Revision as of 20:41, 4 December 2006

Reference Desk

December 1

Disassembling scissors

Hi. I was wondering how you can dissemble a pair of scissors. thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.117.66.208 (talk • contribs) -THB 04:23, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I guess that really depends on the kind of scissors, most scissors are designed not to be taken apart so trying to do so will most likely break them. I have seen a few scissors that are hinged with a screw or bolt then it's pretty obvious how to disassemble them, but they are usually expensive hair dresser or tailor scissors, not really the kind you'd have kicking around. Vespine 21:19, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

If they are not designed to come apart then you would have to drill out the rivet or pin that connects them. If you then want to reassemble them you will need to replace what you drilled out with a bolt. --Justanother 21:27, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

You could easily dissemble a pair of scissors by making them look like something else. If you wanted to disassemble them I would follow the advice above. DJ Clayworth 21:44, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/Image:Skalm_2.JPG these are the kind of scissors I have...how exactly would I drill it out?

Depends on what tools you have. With a hand drill you'd maybe want to drill a pilot hole before applying a larger drill to it. With a bench drill, mount well in vice and away you go. I suspect you have a hand drill; the trick is not in the drilling, but more in the securing the scissors well enough to drill without incident. Good luck. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Whoo-hooh, Fiskars scissors! ;) 惑乱 分からん 23:13, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

With a lot of pulling, maybe.martianlostinspace 22:59, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

Most scissors Ive seen have a screw thro one blade that is screwed into the opposite blade and then riveted over to stop it coming loose. It may be possible therefore to unscrew the screw for the blade into which it is screwed as long as the thread in the blade can be relied upon to reform the thread where it has been riveted over. If the blade steel is much harder than the screw steel, then this may be possible. Mind you Ive never tried it! THe method described in the above posts would, of course destroy the screw at least. 8-)--Light current 23:12, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

I hate dissembling scissors. If there's one thing I value in scissors, it's honesty. --Trovatore 23:14, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

Don't like your chances, the rivet looks steel and will spin with the drill if you try to drill it out... I think grinding it off might be easier if you had access to some kind of angle grinder or bench grinder, or even dremel. Vespine 23:19, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

All my scissors seem like they're fastened with a rivet, so you should be able to take a pair of pliers and pinch the smaller end until it's misshapen enough to go through the hole. I've actually done that before. It doesn't work with every rivet, because some of them are too hard, but it works sometimes. The beauty of this is that it can be bent back after. Anchoress 23:31, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

The question I ve been keen to ask is: What the hell good is half a scissor?--Light current 23:50, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

Depends on how you cut it in half. A blunt half-scissor is not much chop, but a sharp one might come in handy. A whole single scissor is useful for poking holes in things. JackofOz 00:15, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Btw, is there any other word in English where -ss- is pronounced "z"? JackofOz 00:17, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Missen, as in missen mast. Misery manages the trick at half the cost. (YMMV. About 126k pages spell the word mizzen, 52k missen.)--Tagishsimon (talk)

Missouri--Light current 00:29, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Cool. "While in Missouri, I attacked the missen mast with scissors". No marks for misery, unfortunately. JackofOz 00:40, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

"While in Missouri, I attacked the missen mast with scissors making Ms. Asbury miserable". +2 extra credit. :-)—WAvegetarian•(talk) 00:59, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Nope, sorry. I was aking about a double s (-ss-) sounding like z. There are millions of words (such as "millions" and "words") where a single s sounds like a z. JackofOz 01:05, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, my mistake. I thought you were saying no marks as it hadn't been included in the sentence. "While in Missouri, I fissioned the missen mast with scissors". Grammar could be worked on, but wiktionary says that it is one of the accepted pronounciations. (two more to play with: wiktionary:scission and wiktionary:rescission)—WAvegetarian•(talk) 02:15, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

PLs no homework answers before the question has been asked! 8-)--Light current 00:42, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Spoilsport! JackofOz 01:05, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm going to sleep now, but just realized that search parameters *ʒ* *ss* in a dictionary search would probably provide what you are looking for.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 02:23, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Wow, this thread took off! The pin is likely hardened steel so you will want to use a high-quality bit. Use a center-punch or prick (really) first to prevent the drill for "walking". If you ever intend to put it back together you want to use a drill very slightly smaller than the pin, otherwise it doesn't much matter. --Justanother 02:32, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Please sign your posts using four tildes (~~~~). -THB 04:20, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I doubt the rivets are hardened steel. I would bet on mild steel. Traditional rivets have one head factory formed, then they are heated red hot and the other head is formed with an impact tool after the rivet is in place. The exposed head could be ground off or chiseled off. But one might ask: Why? A scissor without its erstwhile companion is like yin without yang, or Abbott without Costello. Scissors can be sharpened while still assembled. Edison 06:02, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm, yes but we are talking about a wear surface here, not a simple connector. The blades would be a high-carbon steel and the pin perhaps hardened and the whole assembly put together cold in a press? Just guessing, of course. --Justanother 07:22, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

One reason you might disassemble scissors is to do some heavy-duty repair work (such as deburring) on the cutting edges of the blades. While you can usually sharpen the blades a little while still assembled, you can't reach all the way back on the blades to the handle-side. This becomes easy once the scissors are dismantled.

And after that, don't let your kid cut hard stuff such as steel wire with the newly-resharpened scissors ;-).

Atlant 13:45, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

what happened to this question

it was called "I Don't Want To Offend Anyone, But......." It was here earlier today. Thanks. -STeve

I guess it did offend someone. Anchoress 00:20, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

It might have been deleted because it was a question about Misplaced Pages, which is more appropriate for the Help Desk. The Ref Desk is for questions about the world outside Misplaced Pages. StuRat 00:38, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

It should have been moved (not deleted) and a note left here.--Light current 00:39, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

The OP removed it once and I restored it; maybe the same again. --Justanother 02:44, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I wonder if this is already a result of SCZenz removing stuff. Someone may have picked up that that is done here, thought it was normal, but didn't know how to do it properly (according to SCZenz's rules). Like I said before, this will lead to a lot of confusion, and not only for newbies. DirkvdM 07:22, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

We have rules? --Justanother 07:32, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Was that a rhetorical question ;) ? SCZenz has his own set of rules, and is actually quite diligent about explaining why he deletes certain contributions from the RDs. Some other folks, unfortunately, just hack out stuff they don't like and justify this by saying there isn't a rule that says you can't delete stuff from the RDs. Gandalf61 10:21, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I've been a bit busy of late and haven't contributed to the desks as much as usual. I must have missed some process or other where consensus was formed that a list of rules for these desks were drawn up, debated and agreed. Is it too late to contribute to that discussion? Where is it located? --Dweller 10:33, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Not agreed upon, SCZenz just came up with his own unilateral rules: User talk:SCZenz/Reference desk removals, and was then "slapped down" by another Admin for blocking a Ref Desk regular contributor who didn't follow those rules (SCZenz still threatened to come back and do more damage later, though). See the Ref Desk Talk Page for the general discussion: Misplaced Pages talk:Reference desk. StuRat 13:40, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

No reason to get all worked up, folks. It appears that the question and reactions were removed by the OP.  --Lambiam 12:48, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

NOTHING at Misplaced Pages is ever really "permanently settled". Sometimes this is good, often this is bad.

Atlant 13:46, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Okay, I made a comment on SCZenz's page about his removals, whether he removed this one or not. So what IS the question here? -THB 07:09, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Gandalf, are you serious about there being people other than SCZenz who delete posts they don't like? That is hard to detect at the ref desks, so I wouldn't be surprised. We really need a better way to keep track of deletions. Something that automatically detecs them and puts them in a separate history list or something, but I don't see how that could be done. DirkvdM 07:57, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

trouble among friends?

what do i do? im Really REALLY like my brother best friend and roomate! and he want to be with me and i want to be with him...but it can not happen. my family fears it will tear their and my friendship with him apart if something went wrong. so they say i am forbidden to be with him. im so confused on how to feel. UG! what do i do? do i just pretend i dont like him to get over him? help me PLEASE!! --Kittycat rox 02:23, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

First thing to remember is you are NOT the first or the only person to be in this situation! After all the Romeo and Juliet article claims that it is thought to be the most archetypal love story in western history. It would be easier to give you advice if we knew how old you were and where about in the world you live. If you are of adult age (or close to) and in a free western society, I believe you only live once and you have to follow your heart. You have to live with the consequences but no one, not even your family can tell you how to live your life... If however you are very young and/or you live in a Muslim or communist country, then I would take the advice of your family more seriously, the world won't end and life is FULL of surprises. Vespine 03:41, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Communist country? Why is that? I really don't know any communist countries remaining, other than Cuba and North Korea (arguably China), but this appears to be a question from a culture with strong sense of shameless appearance and family honor, nothing which I'd say has a basis in communism, per se... =S 惑乱 分からん 13:50, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I think the two of you should sneak around and carry out a torrid affair right under everyones' noses. That makes it much more exciting. There are only so many times in life that you feel that way about someone and it's mutual. Enjoy! -THB 04:16, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

oh of course not. i just enjoy his company. i dont need sex from him. he just turned 19...so i know i cant do anything with him. just being by him is enough. but family doesntunderstand how musch he means to me.

