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June 4

How to clean up public places?

Everywhere I go, I see some kind of man-made object. It may be a fence, a bridge, a road, a utility pole, or some kind of plastic. The night sky is never really dark, and I can never see the stars. I can only see the moon and a bright glow on the horizon, as if it's a perpetual sunset/sunrise. Just recently, I was standing on a bridge, and right below me was a stream. Then, I saw a piece of plastic. Somehow, man-made artifacts are everywhere! I was reminded of an episode on Arthur, in which the titular character, Arthur Read, was assigned the job to clean up the park with a trash can and a pointy stick. How do I find a pointy stick like that Arthur TV show? Does it even exist in real life? Also, I browsed on Google Maps on a region somewhere in the Southwestern part of the United States just to find some place where it's not touched by humans. But nope, even in the middle of a desert, I found a little desert community with a large set of solar panels. Even the forests of the United States seem to have roads for some reason. The same thing occurs in China. I would zoom in on green land, thinking that it's uninhabited by humans, but I just found a human settlement or village. 50.4.236.254 (talk) 01:43, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Google "trash picker" and you'll see all kinds of them. If you want to help with trash, maybe your community has an Adopt-a-Highway program, where groups gather to collect trash along the roads and make them look better. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 02:17, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

For a place untouched by man, you might try large glaciers, like the interior of Greenland. Until global warming melts them, that is. StuRat (talk) 04:20, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

No more pointy sticks - too much of a health and safety hazard. If you want to collect rubbish you have a gadget like pincers on the end of a stick, with a handle that makes them grip. Like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/NoMore-Litter-Reaching-Mobility-Extension/dp/B01NCUT74B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496571964&sr=8-1&keywords=pick+up+rubbish+stick Wymspen (talk) 10:28, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'll bet the grabbers are more effective anyway. You're not going to pick up a glass bottle with a pointy stick. ApLundell (talk) 16:06, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

America says "Screw Elfin Safety": https://www.amazon.com/Ettore-49042-Trash-Picker/dp/B0042SNCGA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496715564&sr=8-1&keywords=garbage+pickup+stick —Nelson Ricardo (talk) 02:20, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

In my experience, the best way to clean up public spaces is to make them private spaces. That doesn't mean that the public cannot access them. It simply means that they are privately owned and operated. For example, I grew up in northern Kansas City. We had multiple public parks. They were run down, dirty, and overall rather trashy places. We also had a couple private parks. The public was allowed free access to the parks, but they were privately owned. They were always in good repair, clean, and safe. I noticed that throughout the midwest, I found a lot of Lions Club parks - private parks open to the public. They were consistently clean and safe. The correlation seems to be that if it is public, it isn't clean. If it is private, it is clean. I'm sure there are exceptions, but the overall rule tends to be that privately owned "public" spaces is better than public spaces. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 13:07, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

See degradation of the commons. StuRat (talk) 19:59, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

One counter-intuitive way to spend less money keeping parks clean is to hire a person whose job is to immediately clean up any litter. This makes people see a spotless park and think it would be a shame to litter there, versus an already messy park, where they wouldn't feel bad for adding to it. So, rather than having to hire an entire crew to clean it up periodically, one person can keep it clean, acting continuously. StuRat (talk) 20:14, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Unknown Modern Architect

Was mentioned in an English Language book on Modern Architecture circa 1960s or 1970s as an Architect doing Ferrocement Houses in Madagascar (or Mozambique). Hailed as leading African exponent of modernism along with Aalto, Corbusier, Mies van der Roh, Nuetra and Nervi.

Visually the closest look is Fred Flintstone's house with curvaceous chimneys sat on concrete slabs on slender columns lifting them out of the jungle but connected to a driveway for car to be perched alongside. Possibly a mine managers residence lost in the revolutionary change from colonialism, or just time and corrosion. Roof topology similar to Ronchamp chapel scaled down.

No reference to the borrowed public library book just a vague memory it was bound, wider and shorter than a foolscap folder and more black and white photos than colour with text magazine style equal in coverage.

