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[[Category:Wikipedia resources for researchers]]
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[[Category:Wikipedia help forums]]
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[[Category:Wikipedia reference desk|Miscellaneous]]
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[[Category:Wikipedia help pages with dated sections]]</noinclude>


{{Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 September 29}}


= December 28 =
{{Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 September 30}}


== Why do news reporters name the programme they are reporting for? ==
{{Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 October 1}}


[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4jRLTPBiDI&t=147s This] is an example by BBC News. ―<span style="font-family:Poppins, Helvetica, Sans-serif;">[[User:Panamitsu|Panamitsu]]</span> [[User_talk:Panamitsu|(talk)]] 05:44, 28 December 2024 (UTC)
= October 2 =


:You have linked to a BBC TV program where at 0:40 the presenter introduces "''Our science correspondent [[Pallab Ghosh]]"'' who signs off his report "''Pallab Ghosh, BBC News''". His report includes statements by two experts each identified by name and affiliation. The video typifies the high standard of journalism where BBC emphasize distinction between source and editorial content. Incidentally, a good BBC TV reporter tends to become a [[Celebrity|"household name"]] (the likes of [[Clive Myrie]], [[Fiona Bruce]], [[Sophie Raworth]], [[Reeta Chakrabarti]], [[Steve Rosenberg]], Michael Buchanan and more). <small>Edit: I apologise to Pallab Ghosh for initially misspelling his name and thank Antiquary for correcting me.</small> [[User:Philvoids|Philvoids]] ([[User talk:Philvoids|talk]]) 11:19, 28 December 2024 (UTC)
== Carmen on ice - Katarina Witt ==
::[[Pallab Ghosh]], but I'm sure he's used to it. --[[User:Antiquary|Antiquary]] ([[User talk:Antiquary|talk]]) 11:29, 28 December 2024 (UTC)
::As I understand the question, it is not why reporters identify <u>themselves</u>, but why for instance Ghosh does not sign off by simply saying "''Pallab Ghosh''", full stop. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 10:29, 31 December 2024 (UTC)
:::It's a standard practice, which might even be in their contracts. ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 11:55, 31 December 2024 (UTC)
::::I seem to recall American channels using clips from the BBC. Such sign offs would serve to identify the source in these cases.--[[User:Khajidha]] ([[User talk:Khajidha|talk]]) ([[Special:Contributions/Khajidha|contributions]]) 17:22, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
::::: THat was my thinking, too. These days they tend to have on-screen watermarks, but reporters still sign off with "Jennifer Superior Bitch, Infinity News. Alex". -- [[User:JackofOz|<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Jack of Oz</span>]] [[User talk:JackofOz#top|<span style="font-size:85%; font-family: Verdana;"><sup>[pleasantries]</sup></span>]] 20:55, 1 January 2025 (UTC)


== Navigation lights ==
Does anyone know where I can buy this DVD in the UK please?--[[Special:Contributions/85.211.142.22|85.211.142.22]] ([[User talk:85.211.142.22|talk]]) 00:31, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:: Amazon stock it. [[User:Richard Avery|Richard Avery]] ([[User talk:Richard Avery|talk]]) 07:37, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


Does the fact that aeroplane/ship navigation lights are green and red cause problems for pilots who are red-green colour blind? How do they deal with that? Can they even become pilots? ―<span style="font-family:Poppins, Helvetica, Sans-serif;">[[User:Panamitsu|Panamitsu]]</span> [[User_talk:Panamitsu|(talk)]] 22:49, 28 December 2024 (UTC)
:::Amazon.co.uk only seem to be selling a used VHS tape of the version starring Witt. I suggest you buy this and copy it to DVD.--[[User:Shantavira|Shantavira]]|[[User talk:Shantavira|<sup>feed me</sup>]] 07:52, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


:I couldn't be a pilot because of my red-green colour blindness, but people with a mild version can apparently - [https://www.caa.co.uk/aeromedical-examiners/medical-standards/pilots/medical-conditions/visual/colour-vision-guidance-material-gm/ this] is a link to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority's guidance on colour vision requirements. [[User:Mikenorton|Mikenorton]] ([[User talk:Mikenorton|talk]]) 23:25, 28 December 2024 (UTC)
It's ordered, many thanks for the advices.--[[Special:Contributions/85.211.142.22|85.211.142.22]] ([[User talk:85.211.142.22|talk]]) 10:26, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
: Plural of advice is still advice. [[User:Vranak|Vranak]] ([[User talk:Vranak|talk]]) 10:33, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::How fascinating. Thanks. ―<span style="font-family:Poppins, Helvetica, Sans-serif;">[[User:Panamitsu|Panamitsu]]</span> [[User_talk:Panamitsu|(talk)]] 00:21, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
:Similarly, red-green colourblind people may not be able to become helmsmen.
:: Now it's already advice<sup>3</sup>. --[[User:Nepenthes|Nepenthes]] ([[User talk:Nepenthes|talk]]) 13:45, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:You might think it would have been more convenient to make those lights red and cyan, as far fewer people are red-blue colourblind, but when navigation lights on ships were introduced, bright blueish lights couldn't be made. That only became possible with [[gas discharge lamp]]s. Traffic lights and railway signals these days (often using [[LED]]s) use a slightly blueish green, so that most colourblind people can see the difference between red and green. [[User:PiusImpavidus|PiusImpavidus]] ([[User talk:PiusImpavidus|talk]]) 11:55, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
:::Also, Amazon ''stocks'' it. Unless he's talking about jungle women, in which case it would be Amazons stock it. ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 23:52, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::They could have agreed (and still could agree) on assigning distinct flashing patterns, like •••'''——''' and '''—'''••'''—'''•&nbsp;. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 20:48, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
:::::<small>See [[American_and_British_English_differences#Formal_and_notional_agreement]]. ---[[User:Sluzzelin|Sluzzelin]] [[User talk:Sluzzelin|<small>talk</small>]] 04:00, 3 October 2011 (UTC)</small>
:::Flashing patterns would be a very poor method for aircraft and probably ships also. Navigation lights are meant to give a quick indication of the relative position and heading of another aircraft/vessel. When seeing navigation lights a pilot instantly has an indication of the relative flight direction of the other aircraft based on which red/green/white lights are visible. Also there are already the [[anti-collision light]]s, red flashing beacon on the tail at least and white flashing strobes on the wingtips and tail. How could a pilot possibly decode flashing lights reliably enough and quickly enough to determine relative heading? [[User:Fiveby|fiveby]]([[User talk:Fiveby|zero]]) 18:06, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
::::One store I checked for this product was Amazon. I discovered that they stock it. Thus I conclude that Amazon stock it. Don't the singulat and plural verb forms work equally well here? Not trying to start anything big here, just askin'. :) [[User:Franamax|Franamax]] ([[User talk:Franamax|talk]]) 03:41, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::Wouldn't that be a problem because the sky/ocean is blue? I understand that the lights are used at night so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. ―<span style="font-family:Poppins, Helvetica, Sans-serif;">[[User:Panamitsu|Panamitsu]]</span> [[User_talk:Panamitsu|(talk)]] 22:39, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
:::::It's fine. Bugs was out of line in making his incorrect "correction". --[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]] 07:56, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::It would involve more complex lighting circuits/equipment and massive world-wide retrofitting, which (I suggest) would be prohibitively expensive, to solve a relatively minor 'problem' more easily answered by simply not employing colour-blind people in the relevant positions. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} [[Special:Contributions/94.1.223.204|94.1.223.204]] ([[User talk:94.1.223.204|talk]]) 13:12, 31 December 2024 (UTC)
::::::Actually, I was making fun of the other editor for lecturing the OP about "advices". ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 23:06, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Flashing lights have been used on lighthouses for a long time. They use an assembly of lenses and shutters rotating around a fixed light, using a low-friction bearing. This works fine for stationary lighthouses, but is more problematic on moving ships. There's more wear and the lens assembly could jam or rotate at variable speed. Better to use an electric light, switched repeatedly by a rotating switch powered by an electric motor (all available late 19th century), but both switch and lamp have to switch reliably at least a million times. No problem today, but there's still the issue of recognising a flashing pattern if it's intermittently obscured. It's considered acceptable for lighthouses and buoys, which are usually more or less where you expect them to be, but a moving ship may be a different matter. [[User:PiusImpavidus|PiusImpavidus]] ([[User talk:PiusImpavidus|talk]]) 14:45, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
:When I answered telephones and sold passenger tickets for Eurostar I had to pass an [[Ishihara test]], the same as [[signalmen]] and [[train drivers]]. [[User:DuncanHill|DuncanHill]] ([[User talk:DuncanHill|talk]]) 21:27, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
::Depending on the signalling system, train drivers may also have to discriminate red from yellow/amber. This is less important for road users. And states of tracks and signals are colour-coded on the computer monitors of signalmen, but it should only take a simple software update to accommodate colourblind signalmen. (Yes, there're still some old-fashioned signal boxes in some countries; I've passed the one at [[Severn Bridge Junction]] on my way to Wales.) I don't see the objection against colourblind ticket sellers. [[User:PiusImpavidus|PiusImpavidus]] ([[User talk:PiusImpavidus|talk]]) 11:58, 31 December 2024 (UTC)


= December 29 =
Alright 85.211.142.22 if you want to be picky, at least I said thank you, which most people don't.--[[Special:Contributions/85.211.142.22|85.211.142.22]] ([[User talk:85.211.142.22|talk]]) 12:54, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


== Domains ==
This silly British insistence on making singular nouns agree with plural verbs is a pretentious innovation. Shakespeare didn't do it. The Brits have forgotten the subjunctive, and most couldn't find their ars were they handed them. Next they'll insist we use the possessive form to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_grammar#Nouns indicate] animate masculine nouns in the accusative case. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 17:14, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


Are Eritrea's .er and Belarus's .by ever used in domain hacks? .er could be used in shortcut to Blogger, blogg.er, like goo.gl and youtu.be, and .by could be used in domains such as drive.by and in Nordic place namesmas ''by'' means "village" in Swedish and "city" in Norwegian and Danish. And can South Africa's .za and India's .in be used directly after the main part, such as in piz.za and drive.in? Also, can .pl, .cz, .sk and .hu addresses contain diacritics, such as gdańsk.pl, česko.cz, košice.sk and magyarország.hu? --[[User:40bus|40bus]] ([[User talk:40bus|talk]]) 10:10, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
== Wingdings ==


:See [[URL#Internationalized URL]]. [[User:PiusImpavidus|PiusImpavidus]] ([[User talk:PiusImpavidus|talk]]) 11:30, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
Typing anything in Wingdings makes it look like gibberish,so why would anyone want to use that font? Why does it exist?? [[Special:Contributions/117.97.193.2|117.97.193.2]] ([[User talk:117.97.193.2|talk]]) 08:40, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:Plusimpavidus has only answered the last sentencee.
:The answer to the first part is entirely dependent on the policy of the controller of the ccTLD in question, and that controller may or may not publish a policy. Technically, of course they could be used: the government of Tonga sells [[.to]] domains to any interested party, as I presume you know.
:According to our article [[.by]] {{tq|The Operations and Analysis Centre under the President of the Republic of Belarus allows for anyone (not only for those who reside in Belarus) to register a second level domain such as something.by}}, and it also says {{tq|he .by code is used for domain hack by institutions from the German state of Bavaria (German: Bayern), such as bayern.by, the Bavarian Tourism Agency. Since "by" means "town" or "city" in Norwegian, it's also used by some Norwegian newspapers, such as osl.by for an Oslo newspaper, and trd.by for a Trondheim newspaper}}, however, neither of these statements appear to be sourced. When I just tried it, trd.by seems to redirect to a Norwegian casino site.
:Our articles [[.er]] and [[.za]] say nothing about whether the ccTLDs are available to anybody outside Eritrea and South Africa respectively. [[.in]] doesn't explicitly address the question, but in talking about the use of subdomains it repeats "in India" several times. [[User:ColinFine|ColinFine]] ([[User talk:ColinFine|talk]]) 20:38, 29 December 2024 (UTC)


== Colored asphalt markings ==
:Wingdings are [[dingbat]]s. They enable people to use non-standard symbols or figures in text (usually for ornamental purposes), like this <big>☺</big>. They're not meant to represent sounds, obviously. Though you can use it that way if you wish. See [[Wingdings]] for what it actually looks like. It probably looks like gibberish in your computer, because you do not have the font installed. In which case, see [[Help:Special characters]]. --&nbsp;'''<span style="font-family:century gothic">[[User:Obsidian Soul|<span style="color:#000">Obsidi<span style="color:#c5c9d2">♠</span>n</span>]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Obsidian Soul|<span style="color:#c5c9d2">Soul</span>]]</span>''' 10:03, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


What's the purpose of [https://imgur.com/a/jkQ4i40 such blue, green, pink marks] on street grounds? I've seen them in multiple places in [[Warsaw]] (typically in non-traffic places, such as sidewalks) where they've stayed for several months or even years without being erased. From what I've read, those marks can be made for some roadworks, but I'm not sure. [[User:Brandmeister|Brandmeister]]<sup>[[User talk:Brandmeister|talk]]</sup> 20:06, 29 December 2024 (UTC)


:I've seen them used for several purposes, mostly for marking the course of some underground pipe or cable, but also for marking a distance such as 500m from a given spot. In the first case, there is a sequence of similar markings, not too far apart from each other. In the second case the marking is usually accompanied by a number or some code. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 20:55, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
== Food coloring ==
::See [[utility location]]. --[[Special:Contributions/142.112.149.206|142.112.149.206]] ([[User talk:142.112.149.206|talk]]) 22:09, 29 December 2024 (UTC)


:In my experience (UK) they appear in preparation for invasive ground works, most recently in our road prior to the installation of the third set of broadband cables under our pavement. Apparently, existing suppliers and their customers get sniffy if new upstart suppliers not only add their own cables, but put a shovel through the existing cables in the process! Different colours may denote gas, water and telecommunication lines.
What's the point of putting food coloring in canned energy drinks or drinkable yogurt smoothies? The containers are opaque and most consumers are never going to look at it. It seems totally unnecessary. Please don't respond with "market research shows consumers prefer their drinks purple and their yogurt red". Like I said, most people are never going to look at these two things, they are just going to drink and eat them. Why is there food coloring in such items? It doesn't make sense to me at all. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 10:24, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:There is also an occasional rash of markings that outline potholes; whether this is done to guide the repairers of potholes, or as a placebo to pacify local road users, is not always clear. It is possible that the process accompanies the calculation of a cost for the work; the expenditure may not be forthcoming.{{cn}} <span class="nowrap">[[User:Verbarson|--&nbsp;Verbarson&nbsp;]]&nbsp;<sup>[[User talk:Verbarson|talk]]</sup><sub>[[Special:Contributions/Verbarson|edits]]</sub></span> 21:24, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
::Thanks all. [[User:Brandmeister|Brandmeister]]<sup>[[User talk:Brandmeister|talk]]</sup> 11:31, 2 January 2025 (UTC)


