Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous

October 10

Spanish Book

Does anyone know where I could get a summary of the book "Patricia va a California"? The author is Blaine Ray. I am currently unable to go to many websites other than Wikipedia, so If you could post the actual summary here, that would be "fantastico!" ^_^ Thanks! --PolarWolf ( grrr... ) 00:23, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Patricia is a 15-year-old girl from Guatemala. She goes to California as an exchange student. She lives with a caring American family but encounters prejudice at school, especially from a girl named Debbie. By chance, Patricia finds Debbie in a dangerous situation. She acts quickly and decisively to rescue her. The two girls become fast friends, and eventually Debbie goes to Guatemala to visit Patricia and her family.

And if you are able to access this site you can get more details. http://users.rcn.com/jgoldste/pvac.htm Richard Avery 07:48, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Thank you so much! I'm able to go to other websites now, so this is great. :) --PolarWolf ( grrr... ) 15:50, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Is there a specific wikipedia article on clockwork automata?

Like wind up clocks, but other than something that keeps time.

See Clockwork and Wind-up for starters. The latter is just a disambiguation page, so it has non-relevant content. Perhaps if you have some free time you can expand it. dr.ef.tymac 01:50, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Automaton is a pretty good article. SteveBaker 04:21, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

You might enjoy our all-too-brief article about the Musée Mécanique.

Atlant 12:15, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Or check out the video for the song "Coin-Operated Boy"  :) Corvus cornix 20:30, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

old people living in freshman dorms

Since lots of older people are going to college now, could they live in freshman dorms? I mean like 60 year olds living with all the 18 year olds.

Quite often those people live in the community that the college is in and therefore already have their own homes/apartments/etc. Dismas|^(talk) 02:07, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

It would certainly vary from campus to campus, but the answer is probably "yes" at most places. I'd imagine that (1) most campuses aren't averse to pulling in housing fees and (2) there's probably some sort of no-age-discrimination clause that applies. — Lomn 02:13, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I seem to remember a story about an elderly woman who decided in her 70s or 80s to do the whole college thing at Kent State University a few years back, including living on campus. She eventually graduated. -- Mwalcoff 03:22, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I lived in residence with older people, although not as old as 60. But that was an upper year/graduate student residence. Adam Bishop 07:19, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Pomona College doesn't have freshman dorms, but rather mixed-class dorms (although Sophomores tend to end up in the least desirable dorm rooms since Frosh get distributed around the dorms into reserved-for-frosh rooms while juniors and seniors get first pick of rooms). There was a senior citizen student there in the late 80s who was living in the dorms, so yes, it can and has happened. Donald Hosek 19:01, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

A variation on this: in the Netherlands I know of only one university that has a campus. Instead, we normally have student houses. I live in one and I'm the oldest inhabitant at 44. So not that 'bad'. :) There are some more older inhabitants and the reason is that the alternatives are a whole lot more expensive, so people don't move until they have a steady well paid job. Btw, even if I had one, I might still not move because I like to live together with a bunch of educated people. (Also, I've got one of the best views one can hope for in Amsterdam, at an intersection of canals and a view of two of the most beautiful towers in the city.) DirkvdM 18:08, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Don't swear

If, in the USA, you refuse to swear on the bible in a court of law, what is the procedure? Keria 05:27, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I can't (...wait for it...) swear to this, but I think in almost any jurisdiction you are permitted to "affirm" rather than "swear", and you don't have to use any holy book. Swearing on a Christian bible is a very strange idea on its face, given that Jesus did explicitly forbid it; it's right there in red letters. --Trovatore 06:02, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

And AFAIA, the "procedure" is you tell the usher you wish to affirm rather than swear an oath. In some places, they'll ask you which you want to do as a matter of course; in others, a particular oath will be assumed unless you request otherwise. FiggyBee 08:12, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Also, so I hear, the judge will sometimes advise the jury that the affirmation is no less binding than the oath and that they must not allow the witness's refusal of a religious oath to prejudice them towards the testimony.--Rallette 09:39, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

You might find ACLU of N.C. & Syidah Matteen v. State of North Carolina interesting. Jon513 11:56, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Just to be pedantic, since this question is USA-specific, the term in US courts is bailiff, not usher.  :) Corvus cornix 20:31, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

And then there was the "unorthodox" procedure from Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe/Fried Green Tomatoes (film)...

Atlant 12:18, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

If I recall correctly, refusal to swear on a Bible was used as a basis for disallowing the testimony of nonChristians (such as Chinese immigrants) in the U.S in the 1800's. The later allowance of "affirm" was an accomodation to non-Christian witnesses. Edison 04:11, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

As to your first sentence, could be; a lot of things have happened in this country. But as to the second sentence, no, I really don't think so. The phrase "oath or affirmation" appears in the original U.S. Constitution three times. I think it was at least partly an accommodation for Christian witnesses who took one of Jesus's lesser-known, but more explicit, commandments seriously. It's really kind of bizarre, when you think about it, that people "swear to tell the truth" with their hand on a book containing the following passage:

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

--Trovatore 06:18, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I gather that the "or affirm(ation)" language was written with Quakers especially in mind. I've heard somewhere that Richard Nixon "affirm"ed. —Tamfang 17:05, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

According to Wikipedia, Franklin Pierce has been the only president to "affirm", and he was an Episcopalian. --Anon, 23:20 UTC, October 11.

Football

I know this may not realy b what u wikipedia people r used 2 but i have a bet with people at my work who believe they know alot more about football than i do so i have challenged the in a fantacy league, would any of you be able to suggest player who would b good adisions to my team?? plz i ned 2 win this!! thanx —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 12:32, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

You feel that you are more knowledgable than your co-workers when it comes to football but you're looking to us for advice on who you should pick? Does the player we choose have to display as much good sportsmanship as you are? Dismas|^(talk) 13:38, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Aside from that (because all's fair in fantasy football and showing up one's co-workers), which football? Given the timing, I'm guessing the gridiron variety, in which case the season has started and you're not drafting a clean slate. It's utterly impossible to give specific advice since we don't know the state of your league, but consider searching the web at large and/or sports sites for fantasy advice. There's a big market for this sort of thing. — Lomn 14:50, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

The OP's IP address is in Watford, England, so it's a probable hundred to one on that he's asking us about soccer players. For a fantasy team, the contenders include Pelé, Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruijff, Alfredo di Stefano, Diego Maradona, Garrincha, George Best, Michel Platini, Eusébio, Ferenc Puskás, Bobby Charlton and Zinedine Zidane. In goal, I'd like to see Lev Yashin, but maybe you could try Gordon Banks, Dino Zoff or Peter Schmeichel. Xn4 01:11, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't think he means a all time greatest team, but a fantasy football league in which you choose 11 or so premiership players and get points depending on how they perform each week for their clubs. Umm I tend to lose these things despite being a keen fan, but my advice is get two or three expensive players, these will be the best. Cristiano Ronaldo tends to score a lot of points. Then fill up the team with cheaper players. Look for players who are playing against the lower down teams, or who may be playing twice in a week. Look at the statistics available already from the league you are in, and watch out for injuries. Lots of time to decide though, because it's internationals this week, so no fixtures. Cyta 10:27, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Defenders who take penalties are always a good option. And if you can't afford a goalkeeper from a good defensive team (NB not the same as a good goalkeeper!) pay the minimum for a goalkeeper that never plays. --Dweller 13:01, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Munchausen by Proxy

This is not a medical question, it's a historical one. I'm curious to see if there have been any documented cases of Munchausen by Proxy in which the feigned illness in the child was a mental one rather than a physical one - it seems that'd be easier to fake, wouldn't it, by exaggerating symptoms? Kuronue | Talk 14:13, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

(As munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric illness, then feigning a psychiatric illness would be a case of munchausen syndrome - and so it would be a real illness - a sort of contradiction...)

(clarify : Also Munchausen by Proxy involves faking or causing illnesses in others in order to bring attention to oneself ("by proxy") - I wonder how one could give someone else a psychiatric illness - maybe by giving pyschoactive drugs or something?)