Need a name or image to get closer to who. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 49.178.44.189 (talk) 11:49, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Here are many images of ferrocement buildings in Africa. Does any one look familiar? Blooteuth (talk) 13:59, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You could try the Ferrocement Information Center, which has set up the Ferrocement Information Network (FIN) for Africa and Asia. Contact details are here:[1]. 81.148.187.1 (talk) 14:21, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Pancho Guedes was a notable modernist architect that lived in Mozambique during that period and his houses included curved chimneys. I found an illustrated biographical essay on a website dedicated to him and his work here. There are examples of these chimneys on pages 4 and 26 of the downloadable (a pdf file) biography. He designed over 500 structures (according to the biographies) and at least some of them (like the one on page 30) are kind of like Flintstone's house. According to this article that reported on the destruction of a building he designed he was "in his day one [of] the Lusophone world’s most famous architects". Modocc (talk) 19:30, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

June 5

Rasputitsa

When planning the invasion of Russia, how come the Germans did not consider the effects of the autumn rains? Or did they expect to reach Moscow before then? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:31F8:F4C1:54AA:454B (talk) 04:20, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

There are several points in the article you linked to which make relevant points: the invasion was delayed due to the Balkan campaign, the intended stop-line was well to the east of Moscow, and the intention was to destroy the Soviet armies in the border areas, rather than to push them back (the Germans expected the enemy to try and hold their ground). The failure to destroy the Soviet forces, which did retreat rather than defending, was probably the main reason for the failure, along with the German under-estimation of Soviet capacity and capability. Wymspen (talk) 09:15, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The German expectation was that an early defeat would lead to a rapid collapse of the Soviet regime: "You have only to kick down the door and the whole rotten edifice will come crashing down" according to Hitler himself. [2] Alansplodge (talk) 17:37, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

German optimists might have hoped the Russians would roll up like the Poles, Danes, Belgians, Norwegians, French and British had in 1939 and 1940. If the German forces had captured, killed or caused rout of the Soviet forces as fast as they did the Polish forces in 1939, from 17 September to 6 October, or as they did to French and British forces in France in 1940, from 10 May to "early June," how quickly would they have reached Moscow? Basically how many km per day did the Germans advance in the aforementioned successful invasions? Edison (talk) 20:35, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

As for the example of the British, they retreated to a defensible position (the far side of the English Channel), then fought tooth and nail to hold that line. This should have been the German's lesson as for what to expect from Russia. While Russia lacked an English Channel, they did have rivers, mountain ranges and thousands of miles of land to retreat behind, should the need have arisen. StuRat (talk) 20:06, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I believe that Barbarossa was initially more successful than the previous campaigns; the forward Soviet armies were caught in huge encirclements netting hundreds of thousands of prisoners, and immense casualties and materiel losses. The Germans had underestimated the number of Soviet divisions under arms and their ability to raise fresh divisions and to replace equipment. Whereas the commanders of a Western army might surrender to avoid a bloodbath (eg the Netherlands), the Soviets had no qualms about throwing huge numbers of raw recruits into combat, sometimes even without rifles, and shot those who didn't want to go (see Barrier troops). Whereas the French sought an armistice to prevent further hardship to their people, the Soviets just told their farm workers to burn their farms and move on. Success on the battlefield was not enough.

By way of a reference, have a look at Operation 'Barbarossa' And Germany's Failure In The Soviet Union by Ian Carter (Imperial War Museum). Alansplodge (talk) 21:59, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The "two soldiers to a rifle" is a bit of myth. In reality, the Soviet industry had been consistently outproducing Germany in every weapons system since 1939. The Soviet to Axis military losses ratio on the Eastern Front about 11.2 million to 8.5 million, or 1.3:1. As to the implication that the bad, bad Soviets were only concerned with staying in power... consider that Hitler's plans explicitly called for the annihilation of the vast majority of Russians and helotization of the rest. 78.53.25.121 (talk) 02:49, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

After some research, I agree that the lack of rifles seems to be a myth. It did actually happen in 1916 though. [3] Alansplodge (talk) 18:29, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

That's a good point. Had the Nazi's been able to credibly argue that they were going to replace the communists with democracy, or re-establish a tsar, or give each ethnic group it's own self-determination, etc., then they may have gotten less resistance than their plan to exterminate the Russians (and more broadly, "Slavs", as they categorized them) generated. StuRat (talk) 20:55, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, their plan was to enslave them rather than to exterminate them, but that's not much of a difference. 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:F821:2693:F38:C173 (talk) 01:07, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