= January 1 =
::Some of us civilised people still like their drink in a glass, so the colour does matter!--[[Special:Contributions/85.211.142.22|85.211.142.22]] ([[User talk:85.211.142.22|talk]]) 10:28, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::I was going to also add, "don't respond with 'some people pour canned energy drinks in a glass'", but I thought that nobody would actually respond with such a comment, but here it is. Listen, ''nobody'' pours an energy drink into a glass unless they are in a bar, and it is usually dark in a nightclub. So, I'm not buying it. If you're in a dark nightclub, you're not going to see the color of your energy drink, which is already mixed as it is, so that answer doesn't hold water. Take for example Rockstar Zero Carb.[http://www.rockstar69.com/zero_carb.html] People do not buy that to pour it in a glass. It just doesn't happen. They drink it out of a can and that's that. However, it is colored like a "wild berry". Why?? And ''nobody'' is going to pour a drinkable yogurt smoothie out of its plastic container into a glass, because it would take way too long. Ever try to pour yogurt? So your answer isn't satisfactory. Don't get me wrong. I'm very familiar with the stock answers of "market research shows consumers want their drinks colored" and "it's because people pour it into a glass", but I'm not buying it. It's just not true, and I don't believe it. The fact of the matter is, consumers favor products ''without'' food coloring, which is why you see more and more products labeled with "no artificial colors". So why is food coloring still added to products, especially to products that are unlikely to be seen by the consumer outside of their original containers, such as energy drinks and drinkable yogurts? [[User:Viriditas|Mr. Green]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 11:07, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Some consumers may care about artificial colouring but realisticly most people who drink energy drinks aren't going to. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 11:47, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::Yes, I accept that answer, but notice I did not offer these reasons alone or in isolation. There is simply no single good reason why these drinks are artificially colored. And, I can prove it. The target market for energy drinks, for example, are young males who are active with sports, video games, or studying.[http://www.ats.agr.gc.ca/info/5234-eng.htm] Do you think these men are going to get out their dainty little glass and pour this can into it with their little pinky finger raised? I think not. They are going to rip open the can, drink it, and get back to their game. The manufacturers also sell a great deal of these drinks to convenience stores attached to gas stations because they know their target market drinks it "on the go". In other words, there is good data showing that this particular kind of drink is consumed straight out of the can, an opaque can that cannot reveal the color. And yet, it is colored like its flavor, a purplish "wild berry" color. Why? There is not a single good reason. We know, looking at the distribution network for this drink and the target demographic, that the vast majority of consumers who buy it ''never'' look at the color. Therefore, it makes no sense to add an artificial color to this drink, combined with the fact that many consumers avoid food coloring in the first place. So then, why is it added? [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 11:56, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::I agree that most consumers are usually going to consume the product without looking at the colour, but, at some stage, either when they first try it, or when they accidentally spill some, most people will notice the colour. The manufacturers presumably believe that a "healthy" colour makes people think that their product is a "healthy" drink. [[User:Dbfirs|''<font face="verdana"><font color="blue">D</font><font color="#00ccff">b</font><font color="#44ffcc">f</font><font color="66ff66">i</font><font color="44ee44">r</font><font color="44aa44">s</font></font>'']] 12:20, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::::Could you do me a favor? Find me a single, reliable energy drink review that talks about the importance of the color, or even mentions it. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 13:47, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::You seem to have missed my point. The target market for energy drinks, as me and several people have said, and you apparently agree aren't the type who will avoid artificial colouring. Therefore your key reason not to colour the products is gone. (The only thing you have left is don't do it because it doesn't matter.) You then have to consider whether there is a reason to colour the products. The answer is there is, since as several people have said, many people do actually notice the colour at some stage despite your claims to the contrary and for some of them it is going to make a difference. As others have said, it's also part of the wider branding of the product (like how it's promoted). I note you have brought up Red Bull but it seems you've missed the point it's clear one of their intentions is to differentiate themselves from Red Bull and also their products from one another. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 07:15, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


== Peugeot's rivalry ==
:The assertion that "''nobody'' pours an energy drink into a glass" is incorrect. My mother ''always'' pours drinks into a glass since she considers drinking out of the canister 'uncouth' and not something you do in polite society. I'm sure there are many others out there with similar opinions. [[User:Astronaut|Astronaut]] ([[User talk:Astronaut|talk]]) 13:15, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::Please read the discussion a bit more carefully. Energy drinks aren't marketed to mothers who take them home and pour them in a glass. They are sold to young males "on the go" and on the move, people who are involved in an activity. And when they are poured, they are used in dark nightclubs as an ingredient in a [[bomb shot]]. Sadly, your mother is not the target demographic for energy drinks. More to the point, the energy drink company in question has, within the last six months, begun targeting women with a new drink in their product line, which is dyed pink. And, guess what? It comes with a straw affixed to the can,[http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2011/01/18/review-rockstar-pink-and-rockstar-2x-energy-drinks/] indicating that they intend the female user to drink it out of the can, not pour it into a glass. To quote the review: "Juice boxes, milkshakes, and fruity cocktails, all awesome, all drunk with straws. Rockstar should just include straws with all their products." [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 13:45, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:Presumably the colours are there because the market research indicated that the product would sell better with them than without them. As to why this would be, there are probably as many reasons as there are people! --[[User:TammyMoet|TammyMoet]] ([[User talk:TammyMoet|talk]]) 13:47, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::Yes, yes, yes—ye olde market research myth. I've heard that line for decades and I have yet to see any evidence it is true. I presume it is printed in textbooks and published in PR trade magazines, yet has anyone ever looked into it? I'll bet you anything it comes from a study dated from around 1955, around the time that physicians smoked and were paid to sell cigarettes in advertisements. Which means that kind of market research is probably just as bogus as medical doctors preaching the safety of tobacco and encouraging people to smoke for their "health". Let's be realistic. Is there anyone who wakes up and says, "I hope my food has the most fabulous artificial colors in it today"? No, there isn't. And, why are these colors in foods that nobody will ever look at or even care to look at? Energy drinks aren't bought for their color, and yogurt smoothies are almost impossible to pour into a glass. No matter how you look at it, there's no reasonable explanation for why these artificial colors are added. And just to prove that this whole notion of artificial colors as an appealing aspect of food is malarcky, try this as an experiment: cook two servings of [[macaroni and cheese]], one from fresh pasta and melted cheese of your choice, and another from the packaged mix variety known for its fluorescent artificial cheese color. Now choose which is more appetizing. There goes the myth. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 14:15, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::Ok, so I didn't read all of your second comment, but with all due respect, you never mentioned a particular brand in your original question. You also mentioned 'drinkable yogurt smoothies', a product I can imagine my mother trying to pour into a glass or dessert bowl. The reason food colouring is added to anything is because customers have certain expectations of the product's appearence should they happen to see it in good light. If you found out your energy drink or drinkable yoghurt had the colour of, say, day-glo snot you might well make comments about how unappealing it looked to anybody prepared to listen. Such bad publicity is simply not worth the risk for the sake of adding a more appealing colour. [[User:Astronaut|Astronaut]] ([[User talk:Astronaut|talk]]) 14:28, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::The energy drink is actually clear to light yellow without coloring and the yogurt is white without color. Neither products are intended to be poured into a glass. Further, there is no evidence that consumers of energy drinks care about the color, and yogurt is, for all intents and purposes, usually served white, so adding color to it doesn't change its presentation any more than it appears normally. So, in both instances, there continues to be a lack of any reasonable explanation for why the manufacturer needed to add food coloring. The yogurt smoothies in question are actually too small for the consumer to even try to pour it into a glass or bowl, and it would be inefficient to do so, as the container is too small to allow for the transport of most of the food and the opening too narrow to allow one to scoop it out easily. Both products are normally served without any added color (regular diet Rockstar in the white bottle and white yogurt smoothie) so your argument that it would be unappealing without the color is not true. The two products I mention contain color for no reason at all, and do not appear more appealing with the added color. The argument for adding food coloring in these two instances remains without merit, and I suggest that this reflects on the larger argument for food coloring, which is actually unappealing when compared with uncolored food, contrary to your claim. Please try my macaroni and cheese experiment to experience this for yourself. Food coloring is not appealing, no matter how many times we are told that it is. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 14:45, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


:A question with such gross logical fallacies can not be answered. It forms a kind of [[circular reasoning]] were one of the assumptions explicitly refutes the true answer and tries to justify this with false conclusions.--[[User:Aspro|Aspro]] ([[User talk:Aspro|talk]]) 14:45, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
Did Peugeot have any rivalry with other auto manufacturer that became famous or was famous but forgotten, like Lancia and Audi in 1983 and Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s? --Donmust90-- [[User:Donmust90|Donmust90]] ([[User talk:Donmust90|talk]]) 19:15, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
::Please provide me with the name, date, and publication of any market research indicating that consumers prefer artificial colors in their food. Or any published material for that matter. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 14:49, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::Our [[food coloring]] article gives some explanation (particularly: "...make color addition commercially advantageous to maintain the color expected or preferred by the consumer.") But if you are not satisfied, why don't you ask the manufacturers. Their contact details are [http://www.rockstar69.com/company.html here]. [[User:Astronaut|Astronaut]] ([[User talk:Astronaut|talk]]) 15:02, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Again, energy drinks aren't known or chosen for their color, and yogurt is normally white, so there is no advantage in the two examples I gave you. Further, I provided a third example, using macaroni and cheese, showing that the perceived advantage was actually a disadvantage when compared with a similar but uncolored analogue. We're dealing with a myth here, that has no substantial evidence supporting it. The consumer expects and prefers food that tastes and looks good, there is no question about that. But I have yet to see a single documented instance of food coloring contributing to this experience. We're told that we have to have it, and that we must have it, but in every case that I can see, we don't need it, and more importantly, the consumer doesn't want it. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 15:10, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::Well to be blunt, you're not looking hard enough. [[Margarine]] discusses the history of legislation surrounding what colouring usage, either no colouring or odd colouring (bright yellow or orange or pink) both of which put the consumer off the product. It even discusses how bootlegged butter coloured magarine existed and some people would add their own colouring. Or try asking a kid about what colour sweets they like or do a test with uncoloured sweets (which in many cases will be something fairly light) and see whether colour really doesn't make a difference. (Speaking of kids, I suspect you'd find some do prefer the cheap & nasty macaroni & cheese you mentioned.) I think you also don't appreciate what a lot of products would look like without colouring (including substances primarily added for colour but which may serve other minor purposes). And really if you're going to talk like colouring doesn't make a difference you should always exclude the use of any bleaching agents on your food products which is usually also significantly to do with colour. Don't say this doesn't relate to the energy drink or yoghurt example because you're missing the point, you keep insisting there's no evidence colouring makes a difference but that doesn't really bear scrunity. (I would agree some companies are a little to free with their colouring and end up producing stuff that looks unnecessarily artificial although in some cases I may not be the right market anyway.) [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:03, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::So, according to you, the reason artificial coloring is added to dog and cat food is because the color makes a difference to pets, is that correct? [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 07:38, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


:When does competition rise to the level of rivalry? [[Peugeot]] was unexpectedly beaten in speed by [[Panhard et Levassor]] in the [[Paris–Bordeaux–Paris]] race of June 1895. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 00:07, 2 January 2025 (UTC)
:::Colour is colour, artificial or other wise. It is the visual presentation that matters, not origin. So it would unlikly be a subject for consumer testing surveys. You might as well ask for surveys to discover if people want peppermint creams to taste of peppermint- much of which today is artificial too. Same calorific food value as unflavoured mints -so from that point of view, unnecessary as well. --[[User:Aspro|Aspro]] ([[User talk:Aspro|talk]]) 15:09, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::You say that it is the visual presentation that matters. However, I've just given two examples up above—an energy drink and a packaged yogurt smoothie—that when consumed in their expected and appropriate way, do not present themselves in a visual manner. So, if the visual presentation matters, but the consumer does not experience the food visually because of the packaging, then why is food coloring added? We're back to my original question. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 15:13, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::The original question is built on [[confirmation bias]]. It may sound logical and 'reason-able' to you but it isn't. --[[User:Aspro|Aspro]] ([[User talk:Aspro|talk]]) 16:10, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::You're confused. My original question was, ''What's the point of putting food coloring in canned energy drinks or drinkable yogurt smoothies? Why is there food coloring in such items?'' For some reason or another, you haven't been able to answer the question. And, it is true that these drinks were intended to be consumed from their original container, not from a glass, making the use of artificial color unnecessary. This is not "confirmation bias". This is an observable fact based on their target demographic of males on the go, at athletic events, in the car on the road, etc. Further, I have provided evidence showing that their newest product, catered to females, includes the use of a straw to be consumed from the can itself, making the artificial color of the product even more unnecessary. When asked to support your contention that 1) market research shows consumers want these artificial colors, you were unable to substantiate it. It is looking more and more likely that these colors are not used because the consumer wants them, but because the company requires them, whether it is to extend the shelf life of the product or to reduce spoilage. However, the myth that the consumer wants these artificial colors in their food has no support. You are welcome to support your claims with actual published research at any time, but I'm afraid we will never see it. You see, your fallacious argument ("the consumer wants it!") has been used before, particularly by the petrochemical and automobile industry, who in decades past, claimed night and day, that they would not produced fuel efficient vehicles because the consumer ''didn't'' want it. They stopped saying that in 2008, but the claim is still alive on the Heartland Institute websites. This canard of "the consumer wants it" is one of the oldest PR gimmicks around. There are no consumers demanding artificial colors in their food, quite the opposite actually. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 02:05, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::::Consumers have wanted and cared about fuel efficiency in vehicles long before 2008 in a number of countries outside the US. Your other claim is nonsense, most colourings don't extend shelf life or reduce spoilage. If you disagree, well if I may take a page out of your book show me the published researched. As it stands, you're ignoring the examples people have already provided where colouring clearly does matter (outside of energy drinks and yoghurt smoothies). Or are you going to say consumers adding colouring themselves and the availability of bootleg margarine in banned colours and the legislation requiring uncoloured margarine and the demonstrated effect on the popularity somehow needs published research to demonstrate it had anything to do with colours and wasn't just a PR gimmick? You've also ignored the example of sweets and children, the reason why no one has bothered to provide any research is probably partially because anyone who has any experience with children immediately knows colour does make a difference. If you really want research, you could easily find it yourself, I found these in under a minute [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950329398000093] [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950329301000507] [http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/29/8/713.full] [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408399309527614] [http://www.livestrong.com/article/49353-sensory-preferences-intake-children/]. In fact you seem to be contradicting yourself since you keep claiming colour doesn't matter but then you claim people don't like products which look too artifically coloured (which I agree is sometimes the case). If you don't understand why these are contradictory, I suggest you think about it, since without understanding that, you're never going to be able to understand the issue. (Hint, some times product colouring may make it look artificial to most but often the intention is the product looks natural or 'right' to the target audience. As I said earlier you need to forget about energy drinks and yoghurt smoothies for now and concentrate on what many products would look like without colouring or bleaching and how the consumer reaction would be to said products. Once you can understand that, perhaps you can have a hope understanding the energy drinks and yoghurt smoothies examples.) [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 06:53, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::::Ridiculous! You missed the point entirely. Consumers ''do'' care about fuel efficiency in the U.S. but press release after press release from industry groups says otherwise. This was PR pushback against making smaller cars and raising fuel efficiency. They claimed the consumer didn't want it, so they could sell cars that used more gas, which made them more money. How interesting then, is it to find the same bogus arguments coming from the same industry groups, since after all, food coloring is derived from petrochemicals. We're told we have to have it in our food, and that cats and dogs have to have it too. When we ask why, we're told because we demand it. This is the same argument the oil industry insiders made when they working with the Bush admin. They said, "Everybody wants to drive a Hummer; nobody wants to drive a diesel Volkswagen that gets 45 mpg." That's a paraphrase of an actual quote. It's the same bogus argument from the same group of people selling the same chemicals. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 07:49, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::::::Fuel efficient vehicles were available in the US before 2008. And no one forced people to buy Hummers. Don't get me wrong, the situation in the US with regards to tax and the belief owning big cars which waste fuel and kill people more effictively was somehow more American which was helped by the lobbying and PR efforts was and is ridiculous. But you seem to be missing the point that this did work and many consumers did in fact not care that much. Ironically when the shit hit the fan, US car companies suffered greatly, Japanese (and I think South Korean car companies) in the US could bring in their stuff from Europe and elsewhere so benefited. (Personally I had long believe that those in the US who were promoting the idea that big cars were the American thing weren't doing their car manufacturers are favour and look what happened?) However as it stands, I'm pretty sure the average fuel efficiency and size of vehicles in the US is lower then in places like Europe. Again this may partially be to do with things like tax and what's available, but ultimately consumers in the US are the ones making the choice (influence by the PR and all that perhaps) to buy less fuel efficient vehicles, rather then all consumers in the US buying the most fuel efficient vehicles that are available there. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:15, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


