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September 10

Position of the District of Columbia in an alphabetized list of U.S. states

I have noticed that in the relevant menu in web forms that include fields for an address in the U.S., the District of Columbia is shown after Delaware and before Florida. It seems to me that it should be listed after Colorado and before Connecticut, especially since the four states that officially call themselves "Commonwealth of..." rather than "State of..." aren't listed ahead of the other states. So how was this decided? I looked at List of states and territories of the United States and U.S. state and didn't find an answer. Thanks in advance. -⁠-⁠Dyspeptic skeptic (talk) 18:15, 10 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe because nobody says "Commonwealth of Massachusetts", they just say "Massachusetts". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:18, 10 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with Bugs. Also, no one says just Columbia - always District of Columbia or D.C. for short. --Xuxl (talk) 19:23, 10 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

A story I heard somewhere is that, when names were being considered for what was to become the state of Washington, one of the candidates was "Columbia", but it was rejected — out of concern that it would be confused with the District of Columbia. Would be interested to know whether there's any truth in it. --Trovatore (talk) 19:34, 13 September 2018 (UTC) [reply]

That sounds familiar, and it's also what Washington (state) says. Note that it would have been a logical counterpart to British Columbia. The whole thing could have been called Columbia (for the river), but it had already been labeled the Oregon Country. The river, in turn, had been named for a ship called the Columbia, whose name came from the same source as the District, namely Columbia (name) - which of course all originates from Christopher. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:48, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Many lists place D.C. at the end, after Wyoming. → Michael J Ⓣ Ⓒ Ⓜ 22:48, 11 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Under what definition does the District of Columbia count as a state? 194.174.73.80 (talk) 12:24, 13 September 2018 (UTC) Marco Pagliero Berlin[reply]

It's not. But it's analogous to a state, for convenience, along with US territories which also have two-letter postal designations. See List of U.S. state abbreviations. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:21, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

It depends on the situation. I'm fairly sure residents of DC don't consider themselves analogous to a state when elections come up and they find themselves without any vote for Senators and only voting on a house delegate who can't vote on bills, and where that same Congress can change their laws in any way they want for any reason. In some ways even worse for territories of course, who don't even get to vote on who gets to throw paper towels at them although Congress tends to have less say on their laws [1]. Nil Einne (talk) 16:24, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it does. In terms of representation, it's not the same as a state. But it has a "state" postal code and zip codes within it, so from the viewpoint of the postal service, it's kind of analogous. As far as the citizens having no voice in Congress, there's no anchor keeping them there in DC. Nearby states await. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:20, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Puerto Rico does vote in the presidential primaries and Trump did not do well there. Rmhermen (talk) 20:55, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

That explains a few things. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:20, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

September 11

I have a question about thirty-something people

What do you call it if someone has a life crisis and they are in their mid thirties? Its not exactly a mid life crisis and its not a quarter life crisis. So what is the exact term? 66.183.26.219 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 15:25, 11 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Why do you assume there has to be a special term for it? --Viennese Waltz 15:26, 11 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

And it might depend on the nature of the crisis. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:55, 11 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Without specification to age, these are generally called Existential crisis. --Jayron 32 16:05, 11 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Mental breakdown.
Sleigh (talk) 02:24, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

If it's on the younger side of thirty-something, it's just Tuesday. Tomorrow it'll be Wednesday. Ian.thomson (talk) 02:27, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

For the BBC, The Guardian and The Times it's a midlife crisis even if you're in your 30s. Apparently it's also possible to call it a "30s life crisis" or a "mid 30s life crisis", which may be unimaginative coinages but at least the meaning is clear. Admittedly with only 91 unique Google hits they don't really seem to have caught on. Similarly, the midi-life crisis, which hits you at 30, only has 84 unique Google hits. --Antiquary (talk) 09:10, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

If the person having one ends up dead by their late 60s, then I guess you can class it as mid-life crisis. That'll shows 'em! Lugnuts ^{Fire Walk with Me} 13:45, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Lugnuts your post reminds me of an episode of Northern Exposure. Chris and Holling were discussing this very subject. The men in Chris's family tended to die of heart trouble in their late 40's so he had already been through his crisis. Holling's family was long lived and his crisis would occur in his 50's. Gosh I liked that show. MarnetteD|Talk 16:46, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Was that the show that had a moose wandering about in the opening credits? It was shown in the UK some years back. Lugnuts ^{Fire Walk with Me} 16:51, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