Did you mean something like a parent/guardian claiming their child is 'autistic' or whatever the latest fashionable middle class disease is - as an example - something like that???87.102.79.56 15:34, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

can I add a mild objection to describing autism as a 'fashionable middle class disease'? Autism is a disorder and the autistic spectrum is vast, ranging from problems with social communication right through to the child who is locked into their own world - and many, many other things besides. (That absent-minded uncle of yours who hides away in his study might have Asperger's Syndrome - that's on the autistic spectrum). thanks 83.104.131.135 08:20, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

But at the same time, you do get parents claiming their child has 'the latest fashionable middle class disease', which might at that time be autism. I get very angry at parents who claim their children are allergic to peanuts when they clearly aren't. They complain that the doctor won't prescribe them an epipen, at the same time they hand their child a bowl of peanuts to throw to the birds! They're endangering the lives of those who actually have allergies, because they lead other people to believe that a peanut allergy is nothing serious, or that it's just something parents claim. It also screws the children up a little; I knew someone in their early twenties who calmly told me that he was allergic to peanuts while eating an entire bag of them. He was utterly convinced, because his mother had told him so and a 'doctor' had apparently agreed. I imagine autism has a similar problem at times, hence 87.102's comment. 130.88.140.43 17:05, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, that's what I mean; taking the kid to shrink after shrink until they find one who will say the kid is depressed/bipolar/autistic/what have ye. Kuronue | Talk 03:36, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

more information on cornerstone

Greetings,

I was reading the other day about the chief cornerstone spoken of in the Bible. So I checked out your site and was wondering if you had any info about this stone being the cap-stone of the prymids of Egypt. In reading the description of the stone in the Scriptures and the description of this cap-stone, it seems to me they are very simuliar. Just wanted your view and any further information that you might have on the matter.

Thank-you, John Hill Thomasville, NC —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.177.23.140 (talk) 17:32, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

(e-mail removed for spam reasons)

There are a couple of examples in the bible - which one?

Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame... The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone." (1 Peter 2:4-8)

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)

from http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/chapt15.htm

I don't see a major connection as yet87.102.79.56 18:03, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Although chief might connote top, the foundation context would tend to mitigate against associating chief cornerstones with cap-stones. I found an article with this quote, which may help: "How was the tabernacle kept at the proper form and angles? Special "corner" clips or sockets maintained right angles. The temple was built using this same architecture means by working from the first stone being set properly and the rest of the building being established from that point. The NT uses this analogy of the temple reerring to the cornerstone. If the chief cornerstone was misplaced or in error, the whole building as out square and unstable" --Tagishsimon (talk) 18:07, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Our article on cornerstone mentions the Biblical references and supports the idea of a foundation stone rather than a capstone. Foundation stone is certainly the meaning that I have always associated with these passages. Gandalf61 09:26, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

SNES PAL to NTSC Converter

What was the latest PAL to NTSC converter released by any company for the SNES and thus had the ability to play the greatest amount of Japanese/American imports. Furthermore are there any converters that can actually play " ALL " games.?

Ta. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.109.119.56 (talk) 19:27, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

PAL and NTSC are video formats. I suspect you're actually asking about SNES modchips that allow you to skirt Regional lockouts. Personally, I'd look for an emulator rather than a hardware solution. Keep in mind that Wikipedia can't really give you advice regarding illegal activities. --Mdwyer 21:00, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I`m not asking about modchips or anything illicit whatsoever. There exists devices, ( search ebay if your unsure ) or even google it, that allow you to play the American or Japanese SNES games on the European console. They are not illegal whatsoever. You place the converter in the console along with any PAL (UK version) game and then the NTSC( or American.Japanese) game and it can play it. Again see previous question. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.109.119.56 (talk) 21:39, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Wisdom teeth...

The dentist said recently that I'll need my wisdom teeth pulled soon, which annoyed me quite a bit. I was wondering though, is it better to get all four pulled at once, or one at a time (one fourth the dose of whatever it is they inject my gums with...), or does it not matter? Thanks in advance! Pessimistic Nonconformist? 20:05, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

If it was me, I'd definitely get them all at once. The prep takes time, and so does the recovery; the whole thing is sufficiently unpleasant that dragging it out to cover four completely separate occasions would be terrible. --Masamage ♫ 20:26, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I agree with the above post -- do it all at once and get it over and done with. That's what I did. (Joseph A. Spadaro 22:01, 10 October 2007 (UTC))

Agreed. All at once. Just go in, get them pulled, get some good drugs so you don't care about the pain for a few days, sit on the couch and eat ice cream, and watch way too much day time television. Plan on having it done on a Friday or sometime when you know that you'll miss a limited amount of work like a three day governmental holiday weekend. Dismas|^(talk) 22:11, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Unless you hate your job. :D --Masamage ♫ 22:12, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Why on earth would anyone want it done at a weekend? Surely better to have it done Monday morning! DuncanHill 22:52, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I think that would depend on whether your company lets you take sickleave for such things. I might rather have a bad weekend than burn vacation time. These days a lot of companies don't make any distinction between the two anyway, which is great if you don't get sick (because these companies usually give you a bit more of this combined vacation/sick time than you get in pure vacation time from companies that distinguish), but tends to incentivize presenteeism. --Trovatore 23:08, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Actually I'm still in high-school, but homeschooled, so maybe my mom will let me take a couple days off. :) Okay, thanks for the overwhelmingly-one-sided responses, I'll have them all pulled in one day (wish me luck!). · A Pessimistic Nonconformist? • Talk 23:14, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

It's not that bad. My cheeks were really swollen (I had mine out when I was 14), but that's about it. --_{King of the Wontons} | _{lol wut?} | _{Oh noes! Vandals!} 00:55, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

When I got 4 teeth pulled out for my braces (not wisdoms, 5th from the front), I chose to have one side of my mouth done at a time, with 2 weeks in between. It still sucked, but if I got them all done at once, I would have been twice the drooling mess I was. --Candy-Panda 01:46, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Are you sure they need to be removed? You might want to read our article on wisdom teeth, particularly the bit about the controversy. Also check with your dentist how long it will take to have all four removed at the same time. My dentist took an hour to remove just one of mine (though admittedly there were complications).--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:12, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Mine weren't breaking through yet, and they took all 4 at once, I don't really remember any problems with that, but they did put me entirely under for the procedure(using an IV), I think it was about 2 hours. I'll vouch for it not being that bad really (recovery I mean). Dureo 10:28, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Shantavira: Yes, they have to be removed, since they're pushing my other teeth forward, and they aren't even out yet. Pessimistic Nonconformist? 12:35, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I do have one other piece of advice for you. Under no circumstances allow your parents or whoever does the cooking at your house to serve peas for as long as your mouth is healing. When I had mine out, my mother served peas with dinner a few days after the extraction. One fell in the hole in my gums and it took me probably 20 minutes getting it out with a toothpick. Dismas|^(talk) 12:41, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

• Wait! Are we allowed to do culinary advice here?!?? :-) --Anonymous jester, 23:23 UTC, October 11, 2007.

He, I'll remember that. :) Pessimistic Nonconformist? 12:53, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Might I suggest mushy peas? DuncanHill 12:55, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I appreciate your concern, but I'm fairly sure that I can go without peas for a while... :) Pessimistic Nonconformist? 14:11, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

In regards to the peas: when my lower two were removed I was given some weird little plunger device thingamabob, which shot out a stream of water that was used to remove food detritus that had accumulated in the holes where my teeth used to be; some pretty gross stuff would come out when I used it. Also, I found using Ibuprofen, or some other over the counter drug, as my pain management drug worked fine, allowing me to "save" the prescription drug my dentist prescribed to me. 38.112.225.84 13:50, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't remember being given a thingamabob but then I don't think it would have helped. The pea was just about the same size as the hole which made the extraction of said pea difficult. Thus the toothpick. I would have tried to suck it out but I was advised not to use drinking straws for at least two weeks due to the possibility of the pressure causing problems of some sort. Dismas|^(talk) 18:43, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Okay, I'll keep your suggestions in mind. Pessimistic Nonconformist? 14:11, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

When I got mine out, my sense of taste was screwed up for a few weeks afterwards. The day it returned to normal was the happiest day of my life! Adam Bishop 17:08, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, considering my mom makes a mixture of cabbage, tomatoes, diet yogurt, yeast powder, and whey every day, I think I won't mind that. :) Pessimistic Nonconformist? 17:35, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I mean no disrespect to your mum - I'm sure she is a wonderful person - but I'd rather have my teeth pulled than eat that! DuncanHill 17:51, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I had a dentist tell me over 35 years ago that I should have my wisdom teeth out because "Someday they're going to bother you". They're still there, and they haven't bothered me yet. Corvus cornix 18:20, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Problem is they're already pushing the rest of my teeth forward. :( Pessimistic Nonconformist? 20:23, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I actually don't even have any. And just one twelve-year molar. >__> My mouth is incredibly tiny. --Masamage ♫ 18:58, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Get someone to drive you cuz you'll be too fucked up from all the pain killers to do so yourself. --MKnight9989 14:13, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Safety seal equality

How come my orange juice, my dog's arthritis medicine, and my power steering fluid need those paper/foil safety seals but my dishwashing soap does not? For what it's worth, I'm in the States. Dismas|^(talk) 22:38, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