::Peugeot, Citroën, Renault and [[Simca]] were the big four French automakers post World War II - and therefore rivals. The first two have merged, Renault is still around, but Simca has disappeared. [[User:Xuxl|Xuxl]] ([[User talk:Xuxl|talk]]) 11:40, 2 January 2025 (UTC)
:You seem to have made up your mind that you're not going accept certain explanations. If you're after the truth, keep an open mind. The reason that food manufacturers add artificial coloring to their products is that they, for whatever reason, think that it helps them sell their products. There might have been privately commissioned studies, or it could be just a belief not backed up by anything—I don't know. Speaking as a consumer, I don't find the practice hard to understand at all. Way back when I was a kid, our teacher showed us an educational program about the production of ice pops. Towards the end, the host asked his tour guide why they added artificial coloring to the ice pops. The tour guide passed him an ice pop with artificial orange flavoring but no color, and asked, rhetorically, "Would you believe this is an 'orange' ice pop?" I think he made his point quite effectively. Even if the product containers are opaque, consumers may still see the product while consuming it, so presentation still matters. To me, if all flavors of a product have the same color, the lack of color difference would serve as a powerful reminder that whatever flavor the product has actually comes from artificial flavoring. --[[Special:Contributions/72.94.148.76|72.94.148.76]] ([[User talk:72.94.148.76|talk]]) 15:43, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:::While the Simca brand, after having been acquired first by Chrysler and then PSA Peugeot Citroën, has disappeared, the factory in [[Poissy]] that Simca acquired from Ford France in 1954 is still in full operation.
::How does adding artificial colors to dog and cat food help them sell it? How does adding artificial colors to canned drinks that are sold with straws and intended to be consumed "on the go" from the can, help them sell their products? [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 07:49, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::The Lancia–Audi and Ford–Ferrari rivalries alluded to in the question were not about rivalry between companies, but rivalry between racing teams; see ''[[Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia]]'' and ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]''. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 16:03, 2 January 2025 (UTC)


= January 3 =
:Am I the only one still confused by this hypothetical 'yoghurt smoothie'? I at first thought the OP was referring to a yoghurt drink, but the OP then said it was impossible to pour one. So I take it isn't drunken. Is it just some sort of fancy name for yoghurt intended to be eaten? But any yoghurt intended to be eaten is usually seen in the container once you open it and on the spoon. Not that I ever have problems pouring normal yogurt myself (sometimes with a spoon to help), well not counting it all coming out in one go so I end up with too much. So how the heck do you consume this yoghurt smoothie if you don't eat it or drink it? Do you snort it? P.S. I didn't mention earlier but although I don't live in the US, energy drinks are fairly popular here in NZ. They're generally yellow in colour (I think mostly from the [[Riboflavin]]). You know how I know that? Because I've drunken them including in glasses before and also split some drops sometimes. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:10, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::Coloring may be added to mask the natural color of the product. Without coloring some products might appear mostly clear or white, but with a slightly off tint. Food coloring is incredibly cheap relative to the other processes in food manufacturer so it doesn't take much to get someone to add dye to a product. In any case manufacturers of these products do it because they think it will help them sell more. That is the only reason they do anything. --[[User:Daniel J. Leivick|<span style="text-shadow:#BBBBBB 0.2em 0.2em 0.1em; class=texhtml">Daniel</span>]] 16:23, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


== British weather website ==
::Nil, see the article on [[Go-Gurt]]. --[[Special:Contributions/72.94.148.76|72.94.148.76]] ([[User talk:72.94.148.76|talk]]) 16:27, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


Is there any British weather website which has daily data for stations in the United Kingdom? The starlingroot.ddns.net is not working anymore, it worked a few months ago. The "Historic station data" page on MetOffice's website has only monthly data, and the MetOffice WOW - Weather Observations Website has only hourly data. And is there any English-language website having weather observations for different cities and countries in Europe, similar to e.g. Infoclimat? --[[User:40bus|40bus]] ([[User talk:40bus|talk]]) 13:16, 3 January 2025 (UTC)
:::Presuming the OP is referring to something like that, I'm even more mystified. A product for children and they ask why it's coloured? Seriously? BTW if the OP is referring to some sort of yoghurt drink well I have no idea what sort of drinks you get there in the US but in Malaysia there are yoghurt drinks and they were often coloured but pouring them was very easy since they were drinks so not that viscous. And I did that all the time because the bottles I got were often ~450-500 ml ones which was more then I usually drunk in one go. If they are single serve, pouring them in to a cup may be less common but I still don't get what sort of product there is you can easily drink but not easily pour. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:32, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


:You might find windfinder.com useful. Although primarily aimed at coastal leisure activities, it also covers inland areas. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} [[Special:Contributions/94.6.84.253|94.6.84.253]] ([[User talk:94.6.84.253|talk]]) 03:07, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
My theories: either it's because the drink is also sold in clear bottles, so they just make the mixture and pore the same mixtureinto both the opaque cans and the clear bottles. Or it's because the natural colour is actually disgusting, like a brown. [[User:Cliko|Cliko]] ([[User talk:Cliko|talk]]) 16:54, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:wunderground.com used to have this. IDK about now. [[Special:Contributions/2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D|2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D]] ([[User talk:2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D|talk]]) 18:47, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
:<small>Like Coke? [[User:HiLo48|HiLo48]] ([[User talk:HiLo48|talk]]) 02:09, 3 October 2011 (UTC)</small>


= January 4 =
At my local watering hole, it's very common for younger chaps and lasses to order these drinks during the day in bright conditions and they are served in a glass, often with ice and perhaps an addition of good old russian vodka. Your initial assertion is based on a false premise old boy - and another good reason for the drinks being the colour(s) they are is quite simple - to differentiate them from other drinks. If you order a coca-cola based drink, a lemonade based drink and a energy drink based drink they will all look different making it easier to hand them round to your drinking partners. [[User:Quintessential British Gentleman|Quintessential British Gentleman]] ([[User talk:Quintessential British Gentleman|talk]]) 16:56, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


== Goal number one ==
:Remember [[Crystal Pepsi]]? No? It's because it didn't take off. People have expectations that sodas and the like have ridiculous colors. The connection between appearance and perceived flavor has been demonstrated a million times over by tests. (Heck, you can do it yourself with [[Froot Loops]], which, if you don't know any better, seem to have different flavors based on their coloration, but if you try them with your eyes closed, you quickly discover they all have the exact same vaguely fruity taste. It is a common science fair experiment.) The idea that they ''never'' see the colors is absurd. I know what color half of those drinks have; I can't be unusual. People drink them in a lot of different contexts. Food coloring is absurdly cheap. --[[User:Mr.98|Mr.98]] ([[User talk:Mr.98|talk]]) 19:51, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::[[Crystal Pepsi]] was killed by [[Tab Clear]] in a targeted campaign to eliminate the competition.[http://books.google.com/books?id=EdlSR-TbVtQC&pg=PT42#v=onepage&q&f=true] Further, people drink Pepsi for the taste and the caffeine, both of which Crystal Pepsi lacked. Its demise had nothing to do with color. Read the sources. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 02:17, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::The funny thing is the OP keeps insisting that the colour doesn't matter because it isn't seen yet it's readily apparent they know the colour otherwise they wouldn't be asking the question and it's readily apparent most people here who've ever consumed or seen an energy drink know the colour. BTW speaking of Froot Loops, there are sweets which have different flavours which are usually in different colours. I guess the OP is going to claim the manufacturers should let them all be the same colour (which as several people have said, it likely to be some sort of offwhite or clearish.). [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 06:53, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::My question (why is food coloring added to canned energy drinks and yogurt smoothies?) is based on reviewing the product ingredients, not on my personal knowledge of a color. Since you've bought into the urban legend being promoted about food coloring and about how the consumer demands for it to be added to their food (a statement that remains without any evidence) why don't you explain ''why'' the pet food industry adds food coloring to pet food? Is it because the dog and cat lobby demands it? [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 07:17, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::It's not an urban legend since examples have been provided including studies showing how colour influences food choice as well as other things like margarine which has plenty of refs in the article and that was provided a long time ago. I have found another example while looking for something else [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/weekinreview/03harris.html?_r=4] and this one actually discusses including with pictures what people have said, but you seem to have continually ignored. Completely uncoloured food, is often rather unappertising particularly when it's the highly processed variety. The article gives some examples for example, a taste test where uncoloured Cheetos were found to taste bland. I particularly like the description of them looking like the 'shriveled larvae of a large insect'. It also mentions another interesting example, evidentally there is a 'Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Organic White Cheddar'. I'm guessing it normally costs more (since Kraft correctly figured those who do care would be willing to pay more) but again another nail in your coffin. If everyone really cared that much about the colours of the other stuff, they would be buying this and Kraft would phase out their artificially coloured stuff. (The US also has a relatively free and vibrant market so competitors could take advantage if one company refuses to give consumers what they want.) Incidentally this reminds me that you still haven't explained why you believe consumers don't like food which looks artificially coloured but then you also believe colours don't matter. Also I was thinking of this earlier and decided to to mention it having read that ref (since it mentions the related case of pickles). I was looking in to corned beef is made a few weeks ago and learnt something. Nitrates or nitrites are used in the prepration of corned beef and some other cured meat products. (Traditionally [[Potassium nitrate]].) Although these have been used for a long time, in recent times their usage has come under scrutiny because of [[nitrosamine]] formation. Anyway nitrates or nitrites are useful as a preservative, they slow the growth of botulism and other problems see [http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/DJ0974.html]. But they also help to give the food a pink colour which is usually suggested to be one of the reasons why they were and are used. If you look for instructions for making corned beef from scratch you'll see people do discuss the colour and how the greyish-brown colour if you don't use nitrites/nitrates may seem unappertising compared to the pinkish colour. (I know because I came across them in the aforementioned research.) [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:15, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


How do you forgive and forget? <small>(not sure if that's off-topic for the reference desk. if it is, sorry in advance.)</small> [[User:TrademarkedTWOrantula|<span style="color: darkgreen"><span style="font-family: Georgia">TWOrantula</span></span>]]<sup><small>TM</small></sup> <small>([[User talk:TrademarkedTWOrantula|enter the web]])</small> 05:47, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
[[File:RhabdoUrine.JPG|thumb|right|Q: Would you pay to drink this?</br>A: Sure, but why did you pour beer in a urine sample cup? Is there an extra charge for that?]]
:By deciding to. ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 06:05, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
Because adding coloration is cheaper than an advertising campaign explaining why your drink, should you spill it. looks looks like the urine of someone with rhabdomyolosis. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 01:16, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::One can decide to forget, but will it work? &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 09:22, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
:I believe you've just described the color of [[beer]] and [[ginger ale]], which nobody has ever had a problem with before. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 02:09, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:[https://www.mindful.org/why-forgive-and-forget-is-not-always-the-wisest-path/ Here] is an essay on the topic, by a practitioner of [[mindfulness]], that you may (or may not) find helpful. More advice: [https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692], [https://www.theconsciousprofessional.com/tips-for-forgiving-forgetting-and-moving-on/] and (written from a Christian perspective) [https://www.theconsciousprofessional.com/tips-for-forgiving-forgetting-and-moving-on/]. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 09:32, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
::I doubt you are '''that'' credulous, Greenity, to identify clear beverages with proteinaceous ones.[[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 02:36, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:([[WP:OR|OR]], in that I have no published sources for this, though I was taught it by others): Forgiving does not necessarily mean forgetting - it also doesn't necessarily mean condoning. It means not carrying ill will. In my experience, once I see the cost (to me) of bearing the resentment, and how illusory are the apparent benefits of doing so, it is easy to choose to let it go. [[User:ColinFine|ColinFine]] ([[User talk:ColinFine|talk]]) 14:25, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
:::Quick, what color is [[Red Bull]]? That's right, [[amber]]. What else is amber colored? That's right, [[lager]] and [[ginger ale]]. You're welcome, come again. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 02:48, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
Well, both [[urine|piss]] and [[Gold (element)|gold]] are the same "color" but they don't look the same in all aspects, do they? If you want to identify yourself as blind to the difference between opaque urine and clear beer, I won;t deny your blindness. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 03:12, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


Shall we forgive the OP for forgetting that we don't offer advice?[[User:DOR (HK)|DOR (ex-HK)]] ([[User talk:DOR (HK)|talk]]) 17:38, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
The primary objective when creating a food or beverage product, like any other product, is to sell it and presumably make a profit. Many many research studies have shown that the way to do that is effective branding. You want a catchy name, a cool logo, slick packaging, a hip image, and good telegenics. If you get all that right, it turns out most people (especially in this target demographic) don't really give a shit about artificial this or that. They're about to ride a mountain bike down an insane slope and ask for the knee replacement 30 years later, or drink their face off in a bar and drive home after. So forget about the "artificial" aspect. The branding aspect though - part of the branding is the look of the product itself. You will be showing it pouring out in the TV ads and on the billboards, and you need something as equally distinctive, hip and youthful as the rest of the marketing workup. So you need a certain colour. And you can't just fake it for the ads, people will spill, wipe their mouths off, yes, occasionally pour the drink out (in my case, probably on the ground). So you spend the extra few micro-cents per serving to get your own particular colour. Selling food and beverages is not about actually providing people with food or beverages, which make up a small fraction of the selling price. You are selling a brand image and an experience, with s small food/beverage component to justify your effort. Not many people get rich with a pile of raw potatoes on a street corner - but turn that into a sexy model holding a bottle of vodka and murmuring on TV, slightly better business model. You might reject all that, but 'tis reality. [[User:Franamax|Franamax]] ([[User talk:Franamax|talk]]) 03:30, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:{{small|I'd suggest searching the web. ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 17:47, 4 January 2025 (UTC)}}
:I don't reject what you've said all, I just find arguments from ignorance annoying and unhelpful. The fact of the matter is, regardless of how many times this myth is repeated in this thread, the consumer does not prefer artificial colors in their food ''and'' contrary to what you've claimed, apathy is not the order of the day. Many people do in fact care, with major U.S. corporations making two sets of products, one with artificial colors for consumption at home, and another without it for sale abroad in Europe. Why would major companies commit to two different sets of products if people didn't care? In the U.S., natural food supermarkets like Whole Foods and Trader Joes have all but banned such products from their shelves. The reality is, consumers are choosing products ''without'' artificial food coloring and the food industry can't defend its continued use. Care to tell me why cat and dog food contains artificial colors? [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 07:31, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:The injunction does not apply to all advice, but is aimed specifically at giving <u>medical</u> or <u>legal</u> advice. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 23:14, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
:::For more information on this topic, see Bee Wilson, ''Swindled: the dark history of food fraud''. In my opinion she lets today's food companies off the hook by stressing the continuity with past adulteration, but it's still a great read and a useful reference. You might also like Harvey Levenstein, ''Revolution at the table: the transformation of the American diet''. You are right to say that many consumers question the purpose of food colouring, but as pointed out above, that doesn't so far include all consumers. And in the UK artificial colours are generally being replaced by "natural" ones like beetroot and anatto, but it's still processed food. [[User:Itsmejudith|Itsmejudith]] ([[User talk:Itsmejudith|talk]]) 07:50, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::Dogs and cats don't buy food, their owners buy it for them, and many owners treat their pets like children, so they (perhaps mistakenly) assume that their pets will find strong colours more attractive. Most of us still retain this childhood preference for differently-coloured food, and manufacturers just play to this "weakness" in our psychology. Once the majority of the population joins Viriditas in rejecting artificial colours, the manufacturers will either switch to natural colouring or miss out the colouring completely. [[User:Dbfirs|''<font face="verdana"><font color="blue">D</font><font color="#00ccff">b</font><font color="#44ffcc">f</font><font color="66ff66">i</font><font color="44ee44">r</font><font color="44aa44">s</font></font>'']] 08:01, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Pouch drinks are generally clear. It would be most unusual to consume those from a glass as you would litterally need to rip open the pouch. [[User:Googlemeister|Googlemeister]] ([[User talk:Googlemeister|talk]]) 15:05, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::I suspect it isn't just about people thinking their pets would prefer strong colours but the natural colour of a lot of highly processed pet foods is going to look fairly wrong and unappertising to their owners. Not that pet food tend to look particularly appertising but it's likely to be worse without colours. BTW some other pets do occasionally care about the colour of their food [http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-pet-nutrition/birds-with-a-food-color-preference.aspx]. (I guess the OP is going to suggest the above message was sent by [[big oil]] not a real bird owner.) [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:25, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::Are you thinking about this properly? The reason why companies would make different products for the European and US market would be because they have in fact done market research and know that their are different demands from their consumers in Europe and in the US. Clearly enough of their consumers in Europe (perhaps combined with local regulations) care that they've decide it best not to use certain colourings. However the situation in the US is different. Obviously some consumers in the US care, but not enough for it to be worth their while to stop their usage, after all those speciality stores can always buy their products destined for the European markets. Again you seemed to have missed the big and obvious hint: The fact that those stores do exist in the US, but plenty of people still buy the other stuff should tell you that a lot of people don't care that much. Incidentally, as with Itsmejudith, and a what others have said earlier, you seem to be missing the fact that even when artificial colours aren't used, natural colours are still usually used. I come from NZ which has some similarities to Europe in consumer preference and where there is a move away from artificial colours so can affirm this. E.g. this brand [http://www.tncc.com.au/Home.aspx] advertises their products on TV and on the packaging fairly prominent as having no artificial colours. A quick look at their products should tell you their products are still usually coloured and not the clearish offwhite or whatever they are likely to be without colouring. I wonder whether you still don't get a point me and others have been saying for a while, a lot of fairly processed food would look rather unappertising without colours (natural or artificial). If your rant is solely about artificial colours then that's another thing entirely. Either way, since you seemm to be ignoring everything people have said when it puts a hole in your argument, I have come to the conclusion you're just here to rant rather then learn so won't be responding further. Plenty of people have provided a lot of stuff which would be useful if you really want to learn. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 16:15, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


