line between impatience for desires and self confidence to attain them despite having the accessibility to the desires? Kjvenus 22:36, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Birth Records

I am searching for my brother in laws' Parents. Their names were George Richard McMahon and Dorothy Irene Reidy McMahon.He thinks they are from or born in Washington,Indiana. Can you help me?

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