You're unlikely to be poisoned by the soap, since it is rinsed away. The power steering fluid almost certainly has a seal for reasons distinct from the food products - less to do with possible adulteration and more to do with making a good seal, I'd expect. --Tagishsimon (talk) 22:41, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps the sealed products would otherwise 'spoil' more quickly? Alternatively a lot of products now have a 'child safe' seal that makes it difficult (or at least less easy) for children to get into containers/products that could be harmful to them. It could also be that certain products are more prone to leaking and so need more seals than others, or that packaging firm X has an automated sealer machine, but firm Y don't and so their produce doesn't come sealed - as it is unlikely to be a legal requirement to seal things such as OJ it would come down to company preference. Certainly I find that sometimes our '4 pinters' in the Uk come with a variety of good and bad seals for the lid. Some are incredible hard to remove in one fell swoop, others much easier. This is almost certainly a difference caused by different packaging/bottling machinery installed at different plants. ny156uk 23:06, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

The seal on the power steering fluid (and on other things like brake fluid) is to keep atmospheric water vapor from contaminating the fluid. The arthritis medicine is probably also sealed for that reason. The orange juice seal is probably because the juice has been pasteurized, and the seal keeps bacteria out, giving it a longer shelf life. --Carnildo 23:51, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

In 1982 a truly evil person killed several people by putting poison in Tylenol capsules. Tamper-evident seals on products became common after that, especially for packages anyone could adulterate, then place on a store shelf. Many years earlier, foil seals were added to the rubber tops of injectable drugs to prevent harmful substances being added, and to prevent narcotics being removed and replaced by inert liquid. In other areas of comerce, like gas stations, a foil seal on a product like a gas additive prevents the merchant from refilling a gas additive bottle with gas and seling it for more money. Edison 04:06, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I am old enough to remember the Tylenol scare. In fact, I grew up less than 20 miles from most, if not all, the victims. And I can see why seals on automotive products would benefit the products by keeping water vapor out. But it just seems to me that something could be put into the soap and end up on my silverware and dishes. Therefore, maybe there should be seals on this as well. Dismas|^(talk) 11:17, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

The safety seals were never to actually make you safer. Only to make you feel safer. It was a marketing technique to make Tylenol appear to be reacting to the crisis. Stoping someone from tampering with all the food products you consume is virtually impossible. Imagine a hypodermic needle going through a plastic bag of chips. You'd never notice the hole. Or think of the whole produce section in the supermarket. If it were a real danger people would be dropping dead on a regular basis. Better to spend your effort on making your automobile safer. 69.95.50.15 13:09, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

"Imagine a hypodermic needle going through a plastic bag of chips. You'd never notice the hole." Maybe you wouldn't, I would because the bag would no longer have a full seal; it would deflate when squeezed. I never buy something that doesn't have a full seal if I know it's supposed to. I've even reported products that deflate, when they're supposed to be airtight, to the shop staff (they may not do anything about it, but I'd feel awful if I didn't). 130.88.140.43 16:56, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

That's EASILY fixed. If I was going to go through all the trouble of poisoning your chips, I'd take the simple precaution of dabbing a bit of glue over the hole. Possibly even coating the needle with glue would be enough. (Some experimentation would be required.) Wouldn't be as strong, but you don't normally go around squeezing the bag. In any case, the chips were just my first thought. I assume you "report" unsealed bags because you're worried your fellow consumers will get stale chips, because, if you wanted to poison random people for no good reason there are loads of things in the supermarket you could poison completely undetectably with even less effort. (The entire produce section, for example.) It gets even even easier if you consider the possibility of buying something, tampering with it and heat-sealing it at home then sneaking it back into the store.

My point is that there are absolutely no protections against this sort of thing, and yet it still doesn't happen. I am always honestly confused by people who insist that this is a clear and present danger, and are completely blasé about real, but boring, dangers like automobile accidents, heart disease, etc. 69.95.50.15 15:07, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

What's a "paper/foil safety seal"? --Dweller 12:56, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

If you take the cap off the bottle there will be a seal across the mouth of the bottle. They are generally made out of either paper or some foil backed paper. It's glued to the opening. So once you screw off the cap, you have to then peel this paper or foil seal off. Some are even made of plastic but most are a thick paper or foil backed paper. Dismas|^(talk) 18:03, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

October 11

Yvonne

I recently came across an obituary for a woman named YuVawn. I am presuming this is a variant spelling of the name Yvonne. A google search for YuVawn turned up only 38 hits, all of which were genealogical or obituary entries. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.64.179.37.3 00:32, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I think you're probably right. Help with what, exactly? I'm unclear on what the question is. --Masamage ♫ 02:14, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

My guess is that the OP is after the origin of the variation, and possibly the reason (ethnicity/language of origin). Not that I know what that might be. Does the family name give you a clue to their ethnic background (if you can give it)? Steewi 03:03, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Oh, I see. In that case it could be literally anything. The stereotype is that unusual spellings of Western names often belong to people of African descent, but that's just a stereotype. I know a little white girl named Raechyl, and my own middle name is completely made up. Lots of people could have invented the spelling YuVawn independently of each other. I also get hits for Yavonne, Yvon, Yivon, Yevone, Yuvon, etc. etc. --Masamage ♫ 07:26, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I think that's more of a US stereotype than a western-civilisation stereotype. 130.88.140.43 16:52, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

In France, only recognised names can be registered, which prevents people creating new spellings of names. Yvon is however a recognised male forename. SaundersW 17:05, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Does the allowed list implicitly include feminine derivatives of listed masculine names? I mean, if Yvon (a variant of Yves) is on the list and Yvonne is not, is Yvonne still allowed? —Tamfang 09:14, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

As it happens, Yvonne is a recognised name. Feminine variants aren't automatically allowed, but you can use hyphenated named like Marie-Pierre where the first part is a feminine name, and the second is masculine, the whole being a feminine name. Equally, Jean-Marie is masc+fem = masc. SaundersW 15:12, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

Probably; Americans are often weirder about that sort of thing. ^^ I just meant 'Western' in terms of where the names come from, which is generally Europe. --Masamage ♫ 19:00, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Water and Chewing Gum

Why does drinking water while chewing gum make the gum harder (or at least feel harder to chew)? 72.189.138.226 02:40, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't have any sources but my bet is that it's due to the rapid cooling of the gum. Dismas|^(talk) 02:56, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

someone should do an experiment, drinking WARM water while chewing gum and see if the gum still feels harder. It would cost a lot of money, but would shed light on a vital aspect of human existence —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.182.100.107 (talk) 08:31, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

inverted commas/quotation marks

220.238.41.51 05:36, 11 October 2007 (UTC)–I have a problem with quotation marks not appearing when the appropriate key is hit. All other keys work fine. I hit shift+ " but the " does not appear until I hit the space bar or the next letter. This must be a software problem because I have tried three different keyboards and it happens on each one. Not disastrous but frustrating.05:36, 11 October 2007 (UTC)220.238.41.51

You seem to have answered your own question. If it's a software problem, then reconfigure or change the software. Or are you saying that this happens no matter what software you're using? Try it in a console or shell or at the command prompt -- or whatever your particular OS calls the straightforward typing of a command in text mode, free of any GUI. -- Hoary 07:12, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

You should probably ask this one on the computer ref desk (there is a link at the top-right of this page). Tell them what software you are using (or does it happen in all software?). SteveBaker 13:22, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I have the exact same problem. I asked about it on the computing ref desk last year; see here. The answers, helpful as they were, didn't help me to correct the problem. Apparently they are called dead keys. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 15:48, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

You probably have the keyboard set to international mode. Try pressing apostrophe (') and the letter "o" or "e". If it comes out as ó or é then this is the case. Basically, it's a way for people with US keyboards to enter characters from other alphabets. Check the settings in Control Panel->Keyboards. I'll hunt for a link for more info --Bennybp 03:44, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, I've got that too at work where I'm forced to work with bloody msWindows. The 'solution' (at least for XP) is in the panel at the bottom right, where there should be something for languages. In my case a Dutch version of the OS is installed, so it thinks I've got some Dutch keyboard or something that I've never heard of. I put 'solution' between 'scare quotes' because it's temporary. I have to tell put that back several times per day. Typical microsoft shit. "You think you want that? Nah, I know better, I'll change that back for you." Drives me up the wall. The reason is that I know it doesn't have to be like that. At home I use Linux, which does what I tell it to, as a good OS should. DirkvdM 05:24, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Go to Regional and Language Settings in the Control Panel, open up Text Services and Input Languages from the Language tab, and delete the Dutch keyboard. Or change the key combination for switching keyboards from the default (Alt+Shift) to something that's harder to press by accident. I'm not sure what Microsoft's crime is here. Dead keys aren't their invention. You can't blame them for enabling Dutch input by default on a Dutch version of Windows. The relevant control panel isn't that hard to find. I guess Alt+Shift is a pretty stupid key combination. -- BenRG 12:16, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Who on Earth would want any keyboard shortcut for that? You set the keyboard once to what you want and then you leave it that way. Anyway, there's no such thing as a Dutch keyboard, afaik. Everyone here uses the standard 101 (aka US) keyboard. So there being an option to set it to something else is one thing but giving it panel item plus a keyboard shortcut and then a stupid one like that is typical ms bullshit. DirkvdM 17:20, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

A lot of things have that as a standard configuration option.. what's wrong with that? --froth^t 23:02, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, configuration. Not toggle. Ie, just once, so no need for a keyboard shortcut. DirkvdM 10:44, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Bennybp hit the proverbial nail. If I hit apostrophe and then o or e I get the continental symbol but how do I change it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.104.46.101 (talk) 04:08, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Assuming you have XP, it's under Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options. Under the Languages tab in the box "Text services and input languages", click Details. If it the list already shows only "US" (not United States - International or somthing else), then there is another issue. If it's not listed, add the US keyboard (Language: English, Keyboard Layout: US). Delete the other(s) (it won't let you delete the last layout). If this doesn't make sense, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306560. But instead of selecting the international keyboard, select the US layout (step 7).