But see the Hunger Plan which "was a plan developed by Nazi Germany during World War II to seize food from the Soviet Union and give it to German soldiers and civilians; the plan entailed the death by starvation of millions of "racially inferior" Slavs following Operation Barbarossa". However, all this was unknown to the Soviets, and the Germans were initially able to recruit considerable numbers of disgruntled Russians, Belarussians and Ukrainians into their forces, see Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts#Soviet Union. Alansplodge (talk) 18:22, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

For anyone confused by the title, see Rasputitsa. StuRat (talk) 22:10, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

2nd week of July

1) When is it?

2) Is there an off-line opensource software (desired) that states the ‘week number’ of the ‘year’ as well the ‘month’ itself in one layout?

43.245.123.33 (talk) 18:00, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

See Week#Week numbering and Perpetual calendar in JavaScript. Blooteuth (talk) 20:04, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It's right after the 1st week of July. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:44, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Also right before the 3rd week of July. 64.170.21.194 (talk) 22:57, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Or, simply put, it begins on the 9th and ends on the 15th. 81.148.187.1 (talk) 08:42, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

That is one of those ambiguous phrases, which can have different meaning depending on who is using them. If you think that the first week in July starts on the 1st, then the second week is from the 8th to the 14th. If, by week, you mean seven days beginning on a Sunday, or a Monday, then you have to decide if a part week counts as the first week, or not. Depending on that choice, the second week could begin Sunday 2nd, Monday 3rd, Sunday 9th or Monday 10th. The pattern described in previous answers is based on a decision to count the week as being in a particular month if at least four of the seven days fall in that month - so this year that would mean the second week beginning on the 9th or 10th. If you have been told something will happen in the second week of July, you have to check exactly what the person who told you that means by it. I would always use a phrase like "the week commencing July 10th" to make it plain. Wymspen (talk) 09:19, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

June 6

what does this mean

Unformatted table content
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Massive unformatted text dump removed ----jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆 𝄐𝄇} 20:52, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like someone has cut-and-pasted the content from this table. It shows you how to get in touch with your US Government Congressional representative. Rojomoke (talk) 10:58, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Was the 2011 Wikimedia Foundation Image Filter ever implemented?

I've seen a few pages on Wikimedia from 2011 discussing some sort of Wikimedia Foundation Image Filter. When I tried researching the topic, I was able to find a few resources, including the Image filter referendum, an analysis of the voting results, an online PDF analysis, and a category of censored imaged. However, I'm still a bit confused about what actually happened.

Was the image filter ever actually implemented? --Stevoisiak (talk) 17:46, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Last I saw, they asked the "community" to develop the filter for them. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 18:55, 6 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

June 7

Creating a Wikipedia article?

What does it really take to create a Wikipedia article? I created one about an actor (Malcolm Dixon (actor)) who was in a some movies that I liked in the 80's. It was quickly deleted by someone who said that he didn't see any of the movies, so the actor must not be notable. I argued a bit and I was told that the pages for the movies I mentioned didn't have a link to his page. I went to each of the movie pages and made sure that the reference to the actor's name linked to the page and then recreated the page. It was quickly proposed for deletion because it didn't have references. I went through and added references. After a few hours of messing with the weird references thing, I was told that the references I was adding don't count. I need different references. So, assume that I spend the next few days finding different references, what comes next? 209.149.113.5 (talk) 11:59, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The easiest way for one unfamiliar with process is to use WP:Article wizard and/or WP:Your first article. They will help walk you through the steps and Article wizard will require a reviewer to approve your work so you can avoid the messy process you are currently in. WP:Reliable sources should help with your current issue. Questions like these can be asked at the WP:Teahouse as well which specializes in newcomers. Rmhermen (talk) 13:15, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You problem appears to be with the notability criteria - which for actors is

Has had significant roles in multiple notable films, television shows, stage performances, or other productions.

Has a large fan base or a significant "cult" following.

Has made unique, prolific or innovative contributions to a field of entertainment.