Depends on how old you are. (Oh wait, Vespine already said that.) That being said, your family doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Are you only supposed to like someone you're not friends with? Clarityfiend 06:02, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

• Convince them it won't go wrong to begin with. Then they have nothing to fear. - Mgm| 10:13, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Wait until you are 18 then just do it. 211.28.131.37 11:45, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

By the way, Vietnam and Laos are Communist, and China has us blocked anyway. Tried talking to your family? martianlostinspace 21:23, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

yes..i was actually thinking of waiting till im 18 to do it..by then i will have enough knowledge to make a good decision. i am 16 and live in california by the way. --Kittycat rox 01:21, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

The age of consent is 18 in California. If you have sexual intercourse with him he could be charged, assuming he is an adult. How old IS he? I still think you should go for it, just don't do anything in a manner that could have legal consequences for him. -THB 07:14, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

yes well..he is 19.i was not thinking of having sex with him. just his presence is enough. im trying to get over him by being only a friend and am going to hopfully go out on a date with another guy. is that right? is it the wrong thing to do? to ignore that feeling to keep myself from getting hurt? --Kittycat rox 02:23, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Kittycat rox, it was a good idea to talk about it, now you just have to take your own decision. Did you talk to your brother's friend too ? -- DLL 17:27, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

he knows it cant happen but he says he still cares for me and it really bothers him we cant be together. we hang out all the time and when he was over yesterday i got a call from the boy i was talking about and he was inviting me over. he imediately tensed up knowing i was on the phone with another boy who likes me. i now have to choose to either let go of the 19 year old (aka my best friend)and hurt him by going with the other boy.....or stay where i am not hurting anyone else but myself. i dont want to be selfish and keep only myself form getting hurt. --Kittycat rox 19:08, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

The Lovin'Spoonful perhaps said it best "Did you ever have to make up your mind? Pick up on one and leave the other behind. It's not often easy and not often kind." Edison 21:03, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I think i know what i have to do...leave him behind. i just dont want to hurt people. ive never hurt anyone like this..im usually the one getting hurt...and i know how it feels. it makes you feel like crap. you cant sleep..dont want to eat.. dont want to hang out with firnds. you just want to sit there and just think. i dont want this happening to him. __________thanks guys for helping me on this. i really dont know what i would do otherwise. i now see that there is no point in letting myself hurt hoping for something that will never happen. by the way....i love that quote.--Kittycat rox 23:15, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

why do I suffer from tooth ache?

Hello, I am 24 and recently (started several years ago though) have had tooth ache, and recently it is too the degree where I can't go to sleep - it is keeping me awake. You see I brush them at LEAST twice a day they are very white, I will go to the dentist, it is just professionals can get it wrong - maybe it is not a cavity........... maybe someone out there has an idea of what it could be (I have small cavities.... but not to the point where it should be causing me such pain). Thank you I appreciate all advice!

Have you tried flossing? --Richardrj 09:58, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

You really must go to the dentist; only she or he can advise you properly. But it is almost certain that you have an exposed nerve. Please do not neglect this: it will only get worse. Clio the Muse

Sensitive teeth?--Light current 10:39, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Even professionals could not venture a diagnosis without an adequate description of the symptoms (When did it start, and how? Was the pain constant and nagging, or occasional? How is it now: Constant? dull/sharp/excruciating? Are there conditions that exacerbate the pain (heat, cold, touch, teeth tapping, chewing, head movements or positions)? In any case, the cause of the pain can be something else than a diseased tooth, ranging from minor ailments to serious problems that must be treated if you don't want to lose a jaw or worse. Professionals can get it wrong, but it's more likely you and I will get it wrong.  --Lambiam 12:21, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately, regular brushing and flossing cannot guarantee perfectly healthy teeth. The health of your teeeth is at least partly dependent on your diet, and it's also partly hereditary. My father had a full set of dentures by the time he was 35, and my own mouth is a real dentist's workshop, but we both looked after our teeth as best we could.--Shantavira 13:17, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

In the same way, rarely brushing and never flossing doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have unhealthy teeth. It's best to just leave it alone and trust your dental hygiene to the stars :p --froth 07:15, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Interview question

Hello everyone. I've got an interview as a project manager coming up next week, for a local government post. It's a two stage process, the first stage being an 'assessment day'. One of the things I have to do is prepare a presentation. I am entirely comforatble with doing a presentation, so don't really need any tips on that side of things. What I am struggling with is the content of the presentation.

The post is project managing a large scale modernisation programme, cutting costs for the area through better management, redesigning processes, etc, etc.

The topic is "How would you sell the benefits of this programme to a staff group who were likely to reduce in size because of it?"

Any ideas on how you actually would sell something to a group who is likely to lose staff? If I get some decent & useful advice, and I get this job, I'll donate £100 (just short of $200) to Misplaced Pages. Proto::type 15:32, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

There are no benefits to the staff - except to those who survive the redundancies, who might get better rewarded as a result. But then they should keep an eye over their shoulders, because they will probably be next when the next round of cost-cutting comes along. The only benefits from any "modernisation" programme will accrue to the senior management, who will gain further bonuses for "efficiency gains" on top of their already inflated salaries, and to the shareholders who will see nice fat dividends and capital gains. There are no benefits to the staff, and equally none to the customers, who will likely see customer service further dwindle through the lack of staff and demotivated remaining staff. --Richardrj 15:47, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Oops, sorry, I didn't read the bit where you said it was for a local government post. So you can ignore the bits I put about bonuses and shareholders. Sorry. I stand by the rest, though. --Richardrj 15:51, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Um, thanks. I am hoping this is a theoretical exercise, rather than something I will actually have to be doing. The cost-cutting is being carried out in this manner as the only other alternative is reducing fairly helpful public services such as education, waste collection and road maintenance. It's not a choice, sadly, and it does have to be done. So. Does anyone have any helpful responses, rather than vitriol? Proto::type 15:57, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

That really is an extremely difficult assignment. Perhaps, if you offer a good retraining and job-finding service to those employees who are fired, and have a nice settlement package, or ealry retirement package, you could sell some of those points, but telling someone they are fired so that they are happy about it is a nearly impossible task. StuRat 16:47, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

You sell the benefits of the programme by only describing the benefits, and not mentioning the staff cuts at all. If asked about staff cuts, say that all options are being considered, nothing has been ruled out, but it is far too early in the process to say anything further. You can tell yourself that you are not actually lying to your audience, you are simply not telling them the whole truth; in any case, having months of uncertainty ahead of them would only make them unhappy, so you are doing them a favour, really. If you are not comfortable with this approach, then this may not be the right job for you - which is just what this assessment test is trying to determine. Gandalf61 17:22, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Look to the long term, look to the bigger picture. If such a project improves profitability it increases the chances the business will be around next year to employee the people it currently employs. It is better that the firm loses (picking numbers out of the sky) 10 employees now if it increases the long term stability of the 1,000 employees in the firm - who without restructure and efficiency gains may not have jobs in the future.

Show how letting people go does not mean that their lives are 'ruined' and that packages are generous and provide 'garden leave'/time to retrain/guidance on retraining etc. Point out things such as voluntary redundancy, the policy of not restaff those lost by turnover (many low-skill jobs avoid redundancy by this technique).

Do not understate the difficults faced for the team, make it clear in your presentation that you understand it is a decision that will not benefit everybody but return to the positives through the bigger picture, long term strategy and the softening of the blow through renumeration/generous redundancy terms. The staff who remain will still feel vulnerable but if the firm cannot restructure to succeed then it may not be around in 5 years to employ them at all, and that would be worse for more than just those in the immediate area. ny156uk 17:39, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

There is no way you're really going to 'sell' this. That's why almost all gov't computer projects crap out, if they require the people to dig their own graves. The best projects are the ones that completely contract out a service. You can be truthful and outline the retirement packages and various education incentives. The basic theme is that there is no choice. --Zeizmic 19:48, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Start out by frankly admitting that what is good for an organization is not always the best thing for the individual members of the organization and that some members will benefit from the changes and some will not. Also tell them that you understand that the "survivors" will judge you from the way you treat the people who are let go. Don't use euphemisms. Acknowledge the difficulty of even beneficial change. -THB 00:03, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Thank you everyone for your help. I'll let you know how I get on. Proto::type 14:17, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

School Play

Me and a friend are doing a school play and need an idea for a sketch that will be very funny to teenage girls. cheers ams

• A very stern teacher or principal is addressing an assembly on how much money was raised for charity at the chili cook off and how good many of the recipes were, then has a sudden gas attack. They try holding them in (which makes them walk funny), they try sneaking them out, they try covering them up with coughs, but nothing works. Finally they let go with a huge, loud fart that lasts for 30 seconds, and every time it stops, a bit more squeaks out. It would be best if you could imitate an actual teacher or principal they know, but be sure to get that person's permission so they don't get upset. One person can play the teacher/principal and the other can make fart noises. StuRat 16:26, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

• This is not really part of the function of the reference desk, but how about dressing up as girls (assuming you are boys, you don't say) and acting out something that might happen between those two girls (or dress up as boys if you are girls). Teenagers seem to find cross dressing highly amusing. I think bodily (mis)functions usually appeal more to a boy's sense of humour than a girl's.--Shantavira 16:30, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

• So far, I prefer the fart joke, with talented physical comedy, I could see it becoming quite funny... 惑乱 分からん 16:45, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

In a dance program, someone got member of the (American) football team to come out and do ballet. I expect some girl friends twisted their arms or got the coach to order them to do it. Coaches reportedly like to see football or basketball players get dance drill off season because it improves agility. It was funny as hell, because they were beefy and more pop-dancing than ballet dancing, but it got rousing cheers. Edison 19:10, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I am not a teenage girl so I cannot speak with authority but the fart bit sounds more like it would appeal to sub-teenage boys. Teenage girls are more into boys than farts, no? So a sketch about really lame boys? --Justanother 02:53, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Train Transport

I live in the UK and today I was on a train, a train built by Siemens in Germany. All of a sudden I thought, how did they get the trains over here(Great Britain) from Germany? Did they take them apart and assemble them here? Did they ship them over on a special ferry or did they simply send them through the channel tunnel?AMX 17:45, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

See Car float (although I'd have said "railroad barge").