Thanks a lot. The problem is solved after many years. I hope anyone else with a similar problem reads this.

To DirkvdM: I used to change between them all the time. Most of the time I wanted a normal keyboard without the annoyances of dead keys. But once in a while, I wanted to talk to friends or write papers in spanish, requiring the accents. Although a keyboard shortcut might be a bit much, I liked having the system tray icon. :) --Bennybp 22:22, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Alright, for some it might be handy. But not for most. So it makes sense to build in the option to give this a keyboard shortcut (that's the problem it seems - not the system tray icon). But not as a standard, especially if this annoys so many people. Or else, at least in the system tray icon, give a (right-click) option to set it 'permanently', or rather, turn off the keyboard shortcut. It's a stupid design. Linux has some stupid things too, but nowhere near as many as msWindows. DirkvdM 10:44, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Brisbane City Council Budgets

Hi there

What is Brisbane City Council's (australia) annual fuel and maintenance budget for public transport vehicles, including buses ferries etc? Do you know how this roughly breaks down?

Or any idea where this information is easily available?

Thank you

Brad —Preceding unsigned comment added by 150.101.190.74 (talk) 06:37, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

For very specific information such as this, it's probably simplest to contact Brisbane Council directly via the "contact us" link on their website.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:23, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Do eggs keep out of their shells?

Can I take the time Sunday to break and separate the egg whites from, say, 30 eggs, putting them into a bottle to pour from throughout the week, speeding up my morning routine and reducing the hassle/mess? How long would egg whites keep outside of their shells? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.0.158.222 (talk) 09:40, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

In the fridge, in a clean vessel they will last a week. Campers used to break eggs into a jar to save weight and breakages. Why not buy dried egg white powder and reconstitute ? Paul

Is it cheaper? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.0.158.222 (talk) 12:04, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Just out of interest, why do you need to seperate the whites? Do you have meringue for breakfast? DuncanHill 12:43, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Some people only eat egg whites and not the yolks, to cut down on fat (they are basically water and a few proteins). Personally I find it a bit gross of an idea, but hey I don't eat it ;-) --24.147.86.187 13:18, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

no, but that's a good idea! Actually, I want to cut down on cholesterol. 8 eggs a day is huge in cholesterol, but I hear the whites have none. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.182.100.107 (talk) 14:09, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

8 eggs a day?! Why? 130.88.140.43 16:49, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

it's 40 g of protein, a bit over half of what I need per day while trying to build muscle. (i'm a vegetarian, also diabetic so milk's out). any other suggestions for carb-free protein, other than like powdered whey? 81.182.100.107 17:25, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

pickled eggs?213.249.237.169 20:43, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Maybe peanut butter? - Zepheus <ゼィフィアス> 22:18, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Isn't that pretty carby? Same for all the other non-meat sources of protein I can think of (soy, beans, cottage cheese)... --Masamage ♫ 22:20, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Try tofu? Warofdreams talk 02:11, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

That's soy. Come to think, I don't really know about its carb content, but it must have some considering it's a plant. --Masamage ♫ 02:32, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Now I'm intrigued. Why carb-free? I'd suggest peanuts/peanut milk, but they have about the same amount of carbs as protein, and are quite fatty. 79.65.40.28 16:55, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

You can freeze them too. Frozen egg whites will last for a year, frozen yolks will last for a month or two. Freeze them together and they won't last two weeks, apparently. risk 12:14, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Breathing in small flies

If one were to, for example, cycle through a dense forest or other ecological habitat in which a large population of small flies resided, and were to open their mouth wide and breath normally, would at some point the accumulation of insects entering their mouth and lungs render them dead? Weasly windom price 12:47, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

No. See cough. --Sean 13:53, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

From our "Wikipedia really DOES have an article for everything!" department, may I point out: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly?

Atlant 16:50, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

This is exactly why we do not post medical advice. Please take it up with Atlant exclusively if you choose to swallow a spider. --Tagishsimon (talk) 21:59, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I swallowed a fly once. A little girl brought it to me; "See I've caught this fly." I said "Thank you", took it from her hand, put it in m mouth and swallowed. The look on her face was priceless. Ever since I'm her big hero. :)

Point being, I'm still alive. Or were you talking about the flies. Pretty lethal for them, I suppose. DirkvdM 05:38, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, but have you ever inhaled a fly? X) --Masamage ♫ 02:11, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

different?

what is the difference between the USMC SAMR and the DMR? are there any? --MKnight9989 13:01, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Effective range, muzzle velocity, caliber, length, etc. What specifically were you looking for? There seem to be a number of differences. See U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle and U.S. Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle. Dismas|^(talk) 13:21, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I was under the impression that the DMR could be a M14DMR or a M16A4DMR. --MKnight9989 13:47, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Not according to those articles. According to them, the M14 is a DMR and the M16 is the SAMR. Dismas|^(talk) 17:59, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I know what the articles say but I have a book from 2005 stating that a designated marksman equipped with a M16A4w/scope or M14w/scope would be added to each squad. --MKnight9989 13:36, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Relationship between Jimmy Carter and Yasser Arafat

Many years ago I read of a romantic relationship between the brother of Rosalyn Carter and the sister of Yasser Arafat. Does anyone have any information on that? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rondo10 (talk • contribs) 21:30, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I can find no public record of this. Rosalyn Carter has two brothers: Murray Lee Smith (a minister) and William Jerrold Smith (an engineer). Arafat has at least two sisters, Yousra Abdel Raouf al-Kidwa and Inam Arafat, and no more than four. The Carter's were definitely on close terms with Arafat in their later years, but it seems unlikely that their respective siblings would have had a relationship at that stage. Rockpocket 00:53, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

The Income Tax and Apportionment

"No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken."

That's part of Article 1, section 9 of the US Constitution. But what does it mean? Does it mean that to income tax the federal government has to divide the burden by state in proportion to population? So if there were two states: State A has 2/3 of the population and State B has 1/3 of the population then State A would be expected to contribute to 2/3 of the federal income tax? Is this considered impractical because of disparities of per capita wealth between states?

128.54.77.36 21:33, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

It should be noted that this is superseded by the Sixteenth Amendment, which reads

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

That said, I believe that your reading of Article 1 is correct. The amendment article has further information on this point. — Lomn 21:41, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Also note that before the 16th Amendment, no one was really sure what a "direct tax" was. -- Mwalcoff 23:17, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

And none was ever levied. —Tamfang 09:22, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress got its money by charging the States, rather than their citizens, in proportion to the assessed value of property within each State. This rule naturally led to quarrels over the assessment, and so it was replaced in 1787 by a population rule, since people will tend to migrate from poorer states to richer states if free to do so, and thus to even out the wealth per capita. I may be misremembering but I think it was decided to apportion Representatives according to taxes collected before the assessment rule was replaced by the population rule; the notion of "one man one vote" thus crept in by the side door. But the Second Republic never used that mode of taxation after all. —Tamfang 09:23, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

October 12

Canned tuna question

By what method is the fish in canned tuna cooked before it is canned?--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 00:47, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

In the same spirit of "wow, Wikipedia has an article on everything," I now shall state "LarryMac's Conjecture" viz "All topics come up again on the Ref Desks." Here is an archive link to a question about tuna; the second link in my response says this about the first round of cooking - "Pre-cooking is carried out in steam at between 100° and 105 °C for as little as one hour for small species, or over eight hours for large specimens." I shall continue my research to determine if the six month cycle on questions is part of an established pattern. --LarryMac | Talk 13:28, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

in my Pee-wee Herman Steve Martin voice: well, excuuuuuuuuuuse me! It would be nice to make some kind of indexed, online book of all the good answers to WP reference desk questions. I know we have the archives, but this book would be more selective and easier to browse through. It would be roughly analogous to those "Fun facts" or "strange but true" books I used to read as a child. Thanks for the answer, btw.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 16:49, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