Looking at the list in your article, I don't think you can really claim that he meets those. Wymspen (talk) 13:19, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It is pointless. Before I could even get to adding interviews and all his theater work, all the work I did was reverted. It is obvious that this has to do with being in the "in-crowd". You want a "significant" role. What makes it "significant"? He had multiple major roles in multiple movies, but are they "significant"? In multiple films. How many is multiple? He has been in over 30 films. Apparently 30 is not "multiple". He has a large fan base. Really? Every actor with an article on Wikipedia has a large fan base? How large is "large"? There are many fans of Time Bandits and Labrynth who are also fans of the actors. But, how many does it take to be "large"? Makes a "unique" contribution to entertainment. There is absolutely nothing unique in entertainment. It is all recycled. "Prolific"? How many is "prolific"? Then "innovative". You want to know if he recycled old work when most people forgot about it? That criteria is all bunch of opinions that can be argued either way anyone likes. If you are in the "in-crowd", it is argued for you. If you aren't, it is argued against you. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 17:04, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I don't really think playing an oompa loompa in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and a washing machine in The Goodies count as significant contributions to world cinema. It would be best if you let this one pass. --Viennese Waltz 18:10, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I disagree. Who decides, for example, Matthew Alan, Micah Alberti or Stuart Allan (all of whom I have never heard of) are more worthy of an article than Malcolm Dixon (who I have heard of)? --TrogWoolley (talk) 18:22, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I would have used Peter Ostrum as an example. The claim being made is that if you played an Oopma Loompa, it doesn't matter if you went on to continue acting in movies, television, and on stage for the next 46 years. Once an Oompa Loompa, you are permanently non-notable. (Unless one of the cool kids creates the article, of course.) 209.149.113.5 (talk) 20:02, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I understand your frustration (as one who's written close to 700 articles since 2003; and one who's had numerous other contributions deleted/reverted). But I'd strongly caution you about carrying on with this "in-crowd" stuff. There is no in-crowd. Wikipedia:There is no cabal. There is no inner sanctum. Learn that early, and learn to deal more realistically with the challenges Wikipedia can throw at you. Help is always available. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:34, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

There are however, cliques which gain control over certain articles or areas. One of the worst problems in Wikipedia is the "PhD"s, who insist on keeping all articles they control in a state that can only be read by those who hold advanced degrees. Hence the need for a separate Simple Wikipedia, as opposed to those articles being the intro to each of ours. StuRat (talk) 20:48, 7 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

(laughing) You really think that's what the Simple English Wikipedia is? --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆 𝄐𝄇} 04:13, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

June 8

Ford manual 5 speed transmission clutch slave cylinder designs

Hello, I am in dire need to understand the manual transmission clutch slave cylinders on the Ford trucks that use the Japanese made 5 speed transmissions. I have done extensive searching for information particularly about the hydraulic line connector designs. There have been many mechanics that do not know the kind of slave cylinders inside the transmissions and there are different designs on the input of the fittings. The angles, length, widths, etc. are different to different years and when one does not know how to identify the year it becomes a nuisance to find out. I need to know how to identify the slave cylinder while it is inside the transmission of the Ford F150 4.2 engine. I know the years the 4.2 was made for Ford F150 trucks but do not know exactly if there was any difference Ford allowed on the slave cylinders from those years they installed the 4.2 manual 5 speed transmissions and how to distinguish by sight or specifications on the input hydraulic line fitting on the slave cylinder of those years. I cannot find anyone willing to give me any idea of what to look for or how to look for it except telling me, "well, just go buy some and see if they fit." The problem is they cost a lot of money and once bought and trying to fit them if they do not fit then you are stuck with the cost. I want to know how to eliminate this if someone has installed a different year slave cylinder in the transmissions unknowing to the buyer. I hope you can understand me and if not please ask me for more information. Thank you, — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.171.200.30 (talk) 12:15, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I think you'll have more luck here: https://www.f150forum.com/ 196.213.35.146 (talk) 13:02, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Military terminology, merging units

Is there any specific military term for merging devastated units into one new unit? Say you're on the front in WWI and you have five platoons who come out of a battle with ten surviving soldiers each - do they get reformed into a new platoon, and what's the word for it? And this is a grammar question but actually, it occurs to me, what was the protocol around that back then? Maybe they'd just be scattered off to different platoons entirely? Dr-ziego (talk) 12:26, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