Atlant 18:09, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

But in that particular case, I think they came through the tunnel. The UK's 500+ Class 66 locomotives were all built in Canada and were shipped over on an ordinary ship, usually about 10 or 12 at a time. The Class 67s were built in Spain and also came over by ship. -- Arwel (talk) 18:43, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

After all, (most) of Europe is on the same gauge.martianlostinspace 21:21, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

What is really cool is how they get the REALLY heavy stuff moved: see MV Blue Marlin. --Justanother 23:39, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't know whether it's relevant, but the Sheffield Supertram vehicles "were built by Siemens-Duewag of Düsseldorf, Germany in 1992. After undergoing trials on Düsseldorf's Rheinbahn system, the trams were delivered to Sheffield via the Rotterdam-Immingham cargo ship route."--Shantavira 07:51, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Really weird dream

I had a really weird dream last night. I and my father were watching TV late at night. There was a program where an attractive woman in a dark grey leotard was dancing (sort-of bouncing up and down) and reciting a song promoting conservation of energy. I of course don't remember the lyrics but at one point she mentioned she was the "energy Kekkonen". Near the end of the song (only a couple of seconds left) her top fell off and her breasts were clearly visible. She didn't seem to mind, but carried on to the end of the song, after which she immediately stopped dancing, said "Good night", and left. At that point, my father said "Finally!", turned the TV off, and instantly went to sleep. What do you think about this dream? Have you ever had similar dreams? JIP | Talk 17:50, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

No.Evilbu 18:31, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Dreams are weird by nature. Honestly, this one doesn't sound that unusual; what about it strikes you? -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 18:43, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Mostly, the dancing woman. The way she delivered her message in the form of a cheery, bouncy dance and the part about her top falling off at the very end. At the point where my father turned the TV off, the dream was so realistic that I had already made a mental note to check yesterday's TV guide in the morning to see what the show had been, until I realised I had dreamed it. JIP | Talk 19:56, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I think that Jung claimed that everybody you dream about represents a different part of yourself. I don't know if that's helpful. Dreaming about Kekkonen might be less strange than I originally thought, considering you're Finnish. 惑乱 分からん 18:53, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I think yopu've got the wrong Kekkonen there ;) Grutness...wha? 23:17, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Ahh, I like how her official home page doesn't have an English translation... Not caring to much about the international market, apparently... =S 惑乱 分からん 01:16, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

No, actually Urho Kekkonen is the right one. The woman made it clear from context. JIP | Talk 06:16, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Your Dad was waiting for the top to come off?--Light current 00:20, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

No, I think he hardly noticed it. He was waiting for the program to end. JIP | Talk 06:16, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Your own interpretation is the one that should help you best. But did you kow that "The Paasikivi-Kekkonen line is president Urho Kekkonen's (1956-1981) realization and development of his predecessor's Paasikivi's doctrine, aimed at Finland's survival as an independent sovereign democratic and capitalist country in the immediate proximity of the Soviet Union ?" -- DLL 17:18, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I think a lot dream content for people over thirteen will involve unashamed nudity or sexuality. It's like after being in the waking world for sixteen hours a day, where sensuality is heavily repressed, the mind needs a little time to express itself without the threat of chastisement and humilation. Theavatar3 01:35, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Youngest television presenter

I've been researching Nathan Godsey. Articles claim he's the youngest television presenter in the US (possibly in the world). According to what I read so far he appears to be 9 years old. Are there any other contenders for the youngest presenter spot? I'm not looking for one of gigs, but consistent regular appearance. - Mgm| 19:33, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

why are some ethno-linguo-cultral groups better at business than others?

why do Scots, Gujaratis, Jews, and Chinese seem to be so much better an entrepreneurial business and money-handling in general than other ethno-linguo-cultural groups? (not trying to be racist here, apoligies for anyone who's offended..) Thanks. -Steve

I don't think the characteristic lies with the ethno-linguo-cultural groups you have identified, so much as with small groups from those communities who are in some way dislocated - typically as expatriates. These smaller groups can be more cohesive than is the norm, enabling advantageous social behaviour basically amounting to a great deal more support that the wider community can access. A good example is quaker business-people in the UK going back (I dunno) two and three hundred years. They were removed from the mainstream religion, and tended to operate cohesively enough to be able to lend money, start banks, start capital intensive businesses, &c. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Cohesive is a racist term! please delete!--Light current 00:16, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Well there is a theory v/v people of the Jewish faith that has been floated (not saying it's true), which is that because for such a long time, European Jews were denied citizenship and the right to own property, many members of urban European Jewish communities concentrated all their efforts to establish themselves and support their families on the areas of banking, law, health care and commerce. Endeavours that don't require land ownership, and that are mobile in the event of a capricious change in official or popular cultural tolerance. Anchoress 23:47, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

None of that would apply to Asian people, who have higher IQs, better education, and higher incomes, at least in the U.S. (This is not racism, it's statistics.) -THB 00:39, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I didn't claim that it did. I stated in my first sentence that it was a theory applying to people of the Jewish faith. Anchoress 00:44, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you did. I agree with what you said, but it doesn't apply to Asian people, so there must be a different reason for them to have higher achievement. The U.S. Census Bureau doesn't track Jewish people as an ethnic group so they don't provide information about their socio-economic status. -THB 02:08, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

When Steve is talking about these groups, I believe he's talking about members of these groups who have emmigrated to another country. The fact of that emmigration alone makes for a strong selection criterion, so the ethic-group-X immigrants you see (say in the US) aren't a representative sample of that entire ethnic group. In particular traders are more likely to migrate to another country, and more likely to succeed in doing so:

• other professions aren't so portable:
  • landowners can't easily pick up and move to another country (particularly because in many old-world countries land-ownership is a complex business, and land isn't a straightforward commodity that can easily be monetised)
  • farmers moving to a new country have to contend with different climate, livestock, soil conditions, etc.
  • those in technical professions may find that their hard-won skills aren't in demand in other countries (a skilled master leatherworker might be in great demand in Morocco, but in the UK they'd find that most of their work is done by unskilled workers and machines, and that the market for handmade leathergoods is rather small)
  • professions based on cultural or linguistic skills are often rather unportable (if you're a university educated teacher in Mandarin literature you'll find lots of job opportunities teaching in China, precious little in Florida)
• trading itself is a reason for migration. Many of the first immigrants into a country are traders, who hope to run trading links back and forward with their home country. The first arabs on the east coast of Africa were traders, the first Britons in India likewise.

But there's another selection criterion at work too - who the casual observer sees in their everyday life, and what who they don't. For example consider Indian immigrants to southern England. From just everyday life you'll find a lot of Indians running corner shops, takeaways, and driving taxis. So you might conclude that Indians have some cultural propensity for those professions. But there are lots of Indians working in occupations where you wouldn't notice them. There are (well, were, a decade or two ago) a great number of Indians working in the garment industry around Leicester, and the airline catering industry in the area around Heathrow Airport is very heavily staffed by Indian ladies. So trends one notices when going about one's ordinary life reflect more about onself than that which one observes. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 01:13, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I agree with emmigration as an important self-selection, but I'm not sure the questioner was referring to emigrant groups. He specifically mentioned Scots. Are they known for emigrating? -THB 02:10, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes, notably as a result of the Highland Clearances. --Tagishsimon (talk)

To every corner of the Earth. Clio the Muse 02:12, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Not just the Highland Clearances. People have been one of Scotland's main exports for centuries. Clio the Muse 02:16, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

One possibility is that people who have a hard time have to fight harder to get a foothold and then once htey have it continue in that fashion. Another related one is that minorities tend to keep to their own, so a newcomer will be helped by fellow countrymen. This coperation may be a bigger advantage than being a minority is a disadvantage. DirkvdM 08:15, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, so Scots are known for emigrating. But are they know for their entreprenurial and money-handling abilities? -THB 13:01, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Carnegie, Jardine_Matheson_Holdings_Limited was built from the ground up by Scots, aren't there a lot of financially successful SCots in Australia and kiwi-land too? Thanks for the responses. -Steve

Oh, and in Cuba someone told me that wherever Cubans go, they are successfull. Don't know if that is true, though. DirkvdM 06:29, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Dress code

I'm planning to take my wife and our grand-daughter to see a ballet in London. The ballet is during the afternoon. Is there a dress code for afternoon performances? I'm assuming that one needs to look the part for an evening performance

I think dress codes have relaxed to the point that you need not consider distinguishing between an afternoon at the ballet and an afternoon at the supermarket. Whatever you feel comfortable in. (This based in part on my limited experience of London opera, btw). --Tagishsimon (talk)

No, you don't have to wear a dress. (That was just tutu easy, I couldn't resist.) Clarityfiend 21:14, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

I would wear what is known as 'afternoon' wear 8-)--Light current 00:18, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Even though people are dressing less and less formally for the ballet, symphony, opera, etc., you'll enjoy it more if you aren't wearing cut-off jeans. I have noticed in NY that tourists especially are dressing very informally even for evening opera. It is an alarming trend. If you are not from the UK you might consider that the the way you dress will influence the opinion of Londoners about not just you but all off your fellow countrymen.

Afternoon performances are less formal than evening performances, so "business casual" is in order. If your grand-daughter is young or if this is her first ballet, then the way you dress will influence her experience of the evening. Most little girls would like to dress up for the ballet. -THB 00:31, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Thanks everybody, very helpful, what a great world we have!