(after EC) No disrespect or anything bad was meant. Honestly, I was surprised to see something I'd once researched pop up again. Of course your question was not exactly the same, but it was a similar enough topic that I knew what to look for in the archives. Some day I hope to be able to bore my nieces and nephews with my arcane knowledge of tuna processing. And I've put a note in my calendar for next April so I can be ready for the next tuna question :-) --LarryMac | Talk 19:07, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

No disrespect was inferred; thanks again.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 19:37, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It's not a book but you can use Google to search through the archives specifically. Just go to Google and put in "site:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives" without the quotes and then your keywords for the search. Google will only search through the archives that way. Dismas|^(talk) 19:01, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, I'm well aware you can find old content anywhere on wikipedia using Google. I was merely saying it would be cool if there were a well designed, carefully edited resource compiling some of the good answers to questions posed to the reference desk; I think there's some really useful information to be found in these past responses.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 19:37, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Ah, well that's there for someone else who doesn't know how to use Google as well then. And it would indeed be a good book idea. Dismas|^(talk) 19:43, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

One of the purposes of the ref. desks is to point out where Wikipedia coverage is lacking. Theoretically speaking, after a question is answered on the ref. desks, the relevant articles in main space should be examined and updated, so that future people who are interested should be able to easily find the information. Theoretically speaking. Practically speaking, I doubt it happens with any frequency. -- 16:37, 13 October 2007 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.104.112.200 (talk)

Some of us try − WP:RDAC. Rockpocket 23:06, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I didn't know that Pee-wee Herman used Steve Martin's catchphrase. —Tamfang 09:25, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Reubens makes the phrase his own in Flight of the Navigator, but perhaps I'm showing my (lack of) age.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 09:32, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Ha, ha, I just downloaded the original Steve Martin standup routine. You know, all these years I assumed it just another "Pee-wee-ism" like "I know you are but what am I." But I suppose Pee-wee didn't coin most of his insolent responses. Thx for the tip.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 23:00, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

closed circuit cameras

What's the farthest distance that closed circuit cameras can be apart from one another to still work? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.127.165.136 (talk) 01:24, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

As long as the cables? A "closed circuit" camera just means one that doesn't broadcast via radio waves - these days you could call a web-cam "closed circuit" - so any distance. Truthfully, the term "closed circuit camera" is meaningless these days. SteveBaker 04:27, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

If you are talking about the viewing field of the camera and the ground they cover, that really depends on the design of the system and the specifications of the cameras used. --Kushal^{Click me!} write to me 04:40, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It depends on many factors. The first one is wiring. Depending on the gage of the wire, the data may not be transmitted over long distances. It also depends on the type of image. A camera which takes a black and white picture every few second is not gonna need that much "broadband" and it may be installed further away than a color camera constantly filming. Finally, it also depends on the controller. Depending on the controller, and its capacity to receive information, the distance may vary. Other factors include EM interferences, which may block out any transmission. Just because you can have a long wire, it does not mean the data will be transmitted. Except, I guess, over fiber optics but I don't know if CCTV systems support that. I recommend you look at some manufacturers' websites to get the precise information.Youkai no unmei 12:22, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Writing *.CSV / Excel file

hello every body plz help me to write csv /Excel file with formated pattern means with Color,Height,Width seting to any perticular cell in C++. i m thankuful to you in advance! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.95.25.181 (talk) 06:08, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

You can't write CSVs with formatting. CSVs are just text files with comma separated values—they can't have colors, height, width, etc. Excel can read CSVs, but an Excel file format (XLS) is very different from a CSV.

Writing a CSV is very easy; the only difficulty is making sure that any data value that has a comma in it as part of its data is enclosed in quotation marks, and that any internal quotation marks in such fields are replaced with double-quotation marks ("Like ""this"""). See CSV for more information. As for Excel, I have no idea, but I imagine you will have to utilize Microsoft's OLE automation to do so, as is usually required to write to their proprietary formats, unless you are willing to really try and figure out how the XLS format works (which, if you have to ask how to do it, is well beyond your ability—as it is mine). --24.147.86.187 15:35, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Hey i Need a good Job in Good Software Company

hello everyone, i m searching for the job in Good Software Company, i m BE(Computer Science & Engineering) with 67.70%, i m hardly need of job plz help me! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.95.25.181 (talk) 06:12, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Then I suggest you contact a Good Software Company. There are plenty of them around. Good luck.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 15:29, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Learning where the punctuation and shift keys are located would also be worth your time. We use a lot of punctuation in the software business, to the point where this occasionally causes crises, such as the Great Sharp Shortage of Oh-Six.

Atlant 16:09, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It's a good thing that those of us in the software business aren't required to speel correctly.  :) (just kidding, Atlant.) Corvus cornix 17:52, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

You raise a valid point, Atlant, but please allow me to cite the ref desk guidelines: "don't poke fun at a poorly-written question. The reference desk necessarily involves communication between questioners and respondents from different backgrounds and cultures."--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 17:57, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Is it possible for male orgasms to not feel as good as they used to? (declining pleasure)

I used to have amazing toe curling fist clenching orgasms, but not when i have them it's like they are over before they even start. I don't squirm like i used to. It's really frustrating. I am not overly stressed and my diet hasn't changed or anything. Any Help?! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.7.130.43 (talk) 07:05, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps you are getting older?86.202.27.20 14:10, 12 October 2007 (UTC)DT

As opposed to .... ? DirkvdM 17:24, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Rejuvenation (aging)? --froth^t 02:23, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Have you read the Wikipedia article Coolidge effect ? Edison 14:53, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Frequency has a lot to do with it as well. You'll find (in general) that orgasms after a period of abstinence are of a much higher quality than the third one of the day (lucky git). Other than that, try experimenting with different stimuli (alone or with a partner). Anal stimulation, erotic asphyxiation (careful), relaxing ones body before the "big moment", and any number of other things can help to increase the sensation. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 17:35, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

My own experience is that orgasmic power is like food related to hunger, novelty or need. I am sure you will be aware of the hunger and novelty aspects but need might be new. Ever been stressed through travel or staying with others. You need release then. If you work out what you are missing you can work around it if your partner is willing. It might be called bed death or similar. Paul —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 20:25, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Media Gateway control protocol

Hi,

Can anyone put suggestion regarding Media Gateway control protocol for me at (email removed for your protection).

Thanks and regards Upendra —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ubhatnagar (talk • contribs) 07:30, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

What do you mean by "suggestion"? Arakunem 00:05, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Content confirmation requested

Hello. I need a third-party to confirm or deny that the text, "John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him" appears in two books. The first one is on p. 212 of the January, 2007 tenth edition of The Rough Guide to New York City (ISBN 1843536927). There has been a little bit of confusion about this text, as a similar but smaller edition of the book may or may not include this information. The second book goes by the title of The Rough Guides' New York City Directions 2 (ISBN 1843537532). I recently confirmed that the text appears in the former book (ISBN 1843536927) by looking for "Lennon, John" in the index and following up to p. 212, however this has been disputed by another party. It is possible that due to misprints, the page numbers are listed incorrectly. It is also my guess that the text in question does not appear in the latter book, which is half the size of the former and is more of a condensed guide. It has also come to my attention that there may be several different versions of the same guide, (for example U.S./Canada/Euro/U.K. etc.) so please include the publishing date and any version/coauthor information in your reply. I have just confirmed that there are at least two versions of the tenth edition: a UK ed. published in January 2007, and a US ed. published in February 2007.[1] —Viriditas | Talk 08:35, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Google books turns up that exact phrase here: [2] on page 125 of "The John Lennon Affair" by Robert S. Levinson (ISBN 0765341565). The claim is that this phrase was written by Yoko Ono as a part of the public announcement of his death. The full text of the press release was:

"There is no funeral for John. Later in the week we will set the time for a silent vigil to pray for his soul. We invite you to participate from wherever you are at the time. We thank you for the many flowers send to John. But in the future, instead of flowers, please considers sending donations in his name to the Spirit Foundation Inc., which is John's personal charitable foundation. He would have appreciated it very much. John loved and prayed for the human race. Please pray the same for him. Yoko & Sean."

SteveBaker 13:50, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, Steve, but the problem is, that while much of the information in Levinson's mystery novel is based on actual events, it's considered a work of fiction. I know this because I made the mistake of using it as a reference only to discover this later. That's pretty much the reason I am sticking to the Rough Guide's at this time. I have already confirmed that the material appears in the 2002 and 2007 version, and I would like to cite the most recent copy, but another editor claims that this material does not appear in his 2007 copy, which is why I have asked for independent confirmation above. —Viriditas | Talk 18:53, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

How did Wikipedia start?