Your dogs/cats example is poor - the owner of a pet purchases the product not the pet, and if you've ever watched a cat food commercial it's pretty clear they're trying to make the food sound appetising to the owner (or at least the owner's projection of what their cat/dog will like). Colour of the food will affect this so inevitably they'll colour food. On to your main question - what matters is not whether or not research is available to show that consumers prefer food coloured in set ways but the perception of the marketing/development divisions of the country selling the product. If a business believes that X coloured-food = better sales (rightly or wrongly) then they will likely implement that policy. Other factors for colour could include brand-recognition. I'm pretty certain Gatorade chooses very vivid colours as a branding aid. Finally even though it seems you won't accept it - here's some research into the importance of colour in food (it specifically mentions coloured drinks) http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/758/Burrows06_redacted.pdf [[User:Ny156uk|ny156uk]] ([[User talk:Ny156uk|talk]]) 17:22, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:Actually, my example is apropos. ''Responsible'' and informed pet owners, like any responsible and informed consumer, purchase pet foods based on the highest quality of ingredients appropriate to their pet, not on the basis of artificial color, which any responsible pet owner will tell you is ''absent'' from the highest quality pet foods. The sick and twisted argument I keep seeing in this discussion is that the primary goal of the processed food industry is ''not'' to provide the public with the highest quality service and product in the marketplace, but to deceive their customers into believing that their shit is shinola. If this is the kind of nonsense the business schools are turning out (and that appears to be true given the state of the global economy) then it is time to shut down the academies and call it a day. It is my understanding that the relationship between unethical business practice and the academy is as close as it has ever been, with the financial leaders responsible for the economic global crisis in the top positions of major universities around the world. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 01:02, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::[[No true Scotsman]] seems like a relevant link at this point. "Pet owners purchase based on appearance." "But no ''responsible'' pet owner purchases food based solely on appearance." - The conclusion we're left to draw is that a large number of pet food companies are making good money selling food to "irresponsible" pet owners. You seem to be wanting reality to match up with some notion you have of philosophical purity. We apologize that it doesn't. Not all pet owners base their purchasing on the quality of ingredients, even if you think they should. Not everyone eschews artificial colors, even if you believe people should. You may call them "irresponsible" or "unethical", but that's the way it is. People do stupid things, and what's more, people disagree with what the stupid thing is. You may think it's worth paying three times the amount to get a product that is labeled "no artificial coloring", and that anyone who buys the stuff with the artificial coloring is an irresponsible idiot, but I personally think, given the lack of credible evidence proving the harm of artificial coloring, that anyone who pays a premium for products simply because they are labeled "no artificial coloring" is being fiscally irresponsible, and is being manipulated by the unethical "natural food" industry who is preying off of peoples' fear and ignorance. I understand that you disagree with that assessment. Please understand when other people disagree with yours. -- [[Special:Contributions/174.24.217.108|174.24.217.108]] ([[User talk:174.24.217.108|talk]]) 03:21, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
:::A responsible and informed consumer does not make a purchase based on appearance, and a responsible and informed pet owner does not buy pet food based on appearance. That the food industry is actively trying to deceive consumers by using artificial coloring to improve a bad product is a sign that there is a disconnect between ethical business practice and the demands of the marketplace. Your claim that the ''ethical'' food industry is at fault by eliminating unnecessary artificial colors in pet food is not just ignorant, it is absurd. Buying a natural pet food that contains no grain, for example, is not irresponsible, it is recommended by veterinarians. So then why does most commercial pet food contain grain? I can go down the line, from artificial colors and fillers, and show you that the entire processed food industry operates in an unethical and immoral fashion, using poor business practices to place profit over human and animal health. How it is that business schools got caught up in teaching students and people like yourself that bad business is good business goes a long way at explaining their role in the current financial crisis. Your philosophy has no redeeming social value and must be seen for what it truly is. Nonsense. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 03:34, 4 October 2011 (UTC)


::<poem> NonStopGo
== 2010 DST iPhone Bug in the EU and Economic Costs? ==


One of the reasons I hurt myself quite so much last May was to make sure
In 2010 there was a bug in the [http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/nov/01/iphone-dst-alarm-bug-europe Apple iPhone that caused the alarms to go off an hour later than they should have] after the change of the clocks due to daylight saving time. Is there any estimate to the amount of productivity lost to the economy because of that? --[[User:CGPGrey|CGPGrey]] ([[User talk:CGPGrey|talk]]) 11:58, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
that I stopped for long enough to arrive at this particular point. For only
through understanding can we see how to forgive both ourselves and other
people. In forgiveness there is love ; and although we can accept forgiveness
from others, true forgiveness comes solely from within. And only if we
love ourselves can we hope to achieve that shining state of grace which
is our true birthright and to find, finally, the gate which leads out of this
vale of tears : and opens for ever into the realms of eternal light.


7th July 2005
== Dr Michael BAden ==
</poem>


[[User:MinorProphet|MinorProphet]] ([[User talk:MinorProphet|talk]]) 05:42, 10 January 2025 (UTC)
I am doing a science paper and I can't find several answers that i need.I am in the 6th grade.
1. Michael Baden's childhood education.(I have his college education)


== Westminster Coroner's Court ==
2. Who mentored him or encouraged him to follow his profession.


I'm trying to research a sudden death that occurred in the London Borough of Merton. Please help me find information about [[Westminster Coroner's Court]], also known as "Inner West London Coroner's Court". They appear to have no website, and publish no court listings. They claim that coroners records are closed to public access for 75 years.
3. His mother/father & siblings.( I have his wife & children)


But other coroners courts in the UK, for example "London Inner South Coroner’s Court", [https://www.innersouthlondoncoroner.org.uk/court-diary publish their court listings] and say that inquests are public and anyone can attend.
4. Has he had discoveries that actually led to organizations that still continue to work.
Like a specific contribution to science.( Ialready have "Assasination Records Review Board)


Why is there are difference? Why is "London Inner South Coroner’s Court" open to the public, but "Inner West London Coroner's Court" is not? Surely all coroners courts operate under the same laws?
5. I want to use his JFK and OJ simpson cases that he worked on. But as I read them, I can't tell how his testimony & discoveries set an example for others to come that would be so different than others.


Thanks for your help [[User:Cylopi|Cylopi]] ([[User talk:Cylopi|talk]]) 12:41, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
I know these are tough questions, but if anyone could help with pointing me in the right direction for these answers, I would be very thankful. <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/107.8.86.213|107.8.86.213]] ([[User talk:107.8.86.213|talk]]) 12:51, 2 October 2011 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
:I assume you have already looked at the [[Michael Baden]] article. Did you follow up any of the references used by that article? [http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=%22michael+baden%22+biography&oq=%22michael+baden%22+biography This Google search] shows lots of hits, though I'm unsure how useful they may be - the couple I looked at were not much use for your questions. It is possible that such information is not readily available in published reliable sources. [[User:Astronaut|Astronaut]] ([[User talk:Astronaut|talk]]) 14:38, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


:As you can see from [http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/hm_coroner_for_inner_west_london] coroners' courts are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. I can assure you, however, that inquests held by the Westminster coroner are as public as inquests held by any other coroner. [[Special:Contributions/2A00:23D0:54D:2001:7843:31E3:192B:798|2A00:23D0:54D:2001:7843:31E3:192B:798]] ([[User talk:2A00:23D0:54D:2001:7843:31E3:192B:798|talk]]) 14:56, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
::I believe that there is some coverage of your question #2 in his book, ''Unnatural Death'', and it may help with some of your other questions too. [[User:John M Baker|John M Baker]] ([[User talk:John M Baker|talk]]) 21:31, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


== Where can I find unmarried men list in Science/Maths? ==
== Requests for financial help ==


Like [[Brahmagupta]], [[Isaac Newton|Issac Newton]], [[Nikola Tesla|Nicola Tesla]], [[Arthur Eddington]].
I was intrigued by [[WP:HD#Financial help|this help desk query]] and the similar requests for financial help that I have noticed recently here on Wikipedia. While John of Reading's response was appropriate and correct, I wonder why Danny (the OP in this case) ever imagined his request might be successful. I just can't help thinking these requests are all scams. Are these requests ever genuine and are there really people out there with $100,000 to spare that they would donate based on this type of request? [[User:Astronaut|Astronaut]] ([[User talk:Astronaut|talk]]) 12:56, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
:Perhaps [[Crowdfunding]] (e.g. [[Kickstarter]]) will be useful here. [[Special:Contributions/69.171.160.9|69.171.160.9]] ([[User talk:69.171.160.9|talk]]) 19:47, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


I want to [[wiktionary:exclude|exclude]] [[Archimedes]] due to his [[Archimedes#Early life|unknown marital status]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]] as he have [[Personal life of Leonardo da Vinci|romantic relations]] and [[Galileo Galilei]] who has [[Galileo Galilei#Children|3 children]] out of wedlock. [[User:HarryOrange|HarryOrange]] ([[User talk:HarryOrange|talk]]) 14:08, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
::There are so many [[begging letter]]s written that I'm sure some are genuine, but it's impossible to know how many. Like [[spam email]]s they cost very little to produce and with enough perseverance will prove profitable. And yes, there are many ''millions'' of [[sucker (slang)|sucker]]s out there, with massive businesses and churches built from their donations.--[[User:Shantavira|Shantavira]]|[[User talk:Shantavira|<sup>feed me</sup>]] 07:47, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


:Do you have any reason to suppose that such a list exists, @[[User:HarryOrange|HarryOrange]]? [[User:ColinFine|ColinFine]] ([[User talk:ColinFine|talk]]) 14:27, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
== History of Wachovia Bank-slave dealing? ==
::Just to encourage [[celibacy]] [[User:HarryOrange|HarryOrange]] ([[User talk:HarryOrange|talk]]) 14:30, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
:::So, you've come here to ask people how to remove from a list that doesn't exist, some names that would probably belong only the list if it existed, because you have some private meaning of "unmarried"? [[User:ColinFine|ColinFine]] ([[User talk:ColinFine|talk]]) 12:56, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
:::If some men don't (appear to) have sexual relationships with women, they're not necessarily demonstrating celibacy - they might be otherwise inclined. [[User:Chuntuk|Chuntuk]] ([[User talk:Chuntuk|talk]]) 11:37, 6 January 2025 (UTC)


: Why did you pipe the correctly-spelled "Isaac" Newton to the incorrectly-spelled "Issac" Newton? -- [[User:JackofOz|<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Jack of Oz</span>]] [[User talk:JackofOz#top|<span style="font-size:85%; font-family: Verdana;"><sup>[pleasantries]</sup></span>]] 18:37, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
Recently I heard that Wachovia Bank , in it's early years actually dealt in the slave trade making millions of dollars. Is this accurate? Or is my source mistaken? Can the history of Wachovia be traced as far back as pre civil war?[[Special:Contributions/173.79.212.93|173.79.212.93]] ([[User talk:173.79.212.93|talk]]) 19:16, 2 October 2011 (UTC)
::And do the same strange thing to Nikola Tesla? [[User:Cullen328|Cullen328]] ([[User talk:Cullen328|talk]]) 23:03, 4 January 2025 (UTC)


== Champagne explosion ==
:Our article on [[Wachovia]] says that Wachovia qua Wachovia didn't start up until 1879, so that's too late for the Civil War. However it has merged with a huge number of banks over the years, some of which are quite old. So any connections it has with slavery are because they've been merging with banks that have themselves been merged with other banks. Indeed, [http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/02/news/fortune500/wachovia_slavery/ this apology by Wachovia] seems to tell more or less that story (albeit with different institutions than the ones: it acquired two companies which had ties to the slave trade (no surprise, that, given how old they were and how large the slave trade was) over a century ago. Seems kind of a non-issue to me, to be frank, unless one is afraid of acknowledging the U.S.'s history of slavery. It doesn't not appear that Wachovia has ever made any direct profit from slavery. For centuries, Blacks were considered a form of property. That banks thus used them as collateral and ended up owning them is not surprising. Whatever shame there is in that is hardly limited to the banks. --[[User:Mr.98|Mr.98]] ([[User talk:Mr.98|talk]]) 19:43, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


I had an unopened bottle of cheap champagne (Barefoot Ros&eacute; if that matters) left over from NYE, and about 10 minutes ago the thing spontaneously exploded. It had been just sitting there at room temperature. No serious damage but there is champange and broken glass all over the place now, and I'm in the process of cleaning it up. Are these explosions a usual occasional occurrence? I'm used to champagne bottles being thicker than regular wine bottles for obvious reasons, but this one seems on the thin side in retrospect, maybe as an economy measure. Could that be? I'm surprised it doesn't happen on store shelves if it happens at home. Thanks. [[Special:Contributions/2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D|2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D]] ([[User talk:2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D|talk]]) 18:39, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
<!-- commenting out suspect response; please see Discussion page.
::For more information, see '''[http://www.phillytalkradioonline.com/archive/katz_jeff3.html Jewphone]''' and [[The Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 01:11, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::'''What do those have to do with this question?!?''' [[Special:Contributions/69.171.160.45|69.171.160.45]] ([[User talk:69.171.160.45|talk]]) 08:38, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
-->