It sure was L. Here is a pic that includes the distinctive opening tune. MarnetteD|Talk 16:58, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, I remember that now! Looking at the article, I thought Peg Phillips was the Log Lady from Twin Peaks for a second, but that was the late Catherine E. Coulson. Lugnuts ^{Fire Walk with Me} 17:04, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

September 12

English name for a type of car headlight

In my car I have two switches for the main lights (not counting turn signals etc.). One is a thingy that looks like a dimmer but has notches. If I turn it from the off position by one notch, it turns on a pair of weak lights (1), and two notches also turn on a pair of strong lights (2). You use both pairs for night driving. The other switch - a lever behind the steering wheel operates a very strong pair of headlights (3), which you use for night driving on an empty road, or you can flash them on-off. I believe #2 are called low beams and #3 are high beams. What's the name of the light #1? 93.136.68.38 (talk) 04:38, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I have always know them as "Park lights", this article suggests they may also be called "sidelights". Murchison-Eye (talk) 04:48, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I think of them as "running lights" but our article is called Daytime running lamp. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 04:52, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

In British usage, they are sidelights, dipped headlights and main / main-beam headlights. -- SGBailey (talk) 06:23, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Also in British usage "running lights" are the lights which are on all the time and cannot be turned off (mandatory in cars produced since 2011). These are separate to the sidelights and headlights. -- Q Chris (talk) 10:24, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

In American English and modern cars equipped for American roads, whenever the car is in gear, white daytime running lights will be on, facing to the front. 1 are parking lights; on a modern car when these are on there are white or amber to the front and sides near the front, red to the rear and side near the rear. When the control is moved to 2, the low-beam headlights are added to the parking lights. These lights are intended for when other cars are in front of you. When the lever is moved, the headlights change to high-beam mode, which is meant for when no other cars are in front of you. Jc3s5h (talk) 15:27, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

OrOur Automotive lighting article seems fairly detailed. As Jc3s5h has said, parking lights and daytime running lights are not generally the same thing. Nil Einne (talk) 15:44, 12 September 2018 (UTC) 16:11, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Incidentally (I agree with the side lights replies) in BrEng I've never heard #2 referred to as "low beams" and #3 referred to as "high beams". Only as "headlights" and "full beam headlights" respectively. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 15:30, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Low beam and high beam are a bit more descriptive of those lamps. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:54, 12 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks everyone, it seems "parking lights" gets me the results I want on eBay. I'm not in an English speaking country, and frankly I don't know what these are called in my own language either, so I couldn't look it up in a dictionary :) 78.1.188.8 (talk) 20:12, 12 September 2018 (UTC) ~~OP[reply]

Just to add a small fly to the ointment, in the 1980s the regulations on side lights changed requiring that they be brighter, for a time these were called "dim-dip lights to make a distinction with the older and dimmer side lights. Haven't heard it for a while though. Alansplodge (talk) 10:25, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Yes this is also mentioned in our article linked above, as well as the reason they are no longer required (one of the times where 'evil EU regulations' actually applies, assuming you actually think this is 'evil') Nil Einne (talk) 16:11, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

September 13

Reverse sunk cost fallacy?

I wonder whether I an experiencing a sort of reverse sunk cost fallacy. A while a go I bought a very cheap car for my daughter to practice driving while learning and hopefully for the first year when insurance on all but lowest insurance groups is expensive. I spent X on the purchase and then another 10% on new tyres, which I thought was reasonable if it lasted 6 months and good if it lasts a year. Six months on it is due for an MOT (UK vehicle test), and needs almost X spent on it again to pass. I have a feeling "I will have spent 2X on this car and that's a lot for an old car, perhaps its time to look for a newer one. Logically though if I were in a position now when someone offered me a repaired car with newish tyres and a 12 month MOT for price X i'd think it a very good deal. Am I experiencing a reverse Sunk cost fallacy? I can't get over the strong feeling that I shouldn't get the car repaired even though logically it seems like a good deal-- Q Chris (talk) 11:33, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Can you find a newer and hopefully better car with a 12 month MOT for less than 2X in six months? Otherwise I would get this one repaired. 194.174.73.80 (talk) 12:38, 13 September 2018 (UTC) Marco Pagliero Berlin[reply]

And that is an example of what I think is the reverse sunk cost fallacy. The actual test would be "Can you find a newer and hopefully better car with a 12 month MOT for less than X", the first "X + 10%" is already sunk! -- Q Chris (talk) 12:42, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

So there would be 3 possible situations?