The only dress code I know of is at the Sydney Opera House, in Australia, where Down Under Wear is required. :-) StuRat 08:45, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Everyone seems to have different opinions. Do what feels right. --Proficient 12:24, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I agree the most with Proficient and THB. Here in Vancouver, you'd see everything from jeans and tees to biker leathers to evening gowns and tuxes. I always dress up, but I also think it's important not to dress more fancily than you feel comfortable with. I think for an afternoon show, business attire is as fancy as you'd want to get, and less is probably fine, but I agree that your granddaughter would probably enjoy dressing up. Anchoress 12:41, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Condensor microphone

What is the best cheap directional condensor microphone? Cheap, that is, by directional condensor microphone standards. Thanks. Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme 21:16, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

This is an encyclopedia. We don't do product reviews, so we can't say what's best. You might try googling for something- some of the sites that sell musical equipment also offer reviews. Friday (talk) 04:59, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Oh, I don't know - this forum seems to lean more toward a place where people help other people. --Justanother 05:30, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I've got "best brand" advice here before. I'm just asking if anyone has personal experience. Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme 06:25, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I use microphones and find them to be reasonably well priced and outstanding quality. Vespine 21:41, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

what are elephants tusks for

what are elephants tusks for

Elephant#Tusks are your friend. --Tagishsimon (talk)

piano keys --Nelson Ricardo 00:20, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

defending elephants--Light current 00:48, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Given that the previous answer pointing to the elephant article which reveals that "tusks ... are used to dig for water, salt, and roots; to debark trees, to eat the bark; to dig into baobab trees to get at the pulp inside; and to move trees and branches when clearing a path. In addition, they are used for marking trees to establish territory and occasionally as weapons", can you tell me why there was a need to append "defending elephants" as an answer? --Tagishsimon (talk)

I think the point was that the previous answer had assumed you meant human use. LC was noting that they are useful to elephants as well, in particular against humans who might be interested in fatal cosmetic surgery.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 08:23, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I believe they also use their tusks for defense from non-human predators, like lions. They rarely need to actually gore a lion, however, as the lions keep their distance based solely on the threat. They do frequently seem to gore rhinos, however, especially improperly socialized male adolescents, which roam in packs (sounds a lot like a human street gang, doesn't it ?). StuRat 08:37, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Interesting. Given the blurb in the article about dying from lack of food, how come there are Indian elephants without tusks? -- Seejyb 04:53, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Since female Asian elephants often have no tusks, they can't be that important for survival. Perhaps it's a manifestation of the handicap principle? Skarioffszky 10:18, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Elephants travel in herds, so it isn't necessary for all of them to have tusks. The lions stay away because it only takes one good goring to ruin their whole day. StuRat 15:00, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Whats Al Herman Goring got to do with lions? 8-)--Light current 21:52, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Based on this pic: , I'd say Hermann Göring has more in common with elephants. :-) StuRat 12:33, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

December 2

space shuttle astronauts

Why do astronauts wear their orange jumpsuits during liftoff? One would think that if the cabin lost pressure or there was a fire or something, a spacesuit wouldn't do much good --froth 06:19, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Froth, I don't think I understand your question, but surely the answer is here. -THB 06:47, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Russians didn't set space on fire it was the cubans --froth 07:10, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Do the astronauts have something else aboard to wear, like scrubs or blue flight suits? -THB 08:07, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Well of course they wear their blue jumpsuits in orbit but they put on the full orange space suit thing for launch (i think the gear they wear under the white spacesuit?)- I'm asking about the orange suits. --froth 08:11, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Okay, the answer is here, under question # 11. I assume it would apply to astronauts of nations other than Canada as well. What you thought they wouldn't work for is what they're for. -THB 08:16, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Per ] the orange liftoff suit is a pressure suit which protects them from depressurization if the ship were damaged and an emergency return was required during the liftoff. It protects against low pressure and low temperature, and keeps out water if they parachute into water. It would probably allow survival in the vacuum of space for a time but is not designed as a space suit like the suits for extra vehicular activities. Without it if a large leak developed during liftoff, at, say 80,000 feet, they would lose consciousness and die. With the suit, an emergency return and landing could be made, or if the ship were too damaged for a landing, they could parachute out during a controlled descent. Once they are in orbit they do not wear the suits.Edison 17:08, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

... and, in the event of an emergency landing or crash, they have to be easy to spot for the search party hence the orange colour? Keria 20:20, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

DYK ? The suit is real skin, made from animals that were fed with carrots. -- DLL 17:10, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Visitor to USA seeks pay as you go cellphone

Can anyone suggest/recommend sources for a short-term pay-as-you-go/prepaid phone contract in the USA? I have a european cellphone but it is not triband. I could buy a triband phone at home (UK) and I have verified that I should be able to get roaming PAYG service in the USA. It will cost about £40 per phone to upgrade my hardware. Would it be economically viable to buy a handset while in the US? I will be visiting for a couple of weeks this time and do not expect to make a lot of calls, but will likely return to the USA or Canada every few years. I am not looking for a definitive commercial recommendation, but USA telecommunications is a complex topic! Thanks in advance for any suggestions Rob Burbidge 11:55, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

You can buy a dualband (America only) cellphone in the United States for around $50 from either Cingular or T-Mobile and they usually include $15 worth of talktime included with the phone. It's good in the way that you don't have to extend your contract with your phone provider, but most of the phones offered are slightly outdated, which not might be a large concern if you intend to come and stay once every few years. Here are two links that will help you --Folksong 12:07, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I have an old AT&T (I guess it's Cingular now?) phone that I use when travelling to the US. But it's a pain in the ass - if you don't use the phone for a while (6 months I think) they kill the arrangement and you have to find a store and go in and have them put a new pay-as-you-go deal on it. And you have to fill out forms and the lady has to call helplines, and after a couple of years the people in the shop can't quite get it working on your old phone the first time. Last time I did it it took an hour (and you don't have a working cellphone when you need one most, when you arrive at the airport and are tired). As long as you're using the phone for necessities and not chatter, the triband is by far the easiest and most convenient. If you were going for longer, and/or expected to make more calls, only then would the bother of getting a US phone be justified. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:22, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Just buy a disposable cellphone in a drugstore such as CVS or discount store like Target. You can probably refill them, too. -THB 12:59, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

But don't forget that Americans have now moved away from British English and are now also moving away from US English, so when you ask the way to Target, it is important to know that they are aspiring to be Francophiles now, so be sure to say "Can you please tell me the way to "Tarjaay?" (with a soft zhay sound, as in French. Pretentious buggers!!!!!!!!!!

The Tarjay thing is tongue-in-cheek; a joke. Sheesh. --Justanother 13:49, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

And what do you mean now? That has been a nickname for Target since I was a wee tacker. Natgoo 15:20, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

A friend was visiting the other day, and she mentioned "Tar-get". It took me a few beats to realize that she was referring to Tarzhay. --jpgordon 15:24, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Food and skin

Is there any food which, if eaten alot, could permanently change your skin tone? Like, Paprika or the stuff in Sunny D? Thanks. 62.136.99.54 13:47, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

How much is a lot? I would expect any foods with strong colouring (such as carrots) would do that. Flamingoes are said to turn pink through eating shrimps, and Milarepa turned green by subsisting on nettles.--Shantavira 14:15, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

On a similar note, certain foods can cause body odor changes. I'm thinking specifically of garlic. Our body odor article goes into this a little bit. Dismas| 14:21, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, I dunno how much by alot but say I ate nothing but carrots for five years starting today, and I turned orange would I be orange for the REST of my life? And thanks for the replys, they're v.intresting. 84.69.159.165 14:50, 2 December 2006 (UTC) (My IP address may have changed since my question)

It's not really a food, but colloidal silver (once a treatment for colds), in large quantities, causes your skin to permanently turn gray. StuRat 14:53, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I heard saffron turns you yellow. Not recommended, though, since the process also kills you. =S 惑乱 分からん 15:06, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Susan Dey had an eating disorder during the Partridge Family, where she only ate carrots and her skin turned orange. The artice says that it returned to a more normal colour after she sought treatment. Some people pay now to have their skin fake-tanned that colour! Natgoo 15:18, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't think so. If you are pale and eat something spicy, your skin tone may change temporaily due to vasodilation. Your skin tone can also change due to a disorder, such as jaundice. But to permanently change your skin tone, you would have to permanently alter the ratio of eu- and phaeomelanin produced in your melanocytes. Short of genetic manipulation, this would probably require a significant change in expression of the cleavage products of proopiomelanocortin, a hormone produced in the pituitary and locally in the skin. Products such as melanotan appear to have a limited effect in this manner, though it is injected, I think, not imbibed. Rockpocket 23:04, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Carrots indeed can turn your skin orange. See http://www.cnn.com/interactive/health/0210/interactive.medical.myths/2002/content3.html User:Zoe|(talk) 02:42, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

But not permanently, thank goodness. Rockpocket 07:12, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

What tune is this?

There's this well known jazz tune I think goes something like this. Do you know what it's called or who wrote it? —Bromskloss 15:43, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Sounds a bit like it could be an intro to Bernie's Tune by Benny Golson (I think)--Light current 02:49, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Hm. I had Bernie's Tune running around in my head as I was looking for this posting again, and yeah, it could be an intro to it, but it's also familiar on its own. Certainly it's the same mode as Bernie's Tune...damn! I know I know what it is! (By the way, it's not Benny Golson; Bernie Miller wrote it, and I also note that Leiber and Stoller (or sometimes just Stoller) are also credited; did the write lyrics to it or something?) --jpgordon 08:26, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

It does not seem to be Bernie's Tune, although I can see why you came to think about it. The melody in the MIDI file is very prominent in the piece I search for. —Bromskloss 15:17, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Try the still astonishing Musipedia site. -- DLL 17:07, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestion. I had no luck, though. —Bromskloss 23:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Hmm Nice version of Bernies tune in that lk.! 8-))--Light current 23:24, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Just FYI (and seven years late!): Leiber and Stoller were commissioned to write lyrics for "Bernie's Tune." They had nothing to do with the music. Pstoller (talk) 09:13, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

National Civil Service

I am looking for comparative studies of civil services in different countries. I would appreciate any recommendations or references. Any studies specific to developing countries, or civil service in developing countries vs. developed countries, or studies on civil service in Asia would also be welcome.

thanks 68.3.243.8 17:39, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Start with Civil service and the links on that page. -THB 02:20, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

downloading

If I buy a CD, and then later lose it, would it be unethical for me to download a copy of the same CD for free off the internet?

Personally, I wouldn't think so, but that's an issue you have to decide on, yourself... 惑乱 分からん 17:50, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I would not have a problem doing that personally and I am against illegal downloading. But you would likely want to refrain from seeding it for others or otherwise distributing it. --Justanother 18:23, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

That redirects to a disambig which lacks this usage. Can anyone write a stub for it?—WAvegetarian•(talk) 18:40, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

It is defined and referenced numerous times in the BT article. I think a separate article leans toward WP:NOT: a dictionary. --Justanother 18:49, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

It would definitely not be unethical, but unfortunately the RIAA and IFPI might not agree with you. The safest thing for you to do would be to buy a used CD from Amazon.com or Half.com.--Folksong 19:41, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Um, why don't you just load it into iTunes when you buy it? --Nelson Ricardo 23:53, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't believe it would be unethical. You already paid for it for personal use. It would be unethical for them to ask for you to pay for it twice since it costs them nothing for you to get it. -THB 00:03, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

No. Counterquestion. Is it ethical for a company to charge you twice for rights, such as when you already had the lp and then want the cd? Production and distribution take up only a small fraction of the price in the shops. DirkvdM 06:39, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I believe your question is based on the supposition that the downloading is "victimless". You wouldn't ask about stealing a replacement CD from a shop, as the shop has suffered a tangible loss. So, consider that situation. If you knew for certainty that you couldn't get caught, would it be OK to steal a CD from a shop at 9am and return it at 4pm? You may think "No harm done, eh?". Alternatively, you may believe that taking without permission is never acceptable and that justifying theft is not the right thing to do, victim or no victim. --Dweller 13:01, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

danish punjabi singer?