:I does happen.<sup>[https://www.wineandspirits.com/2019/01/07/exploding-champagne-bottle-puts-man-in-coma/][https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-18440747]</sup> Sometimes a cause can be identified. When a bottle of champagne is stored in a freezer, or a fridge whose temperature setting is too low, the contents may freeze, causing it to expand. This can lead to minute cracks in the glass, weakening its strength. Thawed in a relatively warm environment, the pressure of the gas can then result in fracture. Another potential cause is premature bottling, when fermentation has not run its fill course ands the wine still contains yeast and sugar. (Almost all wine sold as "champagne" in the US, also when labelled "Brut", contains residual sugar to accommodate the local taste.) When warmed up, fermentation resumes and pressure increases. Finally, a small fraction of bottles is damaged in handling or comes with production defects, not detectable through visual inspection. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 22:42, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
::A quick search finds some more discussions [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/19/AR2005061900694.html] [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/06/09/the_slavery_shakedown/] [https://www.wachovia.com/foundation/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f3082e3d3471f110VgnVCM200000627d6fa2RCRD&vgnextfmt=default&key_guid=282c948df51eb110VgnVCM100000ca0d1872RCRD] (which includes a link to [https://www.wachovia.com/common_files/press_releases/Wachovia_Predecessor_Institutions_Findings_Report.pdf the report]) [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 06:09, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::Thanks. No idea about refrigeration before I bought it, but I got it off the shelf at a big supermarket, carried it home, and it sat in the exact same place in the room for several days before going kablooie. All I can think of is that carrying it home might have bumped it around or something. Oh well, no big deal in the scheme of things. [[Special:Contributions/2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D|2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D]] ([[User talk:2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D|talk]]) 01:20, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
::The traditional method of making [[Champagne]] requires freezing it in the bottle, so I suppose most bottles are designed to handle that – although freezing from the bottom up is safer than top-down, as it creates no plug of ice between the liquid and the gas. If not using the traditional method, or if the wine doesn't come from the Champagne region, many countries (including all of the EU) forbid selling it under the name Champagne. The US however hasn't got that restriction.
::Wines freeze around -5°C, so accidental freezing in a fridge set too cold seems unlikely. [[User:PiusImpavidus|PiusImpavidus]] ([[User talk:PiusImpavidus|talk]]) 11:15, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
:::In this case the bottle had not been opened, but the cold liquid carbonated contents of a closed bottle may freeze upon opening due to cooling by [[adiabatic expansion]] of the CO<sub>2</sub>. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 13:57, 5 January 2025 (UTC)


Once upon a time [[soda pop]] used to come in [[reusable packaging|reusable]] glass bottles, and I read somewhere that this would happen from time to time with the larger sizes. And indeed, sometime around 1980 a large bottle of Coca-Cola, probably 1.5 liters, exploded while sitting in my cupboard. --[[Special:Contributions/142.112.149.206|142.112.149.206]] ([[User talk:142.112.149.206|talk]]) 02:51, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
==Marshal Tolbukhin boulevard, Sofia==
I'm looking for a street in [[Sofia]] that used to be called Marshal Tolbukhin in the 1970s. I can't find it on any modern maps so I wonder whether it has had its name changed following the end of Soviet influence. [[User:Ericoides|Ericoides]] ([[User talk:Ericoides|talk]]) 20:32, 2 October 2011 (UTC)


= October 3 =
== Organizations ==


Are there any international organizations headquartered in Australia, similar to UN and World Bank are headquartered in the US? --[[User:40bus|40bus]] ([[User talk:40bus|talk]]) 22:04, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
== myth creatures ==
:We have a [[:Category:International organisations based in Australia]]. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 23:05, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
:Isn't this more or less [[Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2024_December_7#Australian_companies|the same question that you asked a month ago]]? [[User:Shantavira|Shantavira]]|[[User talk:Shantavira|<sup>feed me</sup>]] 09:55, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
::An international organization is a completely different thing from a multinational company. --[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]] 11:38, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
:::yes but both questions are easily answered with even the most cursory research and 40bus here seems to have a habit of asking research questions. [[Special:Contributions/208.121.35.65|208.121.35.65]] ([[User talk:208.121.35.65|talk]]) 17:37, 7 January 2025 (UTC)


= January 6 =
is there any creatures from urban legend or myth, like bigfoot, chupa cabra, that was proven to exist? <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/203.112.82.129|203.112.82.129]] ([[User talk:203.112.82.129|talk]]) 00:40, 3 October 2011 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->


==Replacement for my My Yahoo page==
:<small> Not [[yeti]], maybe later. [[User:Clarityfiend|Clarityfiend]] ([[User talk:Clarityfiend|talk]]) 00:46, 3 October 2011 (UTC)</small>
Not sure this is the correct venue, but here goes.


Yahoo have shut down all personal My Yahoo pages. For those who don't use Yahoo, your My Yahoo page was sort of your own personal webpage, where you could have various modules that interested you displayed (e.g. cartoons, horoscopes, travel, finance etc). Yahoo have closed My Yahoo down. A big feature of my personal My Yahoo page was that it had loads of links to my favourite websites. This loss is the one that is hurting most.
::The [[giant squid]] comes to mind. The [[cameleopard]], once associated with other supposed chimeras (mythical beasts that are amalgamations of two or more actual animals), might be said to be another example. [[User:John M Baker|John M Baker]] ([[User talk:John M Baker|talk]]) 00:55, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


:::See ''[[shetani]]'' and the many [[Zanzibar]]is who have been sodomised by [[Popo Bawa]]. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 00:59, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
Any suggestions as to a replacement? [[User:Mjroots|Mjroots]] ([[User talk:Mjroots|talk]]) 10:15, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
:MSN.com does that pretty well. --[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]] 10:25, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
::::We also find [[troll]]s on a daily basis..... <span style="text-shadow:#BBBBBB 0.2em 0.2em 0.1em; class=texhtml"><font face="Freestyle Script" color="blue">[[User:KageTora|KägeTorä - (影虎)]] ([[User talk:KageTora|TALK]])</font></span> 01:15, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::Could you explain in more detail how one can go about to create a personalized web space using [[MSN.com]]? &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 12:29, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
:::[https://www.msn.com/en-gb/feed/interest/following] would be a start. That link is for UK users, presumably you can customize it to your own country. --[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]] 13:38, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
:Perhaps one of the content curation tools listed [https://sourceforge.net/software/content-curation/free-version/ here], some of which are free, will serve your purposes. I have no knowledge of any of these tools beyond what you find there. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 12:34, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
:No modules, but there is [[Neocities]]. Actually, I may misunderstand: perhaps you seek a kind of home page which is online but available to you only, mainly for collecting bookmarks. [[User:Card_Zero|<span style=" background-color:#fffff0; border:1px #995; border-style:dotted solid solid dotted;">&nbsp;Card&nbsp;Zero&nbsp;</span>]]&nbsp;[[User_talk:Card_Zero|(talk)]] 13:53, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
::For those answering, while it appears to be a question asking how to make a basic list of links, it is not. Yahoo's links page was created by selecting modules through a GUI and then customizing the settings. For example, I could select the comics GUI and then select which comics I want to show up in my links. I don't need to know any of the URLs. I just place a check next to the comics I like. For finance, I add the module with a click and then type in the ticket symbols for the stocks I care about. It automatically creates a daily stock thumbnail with links to news articles about those stocks. So, it is true that there are many available options to create a list of links, there are not as many options to create a custom content page for multiple areas of personal interest. [[Special:Contributions/68.187.174.155|68.187.174.155]] ([[User talk:68.187.174.155|talk]]) 15:35, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
:::The IP is correct, but as I said above, I can live without horoscopes, comics etc. The ability of easily store links to favourite websites is the biggest loss. {{re|Card_Zero}} - it doesn't have to be for me only. I think that using a subpage of my user space will fall foul of [[WP:NOTWEBHOST]] #5, even though many (but not all) of the websites are used in Wikipedia research. [[User:Mjroots|Mjroots]] ([[User talk:Mjroots|talk]]) 15:39, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
::::Does it have to be a website in that case? Why not browser bookmarks? In fact, I believe these days some browsers will let you select bookmarks for a "start page" or "start screen" that is displayed when you open a new window/tab. And if they don't, you can probably find a browser extension that will do that. -- [[User:Avocado|Avocado]] ([[User talk:Avocado|talk]]) 17:20, 6 January 2025 (UTC)


== Major traffic fatality incident, Denmark, 2019 ==
::::Dragons. The bones people thought were from dragons were from dinosaurs, and some dinosaurs were pretty dragonish. Apart from the fire breathing bit. [[User:Cliko|Cliko]] ([[User talk:Cliko|talk]]) 04:08, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Also [[Griffin]]s, now thought to be based on fossils of [[Protoceratops]] found in what used to be [[Scythia]], and [[Cyclops]], possibly inspired by fossil skulls of [[Dwarf elephant]]s which used to inhabit various Mediterranean islands. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} [[Special:Contributions/90.197.66.215|90.197.66.215]] ([[User talk:90.197.66.215|talk]]) 07:16, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:You can ask the members of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Cryptozoology]].
:—[[User:Wavelength|Wavelength]] ([[User talk:Wavelength|talk]]) 04:33, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


In 2019, Denmark had a minor spike in traffic fatalities. I feel that the spike is most likely the result of a single accident with multiple fatalities. However, I cannot find any news about multiple-fatality accidents in Denmark in 2019. Everything that I find is related to train accidents, which I do not think Denmark includes in "traffic fatality" counts. Can anyone find a list of accidents or news about a single large-scale accident that might skew the yearly count for 2019? [[Special:Contributions/68.187.174.155|68.187.174.155]] ([[User talk:68.187.174.155|talk]]) 15:25, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
[[Cryptozoology#Discoveries|WPHAAOE]] [[User:Prokhorovka|Prokhorovka]] ([[User talk:Prokhorovka|talk]]) 07:53, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:The [[Okapi]], the [[Giant panda]] and the [[gorilla]] come to mind. They were stuff of legend to Europeans at least. [[User:Googlemeister|Googlemeister]] ([[User talk:Googlemeister|talk]]) 15:01, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:First of all, where are you seeing this spike and is it a reliable source? [[User:Shantavira|Shantavira]]|[[User talk:Shantavira|<sup>feed me</sup>]] 09:55, 7 January 2025 (UTC)
::And is it even statistically significant? With unrelated events happening by chance, there will always be fluctuations in number of events by time period. Spikes will occur every now and then, entirely by chance. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 13:05, 7 January 2025 (UTC)
:::I found [https://www.vejdirektoratet.dk/sites/default/files/2020-11/D%C3%B8dsulykker%202019%20%28004%29.pdf191120.pdf this document] (pdf) which seems to go into this matter in great detail. I don't read Danish, but I ran it though Google Translate. The table on page 28 shows that there were 199 traffic-related fatalities in Denmark in 2019, which is more than the two previous years but less than some earlier years. So I agree with the above posters that there is not enough here to constitute a spike. The document doesn't list individual accidents, btw. --[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]] 14:24, 7 January 2025 (UTC)
::::The mean number of fatalities of the 10-year sample given in this Danish report is 194.9, while its [[Unbiased estimation of standard deviation|estimated standard deviation]] is 27.3. This means that the 2019 value deviates from the mean by 0.15&nbsp;[[Standard deviation|sigma]], which is more remarkable by how little the deviation is. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 23:54, 7 January 2025 (UTC)
:I saw this before and perhaps you are trying to recreate it. In 2019, traffic fatalities in Denmark increased 20%. But, they were so low that it was a small bump to make that 20% jump. The reason it matters is because the increase was used as the basis to use government funding for more bicycle lanes and improving intersections. But, the increase was not statistically significant and didn't mean anything, so it should not have been used as justification for any changes. Now, from memory, it was a multi-car, weather-related accident in January that added more than 10 fatalities to the yearly count. That was overshadowed by a train accident due to the same snowstorm which killed 8 (I remember it was 8 because most new articles listed 6, but some stated that a few days later, two more bodies were found). So, my gut feeling is that you are intending to show that this "20% spike" in traffic fatalities is really a data artifact created by a single large-scale accident and not representative of general driver behavior in Denmark. Unfortunately, I do not know how to search Danish news. But, if my memory is correct, you can use the date of the well documented train accident in Denmark in 2019 to get the date of the multi-car accident and then, hopefully, find that as well. I doubt you will find it in any English-based news repository. You will have to search Danish repositories. [[Special:Contributions/12.116.29.106|12.116.29.106]] ([[User talk:12.116.29.106|talk]]) 16:17, 7 January 2025 (UTC)
::Yes. That is what I am doing. I found multiple overblown newspaper headlines like "Biggest increase in traffic fatalities in five years! Your mind will be blown when you see the numbers!" and I am using that to demonstrate that while it is technically true that there was a 20% increase in fatalities, the proper context around that increase is that it is negligible and the result of a single event that could have happened on any other year. Basically, it is a presentation on applying context to data and how it is often done improperly. Now that I know there was a multi-vehicle traffic accident at the same time as the train accident I keep finding, I decided to read those articles and many of them comment on the car accident as well as the train accident, but I didn't read through the articles to notice previously. [[Special:Contributions/68.187.174.155|68.187.174.155]] ([[User talk:68.187.174.155|talk]]) 13:15, 8 January 2025 (UTC)
:::According to the document linked by @[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]], there were 199 deaths in 2019, compared to 171 the year before. That's a 16% increase, not 20%. On the other hand, it's an extra 28 people - so more than the result of a single incident. It just looks like random variation in a decade (the 2010's) that saw about 200 people killed every year on Denmark's roads. This decade it's been more like 150 a year, so if they spent a lot of money in 2019 it was worth it. You can further eamine annual figures [https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/transport/trafikulykker/faerdselsuheld here] and [https://www.statbank.dk/statbank5a/selectvarval/define.asp?PLanguage=1&subword=tabsel&MainTable=UHELDK1&PXSId=237850&tablestyle=&ST=SD&buttons=0 here]. [[User:Chuntuk|Chuntuk]] ([[User talk:Chuntuk|talk]]) 13:23, 9 January 2025 (UTC)
::::What's 'this decade'? There tends to be some controversy especially with 2020 and 2021 figures since reduced traffic due to COVID-19 whether from lockdowns or just changes in behaviour e.g. with more working from home are often cited as reasons for reduced fatalities the. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 10:34, 10 January 2025 (UTC)


== Neurodiverse dating site ==
::Ah, yes, that reminds me of [[Griffons]] which turned out to be [[Protoceratops]] skeletons. See [[Dzungarian Gate]]. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 16:48, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


Is there website that shows with neurodiverse person goes well with which other neurodiverse, e.g. ADHD with Autism, Autism with HPI, HPI with dylexsia etc? --Donmust90-- [[User:Donmust90|Donmust90]] ([[User talk:Donmust90|talk]]) 15:55, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
:::The IP four posts above you already thought of the Protoceratops, Medeis. I suppose the [[Pygmy peoples|pygmies]] are more a case of naming several real peoples after [[Pygmy (Greek mythology)|an imaginary race from Greek mythology]], but there's always the [[Black Swan|black swan]], which used to be [[Black Swan emblems and popular culture#European myth and metaphor|a figure of speech for any impossible thing]] until they were discovered in Australia. --[[User:Antiquary|Antiquary]] ([[User talk:Antiquary|talk]]) 18:20, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


:For any combination of forms of neurodiversity, some persons will go well with each other, while others will not. This depends mainly on other factors, in particular the [[personality]] and personal [[value system]] of each. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 12:57, 7 January 2025 (UTC)
::::The same IP insinuated his comment within existing posts and didn't indent. Off with his head. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 19:42, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::<small>I did so because my post was not a reply to that immediately preceding, but a contribution at the same level and continuing the same theme: in my estimation the second, third and fourth replies were unnecessarily indented, but as long as no ambiguosity results, maybe it's not such a big deal. Anyway, apologies for pre-emptively plagiarising your post :-) . {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} [[Special:Contributions/90.193.78.36|90.193.78.36]] ([[User talk:90.193.78.36|talk]]) 14:25, 4 October 2011 (UTC)</small>
: There's the [[platypus]], which has always been real, but the British thought it so unlikely that they believed the colonials had assembled the specimen from parts of other animals. For a while there, its European status was legendary. -- [[User:JackofOz|<font face="Papyrus">Jack of Oz</font>]] [[User talk:JackofOz#top|<font face="Papyrus"><sup>[your turn]</sup></font>]] 20:17, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::<small>Lovely. How proud I must feel to be from a country of idiots. </small> <span style="text-shadow:#BBBBBB 0.2em 0.2em 0.1em; class=texhtml"><font face="Freestyle Script" color="blue">[[User:KageTora|KägeTorä - (影虎)]] ([[User talk:KageTora|TALK]])</font></span> 11:31, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::And [[birds-of-paradise]] which first arrived in Europe stuffed without legs leading people to conclude that it must have flown endlessly without ever alighting... and the only place they can possibly do that, is in [[Garden of Eden|paradise]]. --&nbsp;'''<span style="font-family:century gothic">[[User:Obsidian Soul|<span style="color:#000">Obsidi<span style="color:#c5c9d2">♠</span>n</span>]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Obsidian Soul|<span style="color:#c5c9d2">Soul</span>]]</span>''' 05:44, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
:::Interestingly (well, to me, anyway) they were already primed to accept legless birds: there was a widespread belief that swallows and swifts had no legs and never alighted on the ground, hence the common heraldic charge of the legless (and beakless) [[Martlet]]. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} [[Special:Contributions/90.193.78.36|90.193.78.36]] ([[User talk:90.193.78.36|talk]]) 14:29, 4 October 2011 (UTC)


= January 8 =
:A week or 2 ago I provided citations in which scientists expressed doubts that gorillas really existed, insisting that reports of gorilla sightings were probably exaggerations of smaller apes such as chimps. [[User:Edison|Edison]] ([[User talk:Edison|talk]]) 14:06, 4 October 2011 (UTC)


== Anthropology Wikipedia page ==
== What is this Rwandan Snack? ==


Does anyone know why the Wikipedia page for "Anthropology" jumped to 6 million views on Dec. 25, 2024?[https://pageviews.wmcloud.org/?project=en.wikipedia.org&platform=all-access&agent=user&redirects=0&start=2024-12-18&end=2025-01-07&pages=Anthropology]https://pageviews.wmcloud.org/?project=en.wikipedia.org&platform=all-access&agent=user&redirects=0&start=2024-12-18&end=2025-01-07&pages=Anthropology
I purchased this snack on a beach from a street vendor in Gisenyi, Rwanda.
[[Special:Contributions/136.26.125.34|136.26.125.34]] ([[User talk:136.26.125.34|talk]]) 23:28, 8 January 2025 (UTC)


:Probably just a glitch. Such things happen all the time. [[User:Shantavira|Shantavira]]|[[User talk:Shantavira|<sup>feed me</sup>]] 09:54, 11 January 2025 (UTC)
http://imgur.com/SUM1W


= January 11 =
The white thing tasted sort of like a combination of rice and Rhubarb with a very sticky and gel-like consistency similar to the chinese [[Zongzi]]. It tasted bitter. The package on the left is a pack of salted peanuts. Initially, I just took the white thing and ate it it by itself. Everyone on the beach laughed at me and started staring like as if I was, for example, eating just mayonnaise by itself for something. The vendor came up to me and handed me the pack of peanut and demonstrated to me that i should eat both at the same time.