1. Sunk cost is included to bias in favour of investing more in the current state (sunk cost fallacy)

2. Future costs estimates are the only cost input into the decision (pure rational)

3. Sunk cost is included to bias against investing more in the current state (reverse sunk cost fallacy)

I'd say, Q Chris, that you are making sense, if that is what you mean. Not sure if it has been studied by academics in psychology, like the sunk cost fallacy has, though. --Lgriot (talk) 14:48, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

You are right, the test should be "less than X" and not "less than 2X": if I only can find another car for e.g. 1.5X but not less, I should probably keep the old one. Except the newer car is so much better that I can anticipate it will spare me much trouble in comparison with the older car. On the other hand: the old car I know well while with the new one I risk some hidden quirks will make me curse the day we met. In this case the new car should cost substantially less than X (Another case of half full vs. half empty?). 194.174.73.80 (talk) 14:08, 14 September 2018 (UTC) Marco Pagliero Berlin[reply]

September 14

Identification of statues

I was recently visiting an university for some academic work and I came across a fascinating installation.Does anybody have any idea as to it's depiction and/or it's meaning? I tried to find some plaque (for the purpose) but in vain.∯WBG^converse 13:01, 14 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

According to the file name of this other image at Commons, it's called Integrity and is by someone named Debabrata Chakraborty. I'm not finding much else about the installation or the sculptor on the Web. Deor (talk) 13:55, 14 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Half full Half empty

Already posted on Humanities desk.

The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

Why is this funny? Which psychological mechanism is taking part? Which theory of humor is applicable? Etan J. Tal^(talk) 22:11, 14 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Who says it's meant to be funny? I don't find it funny. Just sort of decorative. †dismas†|^(talk) 22:17, 14 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Which of the two markings is informative depends whether the reader is the barman or the drinker. There is a titillating sense of Paradox in the notion that being half-way through emptying can be indistinguishable from being half-way through filling, which may be called an example of Dialetheism. DroneB (talk) 22:48, 14 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

September 15

Unknown lettering on penknife

I recently purchased this penknife and would be grateful if anyone is able to tell me the meaning of the lettering on the knife. Additionally I am puzzled by the curious shape of one of the blades, what might be the purpose of that? With anticipatory thanks. Richard Avery (talk) 06:54, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The monogram near the hinge looks Cyrillic - a D and a V. DuncanHill (talk) 11:12, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Odd Blade, either a crown bottle opener or for taking stones out of horses hooves.194.126.80.63 (talk) 13:17, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think it would work on crown caps. Could be a type of sheep's foot (a blade used to trim sheep's feet). DuncanHill (talk) 13:21, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

York sidewalk glass button

What is the function of this glass button in York sidewalk? It is about 3 cms in diameter. It might have been used for some communication device, but now obsolete. Etan J. Tal^(talk) 11:01, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

They marked the old 'Breadcrumbs' trails. It was a scheme by the city to get people visiting the sights in an interactive way - see [2][3][4][5]. You can still buy the book on Amazon. Nanonic (talk) 11:18, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! Etan J. Tal^(talk) 11:32, 15 September 2018 (UTC)n[reply]

No! --That's what they want you to believe-- Obviously, its a device for looking up women's' dresses. 2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782 (talk) 19:09, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Damn, I thought that was my secret. Bet you don't know where the viewing room is though!194.126.80.63 (talk) 06:51, 17 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Where is the original Japanese copy of the WWII surrender?

In the article Japanese Instrument of Surrender, it says that a replica of the Japanese version of the surrender document is on display. Where is the original? RudolfRed (talk) 21:08, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) -- now called Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; per file description: file:Japan Instrument of Surrender 2 September 1945.jpg 107.15.157.44 (talk) 23:01, 15 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! RudolfRed (talk) 02:22, 17 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

September 17

@@ Line 111: / Line 111: @@
 :::<small>No! --That's what they ''want you to believe''-- Obviously, its a device for looking up women's' dresses. [[Special:Contributions/2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782|2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782]] ([[User talk:2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782|talk]]) 19:09, 16 September 2018 (UTC)</small>
 {{clear}}
+Damn, I thought that was my secret.  Bet you don't know where the viewing room is though![[Special:Contributions/194.126.80.63|194.126.80.63]] ([[User talk:194.126.80.63|talk]]) 06:51, 17 September 2018 (UTC)
 == Where is the original Japanese copy of the WWII surrender? ==