What is the name of the female danish singer who sings punjabi?

Anita Lerche . –mysid☎ 18:43, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

georaphical features. Wales.

I wish to know the name of the deepest lake in Wales. Grateful for your assistance. Hubert Dagnall.

Llyn Cowlyd but North Wales. Still looking. --Justanother 18:52, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

How funny. Looking up "deepest lake in Wales" at Google, I get:

• Bleak Llyn Cowlyd is actually a reservoir, it is the deepest lake in Wales - http://www.snowdoniaguide.com/the_carneddau.html
• Llyn Cowlyd, second deepest lake in Wales - http://www.nwt.co.uk/english/snowdonia/trefriw.htm
• Llyn Cowlyd, the third-deepest lake in Wales - http://www.welshvilla.co.uk/Trefriw.htm

User:Zoe|(talk) 02:45, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I know, I got that too. No luck clearing it up either so I gave up. Guess if you really wnated to know you would ring up (how is that for British!) ring up some Welsh gov't office. --Justanother 06:45, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

How many named streets are there in the world?

I have seen the start of a project to create stub articles for each and every street in a city, even if 1 block long and not known for anything. How many streets are there in the world which have names and which could have stub articles written about them? Edison 20:07, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

OpenStreetMap has lots of street names available under a Free license. It might be easier to write about them there than on wikipedia though. Ojw 23:07, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, a lot that is for sure. I mean if you think about the population of the Earth; how many live on streets (or rather in houses on streets) and how many work on streets (or rather, well you know). And what might be the average size of a named street - well it would be lot of streets! I am guessing on the order of 10 unique streets. Most of them would have nothing of note; just homes.

Obviously you could write stubs about all of them but what is really the point?

Elm Street stretches from Pine Street on the east to Grant Avenue on the west and covers six city blocks. The numbers run from 4500 to 5091. It includes a total of 70 single-family homes generally built in the 1960's. 4681 is a double-sized lot and the corner lot at 5090 is undeveloped. The street has a 50' R/O/W with asphalt paving and 4' concrete sidewalks. Blah blah blah.

Talk about cruft! Don't get me wrong, you could write reams about one street but there has to be some relationship between the effort to provide information and the need for it. Very few need this information and those that need it generally know how to get it and are not going to get it from a wiki. In the US it is available from municipal gov't and the US Census Bureau (see LandView, whoops, another that needs a stubby. See here for now then)

Better would be a write-up of all businesses, period. The streets are irrelevant. --Justanother 01:02, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Ignoring the Misplaced Pages aspect, I think this is an interesting question. Let's estimate it this way. My MapArt road atlas of cities and towns in the Golden Horseshoe area (Toronto - Niagara Falls) has an index 46 pages long. The typical format of an index page is 5 columns and if you knock off a bit to allow for headings and things, the typical column is about 120 entries. With 7+ million people in the area, it works out to roundly 250 people per street on average.

I also have an AA street atlas of London, which I believe covers more or less the area of Greater London, and that also has 7+ million people. Over there they tend to prefer streets not to go very far under the same name, so there should be more street names, and sure enough the index this time is 97 pages long. It's also 5 columns, but longer ones, say 140 entries per column allowing a bit for headings. So their average is not much over 100 people per street.

Now of course two urbanized areas in two English-speaking, Western countries are not nearly sufficient to construct a worldwide estimate with any accuracy -- but if they were, then it would seem that the number of named streets worldwide ought to be around 50 million. Give or take a few tens of millions. I think it's probably safe to say that it's correct within an order of magnitude, at least: there are between 5 and 500 million named streets.

--Anonymous, 06:43 UTC, December 3, 2006.

You can travel in mind just looking at street names. It is very interesting, even if I don't believe that it pertains to WP. -- DLL 17:03, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Mind you, I was not suggesting DOING such a project, just wondering the implications of others having started on it and looking for a reality check as tohow selective and incomplete such a project would of necessity be. There are Geographic Information System databases which are proprietary which are behing Mapquest and Googlemaps, which have basically all roads and streets in the US and probably in most other countries. Unlike Misplaced Pages, no one outside the GIS company can edit them, and if they have an error, as in cases I have found, there is no way to make them correct it, other than emailing Google or Mapquest and asking them to forward the error report to the GIS company, who then ignores it. So Wiki at least is a correctable database, although there have been hoax streets and towns. Edison 21:12, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Here are some actual numbers for you to go by: In New York City, there are 9,099 named streets. Some of these are very long, such as Broadway; and some are not much more than alleys only 100m long. By contrast, my hometown of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania (population 2,000) has 41 streets, the longest of which is just 10 blocks long. (I have lists of all the streets in both towns if you want them.) — Michael J 00:05, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

The disambig problems will be fun to sort out. In London alone there's dozens of streets with the same name. As for the American convention of street numbering... the mind boggles. --Dweller 13:05, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Romanticism and Hip Hop

Is there any romanticist-themed hip hop? 69.40.249.70 20:29, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, my own favorite is L.L. Cool J's classic "I need love", a personal favorite, also Outkast released a track called "Slum Beautiful", and you could probably find more from their catalogue... Otherwise, romanticism is probably a r'n'b thing... 惑乱 分からん 21:01, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

college in the 19th century

Am looking for info regarding the cost of tuition at the mid-19th century in America - institutions such as Harvard, Brown and Yale. How would tuition have been paid - weekly, monthly, yearly or by semester? Appreciate any input anyone has.Bunnyhill 21:29, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Gay Niggers from Outer Space

Who made this movie and why?

See the article Gayniggers from Outer Space. As for why, I have no idea, and don't want to know either. bibliomaniac15 21:47, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Because it is very funny!!!! -THB 00:00, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

You've seen it? --Justanother 06:46, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Oh, yes, it's at Google video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5121649266422516795 . In a way, we're all Gayniggers from Outer Space. -THB 15:07, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

The famous scream from Starcraft, Aaaah! Real Monsters, etc

A few of us are trying to figure out the name of a famous scream, which mefi and ytmnd and slashdot and IMDb are trying to find out. It was used when you clicked the Starcraft Terran Academy, it's played at the previously mentioned YTMND, it's used apparently in Half Life 2, and was the "Aaaah!" in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and nobody can figure out what it is. It's obviously not the Wilhelm Scream. --TIB (talk) 22:14, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a TIE fighter. :) --Wooty Woot? contribs 00:01, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Wow very creepy, now that I think about I've heard that scream a lot. By the way the half-life 2 fast zombie scream doesn't sound exactly like that, just very close. It also has some other screams that are sound similar and are sampled identically. Also you seem right about the terran academy. If you ever find out, post back here! --froth 04:50, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I emailed valve, cross your fingers. --froth 05:04, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I found it! I've been looking for ths for years! Z-Design has it on his DeviantArt page http://z-design.deviantart.com/ Is there any way I can upload this sound file to it's own page, and does anyone want to help me make a list of things it has been in? Does anyone know the file name? Everyone understands the knife. 12:08, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

If you can't find this scream, it is downloadable here http://blog.scarecrow.com/blog/?p=157

This scream had a wikipedia page, Gut-wrenching Scream And Fall Into Distance, before it was deemed non-notable by deletionists who don't realize it was used in everything. The full title is Hollywood Edge - PE 13 - Human Sounds 1 - 44 - Man Screams #3- Gut-Wrenching With Fall. A compilation can be found in this youtube video. --TIB (talk) 17:45, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

I didn't even notice that I was the one who asked two years ago. I answered my own question. I rock! --TIB (talk) 17:50, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

December 3

Itching ear

If your ear is itchy inside, what can you do?--Light current 00:24, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Scratch it? --Wooty Woot? contribs 00:25, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Inside!--Light current 00:34, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Assumed you meant in the ear canal, but not INSIDE the ear. Wow, that's really odd. --Wooty Woot? contribs 00:36, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I know what you are talking about. This happens to me quite often.Яussiaп F 00:45, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes the canal where you cant get your finger.--Light current 00:51, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Scracth with a Q-tip. If it's too soft, strip the Q-tip of the soft cotton material and insert the hard, bare plastic tip into your ear. This can be dangerous and is not usually recommended. Jamesino 01:28, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Never put anything in your ear like that. You can cause permanent damage. If your ear is itchy, you could have earwax. A doctor can remove it or you could buy OTC wax removal kit. Ear candling is a total scam. -THB 01:39, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

It's an allergic reaction, typically associated with allergy to dairy products...I suffered with it for years. Identify whatever you are allergic to (sometimes even shampoo)and eliminate it. In the meantime mix water and hydrogen proxide and squirt into the ear to control the fungus which is causing the itch. This operates much like the fungus candida. And properly done ear candling is a very valuable tool to remove the debris caused by the fungus in the ear, but it cannot 'cure' the itch because the itch is caused by the fungus which can only proliferate when the allergen is present and until you stop ingesting the thing you are allergic to, the problem continues. I eliminated all dairy and soy and bingo, no more itch. I also noticed that certain shampoos triggered the itch and as soon as I stopped using them, the itch was gone. You'll also notice that when your ears are most itchy, you also have other itchy spots, like around the eyes or nose..... graceyjo 20:08, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Buenos Aires

Hi, everybody. I will be spending the Christmas holiday in Buenos Aires, my first visit to the city. I've read all the guidebooks and done all the research, so I know the main places I want to visit. I would appreciate some guidance, though, from anyone who knows the city well, on the less obvious attractions. Can anyone recommend a particularly good restaurant? Where are the best bars and night spots? Above all, where can I see some authentic tango? Clio the Muse 00:39, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

It takes 2 to tango. So I hope your not going alone!--Light current 00:53, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Wow, have a great time! I'm super excited for you. Try some of the results of THIS GOOGLE SEARCH that lists some Buenos Aires forums where people are asking (and answering) those kinds of questions. Anchoress 01:43, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Thank you, Anchoress, I intend to! The links you provided were really useful; I'm in your debt. Oh, I 've been invited to a dinner on Christmas Eve at a French restaurant called La Burgogne in the Avelar Palace Hotel. I'm told it's very good. Clio the Muse 09:04, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Might be la Bourgogne (Burgundy in french). -- DLL 16:58, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

It is!. Sorry for the typo. Clio the Muse 00:18, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Post Wedding

What is polite in Western culture for one to say to a newly wed Groom? "ccongratulations"? Jamesino 01:35, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes, and you can tell him what a lucky man he is. (It's not nice to tell the bride what a lucky girl she is, however.) You can also say that you know they'll be very happy together. -THB 01:37, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

So it's not good manners to say 'She's a very passionate girl when she gets excited.Trust me,I should know'? :) Lemon martini 10:26, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Ideal Profession

What would be the ideal career for someone (me) who wanted to travel the world, visit exotic locales, voyage to the far corners of the Earth? Without having to be rich. Яussiaп F 03:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Reporter? Soldier? Sailor etc.--Light current 03:22, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Old joke: "Join the Navy. Go to exotic places, meet interesting people, and kill them." --Anon, 06:50 UTC, December 3.