== Young adult novel series called Blitzkrieg ==
Does anyone know the english name of these combo of snack and why it was so funny that I wasn't eating it with the peanuts? thanks [[User:Acceptable|Acceptable]] ([[User talk:Acceptable|talk]]) 05:47, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


Does anybody remember who was the author of a novel series, aimed at middle and high school students called Blitzkrieg? It was about a high school football team and I think it was or were published in the 1970s or 1980s. --Donmust90-- [[User:Donmust90|Donmust90]] ([[User talk:Donmust90|talk]]) 00:49, 11 January 2025 (UTC)
:Might be [[ugali]]/[[fufu]]/[[nshima]] or similar starch-based African staples? They don't seem to be eaten alone as they are basically flavorless.--&nbsp;'''<span style="font-family:century gothic">[[User:Obsidian Soul|<span style="color:#000">Obsidi<span style="color:#c5c9d2">♠</span>n</span>]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Obsidian Soul|<span style="color:#c5c9d2">Soul</span>]]</span>''' 08:19, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:The series was actually called ''Blitz'' and was written by Paul Nichols (about whom we don't seem to have an article). There are some examples [https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/blitz/62816/ here]. --[[User:Viennese Waltz|Viennese Waltz]] 07:46, 11 January 2025 (UTC)

::"Paul Nichols" is the pen name of Robert Hawks (b. 1961).<sup>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pl7CPaFvbxAC&dq=%22Paul+Nichols%22+Blitz&hl=en]</sup> More about him [https://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-this-stranger-my-father/abouttheauthor.html#gsc.tab=0 here]. He has also published under his own name,<sup>[https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robert-Hawks/author/B001HQ09RU]</sup> as well as young-adult horror under the pen name "M. T. Coffin" :).<sup>[https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?5694]</sup> In any case, neither the author nor the books appear to meet Wikipedia's notability criteria. &nbsp;--[[User talk:Lambiam#top|Lambiam]] 09:42, 11 January 2025 (UTC)
::No idea. I've looked around the Web at African vendor foods, and can't find anything similar. Seems like the peanuts would be a dead give away. Are you sure they weren't playing a trick on a gullible tourist? <small>I'll bet you a dollar I can tell you where you got those shoes your wearing. :)</small> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS; color:green">'''Quinn'''</span> <font color="#F166FF">[[User talk:Quinn1|<sup>&#10048; ''BEAUTIFUL DAY''</sup>]]</font> 02:49, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

== How to find a girlfriend? ==

How to find a [[girlfriend]]? Can you help me? -[[User:Ewigekrieg|Ewigekrieg]] ([[User talk:Ewigekrieg|talk]]) 08:22, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:You're on a computer. Try [[computer dating]]. Or, real-life [[dating]]. For example, find a single girl and ask her, "may I buy you coffee/lunch/dinner?" Then talk to her. If a friendship doesn't happen, try someone else. [[Special:Contributions/69.171.160.45|69.171.160.45]] ([[User talk:69.171.160.45|talk]]) 08:36, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

:''Get off the computer''. Visit real places where you think a woman you might like to meet would "hang out". Bars are not ideal, and it is best to be sober so that you will make the right decisions and say the right things. Your age and social status will also come into play; sometimes it helps to bring a friend, sometimes it is better to be alone, it depends on the situation. There are also several different strategies you can employ. For example, if you have a cute sister who has a friend, you can bring them along to a coffee shop and hang out and read or use your smartphone/notebook/tablet. Pretty soon, you'll find women checking you out and you'll get an opportunity to say something. This is because women are highly social, and it is much easier to meet them in groups, as they feel more comfortable seeing you surrounded by other people, even other women, as it shows you have social skills and aren't some kind of creepy serial killer. This is why single men by themselves usually don't get hit on, but when they are with other women or men, the odds go up. Sometimes when you double up, such as going out with two men and two women you aren't dating, but are just friends, that will attract a lot of attention and will give you multiple opportunities to talk to other ladies. Keep yourself well-groomed, stay relaxed, and most important, be yourself and smile. Here is something that will definitely work, but you need to be very careful using it: sit down and ask yourself what you are looking for in a woman. Make a list. Ask yourself why you want a girlfriend. Really think about it for a few days. Then, before you go to sleep, envision the kind of woman you want to meet. Really visualize it in your mind and see yourself talking to her and having a conversation. Do this for a few days. Then, forget about it completely. What you want to do is get this woman in your mind so that you're not even thinking about it, so that when you do finally meet her, you will know exactly what to say and what to do without thinking about it. Again, I warn you this technique is very powerful, so please use it carefully and with great respect. Good luck. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 09:21, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::Way back when I was in college, (in the US), back when there were "girlfriends" and "dates" rather than hookups and relationships and "friends with benefits," it was a common practice for some foreign students (Arabs, commonly) to simply approach American girls and inquire "Do you have a boyfriend?" without any preliminaries or beating around the bush. Certainly they got lots of cold rejections, but with the least persistence they soon had a girlfriend,(or girlfriends) who was curious, bored with not having a boyfriend, or whatever. One group of American students went from their (guys) dorm) to a girls dorm and serenaded the ladies, who came running downstairs to meet the guys, and some pairing off occurred due to the mutual interest. Interest in members of the opposite sex was common among both genders. Us guys were shocked when a delegation of girls from an all girls dorm said "You should realize that we feel exactly the same way you guys do." (Interest in the same sex was slightly less common among both genders). Some guys launched into long, carefully planned strategies to invite some girl from a class to a "study session" or to work on a project or lab report, carrying on the careful strategy long past the point when the girl was wondering when the guy was ever going to ask her out. Some guys took jobs as bartenders, and found it was an amazing way to get lots of dates. [[User:Edison|Edison]] ([[User talk:Edison|talk]]) 20:06, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::"Keep yourself well-groomed, stay relaxed, and most important, be yourself and smile." -very important indeed, also don't be creepy. This means do not come on too strongly too fast, and don't ask weird questions like questions about her feet. Also don't rant about Starwars or Libertarianism, show her your gun collection, and definitely do not tell her you edit wikipedia. Telling a girl these things early on will make a girl think you are weird, save it until you know her better, unless of course she comes out first as a huge starwars fan.
::If your problem is just finding women, than you just need to get out more. You could try joining a club, like a gun club or an astronomy club, you could take up a co-ed sport, or get a puppy (excuse to go for walks and it starts conversations with other dog owners)(though only if you love puppies too). [[User:Public awareness|Public awareness]] ([[User talk:Public awareness|talk]]) 20:20, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

::If a girl on an initial date mentions Wikipedia, then it is probably ok to mention how many edits you have and how many articles created. [[User:Edison|Edison]] ([[User talk:Edison|talk]]) 02:39, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Ah, you don't know women very well. It could very well be a trap to see if you are a loser with no life who spends his time arguing about Pokemon articles. The best answer is, "Sorry, I don't have very much time for the Internet, as I'm busy taking care of my sick grandmother and walking her dog in between volunteering for the Special Olympics." Instant date! :) [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 03:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::Except the OP said they wanted a girlfriend. That's not necessarily a great strategy if you want more than one date since it potentially won't take long to realise you were bullshiting [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 03:49, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::Er, it was clearly a joke. Lighten up, Francis. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 03:55, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::::"Er, it was clearly a joke. Lighten up, Francis." [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 03:59, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:::And don't limit yourself to girls. There's a whole nother 3.5 billion guys out there, some of whom are available. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 20:53, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Sounds like a bad idea to me. Not the guy bit, that's up to the OP but 3.5 billion guys means nearly the entire world population of males. According to [http://www.indexmundi.com/world/demographics_profile.html] about 945 million of the worlds males are under 15. The OP hasn't mentioned their age but presuming they are around 18+ I would urge strong caution with dating someone 14 years or younger and definitely someone under 12 would be a bad idea. It may not be illegal unless you have sex (and even then in some countries it may not be for a 14 year old) but socially it's likely to be rather problematic. And no, it doesn't matter whether they consider themselves available. On the other hand, if the OP is particularly young say one of those 14 year olds (which they probably shouldn't reveal on WP) then again dating some 18 years old or older is likely to be rather problematic. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 21:22, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::How good of you to clarify that, of the 3.5 Billion guys out there, some of whom are available, some are not available. Sorry that wasn't clear. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 21:28, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::::My point is it doesn't matter whether they are available. Socially it's a bad idea to date them in a number of countries including Germany and the US. You have to consider factors other then whether a person is available and age is definitely one of them (for males and females). You original comment seemed to imply any of the 3.5 billion who were available would be acceptable dating targets. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 21:43, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::::No, it would be silly for me to include toddlers and the comatose as "available" simple because they wer not wed, but, in any case, I am sure you have saved our victim a lot of trouble by clarifying issues.[[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 03:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
:::::::::I think you're missing the point. I'm not talking about anyone who is not wed as available. And besides a person who is wed may be available in some cases. I'm talking about someone who considered themselves available and is upfront and honest about the current situation which would generally be the best definition of someone being available. Using some other definition of available is a bit silly. A comatose person by definition can't considered themselves available. A toddler too. A 12 year old and 14 year old arguably could. If you for some reason don't want to date someone who is available that's your choice and sometimes a smart one, it doesn't mean they weren't available. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 03:57, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:Knowing what I know now, were I able to go back in time and counsel myself on this subject, I would focus on two things: 1: Don't be afraid of rejection; and 2: Don't listen to your friends. <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS; color:green">'''Quinn'''</span> <font color="#F166FF">[[User talk:Quinn1|<sup>&#10048; ''BEAUTIFUL DAY''</sup>]]</font> 02:42, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::Bizarrely enough, my experience has been it's best to steal her from a friend. But not being afraid of rejection, ''not being overly nervous'' (i.e., drink enough but not too much), and not listening to your friends is also good advice. (The last falls right in with stealing your best friend's girl.)

::Take heart. I have a close friend who was a mid-twenties virgin until I had him shag a prostitute. He he's a skinny guy with a small endowment and horrible teeth. And he spends all his time now talking about how the only thing worse than his ex is the girl that's stalking him now on the streets and facebook. [[User:Medeis|μηδείς]] ([[User talk:Medeis|talk]]) 03:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:Hmmm, dating advice and internet. Seems like a bad combo. All I can say is it can often be a case of being in the right place at the right time. I know that's how I got mine, (boy was I in the right place). As Medeis says, watch out for crazy chicks. My bro is currently dating one, possible [[bunny boiler|BB]]. You know when she says for you to put spending time with her over med school exams, she's too needy and possibly self-absorbed. My girl tells/demands/forces me to study whenever I have an exam or test and drops whatever she is doing the moment she hears I have any problem I need help with (and she's got some very big responsibilities). Not that I don't support her and have her fulfill her responsibilities of course. That's the kind of girl you're looking for, mate. Beautiful, extremely intelligent, ambitious, kind, driven, Israeli and bisexual. In fact, try Israeli women, they tend to have excellent personalities. That is my advice. [[User:Flinders Petrie|Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie]] &#124; <sup>[[user_talk:Flinders Petrie|Say Shalom!]]</sup> 6 Tishrei 5772 03:30, 4 October 2011 (UTC) Might I also add (and I apologise as this will probably sound sexist) that they usually dispense with a lot of the bullshit and games that you can experience with some American (and, in my experience, Chilean) women. 03:40, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::Before anyone takes the above advice, I recommend reading [[divorce law around the world]] very carefully. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 03:45, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:::You sound like my mother when she first heard that I have a foreign gf. The guy is looking for a [[girlfriend]] not a [[wife]]. [[User:Flinders Petrie|Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie]] &#124; <sup>[[user_talk:Flinders Petrie|Say Shalom!]]</sup> 6 Tishrei 5772 03:48, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::::Heh, you're right. In any case, I was making a bad joke about [[Permanent_residence_(United_States)|green cards]]. [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 03:55, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:::::Ah, apologies for my overreaction, but you see now how I reacted when she said that to me. Of course marriage is definitely on the table for this one. I would recommend, in the case of Israelis, that if you want to marry and you're ''really'' worried about that sort of thing then become easily become a citizen by the Law of Return (if you qualify); of course that would entail three years of IDF service and an [[ulpan]], but it's a good experience at least. :p Of course, you should be able to spot danger signs long before marriage (again, unless you're my brother). [[User:Flinders Petrie|Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie]] &#124; <sup>[[user_talk:Flinders Petrie|Say Shalom!]]</sup> 6 Tishrei 5772 04:02, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::What's the divorce rate in Israel? [[User:Viriditas|Viriditas]] ([[User talk:Viriditas|talk]]) 04:05, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:::::::According to this depressing sounding site, 15.7% in 2002 [http://www.divorcemag.com/statistics/statsWorld.shtml] [[User:Flinders Petrie|Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie]] &#124; <sup>[[user_talk:Flinders Petrie|Say Shalom!]]</sup> 6 Tishrei 5772 04:20, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::::::::15% is depressing? That beats the 50% or so the US seems to have. [[User:Googlemeister|Googlemeister]] ([[User talk:Googlemeister|talk]]) 14:00, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

== slimes dam ==
can u please help with this one,

when designing a slimes dam what are legal compliance issues and how do you construct a slimes dam.
please help <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/163.200.81.8|163.200.81.8]] ([[User talk:163.200.81.8|talk]]) 12:38, 3 October 2011 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
:Not really. Even if we guessed your jurisdiction, a) we do not give legal advice b) the compliance issues are likely to be fairly highly complex and most of all c) how do you construct a slimes dam probably requires a few years of training and experience - not something you'll get from an internet forum, even one as distinguished as this one. Perhaps the best we can offer is a) consult the references at [[Dam#Tailings dam]] and b) consult a civil engineer specialising in this area. --[[User:Tagishsimon|Tagishsimon]] [[User_talk:Tagishsimon|(talk)]] 12:45, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:Bearing in mind incidents like the [[Merriespruit tailings dam disaster]] (17 killed by collapsing dam) I would strongly caution against building a tailings/slimes dam unless you are an experienced [[mining engineer]]. --[[User:Colapeninsula|Colapeninsula]] ([[User talk:Colapeninsula|talk]]) 13:09, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
:Your IP address suggests you are in South Africa. If this is true, then the relevant authority is the Dam Safety Office of the Department of Water Affairs. [http://www.dwa.gov.za/DSO/Default.aspx Their website] tells you about the legal compliance issues. [[User:AlmostReadytoFly|AlmostReadytoFly]] ([[User talk:AlmostReadytoFly|talk]]) 13:53, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
::In what countries do they use the term "slimes dam?" Sounds like something built by snails and slugs trying to emulate beavers. [[User:Edison|Edison]] ([[User talk:Edison|talk]]) 14:27, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

== Enviroment Channel ==

is there any news channel, or television network broadcasts enviroment-related news and/or programming related to enviroment 24 hours a day? <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/64.183.42.24|64.183.42.24]] ([[User talk:64.183.42.24|talk]]) 19:00, 3 October 2011 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
:[[Planet Green]] is the closest approximation to an all-environment network I can think of for the US, but our article notes that they also a chunk of paranormal programming, and I wouldn't be surprised if they've also got infomercials running during off-peak hours. [[Animal Planet]] is another candidate. &mdash; [[User talk:Lomn|Lomn]] 19:06, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

::{{ec}} [[Planet Green]] is probably your best bet for U.S. cable stations, [[Animal Planet]] and [[National Geographic Channel]] also run significant amounts of environmental programing, though their fare tends more towards 'nature education' than environmentalism (i.e. environmental protectionism) ''per se''. --[[User:Jayron32|<font style="color:#000099">Jayron</font>]]'''''[[User talk:Jayron32|<font style="color:#009900">32</font>]]''''' 19:08, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

:See http://www.ecoshock.org/.
:—[[User:Wavelength|Wavelength]] ([[User talk:Wavelength|talk]]) 20:11, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

== EEC in 1960, colonial preferences, UK and "The 6" ==

Hello!