Hi,

For a paper I'm writing I want to know how Wikipedia started. I have read the History of Wikipedia but it does not state if Wikipedia transferred articles from Nupedia as a starting base or imported articles from other sources. I also would like to know where the initial user-base came from. In essence, how did Wikipedia cope with the cold start problem?

Any help/insight is appreciated :)

--GrandiJoos 10:44, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Neither of those. It started with articles written by volunteers, just like now. Much later, a very few things were brought in from Nupedia and a large number of out-of-copyright (and out-of-date) articles from old encyclopedias were brought in and heavily edited. Wikipedia really started with a blank page. Probably with a CamelCase title too! Wikipedia was started so that random editors could help build articles that would later be polished by experts and added to the Nupedia. Rmhermen 13:31, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Which means that neither Jimbo Wales nor Larry Sanger had any idea that Wikipedia would become something so important. A.Z. 06:05, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

I doubt anyone could have predicted that (and no one did). -- JackofOz 02:52, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

What we need to know is when Wikipedia will end.And if it does,there will be an article on it.But if there's an article then Wikipedia hasn't ended... If there isn't then the hypothesis that Wikipedia really does an article on everything will be wrong. I shall go and lie down now.That made my brain cells hurt Lemon martini 12:23, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Okay, then my question is, who started to create page's? How did people know back then about the wiki? And why did they start to write page's? If there where no pages and no or little users, why would someone start to create page's back then because the wiki idea was not new. --GrandiJoos 17:23, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I think site such as Slashdot had something to do with it. Mention some new web-concept to the geeks and they will come. So when Jimbo launched Nupedia and it began to attract attention [3][4], the then side project that was Wikipedia slowly took on a life of its own as interested technophiles warmed to the concept. Little did anyone know that it would turn into a monster and devour it's benign host. Note also, that many of the participants at GNUpedia came across to Wikipedia in the early days. Rockpocket 17:49, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Thank you very much Rockpocket!!! One final question. I found that Wikipedia was started on January 10, 2001 and that 1,000 articles where created by Februari 2001. The first Slashdot article on Wikipedia is from March 10, 2001. Does anyone know where the users came from that created the first 1,000 articles in about a month??? --GrandiJoos 17:44, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

That is a good question. I don't know the answer, but at a guess I would suppose that the original contributors were made up from the reviewers at Nupedia. Nupedia has been running for 9 or 10 months previously, but it was very content poor because its editorial policy permitted only "experts" to write articles. However there was a community of non-expert reviewers who would offer criticisms, but not actually edit the article themselves. I don't know this, as I was not a reviewer or editor at the time, but I suspect when Wikipedia was launched the non-expert reviewers had a mechanism by which they could now write articles rather than review them, and the first Wikipedians were probably largely drawn from this community. The Whole whole point of launching Wikipedia was to encourage more content to be written, which kinds of suggest there was already people at Nupedia who were keen to contribute, but were not able to due to the editorial policy. If there was a community of 100 reviewers, it is no unfeasible that each of them could contribute 10 stubs in the first month, before new editors began to arrive from GNUpedia and Slashdot. However, the best way to get an answer to this particular question is to ask Jimbo himself. If he doesn't answer personally, its likely that the people that hang out at his talk page could direct you to someone who was there at the beginning and give you a personal insight. Rockpocket 21:47, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

English language

What is the origin of'to give someone the sack`?84.18.2.115 12:21, 12 October 2007 (UTC)Barry84.18.2.115 12:21, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

I believe it refers to literaly having a sack put over ones head; either to kill them or just to humiliate. Shouldn't this be in the Language desk? Think outside the box 12:30, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable at Bartleby.com says the sack was a workman's toolbag. He was given it so he could carry his tools elsewhere. It also offers without comment the supposed fact that the Sultan would put an unwanted harem girl in a sack and throw it in the Bosporus. It doesn't say that this led directly to the invention of scuba, but I think it's likely. --Milkbreath 12:49, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Further to the first part of Milkbreath's answer, I understood that the employer would keep the sack during the employ of the tradesman and thus gave him the sack when he required him to leave.

scuba - as in "sack contained underwater breathing apparatus"?

Richard Avery 14:26, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

the moon to the tide

Does the phrase "the moon to the tide" have lesbian connotations? Picture of a cloud 12:27, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It's the opening line to the song "Under Your Spell" in the Buffy musical Once More With Feeling, a love song from Tara to Willow, so in that light it might have Lesbian connotations. However, from this GoogleBooks link, we can see that it also is used in a heterosexual context. In general, I'd say it's a metaphor for "eternally bound together", or perhaps "inexorably attracted to another". --LarryMac | Talk 13:12, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Actually, thats not the opening line; it is towards the end of the song. The opening lines are:

"I lived my life in shadow

Never the sun on my face,

It didn't seem so sad, though

I figured that was my place"

Think outside the box 15:34, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for catching that, I meant to rewrite that part of my response and just forgot to do so. --LarryMac | Talk 18:58, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

The moon really does pull the tide, so yeah, the metaphor could be used for any two people or forces that are bound together and effect one another. However, both the moon and the sea are classically associated with women (because of the menstrual cycle and chaotic beauty, respectively), so it was an especially appropriate choice for a lesbian love song. --Masamage ♫ 17:00, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It also is devoid of the aggressive/pursuit model of love/courtship which often takes a very masculine tone (whether it is used by men or not). The moon and the tides are simply locked; it is not a chase, it is not a hunt. --24.147.86.187 17:15, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

That and orgasms go in waves... Hyper Girl 17:17, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

And the moon is in the shape of a testicle, but I don't think these things are what the song is about -_- --froth^t 02:20, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

"Breaking with each swell" and "lost in ecstacy" might be ambiguous on paper, but they're sure not when you watch the episode. --Masamage ♫ 02:34, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

The moon? shaped like a testicle? come ooon? what sort of testicles have you seen? Those delicate organs are oval - egg shaped, and that does not start to compare the size!! Richard Avery 07:42, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

IT

If some one gave me a laptop, with windows already on it, is it legal for me to use it, and if so, STOP, let me refraze, I was given a computer, with windows on it already, but it also has a virus, and I can therefore not open Internet Explorer. How can I delete everything and start again, I have a 9gb hard drive but only 1.5gb free, what it is filled with I dont know. please can someone help me. ps, it is obviously not the computer I am using now. :-)12.191.136.2 12:32, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Did the laptop come with it's original Windows CD-ROMS and the corresponding license code? If it is still running the copy of windows that was on it when it was bought - then probably the original owner didn't have CD's. In that case, the manufacturer probably placed a backup copy of the OS in a special partition of the hard drive with a program to let you re-install Windows from that backup copy. On the other hand, if the original owner had installed Windows him/herself - then perhaps that person has the original CD-ROM and license codes to give you. If they are using that CD-ROM/license set for some other computer now - then it would be illegal to also run it on your computer - so you should go out and buy a new copy of Windows to run on it. Of course you could also wipe the drive and install Linux on the beast...that's what I usually do with old laptops. SteveBaker 13:37, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Thank you very much. The person that gave it to me knows almost as much as I do about computers which is nothing, so I doubt they installed it them selves, they may have the cds but theyre now in south africa and I am in England. so can you please tell me how to find the special partition to save windows and wipe the rest. thank you —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 14:47, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

If you are not "educated" in the Windows Explorer environment, you should just dump Windows[1] and move to a free (open-source) operating system such as Ubuntu Linux or Puppy Linux. Regards, Kushal

[1] The suggestion is based on the assumption that you do not have a compelling reason (such as internal dial-up modem). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kushal one (talk • contribs) 16:11, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

I am copying this section to the computer reference desk. --Kushal^{Click me!} write to me 16:12, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Investment Banker vs. Stock trader

I was just looking over a couple of careers, from what I can gather an investment banker is someone who deals in analysis of market trends and constructs models so on so forth, it's meant to be big money but ridculously long hours and no social life. But as I was surfing through entries I kept coming across stock trader who appeared to be doing similar work but with less hours. Are they the same job, or is a stocks trader more like a stock broker?

And just to clarify, what are those guys who sit in front of their computers and buy and trade stock really quickly in order to make a profit (ie not buying/selling on behalf of someone else)? Someone told me they were called day traders but then someone else told me they were investment bankers , but aren't the latter meant to spend all their time modelling?