Air courier Dang, another red one; go here then. --Justanother 03:33, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Casual courier --Justanother 03:35, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Pilot, flight attendant, work on a cruise ship, travel writer, backpacker, hobo, sex worker. -THB 03:40, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Working for Reuters takes you literally everywhere. Some with a fairly high degree of danger, though. Clio the Muse 03:46, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I was on a cruise ship in the Greek islands when I was 18 years old, and I was pretty sure the musicians providing nightly entertainment on board had the best job I could think of. Now it's over a decade later, and I've had at least a dozen different jobs, and I'm not sure I was wrong when I was 18. -GTBacchus 04:14, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Flight attendants travel all over the world, but hardly get to see the places they visit. Just the airports. Being a travel guide would be better, but for that you'd need some travelling experience first. DirkvdM 06:44, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

In general, if you assume a perfect market for jobs, anything that looks 'ideal' usually has a compensating side, such as low pay. Only the top talent in any field gets high pay and ideal conditions. --Zeizmic 16:32, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Definitely the Navy. "Join the Navy and see the world- through a porthole." Assuming your country is not landlocked, and has a world-wide navy. Being crew or entertainer on a cruise ship has possibilities, also.Edison 21:15, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I work as a stagehand for a touring theatre production. I spend about 85-95% of nights in hotels and visit lots of different places, some exotic, some mundane. But I usually have time in each place to really actually get to see it (unlike a flight attendant, for example), and I work with the locals to set up the production, so I talk to more than just the hotel bartender. It's a good gig with lots of travel. kmccoy (talk) 05:05, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Are there groupies for production people for Sesame Street? -THB 12:49, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Voting member of the International Olympic Committee has just gotta be up there. --Dweller 12:54, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Arms dealer? --Justanother 13:01, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

What's the music?

What is the music used in certain scenes of usually comedy movies? Two examples are the happy place in Happy Gilmore and running to the park in National Lampoon's vacation?Reywas92 04:12, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Do you mean that song that they play in sports movies and stuff when people are moving in slow motion? I don't know the name, only the context. --Wooty Woot? contribs 04:15, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Check out List of clichéd classical pieces. I'm guessing you're thinking of the love theme from Romeo and Juliet? —Keenan Pepper 05:01, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

One song that is frequently used in such contexts is "Young Love" from Max Steiner's music to the film A Summer Place. There's a sample to be heard on this Amazon page (Disc 2, track 7): --Rallette 10:18, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

No, it isn't Young Love. I think Wooty knows what I'm talking about. I've never heard Romeo and Juliet. Reywas92 23:57, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Is it possible you mean the Chariots of Fire theme? Often played when people are running in slow motion, or achieving something. Skittle 14:33, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

what is this song called?

hi peoples i have this song stuck in my head. all i know is that it's from the t.v program scrubs(ch 7) and the chorus goes "where did i go wrong, i lost a friend" please if anyone knows who its by or what its called please answer!!!

Sir Sagman 04:13, 3 December 2006 (UTC)Sir SagmanSir Sagman 04:13, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

The song is "How to Save a Life" by The Fray, it's playing right now on the radio! --Nevhood 06:00, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

thanx heaps.

Sir Sagman 07:51, 3 December 2006 (UTC)Sir Sagman

this chick

ok i was wondering bout this chick i saw on tv once she was born as a guy and then she had a thing done and over time she became a chick and she was on a tv show called "theres something about meruim" but thats not her name and i was wondering what her name was and how to spell it coz me and my friend were talking bout it yester day and now im wondering

There's Something About Miriam --Justanother 05:57, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Forbes 400 - Percent of Wealth Inherited

Hi everyone, I have been trying to find out what percent of the total wealth of the Forbes 400 was inherited, but I only can find the percent of people who have become a member of the Forbes 400 by inheriting wealth, which is about 40%. Can someone please help me find this? Thank you so much! --Nevhood 05:55, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

You would have to know what percentage of each person's wealth was inherited, and that would be difficult in many cases. -THB 14:57, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Let's imagine it is random : why not, then just take 40% of the total wealth. -- DLL 16:51, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I guess I'll have to do that. My economics teacher assigs the weirdest extra credit questions! --Nevhood 17:58, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Then you should consider adjusting for the hyper wealthy, such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, who did not inherit their wealth. -THB

Yet another what is this movie question

I saw a preview for a movie quite some time ago—maybe two years, give or take. I think it's an Italian film, possibly French. Man is riding a scooter, may be making a pizza delivery, not sure, and is weaving insanely in and out of traffic; an apparent comedy or at least in the realm of zany. Ring a bell for anyone?--Fuhghettaboutit 06:21, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like it could be Taxi (1998 film), though the date it was released might make it too old. It has a few sequels (in 2000 and 2003) but i don't know if there is scooter action in those films. Even if it isn't Taxi, you should check it out. Great movie. Rockpocket 07:08, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

That's it! Thank you! As for the timing, I have no idea where i saw the preview--it may very well have been on a vhs rental. I remember thinking that the movie looked great and making a mental note to look it up sometime but then i forgot the title.--Fuhghettaboutit

The opening scene of Taxi (1998 film) depicts the said scooter scene.

Odd uses

This should be a quick one. Where can I find articles, both on and off Misplaced Pages (prefer at least one Misplaced Pages article), that cover strange or nonstandard uses for mundane items (wire, peanut butter, duct tape, paper plates, spaghetti noodles, cereal boxes, etc.)? A search through creativity and innovation found no relevant pages.

If you should also find a page that refers specifically to apples, please note it too, as searches for them keep turning up the computer.

Thanks! lvlarx 09:23, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

You can make a marijuana smoking pipe from an apple. -THB 14:55, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

For those things, Make: is not so bad. -- DLL 16:49, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

There was a book and PBS pledge week show on just such things. The author was named Graham something, if I recall correctly. One of his suggestions was to spray shaving cream on the bathroom mirror and wipe it off to keep it from steaming up. Another was to suspend sweaters on clotheslines with a pair of pantyhose to prevent them from stretching out. Does anybody else recall his full name or the name of the book ? StuRat 12:15, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I think you are thinking of Haley's Hints, ISBN 0451211820.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 20:43, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Yep, that's it. StuRat 10:49, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

you could put a peice of uncooked pasta between your back teeth and crunch down on it while pretending to break your nose. It fools people really well. They think that you broke your nose.

Try here. —B00P 21:02, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, you can brush your teeth with milkshakes for a quick weight gain, and you can also check out .--Folksong 22:14, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

nitric oxide

<moved to the Science reference desk>

question (optical illusion)

how did this guy done that?

Easy. The chair is laid on its side on the floor, the man appears to sit in the chair when in reality he is also laying on the floor. The camera is suspended above the man & the chair. The man is not springing up in the air, he is spinning in place on the floor. 192.168.1.1 5:35am, 3 December 2006 (PST)

Note you can't see his feet. Someone could have helped him.martianlostinspace 17:02, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

evolution of the ski

What adventages do modern skis hold over wooden ones? I would like to know, including the physics behind an answer..

• Less friction.
• At temperatures around 0°C, water penetrates the wood. The water freezes, and allows snow to cling to your skis. Soon, you have a thick layer of ice and snow underneath your skis, which is quite difficult to remove, and which makes skiing difficult. This problem is greatly reduced with skis made of synthetic materials.

--NorwegianBlue 22:16, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Skis are one of those things that really benefit from a good stiffness/weight ratio (like airplanes!). You can't beat carbon fiber or other exotic materials for this. --Zeizmic 23:26, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Ski bindings that don't try to rip your leg off when you fall. Curved edges ("Parabolic skis"). Inset metal edges.

Atlant 15:34, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Don Hahn, former Mets outfielder

Hi. I would like to write a page about Don Hahn, former New York Mets outfielder. I notice that there is already a page telling about another Don Hahn who is a Disney animator.

Could somebody kindly tell me how I can go about doing this? I have edited pages before, but I have never started a page. Also, how can I differentiate for the reader between the two Don Hahns?

Thank you.