I just encountered the most interesting question, and I am hoping you can help me find an answer. The question regards EEC countries' colonial market policies. The 1960 document that leads us to the question is found [[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?queryType=1&resultcount=1&Edoc_Id=7974764|here]] (for free).

To spare you the read and work, I'll quote from bulletin 15, p.3: ".. our overseas territories and the overseas territories of the Six produce in general the same kind of things, and a broad bargain might be possible under which they would allow free entry of the produce of our overseas territories and we would allow free entry to the produce of theirs".

Now, this is interesting. What were the colonial market policies of the Belgians, the Dutch and French when they signed in 1957? Was their produce actually left ''unprotected''? Were there any later provisions that dealt with the protection of their overseas markets? I should be terribly glad if any were to have the answers.

Thank you in advance. [[Special:Contributions/88.91.84.136|88.91.84.136]] ([[User talk:88.91.84.136|talk]]) 19:37, 3 October 2011 (UTC)

:According to the [[French colonial empire]] page; ''"...the [[French Community]] dissolved itself in the midsts of the Algerian War; almost all of the other African colonies were granted independence in 1960, following local referendums. Some few colonies chose instead to remain part of France, under the statuses of overseas départements (territories)."'' It seems to me that those colonies which wanted to remain dependant on France, were made Departments of France and therefore part of the Common Market. You may think that this is a typically underhand Gallic trick; I couldn't possibly comment. [[User:Alansplodge|Alansplodge]] ([[User talk:Alansplodge|talk]]) 20:02, 3 October 2011 (UTC)


= October 4 =

== Installing a ceiling fan on a drop ceiling ==

Is this a terribly difficult thing to do, or is it still better to bother hiring someone to do this for me than risk it flying off the ceiling and cutting my wife's head off during dinner? '''[[User:DRosenbach|<span style="color:#006400">DRosenbach</span>]]''' <sup>([[User_talk:DRosenbach|<span style="color:#006400">Talk</span>]] | [[Special:Contributions/DRosenbach|<span style="color:#006400">Contribs</span>]])</sup> 00:07, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
:This is a case where you should get an estimate from a professional and ask about the task. [[Special:Contributions/67.21.131.22|67.21.131.22]] ([[User talk:67.21.131.22|talk]]) 02:04, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:If you have to ask you need to hire a pro. <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS; color:green">'''Quinn'''</span> <font color="#F166FF">[[User talk:Quinn1|<sup>&#10048; ''BEAUTIFUL DAY''</sup>]]</font> 02:31, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

: It depends. How much do you want to see your wife's head separated from her body: a lot, or just a little? -- [[User:JackofOz|<font face="Papyrus">Jack of Oz</font>]] [[User talk:JackofOz#top|<font face="Papyrus"><sup>[your turn]</sup></font>]] 02:38, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

::Cieling fan? Have a professional install it otherwise you might kill yourself; or worse, a beloved family pet. <small>Also, Jack does have a point. Could be a plot to get life insurance, oh dear!</small> [[User:Flinders Petrie|Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie]] &#124; <sup>[[user_talk:Flinders Petrie|Say Shalom!]]</sup> 6 Tishrei 5772 02:41, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:::'''Can''' it be done? Maybe. '''Should''' it be done? Probably not. In case you haven't lifted one, most ceiling fan motors are surprisingly heavy. Even if it's ''possible'', it's clearly not ''practical''.
:::--[[User:DaHorsesMouth|DaHorsesMouth]] ([[User talk:DaHorsesMouth|talk]]) 03:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:Ceiling fans typically use wooden or plastic paddles, and they aren't powerful enough to decapitate anyone; but the risk of it ''crashing down'' on someone's head is a sufficient concern. As DHM notes, they are kind of heavy. ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 06:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:The fan must be mounted on a support that is firmly attached to the beams above the drop ceiling, so the support must pass through the ceiling. There is no reason why you could not install this yourself if you are competent and careful, but it would be very risky to rely on the drop ceiling for support unless it happens to have strong struts designed for the weight of the fan, and this is unlikely. I agree with previous replies, that if you need to ask then it would be wiser to employ someone with experience. [[User:Dbfirs|''<font face="verdana"><font color="blue">D</font><font color="#00ccff">b</font><font color="#44ffcc">f</font><font color="66ff66">i</font><font color="44ee44">r</font><font color="44aa44">s</font></font>'']] 07:59, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
::I would think the tricky part would be wiring it. [[User:Googlemeister|Googlemeister]] ([[User talk:Googlemeister|talk]]) 13:55, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:::I've seen at building centers a nice support system for a fan, which goes into the space above the ceiling (which in turn is above the dropped ceiling) through a smallish opening, then has 2 arms which crank out to embed themselves in and against the 2 ceiling joists. Then the fan can be below the drop ceiling but properly attached to the building structure. I doubt it would work out to attach it to the ceiling grid, or that the drop ceiling panels themselves could support it. [[User:Edison|Edison]] ([[User talk:Edison|talk]]) 14:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

::::Per a variety of codes, ceiling fans must be firmly attached to the building structure. As Edison notes, use of the drop ceiling to support anything at all isn't safe. Even very light so-called "lay-in" light fixtures are in fact supported, at least nominally, by tie wires to structure. A heavy rotating object can't be mounted on a drop ceiling. '''<font face="Arial">[[User:Acroterion|<font color="black">Acroterion</font>]] <small>[[User talk:Acroterion|<font color="gray">(talk)</font>]]</small></font>''' 14:21, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

== Best absinthe commercially available in the US specifically DC, CT, or NY ==

So I'm looking to get a particularly good Broseph (Bro + Joseph) an absinthe glass, absinthe spoon and a fine absinthe for his b-day and Christmas. I want to get a high-quality one (under 100 USD) preferably with a high alcohol content. Figure it's a good gift for someone who's able to drink an entire bottle of [[Arak (drink)|arak]] and still function normally. Any connoisseurs of the green fairy? [[User:Flinders Petrie|Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie]] &#124; <sup>[[user_talk:Flinders Petrie|Say Shalom!]]</sup> 6 Tishrei 5772 04:38, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

:I've had [[Lucid (Absinthe)|Lucid]], which is often shipped with two glasses and a spoon. I wasn't very impressed, but I don't have anything to compare it to. But it;s pretty common in the US in my experience — I've seen it in stores in both DC and MA. --[[User:Mr.98|Mr.98]] ([[User talk:Mr.98|talk]]) 14:10, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

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December 28

Why do news reporters name the programme they are reporting for?

This is an example by BBC News. ―Panamitsu (talk) 05:44, 28 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

You have linked to a BBC TV program where at 0:40 the presenter introduces "Our science correspondent Pallab Ghosh" who signs off his report "Pallab Ghosh, BBC News". His report includes statements by two experts each identified by name and affiliation. The video typifies the high standard of journalism where BBC emphasize distinction between source and editorial content. Incidentally, a good BBC TV reporter tends to become a "household name" (the likes of Clive Myrie, Fiona Bruce, Sophie Raworth, Reeta Chakrabarti, Steve Rosenberg, Michael Buchanan and more). Edit: I apologise to Pallab Ghosh for initially misspelling his name and thank Antiquary for correcting me. Philvoids (talk) 11:19, 28 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Pallab Ghosh, but I'm sure he's used to it. --Antiquary (talk) 11:29, 28 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
As I understand the question, it is not why reporters identify themselves, but why for instance Ghosh does not sign off by simply saying "Pallab Ghosh", full stop.  --Lambiam 10:29, 31 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It's a standard practice, which might even be in their contracts. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots11:55, 31 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I seem to recall American channels using clips from the BBC. Such sign offs would serve to identify the source in these cases.--User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 17:22, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
THat was my thinking, too. These days they tend to have on-screen watermarks, but reporters still sign off with "Jennifer Superior Bitch, Infinity News. Alex". -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 20:55, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Does the fact that aeroplane/ship navigation lights are green and red cause problems for pilots who are red-green colour blind? How do they deal with that? Can they even become pilots? ―Panamitsu (talk) 22:49, 28 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I couldn't be a pilot because of my red-green colour blindness, but people with a mild version can apparently - this is a link to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority's guidance on colour vision requirements. Mikenorton (talk) 23:25, 28 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
How fascinating. Thanks. ―Panamitsu (talk) 00:21, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Similarly, red-green colourblind people may not be able to become helmsmen.
You might think it would have been more convenient to make those lights red and cyan, as far fewer people are red-blue colourblind, but when navigation lights on ships were introduced, bright blueish lights couldn't be made. That only became possible with gas discharge lamps. Traffic lights and railway signals these days (often using LEDs) use a slightly blueish green, so that most colourblind people can see the difference between red and green. PiusImpavidus (talk) 11:55, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
They could have agreed (and still could agree) on assigning distinct flashing patterns, like •••—— and ••• .  --Lambiam 20:48, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Flashing patterns would be a very poor method for aircraft and probably ships also. Navigation lights are meant to give a quick indication of the relative position and heading of another aircraft/vessel. When seeing navigation lights a pilot instantly has an indication of the relative flight direction of the other aircraft based on which red/green/white lights are visible. Also there are already the anti-collision lights, red flashing beacon on the tail at least and white flashing strobes on the wingtips and tail. How could a pilot possibly decode flashing lights reliably enough and quickly enough to determine relative heading? fiveby(zero) 18:06, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Wouldn't that be a problem because the sky/ocean is blue? I understand that the lights are used at night so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. ―Panamitsu (talk) 22:39, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It would involve more complex lighting circuits/equipment and massive world-wide retrofitting, which (I suggest) would be prohibitively expensive, to solve a relatively minor 'problem' more easily answered by simply not employing colour-blind people in the relevant positions. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 94.1.223.204 (talk) 13:12, 31 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Flashing lights have been used on lighthouses for a long time. They use an assembly of lenses and shutters rotating around a fixed light, using a low-friction bearing. This works fine for stationary lighthouses, but is more problematic on moving ships. There's more wear and the lens assembly could jam or rotate at variable speed. Better to use an electric light, switched repeatedly by a rotating switch powered by an electric motor (all available late 19th century), but both switch and lamp have to switch reliably at least a million times. No problem today, but there's still the issue of recognising a flashing pattern if it's intermittently obscured. It's considered acceptable for lighthouses and buoys, which are usually more or less where you expect them to be, but a moving ship may be a different matter. PiusImpavidus (talk) 14:45, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
When I answered telephones and sold passenger tickets for Eurostar I had to pass an Ishihara test, the same as signalmen and train drivers. DuncanHill (talk) 21:27, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Depending on the signalling system, train drivers may also have to discriminate red from yellow/amber. This is less important for road users. And states of tracks and signals are colour-coded on the computer monitors of signalmen, but it should only take a simple software update to accommodate colourblind signalmen. (Yes, there're still some old-fashioned signal boxes in some countries; I've passed the one at Severn Bridge Junction on my way to Wales.) I don't see the objection against colourblind ticket sellers. PiusImpavidus (talk) 11:58, 31 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 29

Domains

Are Eritrea's .er and Belarus's .by ever used in domain hacks? .er could be used in shortcut to Blogger, blogg.er, like goo.gl and youtu.be, and .by could be used in domains such as drive.by and in Nordic place namesmas by means "village" in Swedish and "city" in Norwegian and Danish. And can South Africa's .za and India's .in be used directly after the main part, such as in piz.za and drive.in? Also, can .pl, .cz, .sk and .hu addresses contain diacritics, such as gdańsk.pl, česko.cz, košice.sk and magyarország.hu? --40bus (talk) 10:10, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

See URL#Internationalized URL. PiusImpavidus (talk) 11:30, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Plusimpavidus has only answered the last sentencee.
The answer to the first part is entirely dependent on the policy of the controller of the ccTLD in question, and that controller may or may not publish a policy. Technically, of course they could be used: the government of Tonga sells .to domains to any interested party, as I presume you know.
According to our article .by The Operations and Analysis Centre under the President of the Republic of Belarus allows for anyone (not only for those who reside in Belarus) to register a second level domain such as something.by, and it also says he .by code is used for domain hack by institutions from the German state of Bavaria (German: Bayern), such as bayern.by, the Bavarian Tourism Agency. Since "by" means "town" or "city" in Norwegian, it's also used by some Norwegian newspapers, such as osl.by for an Oslo newspaper, and trd.by for a Trondheim newspaper, however, neither of these statements appear to be sourced. When I just tried it, trd.by seems to redirect to a Norwegian casino site.
Our articles .er and .za say nothing about whether the ccTLDs are available to anybody outside Eritrea and South Africa respectively. .in doesn't explicitly address the question, but in talking about the use of subdomains it repeats "in India" several times. ColinFine (talk) 20:38, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Colored asphalt markings

What's the purpose of such blue, green, pink marks on street grounds? I've seen them in multiple places in Warsaw (typically in non-traffic places, such as sidewalks) where they've stayed for several months or even years without being erased. From what I've read, those marks can be made for some roadworks, but I'm not sure. Brandmeistertalk 20:06, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I've seen them used for several purposes, mostly for marking the course of some underground pipe or cable, but also for marking a distance such as 500m from a given spot. In the first case, there is a sequence of similar markings, not too far apart from each other. In the second case the marking is usually accompanied by a number or some code.  --Lambiam 20:55, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
See utility location. --142.112.149.206 (talk) 22:09, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
In my experience (UK) they appear in preparation for invasive ground works, most recently in our road prior to the installation of the third set of broadband cables under our pavement. Apparently, existing suppliers and their customers get sniffy if new upstart suppliers not only add their own cables, but put a shovel through the existing cables in the process! Different colours may denote gas, water and telecommunication lines.
There is also an occasional rash of markings that outline potholes; whether this is done to guide the repairers of potholes, or as a placebo to pacify local road users, is not always clear. It is possible that the process accompanies the calculation of a cost for the work; the expenditure may not be forthcoming.[citation needed] -- Verbarson  talkedits 21:24, 29 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks all. Brandmeistertalk 11:31, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