In the British Army, it's called a "composite" unit. For example, the war diary of the 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Ireland records that on 21 March 1918 (the first day of the German Spring Offensive), the battalion had been reduced to "1 Officer and about 40 Other Ranks". The next day, "The Battn now forming part of a composite Battn of units of 16th Division..." Alansplodge (talk) 18:03, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dr-ziego (talk • contribs) 22:25, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Consolidated in the U.S. - see 3rd Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment for example. Rmhermen (talk) 00:23, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Small van identification please

I just glimpsed an interesting small van that I'd like to identify. (I live in France.) It was about the width of a SmartCar - perhaps 1.5 m wide, and proportioned like a fairly typical boxy van. I only saw it for a moment but I'm fairly sure the driver was in its centre. It seemed to have some commercial sign on the side, which I mention because it signifies to me the typical usage. What make and model could it have been? Hayttom (talk) 19:39, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Does anything at microvan help? Maybe something like the Daihatsu Midget.--Jayron 32 20:23, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Here in New Zealand, NZ Post is using Norwegian-built Paxster vans for mail delivery. These are street legal with a max speed of 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph), but are permitted to drive up onto footpaths (sidewalks) to access mailboxes. There's no Paxster article yet, but if you google the name you'll find dozens of images. Maybe that's what you saw. Akld guy (talk) 20:57, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Or perhaps the Piaggio Ape. Thankfully, they've never made it across the Channel. Alansplodge (talk) 22:36, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Brighton Pier Rides from an Engineering Perspective

Hello, Reference Desk Contributers, after a recent holiday to Brighton, I was left thinking about the rides on the pier. As an electronics and computer enthusiast, I am dead interested in all electronic and computer controlled items. Though some of my points here are not exactly pertinent to this subject, I feel that there are a lot of engineering questions that I could ask.

First of all, the rides on Brighton Pier, or at least the same type of rides found there; what are the expected voltages and wattages that such items would require for sufficient operation?

Also, from an engineering point of view, how are height restrictions correctly determined when designing a ride? I am particularly interested in maximum height restrictions, as they are less common and more unusual. Although these are often associated with children's rides, they do occasionally turn up on more adult rides.

I also notice that many of the rides on Brighton Pier have flashing lights. How are they actually programmed? I am an expert with computer programming, I guess that I want to know how that kind of expertise fits into amusement park rides?

Finally, out of pure curiosity, how much do the types of ride on Brighton Pier cost? Some of the rides, such as The Booster and Air Race intrigue me.

I appreciate that you may not have an engineering background, but I still expect to enjoy your thoughts here. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Collegiate199861 (talk • contribs) 21:04, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Collegiate199861 (talk) 21:05, 8 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

June 9

Batman’s Ras-a-gul’s mask

Where to buy from, and does it even function as displayed in the movie? 116.58.205.46 (talk) 05:28, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Glasses for reading

Hello. I've just been given reading glasses. I'm also a minister of religion and so often lead services, alternatiely reading from a book and looking up at the congregants. I've never worn glasses before so can anyone help me work out: what do I do with them in services? If I leave them off I struggle to read; if I put them on, when I look up I struggle to see and it's presumably bad for my eyes. What do you think? THanks 176.35.31.63 (talk) 15:00, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@@ Line 172: / Line 172: @@
 ==Batman’s Ras-a-gul’s mask==
 Where to buy from, and does it even function as displayed in the movie? [[Special:Contributions/116.58.205.46|116.58.205.46]] ([[User talk:116.58.205.46|talk]]) 05:28, 9 June 2017 (UTC)
+== Glasses for reading ==
+Hello. I've just been given reading glasses. I'm also a minister of religion and so often lead services, alternatiely reading from a book and looking up at the congregants. I've never worn glasses before so can anyone help me work out: what do I do with them in services? If I leave them off I struggle to read; if I put them on, when I look up I struggle to see and it's presumably bad for my eyes. What do you think? THanks [[Special:Contributions/176.35.31.63|176.35.31.63]] ([[User talk:176.35.31.63|talk]]) 15:00, 9 June 2017 (UTC)