--Slater79 22:18, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

See WP:D for info on disambiguation pages. Don Hahn (baseball) might be an appropriate name for the new article, assuming there's not more than one baseball player of that name. Friday (talk) 22:21, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Slater, just click on the red link that Friday has provided and start typing (citing sources, of course). Then add a stub tag like {{baseball-stub}} if you only start the article. Add both Don Hahns to Don Hahn (disambiguation) (you can use something like Roy Rogers (disambiguation) as an example). New pages are created by just typing them in the search box or the address bar or between ] in the sandbox or elsewhere and then clicking on the red link. --Justanother 14:15, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

And be sure to put {{otheruses}} on the top of both your baseball player article and the animator article, so that visitors to those pages would know that there is a disambiguation page. User:Zoe|(talk) 19:48, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

"tr" and "str" letter combos

(question already answered on Language Desk) -THB 23:22, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Fijian Military Crisis

Why does The Commodore belive that his Small country would be able to Resist invasion? When in all actuality a Determined country would have No problem in Invading Catman503 22:29, 3 December 2006 (UTC)Catman503

Why does canada have an army? --froth 22:42, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Ninety percent of all Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border. Fiji's neighbor Tonga successfully invaded the Republic of Minerva in 1972. -THB 23:02, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

We're planning to take over the world. (OK, so it's a very long-term plan.) Clarityfiend 23:44, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Fiji has an army of only 3,500 - and only around 3,000 of them are in country (some are on UN peacekeeping assignments) It wouldn't take even a determined country, just an interested one. Rmhermen 23:53, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I thought so because seriously who's he trying to kid? he couldn't resist invasion if he tried and it'll be a matter of time before someone takes offense to his Nonsense and invades fiji (Tis a Wonderful place to visit..Went there when i was a Kid)Catman503 00:05, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

There's always defense from terrorists, cults, and other militant groups, as well as from internal uprisings (revolt). That's what I meant about canada. Plus you know how dictators are :) --froth 04:46, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

See Defence Scheme No. 1. A lot of Americans live near the border with Canada, too. -THB 06:03, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I can just see it now: in the middle of Prohibition, Canada invades and all the thirsty Americans desert. I'm curious though; why did we want Great Falls? Clarityfiend 19:57, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Nobody's invading Fiji, I think those Thailand coup-people are still around. Perhaps Canada should invade Fiji to provide another place for baby-boomer snowbirds. After all, Florida is pretty well filled up.... --Zeizmic 12:40, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Ethno-linguo-cultural revisited

Which ethno-linguo-cultural groups do poorly at business and money-handling compared to others? Why? -THB 23:10, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

In the US, statistically, probably blacks (though there are probably others) - even though discrimination is illegal.martianlostinspace 17:00, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

As there is no reason to believe that any group of people are intrinsically less competant than average in dealing with such matters, it appears that lack of education, both formal and informal, and lack of interest by a higher percentage of the individuals in such a group, when compared to the average, would be the cause. That is, of course, granting the unproven premise that such groups do, in fact, exist. B00P 18:17, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

integrity of data

Please highlight somewhere on your page what are the means at your disposal to verify, correct, maintain the integrity of the various pages, so that each entry is true, accurate, neutral to political bias and refelcts verifiable, authenticated knowledge.

THis mystery is the one big question I allways had. In today's NYT Magazine they speak about how the U.S Intel Community needs to emulate Wikepidia. To share intel to protect. One of their issues is the possibility that certain elements with access to the data or those with the right to edit, change, bend the direction or the integrity of the data (I.E: a disgruntled employee who does not agree with certain policy could cleverly enter misleading data that over a period of time becomes part of the accepted version of certain entry, thus causing enormous harm to everyone) which also applies to all of your users, when controversial data is entered, redited, manipulated, and possibly by some with malicious intentions.

It would be great if you has a link that takes the vistors directly to a page explaining how you keep vigilant of your data collection.

Sincerely,

TJBarker (email removed to prevent spam)

You asked this on the Help Desk as well. Please see replies there. --Wooty Woot? contribs 23:43, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

The U.S. intelligence community already does this. See Intellipedia. They even use our software. Rmhermen 23:49, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Another good way to get good decisions is to have people bet their own money on the validity of the info. For example, would Bush have invaded Iraq if his fortune was personally dependent on finding WMD ? Probably not. StuRat 10:41, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

December 4

infinite tip

This may be an odd question:

First. Suppose I buy something, say hot chocolate, from a cafe for 10 $, and I tip 1$. I've just given a tip of 10%, right? (1/10=10%) Now, suppose I get a free drink (from a generous employer at Christmas) and tip 1 $. I spent 0 $, tipped 1 $, so I've given an infinite tip, right? (1/0=infinite) Duomillia 00:02, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

1/0 isn't infinite, it's undefined. As Division by zero says, "n ordinary (real number) arithmetic, the expression has no meaning.". -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 00:06, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

So, if I tip 100 $ for the free drink, the hundred dollars would be meaningles? ;) Duomillia 01:40, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

But your tip could be said to approach infinity (in percentage, that is); it is as close to infinity as you care to make it so the bartender is a lucky man indeed! Merry Christmas!! --Justanother 00:10, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Interesting concept to be told around the table. --Proficient 01:00, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Straying a little from the original question, I was thinking today about tips. It's standard practice to tip a particular percentage -- usually 10, 15, or 20 percent. However, isn't the idea of tipping to provide a little reward to your server? Psychologically, I'm sure they're not too worried about what particular percentage you've decided on. A nice even dollar, two dollars, or five dollars seem to me to be an appropriate amount to tip for your single-person meal. Or, if you're paying the bill and tip together, just leave a $20 if your bill is for $17.35. Saves picking up a bunch of nickels and dimes.

Of course if you're paying with plastic none of this applies. :) Theavatar3 01:43, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Actually, from what I do and what I've noticed others do, paying with plastic pretty much follows paying with cash; you round up to the nearest buck or, for a cheap meal, maybe half-buck. As far at the attitude of servers; I am sure that most of them feel that, overall, their tips are related to their attitude, even if they do not always act as if they know. --Justanother 02:20, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

You don't have to tip at a catered party: the person paying the caterer tips the staff, especially if they're asked to stay later than originally agreed. If you tip on a "freebie", though, you tip on the value, not the cost. For instance, the owner of a restaurant gives you dessert "on the house". You still tip the waiter, based on what the dessert would have cost if you had paid for it. Also, in the U.S., waiters are required to pay taxes on a certain percentage of the checks as if they received that amount in tips whether they did or not. -THB 02:15, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Off of Theavatar3's comment. In the US wait staff isn't payed minimum wage, so tipping is their main source of payment for the work they do. So the percentage does mean a lot to them. If you tip poorly and come back to the same place enough, ALL the wait staff there will know you're a bad tipper and treat you as such (they talk to each other a lot). Also, in my experience, over tipping (say 20-25%) somewhere you go a lot can get you a lot of privileges and free desserts and drinks etc. So tip good! And one mre thing, I've read an article once that generally girls get tipped more then boys irrespective of the service quality. Hurray! --Cody.Pope 05:21, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

If by "infinite" you mean "lousy", then the answer is yes. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 05:30, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

The percentage method seems inadequate for determining tips. Let's take two scenarios:

• You order a 50 cent cup of coffee, with free refills, get excellent service, sit and talk with the waitress for a half hour, get advice on where to get your car fixed, and directions on how to get there. You consider this excellent service, so give her a 20% tip, which comes out to one thin dime.

• Your group of 10 goes to a fancy restaurant for brunch, and you all order the buffet. The waitress does everything properly, but doesn't really have much to do but write up the bill, which comes to $200. Does she deserve a $40 tip for that ? StuRat 10:32, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Comment Does it really cost 50 cents for a cup of coffee with free refills in the States? That's about 26p. Gosh that's cheap. If you tipped her a few hundred % it'd still be cheap. How do I emigrate? --Dweller 10:39, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

No, it is about $1.50 but refills are still free at most places (I don't know about Starbucks because I don't really like their coffee and never asked for one). --Justanother 12:09, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

There is a diner near me that offers coffee, with free refills, for 50 cents. I can't believe they make money off that, it's likely a loss leader, to get people into the diner, assuming they are likely to buy food once there. StuRat 19:06, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I would never leave less than a dollar tip even for a single cup of coffee that cost 75 cents at the counter in a cheap dirty diner in a small town in the middle of the country when the place was empty in the middle of the day. A dime tip would be a pointed statement that you were dissatisfied. And no, you don't tip the same percentage for a buffet. Did the waitress refill beverages or remove dirty plates? I can't imagine leaving less than $1.00 per person if the waitress did anything more than just write the check. I especially like the comment "if by infinite you mean lousy....." -THB 12:43, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Off topic to the original question, but I thought I'd share a story of a naive American (me) in Dehra Dun, India. No one in the hotel except me and a bunch of Russian contractors (this was 1987) who sat together at a big table by the wall. My first dinner I sat by the window, with a view of the Himalayas. Then I went into the bar, where I had 3 beers (for irrelevant reasons I needed the drink!) which cost about US $7. I was the only one in the bar, the bartender was attentive and kept my bowl of crackers well filled. I left the equivalent of $10, a $3 tip (I later learned that the bartender probably made about US$500 per year). Next morning at breakfast, all the tables by the window were reserved, so I sat in the middle, until the waiter in broken English made it clear that all the tables were reserved for me! It went like that for the whole week I was there. Cheers Geologyguy 16:27, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

That's so awesome. :) Indian people are so loveable, I find. Theavatar3 17:35, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

many movies,many heroes and villians

what do you think are some of the greatest movie heroes and the greatest movie villians of all time

One great villian leaps out-Erich von Stroheim, the 'man you love to hate'. Clio the Muse 00:17, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

For baddies, I like , Alan Rickman (esp in Closet Land), Gary Oldman (esp in Léon (film)), Peter Stormare (saw him in Constantine (film)). Don't know about for all time but they are great ones. --Justanother 02:31, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

AFI's 100 Years… 100 Heroes & Villains sorry no Akira, Ivan the Terrible (film) or Aguirre, the Wrath of God included. meltBanana 02:45, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, the AFI list is for American films. User:Zoe|(talk) 19:56, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I can think of five movies that work really well (realistically) in how the heroes and villians play off on one another: Heat, The Last of the Mohicans, Rob Roy, Star Wars (ep 4-6), and Zatoichi. Theavatar3 17:39, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

The best is when, like Clio said, there are villians that you love to hate. Guy Ritchie's two gangster films (Snatch and Lock Stock) are like that, and Hayao Miyazaki's ouvere doesn't even really have villians as such (e.g. Princess Mononoke). Theavatar3 17:46, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Dr. No

Bond: Do you expect me to talk?