January 1

Peugeot's rivalry

Did Peugeot have any rivalry with other auto manufacturer that became famous or was famous but forgotten, like Lancia and Audi in 1983 and Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s? --Donmust90-- Donmust90 (talk) 19:15, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

When does competition rise to the level of rivalry? Peugeot was unexpectedly beaten in speed by Panhard et Levassor in the Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race of June 1895.  --Lambiam 00:07, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Peugeot, Citroën, Renault and Simca were the big four French automakers post World War II - and therefore rivals. The first two have merged, Renault is still around, but Simca has disappeared. Xuxl (talk) 11:40, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
While the Simca brand, after having been acquired first by Chrysler and then PSA Peugeot Citroën, has disappeared, the factory in Poissy that Simca acquired from Ford France in 1954 is still in full operation.
The Lancia–Audi and Ford–Ferrari rivalries alluded to in the question were not about rivalry between companies, but rivalry between racing teams; see Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia and Ford v Ferrari.  --Lambiam 16:03, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

January 3

British weather website

Is there any British weather website which has daily data for stations in the United Kingdom? The starlingroot.ddns.net is not working anymore, it worked a few months ago. The "Historic station data" page on MetOffice's website has only monthly data, and the MetOffice WOW - Weather Observations Website has only hourly data. And is there any English-language website having weather observations for different cities and countries in Europe, similar to e.g. Infoclimat? --40bus (talk) 13:16, 3 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You might find windfinder.com useful. Although primarily aimed at coastal leisure activities, it also covers inland areas. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 94.6.84.253 (talk) 03:07, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
wunderground.com used to have this. IDK about now. 2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D (talk) 18:47, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

January 4

Goal number one

How do you forgive and forget? (not sure if that's off-topic for the reference desk. if it is, sorry in advance.) TWOrantulaTM (enter the web) 05:47, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

By deciding to. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots06:05, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
One can decide to forget, but will it work?  --Lambiam 09:22, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Here is an essay on the topic, by a practitioner of mindfulness, that you may (or may not) find helpful. More advice: [1], [2] and (written from a Christian perspective) [3].  --Lambiam 09:32, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
(OR, in that I have no published sources for this, though I was taught it by others): Forgiving does not necessarily mean forgetting - it also doesn't necessarily mean condoning. It means not carrying ill will. In my experience, once I see the cost (to me) of bearing the resentment, and how illusory are the apparent benefits of doing so, it is easy to choose to let it go. ColinFine (talk) 14:25, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Shall we forgive the OP for forgetting that we don't offer advice?DOR (ex-HK) (talk) 17:38, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'd suggest searching the web. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots17:47, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The injunction does not apply to all advice, but is aimed specifically at giving medical or legal advice.  --Lambiam 23:14, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]


                                      NonStopGo

One of the reasons I hurt myself quite so much last May was to make sure
that I stopped for long enough to arrive at this particular point. For only
through understanding can we see how to forgive both ourselves and other
people. In forgiveness there is love ; and although we can accept forgiveness
from others, true forgiveness comes solely from within. And only if we
love ourselves can we hope to achieve that shining state of grace which
is our true birthright and to find, finally, the gate which leads out of this
vale of tears : and opens for ever into the realms of eternal light.

7th July 2005

MinorProphet (talk) 05:42, 10 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Westminster Coroner's Court

I'm trying to research a sudden death that occurred in the London Borough of Merton. Please help me find information about Westminster Coroner's Court, also known as "Inner West London Coroner's Court". They appear to have no website, and publish no court listings. They claim that coroners records are closed to public access for 75 years.

But other coroners courts in the UK, for example "London Inner South Coroner’s Court", publish their court listings and say that inquests are public and anyone can attend.

Why is there are difference? Why is "London Inner South Coroner’s Court" open to the public, but "Inner West London Coroner's Court" is not? Surely all coroners courts operate under the same laws?

Thanks for your help Cylopi (talk) 12:41, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

As you can see from [4] coroners' courts are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. I can assure you, however, that inquests held by the Westminster coroner are as public as inquests held by any other coroner. 2A00:23D0:54D:2001:7843:31E3:192B:798 (talk) 14:56, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Where can I find unmarried men list in Science/Maths?

Like Brahmagupta, Issac Newton, Nicola Tesla, Arthur Eddington.

I want to exclude Archimedes due to his unknown marital status, Leonardo da Vinci as he have romantic relations and Galileo Galilei who has 3 children out of wedlock. HarryOrange (talk) 14:08, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Do you have any reason to suppose that such a list exists, @HarryOrange? ColinFine (talk) 14:27, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Just to encourage celibacy HarryOrange (talk) 14:30, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
So, you've come here to ask people how to remove from a list that doesn't exist, some names that would probably belong only the list if it existed, because you have some private meaning of "unmarried"? ColinFine (talk) 12:56, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
If some men don't (appear to) have sexual relationships with women, they're not necessarily demonstrating celibacy - they might be otherwise inclined. Chuntuk (talk) 11:37, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Why did you pipe the correctly-spelled "Isaac" Newton to the incorrectly-spelled "Issac" Newton? -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 18:37, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
And do the same strange thing to Nikola Tesla? Cullen328 (talk) 23:03, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Champagne explosion

I had an unopened bottle of cheap champagne (Barefoot Rosé if that matters) left over from NYE, and about 10 minutes ago the thing spontaneously exploded. It had been just sitting there at room temperature. No serious damage but there is champange and broken glass all over the place now, and I'm in the process of cleaning it up. Are these explosions a usual occasional occurrence? I'm used to champagne bottles being thicker than regular wine bottles for obvious reasons, but this one seems on the thin side in retrospect, maybe as an economy measure. Could that be? I'm surprised it doesn't happen on store shelves if it happens at home. Thanks. 2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D (talk) 18:39, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I does happen.[5][6] Sometimes a cause can be identified. When a bottle of champagne is stored in a freezer, or a fridge whose temperature setting is too low, the contents may freeze, causing it to expand. This can lead to minute cracks in the glass, weakening its strength. Thawed in a relatively warm environment, the pressure of the gas can then result in fracture. Another potential cause is premature bottling, when fermentation has not run its fill course ands the wine still contains yeast and sugar. (Almost all wine sold as "champagne" in the US, also when labelled "Brut", contains residual sugar to accommodate the local taste.) When warmed up, fermentation resumes and pressure increases. Finally, a small fraction of bottles is damaged in handling or comes with production defects, not detectable through visual inspection.  --Lambiam 22:42, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. No idea about refrigeration before I bought it, but I got it off the shelf at a big supermarket, carried it home, and it sat in the exact same place in the room for several days before going kablooie. All I can think of is that carrying it home might have bumped it around or something. Oh well, no big deal in the scheme of things. 2601:644:8581:75B0:0:0:0:DA2D (talk) 01:20, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The traditional method of making Champagne requires freezing it in the bottle, so I suppose most bottles are designed to handle that – although freezing from the bottom up is safer than top-down, as it creates no plug of ice between the liquid and the gas. If not using the traditional method, or if the wine doesn't come from the Champagne region, many countries (including all of the EU) forbid selling it under the name Champagne. The US however hasn't got that restriction.
Wines freeze around -5°C, so accidental freezing in a fridge set too cold seems unlikely. PiusImpavidus (talk) 11:15, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
In this case the bottle had not been opened, but the cold liquid carbonated contents of a closed bottle may freeze upon opening due to cooling by adiabatic expansion of the CO2.  --Lambiam 13:57, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Once upon a time soda pop used to come in reusable glass bottles, and I read somewhere that this would happen from time to time with the larger sizes. And indeed, sometime around 1980 a large bottle of Coca-Cola, probably 1.5 liters, exploded while sitting in my cupboard. --142.112.149.206 (talk) 02:51, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Organizations

Are there any international organizations headquartered in Australia, similar to UN and World Bank are headquartered in the US? --40bus (talk) 22:04, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

We have a Category:International organisations based in Australia.  --Lambiam 23:05, 4 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Isn't this more or less the same question that you asked a month ago? Shantavira|feed me 09:55, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
An international organization is a completely different thing from a multinational company. --Viennese Waltz 11:38, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
yes but both questions are easily answered with even the most cursory research and 40bus here seems to have a habit of asking research questions. 208.121.35.65 (talk) 17:37, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

January 6

Replacement for my My Yahoo page

Not sure this is the correct venue, but here goes.

Yahoo have shut down all personal My Yahoo pages. For those who don't use Yahoo, your My Yahoo page was sort of your own personal webpage, where you could have various modules that interested you displayed (e.g. cartoons, horoscopes, travel, finance etc). Yahoo have closed My Yahoo down. A big feature of my personal My Yahoo page was that it had loads of links to my favourite websites. This loss is the one that is hurting most.

Any suggestions as to a replacement? Mjroots (talk) 10:15, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

MSN.com does that pretty well. --Viennese Waltz 10:25, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Could you explain in more detail how one can go about to create a personalized web space using MSN.com?  --Lambiam 12:29, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
[7] would be a start. That link is for UK users, presumably you can customize it to your own country. --Viennese Waltz 13:38, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps one of the content curation tools listed here, some of which are free, will serve your purposes. I have no knowledge of any of these tools beyond what you find there.  --Lambiam 12:34, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
No modules, but there is Neocities. Actually, I may misunderstand: perhaps you seek a kind of home page which is online but available to you only, mainly for collecting bookmarks.  Card Zero  (talk) 13:53, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
For those answering, while it appears to be a question asking how to make a basic list of links, it is not. Yahoo's links page was created by selecting modules through a GUI and then customizing the settings. For example, I could select the comics GUI and then select which comics I want to show up in my links. I don't need to know any of the URLs. I just place a check next to the comics I like. For finance, I add the module with a click and then type in the ticket symbols for the stocks I care about. It automatically creates a daily stock thumbnail with links to news articles about those stocks. So, it is true that there are many available options to create a list of links, there are not as many options to create a custom content page for multiple areas of personal interest. 68.187.174.155 (talk) 15:35, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The IP is correct, but as I said above, I can live without horoscopes, comics etc. The ability of easily store links to favourite websites is the biggest loss. @Card Zero: - it doesn't have to be for me only. I think that using a subpage of my user space will fall foul of WP:NOTWEBHOST #5, even though many (but not all) of the websites are used in Wikipedia research. Mjroots (talk) 15:39, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Does it have to be a website in that case? Why not browser bookmarks? In fact, I believe these days some browsers will let you select bookmarks for a "start page" or "start screen" that is displayed when you open a new window/tab. And if they don't, you can probably find a browser extension that will do that. -- Avocado (talk) 17:20, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Major traffic fatality incident, Denmark, 2019

In 2019, Denmark had a minor spike in traffic fatalities. I feel that the spike is most likely the result of a single accident with multiple fatalities. However, I cannot find any news about multiple-fatality accidents in Denmark in 2019. Everything that I find is related to train accidents, which I do not think Denmark includes in "traffic fatality" counts. Can anyone find a list of accidents or news about a single large-scale accident that might skew the yearly count for 2019? 68.187.174.155 (talk) 15:25, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

First of all, where are you seeing this spike and is it a reliable source? Shantavira|feed me 09:55, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
And is it even statistically significant? With unrelated events happening by chance, there will always be fluctuations in number of events by time period. Spikes will occur every now and then, entirely by chance.  --Lambiam 13:05, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I found this document (pdf) which seems to go into this matter in great detail. I don't read Danish, but I ran it though Google Translate. The table on page 28 shows that there were 199 traffic-related fatalities in Denmark in 2019, which is more than the two previous years but less than some earlier years. So I agree with the above posters that there is not enough here to constitute a spike. The document doesn't list individual accidents, btw. --Viennese Waltz 14:24, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The mean number of fatalities of the 10-year sample given in this Danish report is 194.9, while its estimated standard deviation is 27.3. This means that the 2019 value deviates from the mean by 0.15 sigma, which is more remarkable by how little the deviation is.  --Lambiam 23:54, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I saw this before and perhaps you are trying to recreate it. In 2019, traffic fatalities in Denmark increased 20%. But, they were so low that it was a small bump to make that 20% jump. The reason it matters is because the increase was used as the basis to use government funding for more bicycle lanes and improving intersections. But, the increase was not statistically significant and didn't mean anything, so it should not have been used as justification for any changes. Now, from memory, it was a multi-car, weather-related accident in January that added more than 10 fatalities to the yearly count. That was overshadowed by a train accident due to the same snowstorm which killed 8 (I remember it was 8 because most new articles listed 6, but some stated that a few days later, two more bodies were found). So, my gut feeling is that you are intending to show that this "20% spike" in traffic fatalities is really a data artifact created by a single large-scale accident and not representative of general driver behavior in Denmark. Unfortunately, I do not know how to search Danish news. But, if my memory is correct, you can use the date of the well documented train accident in Denmark in 2019 to get the date of the multi-car accident and then, hopefully, find that as well. I doubt you will find it in any English-based news repository. You will have to search Danish repositories. 12.116.29.106 (talk) 16:17, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. That is what I am doing. I found multiple overblown newspaper headlines like "Biggest increase in traffic fatalities in five years! Your mind will be blown when you see the numbers!" and I am using that to demonstrate that while it is technically true that there was a 20% increase in fatalities, the proper context around that increase is that it is negligible and the result of a single event that could have happened on any other year. Basically, it is a presentation on applying context to data and how it is often done improperly. Now that I know there was a multi-vehicle traffic accident at the same time as the train accident I keep finding, I decided to read those articles and many of them comment on the car accident as well as the train accident, but I didn't read through the articles to notice previously. 68.187.174.155 (talk) 13:15, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
According to the document linked by @Viennese Waltz, there were 199 deaths in 2019, compared to 171 the year before. That's a 16% increase, not 20%. On the other hand, it's an extra 28 people - so more than the result of a single incident. It just looks like random variation in a decade (the 2010's) that saw about 200 people killed every year on Denmark's roads. This decade it's been more like 150 a year, so if they spent a lot of money in 2019 it was worth it. You can further eamine annual figures here and here. Chuntuk (talk) 13:23, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
What's 'this decade'? There tends to be some controversy especially with 2020 and 2021 figures since reduced traffic due to COVID-19 whether from lockdowns or just changes in behaviour e.g. with more working from home are often cited as reasons for reduced fatalities the. Nil Einne (talk) 10:34, 10 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Neurodiverse dating site

Is there website that shows with neurodiverse person goes well with which other neurodiverse, e.g. ADHD with Autism, Autism with HPI, HPI with dylexsia etc? --Donmust90-- Donmust90 (talk) 15:55, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

For any combination of forms of neurodiversity, some persons will go well with each other, while others will not. This depends mainly on other factors, in particular the personality and personal value system of each.  --Lambiam 12:57, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

January 8

Anthropology Wikipedia page

Does anyone know why the Wikipedia page for "Anthropology" jumped to 6 million views on Dec. 25, 2024?[8]https://pageviews.wmcloud.org/?project=en.wikipedia.org&platform=all-access&agent=user&redirects=0&start=2024-12-18&end=2025-01-07&pages=Anthropology 136.26.125.34 (talk) 23:28, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Probably just a glitch. Such things happen all the time. Shantavira|feed me 09:54, 11 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

January 11

Young adult novel series called Blitzkrieg

Does anybody remember who was the author of a novel series, aimed at middle and high school students called Blitzkrieg? It was about a high school football team and I think it was or were published in the 1970s or 1980s. --Donmust90-- Donmust90 (talk) 00:49, 11 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The series was actually called Blitz and was written by Paul Nichols (about whom we don't seem to have an article). There are some examples here. --Viennese Waltz 07:46, 11 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
"Paul Nichols" is the pen name of Robert Hawks (b. 1961).[9] More about him here. He has also published under his own name,[10] as well as young-adult horror under the pen name "M. T. Coffin" :).[11] In any case, neither the author nor the books appear to meet Wikipedia's notability criteria.  --Lambiam 09:42, 11 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]