The reason I'm asking is because I'm soon to be selecting my tertiary subjects, and I'm really interested in that rapid pace buying and selling of stocks over a short period of time, except I can't seem to figure out what the career is actually called... Thanks 121.216.53.172 13:21, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Added some wiki-links in for you. They should show the difference between the roles. I don't know if there is a 'wikijobs' out there but certainly it could be a good addition to the wiki-universe, often people wonder what job X does and it seems it is often hard to find out. ny156uk 15:42, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Thanks but I've already had a look at those articles and I can't seem to figure out which is which :(. A wikijobs would be great 121.216.53.172 00:16, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Snail soup

I'm collecting garden snails, ie Roman Snails (Helix pomatia) for my French friend. I intend to make her a lovly soup, and as this is my first girlfriend I want everything to go well. Unfortunately, I have no experience in cooking snails. Any advice? Weasly windom price 16:12, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

See escargot and land snails as food. Most garden snails are not edible, and they are not normally eaten in soup, so I suggest you check with her first rather than spring a surprise.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:30, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Yum. It is a little known fact, but true nonetheless, that girls prefer snail soup to flowers. Especially French ones. As an added bonus, Helix pomatia is a low-fat snail (only 0.49% fat) [5], so your Gallic gal will stay trim and svelte. Rockpocket 17:53, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Is that French girls, French snails, or French flowers?  :) Corvus cornix 18:06, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Ooh, svelte. Nice word. I'll add it to my repertoire (another fun word!) of my favorites --froth^t 02:18, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

This girl doesn't. XD Before we were a couple, my husband and I went on a gigantic group date with the explicit purpose of eating escargot, and I was one of only three people who chickened out. (He, on the other hand, was the first person to try them, and it was quite a show. Seems he prefered the snail to the bleu cheese it was cooked in.) Anyway, this makes me think that you might be able to get at least basic advice from a local restaurant, or of course you could check out a bookstore or library for cookbooks. --Masamage ♫ 02:20, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Also, are you 100% sure of the species? I just looked at a number of the pictures of land snails in snail and honestly most of them in the genus Helix look identical to my untrained eye. I think it would be hard to tell them apart unless trained a bit. --24.147.86.187 18:46, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

YIKES!!! I strongly recommend NOT doing that for many reasons. Snails that are raised for culinary purposes are fed on special diets - all sorts of special care is taken of them. Your wild snails will taste TERRIBLE (and they'll probably cause all sorts of "exciting" digestive issues). My wife is French and I can tell you that their reputation for eating weird things is greatly overrated - but their preference for really good, simple food is underrated! Your snails will do two things (a) they'll offend her because she'll assume you are reinforcing a ridiculous stereotype (which you are) and (b) they'll taste terrible and she most certainly won't enjoy them. So please, for pities' sake don't do this! NO, NO, NO, NO! (And if your thoughts even start to drift into the direction of Frogs' legs...slap yourself firmly across the face!)

If you really want to cook something that will appeal to her French background, then stick with something simple that you can do really well. Whatever thing it is that you cook the best (unless that's snails or frogs). The French love steak & fries - a good old standby would be 'Steak au poivre'. You can coat the steaks with crushed black peppercorns and add a cream & brandy mixture at the last minute - you could even get really brave and set light to the brandy. Before you cook the steaks be sure to ask how she likes them done (probably on the rare side...but you never know). Offer mayonnaise with the fries - that's something fairly uniquely French that will prove that you took the trouble to find something that would make her feel at home. The fies the French usually serve with steak are the thin, skinny ones like the ones you get at McDonalds (but NO! make your ownd!) If you can make your own mayo - better still - but it's easy to mess it up, so make sure you have some store-bought stuff around! (If you're really lucky, she might even offer to help you out with making the Mayo! You should have a really simple, fresh green salad on the side with a basic oil+vinegar dressing. Try to get some Dijon mustard - and if you're trying really hard, get both the smooth kind and the sort with lots of mustard seeds in them.

SteveBaker 12:12, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Or if you insist on sticking with a French stereotype of food, try something a little simpler and more palatable, like crêpes. — Michael J 18:51, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Some garden snails are POISONOUS!!!!! As in you could die from collecting garden snails to eat. This link suggests this is caused by the snails eating poisonous plants (to humans). Defiantly don't! --S.dedalus 20:37, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

You need to leave your snails for several days without food so that their gut is empty of any poisonous mushroom and plant. Even though wild snails can be delicious if prepared correctly I wouldn't advise on carying on with your plans. Why don't you cook something from YOUR country to impress her with new culinary sensations? You might be able to avoid a very polite disgusted smile from her. Keria 16:25, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Subject to the need to purge them first, you can eat most snails. You can certainly eat the ones you find in British gardens, properly called Helix aspersa, which can be delicious. The French cook them and call them 'petit gris'. Xn4 18:38, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Escargots have near-identical texture to Viviparidae, which is plentiful in Asia (and maybe Asian supermarkets, ask for 田螺). Maybe you wanna try that instead? :p --antilived^{T | C | G} 09:40, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

camberwell carrot wood joint

Could you please help me by giving me information on and detail of to make a camberwell carrot wood joint as i have never heard of this joint Is there such a joint in woodworking or am i being wound up —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.159.156.214 (talk) 20:58, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

The Camberwell Carrot is an extremely large joint invented by Danny in Withnail and I. I am not aware of a woodworking joint of the same name. Algebraist 21:11, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

U.S. Military in WW1

What branch of the U.S. Military was a corps of only 50 soldiers when World War I broke out?

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Airbornejerky (talk • contribs) 22:05, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

This sounds like one of those well intentioned but misguided bar trivia questions. The closest I could find was at Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps which had 51 officers and enlisted men in 1912. 161.222.160.8 23:31, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It does sound like a trivia question gone wrong, because based on that article, it seems like they want you to say the United States Air Force had only 50 members at the time. — Michael J 18:48, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Er, what? The US Air Force didn't exist then. It was created (from the United States Army Air Forces) after WW2. --Tardis 21:33, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

Queen's Bodyguards

What government agency is responsible for the personal protection of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family? How does the overall quality of this agency compare with the US Secret Service? Thanks. Acceptable 22:43, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department of the Met. I am not sure how one would compare the quality with that of the US Secret Service. DuncanHill 22:47, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

We haven't had any successful assassinations of a British Monarch since at least 1649, so they and their predecessors could be regarded as having bettered the performance of the Secret Service. Occasions when the lives of members of the Royal Family have been threatened have almost always been resolved peacefully: the starting pistol attack on the Queen by Marcus Serjeant in 1981 was over quite quickly, and Ian Ball's kidnap attempt on Princess Anne was thwarted without loss of life. There was also the Free Wales Army Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru attempt to bomb the Prince of Wales in 1969 but that went wrong all by itself. Sam Blacketer 22:53, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

That's a rather strong claim to make. I feel that gun culture, the political system, population size, even national 'personality' factor into the amount of successful assassinations much more than the quality of the bodyguards. And assassinating royalty is very different from assassinating a president. At the very least, you should normalize the number of successful assassinations by the number of attempted assassinations. I doubt that any statistics will give you a reliable answer on this, though. The best way to assess the quality of the protection would be to do a thorough study into the amount of training that goes on, the funding the agency gets, the status it has, that sort of thing. risk 01:51, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Agreed. As to Sam's list, I note that he didn't mention the various attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria. However, while I know no details about them myself, I don't believe they say anything about the effectiveness of the Queen's protection today. --Anonymous, 02:15 UTC, October 13, 2007.

Brigade of Guards?--88.111.33.45 09:59, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

The Guards - horse and foot - are the monarch's military protection. Today largely a traditional role. Her everyday personal security is in the hands of the police (as above) but no doubt the security service(s) are also involved.86.216.250.225 12:03, 13 October 2007 (UTC)DT

Wouldn't the difference in the positions of President vs. King/Queen have something to do with the motive in killing either one? I'm not familiar with the British Monarchy as much as I am with the American Presidency but I didn't think that the King/Queen actually had any say in political matters. They're basically figure heads, no? So there would be no point in killing them to further an agenda. Dismas|^(talk) 18:19, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, in relation to political matters, the UK monarch has the right to be consulted, to advise, and to warn. He/she also appoints the Prime Minister of the UK, and there are historically recent precedents (see Alec Douglas-Home) where the majority party did not choose its own leader and it was left up to the Queen to make the choice. That would be more than enough incentive to assassinate the monarch, if one were so minded. -- JackofOz 02:51, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

My guess is the motive for killing either the queen or the president would be about the same -- to get attention. As far as I know, no attempted assassination on an American president since that of James A. Garfield has been about pushing an agenda. To affect change through assassination, someone would have to kill both the president and vice president, which is quite a tall order. -- Mwalcoff 02:55, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

The British Royal Family commands an extremely high level of affection and support from the vast majority of the British people - partly because the Monarch does not have any political role and therefore does not take major decisions that alienate some people. It would be regarded as a disaster of the first magnitude were the Queen to be assassinated.86.219.32.234 09:51, 14 October 2007 (UTC)DT

Sidenote: I once met someone who almost bumped into the Dutch queen Beatrix in New Zealand (at least, that's how he told it). He walked into a shop while she came out. He was astonished that she walked around without any protection whatsoever. DirkvdM 18:13, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