Dr. No: No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.

User:Zoe|(talk) 19:56, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Jews

Why do so many jews lend money/bank? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.164.200.130 (talk • contribs)

See Ashkenazi Jews. Basically, in medieval times, Christians were not allowed to lend money at interest for religious reasons. Therefore European Jews took up the slake and provided a needed service. So tradition may play a part along with other cultural factors. --Justanother 02:58, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Actually, the historical and religious issues are better covered under Usury. --Justanother 03:04, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I think the OP is using the present tense. He or she is wrong. It's an old stereotype, based on the history Justanother quotes. Today, there are of course some Jews working in the banking sector, but you're just as likely to find them working in just about any other of the professions. And the number of Jewish bankers in any country other than Israel will be massively outweighed by the number of non Jewish. --Dweller 10:05, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, it is certainly a stereotype. And when you say "in banking" what does that really mean in today's complex corporate economy. Today money is lend by corporations, not individuals and corporate ownership is mostly a function of rate of return and large investors like mutual funds and insurance firms not medieval history. Maybe if you go back 100 years you can say something about the makeup of bankers. The closest thing you could do today would be an ethnic survey of CPAs. --Justanother 12:06, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

French Underground

when the Normandy Invasion took place, was the code to the french underground,"it wounds my heart with a mon------? anger"? or, what was it?

The second line, "Bercent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone" (wound my heart with a monotonous langour), transmitted late on June 5, meant that the attack was to be mounted immediately.

from Normandy invasion. --Justanother 03:57, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Do abbreviations qualify as shorthand?

Although I don't know any formal systems of shorthand, I use a lot of both standard and personal abbreviations when I take notes (acctt for accountant, emp for employee, rcvd for received, dmsss for dungeonmistresses, shdtvbn for should not have been, etc.). Cd a sys of abbrs like this be cons'd s'hand? NeonMerlin 04:14, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

"Dungeonmistress" is a word you use a lot? --Optichan 04:32, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I took that as a joke, but hey, who knows? NeonMerlin could be into fantasy or roleplaying or BDSM or fantasy roleplaying BDSM. I don't judge.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 04:38, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Yeah that stuck out for me too o_o See Shorthand. Apparently what you use isn't true shorthand because shorthand is a different character set (like cursive is to print) --froth 04:40, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I had to look up "dungeonmistresses" as well just to see what that was. --Proficient 05:00, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

It's not a word I use a lot. I have plenty of abbreviations planned out in case I should ever need to use them. NeonMerlin 05:10, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't agree that shorthand has to use symbols in order to be considered such, but it does have to be a system of script made up of time saving shortcuts, so IMO you'd have to be using almost exclusively abbreviations in order for it to be a shorthand system. Anchoress 05:32, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

IF U CN RD THS U CN BCME A SCRTRY & GT A GD JB. No, it's a whole different way of transcribing sounds. -THB 06:00, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

See Speedwriting --ColinFine 08:15, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Abbreviations are only useful if the reader understands them. So if the notes are for your personal reading then it doesn't really matter, but if you expect over people to understand what is being say things like Dmss are not going to make sense unless it is a commonly agreed upon abbreviation. This is a major problem that businesses suffer with - they use abbreviations and acronyms in inappropriate places and people are unable to decipher them (though sometimes they are a simple way of making information semi-secure from people who don't know the meaning). there is a fine line between abbreviating to save effort inputting and having that saved energy make the reading take twice as long... ny156uk 19:04, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

"Chasing dragons with plastic swords"

This line is from the song "A Change," from Sheryl Crow's eponymous album. Does anyone have an idea what it means? I don't think it refers (at least not specifically) to LARP, somehow. NeonMerlin 05:09, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Child's play? Lots of kids have cheap plastic swords. --Justanother 05:34, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't know the song, but to me it suggests both childs' play/fantasy, and also going into battle without adequate weaponry. --ColinFine 08:17, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Chasing the dragon has another meaning as well, but I have no idea whether she intended the line to refer to that. --Richardrj 08:30, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

You want intriguing Sheryl Crow lyrics -- how about the next one from that song: "Jack-off Jimmy / everybody wants more" (!) Theavatar3 17:44, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Overpass Fence Extensions

I've noticed something curious on the Ohio Turnpike, strange "fence extensions" that stick out from each overpass. They look as if they can be folded back down, but were all "deployed" over the Thanksgiving Holiday (last week). This area does get heavy lake effect snows, so I was wondering if they could serve some related purpose ? I was guessing that they are to catch slush that splashes down onto the highway from trucks on the overpass. Here's a diagram:

              | U |
              | N |
              | D |
              | E |
          |   | R |   | <- Fence Extension
----------+---+---+---+-----------
          O V E R P A S S
----------+---+---+---+-----------
          |   | P |   |
              | A |
              | S |
              | S |

I can provide pics, if needed. Does anybody have any idea what these are for ? StuRat 09:49, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Isn't it something that's there to prevent people (vandals) on foot getting onto the side of the overpass (so they can drop stuff onto the cars in the underpass)? -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:11, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

No, it's like 20 feet in the air, so that can't be it. StuRat 12:22, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I tend to agree with the previous with the addition of preventing tagging of the overpass. Taggers will climb. --Justanother 12:44, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Most likely a snow thing. In Canada we put up solid fences along the overpass to prevent snow being pushed by the plows off the overpass. --Zeizmic 12:41, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

W700i

I recently bought a new sony ericsson W700i. The included PC suite and the cd rom are corrupt. How can I transfer java games from my PC to my phone via the USB? I do not have any disk 2 phone software. Where should I copy the files of the game? Please give an elaborate reply..

You can download replacement software here. --Justanother 14:09, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Italian fish

We have seen a fish on Italian restaurant menus that we cannot find anywhere else to define what type of fish it actually is. Our host at Piccolo Angelo in NYC has Brazzini on the menu and claimed it was from Genoa, Italy. Can anyone help identify this fish for me? Vincent Lindgren

They had it misspelled - it is branzini, a Mediterranean or European Sea Bass; served topped with sea salt, recipe. Much more here

Branzini, a.k.a. Branzino, a.k.a. Loup de Mer ("Sea wolf"), is a just a plain old Mediterranean sea bass. They are usually about a pound whole, so they're perfect for a dinner for two. Have your fishmonger gut and scale your loup for you, and you'll be able to cook it up in 15 minutes flat.

--Justanother 15:09, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Cashing Out Retirement

Hi, if I left my job and wanted to cash out the retirement a tax I had been paying into how could I do that, or could I do that?

This is a legal-tax-accounting question that cannot be answered in a global forum because: 1. We don't do it. 2. We don't know where you are.... You could ask the Human Resources of your ditched company. They are forced to be nice to you. :) In almost all cases the pension can be transfered or some such thing. --Zeizmic 16:16, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Deliberate damage to a page

What happens if we realise that someone is editing a page just to destroy it?

I assume you mean on Misplaced Pages. In simple cases of WP:VAND someone will WP:REVERT it. You can do it too; be sure to know first what vandalism is. In particular differences of opinion are not, see WP:CON. Weregerbil 15:56, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Or you can report it here. Thanks.--Shantavira 18:08, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Bear in mind you cannot really 'destroy' a page; everything is light and trivial here on Misplaced Pages. If anything important is tampered with, it will invariably be noticed within minutes, corrected, and the culprit will be dealt with. And, vandalism does serve a useful purpose -- those that contribute constructively will feel validated that their work is important enough for someone to want to mess with. If Misplaced Pages didn't have vandals, that would likely mean that only sober, serious researchers looked at it. But of course the goal is to expand Misplaced Pages ad infinitum, both in content and audience. Theavatar3 18:53, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

ian...

1. can someone explain to me what is voip{voice over internet protocol}in laymans language
2. recently we were doing a course on windows 2000.we created our own user accounts and we logged in as administrators and were told to each have their own passwords.the next day i dint attend class,and am told the teacher actually hacked into my computer(is it possible)he dint use any software.he just tried some paswords.so my question is can some put a pasword that overides other paswords or sumthin,n he dint open the cpu.he just typed n 5 minutes or less later he was in...explain

1. VOIP describes a voice signal, being carried over an Internet Protocol network (i.e. the Internet itself). That's basically it.
2. Was this some sort of proof by him that it's possible, or why would he do this? If he himself had a system administrator account, he could use it to gain access to yours, since they can do that. Otherwise he may have just tried a bunch of common passwords and figured your own out because of its weakness, though this would have been easier for him with some sort of software. Passwords should have some completely random element to them to stop this type of attack. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 16:49, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Refer to computer ref desk.martianlostinspace 16:58, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

design standards for 1991 chevrolet head rests

Would anyone know where I could obtain the design standards for headrests - specifically for a 1991 chevrolet sprint convertible? I need to know how much force it would take to break one. I was rear-ended by a large truck 18 months ago and suffer major headaches and shoulder pain, but the insurer claims there was little damage. They keep downplaying the fact that my head broke the headrest in the accident (they willingly paid to repair the headrest!) I've tried Transport Canada and GM but neither could/would help me. GM said that sort of information is not published and would not be released to the general public, yet Transport Canada said only GM would have that info. Now it seems to me that there were design standards in 1991, so where would I find them? If I could say to the insurer ..."this is how much force these headrests were designed to take before they break", then I would have a fighting chance to prove that since my head was the object the headrest hit in order to get broken, then my medical claims are justified. Thanks very much for your help graceyjo 20:18, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Culture Warrior

The US is caught in a tug of war between its contradicting cultures. Bill orielly found a very daisy topic to debate on. It brings a clear confusion today in the minds of majority of westerners whether freedom needs to be valued or there is just impatience for desires. The conflict between the traditional views and those of the secular progressive clearly reflects the confusion. It highlights the importance of education amongst the youth. Liberty is being abused. America wants to fall back on traditional values to reflect a better perspective of the american values in the world. What exactly is the underlying themeline behind the book? Does America want to offer freedom or materialistic freedom or its perception or mindset at looking at things in life?

Or will the traditionals start stringent measures of kicking out the illegals and become racists?

20:41, 4 December 2006 (UTC)~~

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