October 13

mentally retarded

do retards know that they are retarded, or do they need for someone to remind them????? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.157.23.219 (talk) 02:30, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Good question. I would imagine that those who aren't all that slow would know, or at least they'd realize from time to time when things went wrong. I remember being three, and if a retarded person had a mental age of three, he would think he was OK and that older people were mostly just mean and stupid, I guess. --Milkbreath 02:59, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

It is not only likely that they have been told, but their own limitations (and abilities) are coded into everything they do during the day. Whether they know it by name, by clinical definition (which most people don't know anyway), or just through experience, I am sure they are aware of some of the more salient aspects of it. --24.147.86.187 12:44, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

I believe our articles on introspection and self-reference may be relevant. Gandalf61 14:40, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Absolutely they know, since they get feedback all the time from everyone they interact with. Believe me, you never cease to be aware of being retarded. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.182.100.153 (talk) 22:30, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

I recommend you read the novella Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Mentally impaired people are very much aware they are "special" and are often very highly motivated to better themselves mentally. Rhinoracer 11:55, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

George Bush's daughters

Is it true that George W Bush has another daughter but he disowned her because she was gay? --124.254.77.148 04:59, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

You may be confusing George with his Vice-President Dick Cheney, one of whose daughters is a lesbian. Afaik, he hasn't disowned her. -- JackofOz 05:41, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

He hasn't disowned her. Mary Cheney is the daughter you're thinking of. • Lawrence Cohen 06:36, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

The Bush twins are more known for their "underage" drinking exploits than for any controversial sexuality. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 17:24, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Twisting one's head

Please note I do not intend to try this. In movies and videogames, assassins are commonly depicted hanging from the ceiling and suddenly leaping down to snap or twist a victim's head in attempt to kill them. In real life, would this actually kill the victim? If so, how much of an angle of rotation would be needed for it to be fatal? Thanks. Acceptable 15:35, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia cannot give professional advice relating to infiltration and murder by would-be secret agents. That said, yes, this would easily incapacitate and almost certainly kill the victim. Our article on cervical vertebrae note that injuries quickly cause widespread paralysis, including that of the diaphragm, which leads to suffocation. As for how far -- a quarter turn beyond how far you can pivot your neck, give or take. The amount of force probably matters, too (that is, a quick snap is more likely effective than a slow twist). — Lomn 16:11, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

I figured that there must be a name for this move. I doubt it's used often in real life, but it's a staple of movies, tv and and games. The best I could come up with was this page (google cahce), which calls it a 'head wrench'. This CIA essay (may be fake, but it's on a lot of sites) says that bare hands assassinations are exceptionally difficult and even Judo experts (judo assassins? I knew the CIA was up to weird stuff) would reach for a nearby crowbar if possible. risk 01:45, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

It's unlikely to be fake if it was posted by the National Security Archive. They are a very reliable and well-known private archive at GWU who excel at using FOIA requests to get documents that the government doesn't want people to see. They have been around a long time and are a mainstream group, not a fringe organization. If they say they got it by FOIAing the CIA, it's unlikely they are lying. Just FYI. --24.147.86.187 02:35, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I would imagine that using "judo experts" is evidence of fakedness. Althoguh judo does involve strangles and locks, being a sporting martial art, rather than a defensive martial art, it doesn't involve any instructions on breaks and snaps.Steewi 02:21, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, there are categorizations for these kinds of maneuvers. This forum post cites part of the US army training manual (I especially suggest the 'Belgian takedown'). The 'head wrench' isn't included, but they do show a neck-breaking technique where the victim's head is yanked backward with a knee to the back, using a helmet for purchase. They call this family of techniques sentry removal. This] is a pdf of the full manual. I'm developing a rather macabre fascination for the subject now. I just have to share this paragraph:

7-4. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Killing a sentry is completely different than killing an enemy soldier while engaged in a firefight. It is a cold and calculated attack on a specific target. After observing a sentry for hours, watching him eat or look at his wife's photo, an attachment is made between the stalker and the sentry. Nonetheless, the stalker must accomplish his task efficiently and brutally. At such close quarters, the soldier literally feels the sentry fight for his life. The sights, sounds, and smells of this act are imprinted in the soldier's mind; it is an intensely personal experience. A soldier who has removed a sentry should be observed for signs

of unusual behavior for four to seven days after the act.

And while I'm at it:

He focuses his attention on the sentry's head since that is where the sentry generates all of his movement and attention. However, it is important not to stare at the enemy because he may sense the stalker's presence through a sixth sense.

Getting back to the question, I think it's a highly ineffective and unreliable technique, even if it is possible. I also think you'd need to provide some sort of counterforce to prevent the shoulders and upper body from twisting along with the motion. Since you're using both hands on the head, that's problematic. risk 02:28, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, the body has its own inertia, and it's a lot heavier. —Tamfang 16:01, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

That's true, but it's not rigid either. The shoulders can twist along quite easily, while the feet stay in place. Maybe a more upward angle would stop this. I'm trying to figure out how the rest of the body will react, but it's tricky without actually being able to twist your head that far. risk 23:19, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

As an aside, there are more effective ways to kill someone silently. A sharp stab with a knife through the lower back and into the kidneys, for example, will kill someone extremely quickly and not make a peep. --24.147.86.187 02:41, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

its basically the same thing as hanging a person. when you hang them, there neck is broken, they don't die instantly, unless your head falls off. the person just stops breathing and suffocates. its a really horrible death. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.210.23.83 (talk) 04:59, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I always get the willies when I see someone try to cure another's stiff neck with a sharp twist. Surely that's dangerous? —Tamfang 16:01, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I doubt you can actually break someone's neck accidentally that way, but I wouldn't let an unexperienced person do it to me. Chiropractors study for years to get that sort of thing right. I think you can do a lot of damage if you don't know what you're doing.risk 23:19, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

smart work & hard work

what is the differece between smart work & hard word? or both are related to each other? or both are the two wheels of the same cycle? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.212.154.205 (talk) 17:03, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

With all respect "smart work" sounds like bullshit-speak for not actually doing any work and getting paid for it..

More likely it's (smart work) supposed to mean working efficiently

You will already know what 'hard work' is.83.100.254.51 17:30, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

also 'smart work' can be a compliment for a job well done.83.100.254.51 17:33, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Here's an example. Say you need to move a pig from one pen to another. You could lift the pig up and carry it over, which would be hard work, or you could get a carrot and lure the pig into it's new pen, which would be smart work. They are not really different concepts, I would think of them more as two phrases that are used together to show that there are different ways to attack a problem, and that it usually pays to think about a problem before jumping right in with 'brute force'. So I'd "smart work and hard work" is a single concept referring to situations like this where there are solutions to a problem. I'm afraid I don't understand the phrase 'two wheels of the same cycle'. risk 18:01, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

The phrase 'two wheels of the same cycle' means a bicycle of course! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.111.61.118 (talk) 23:36, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

There is a phrase that goes "Work smarter, not harder". This is often meant as "Find a way to do the job that is more efficient and results in less physical labor". Dismas|^(talk) 18:02, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Damn dismas you nicked the phrase I was just about to throw in! And now this note is pretty pointless... ny156uk 18:04, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

(edit conflict) There is a saying or formula that goes something like "You can work smart or you can work hard." The implication is that if you apply your intelligence to a task you will find an easier way to do it. A point of grammar: "Smart" is an adverb here, even though the American Heritage Dictionary, for example, doesn't show it as one. We can't use "smartly" even if we want to because that already means something else and would therefore make for a fatally ambiguous aphorism, and it would ruin the symmetry with "hard". --Milkbreath 18:10, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Here's another example. The teacher, leaving the class for a few minutes, told all the students to add up all the numbers from 1 to 100. Well, most did it the hard way, but one student realized that by grouping the 1 with the 100 (=101), the 2 with the 99 (=101), all the way to the 50 with the 51 (=101), he was really just being asked to add 101 fifty times. So he just multiplied 101*50 and was done quite fast. He worked smarter, not harder, than other students, and ended up finished first. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.182.100.153 (talk) 22:25, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

To whom it may concern, that student was Gauss. (The Gauss article makes no mention of it, but doesn't seem to be apocryphal [6] [7]). risk 23:22, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Another version of the Gauss story is told by Eric Temple Bell (reproduced in the 1956 anthology The World of Mathematics, edited by James R. Newman). Note that essentially the same trick, adjusted appropriately for an odd or even number of terms, works for summing any arithmetic series (for example, 400+422+444+466+488+510+532+554+576+598 = 998x5 = 4,990). Bell gives the teacher's name as Büttner and, rather than naming the specific series 1+2+3+...+100, he simply says the problem was of this type and big enough to keep the rest of the class busy for an hour. And that "to the end of his days Gauss loved to tell how the one number he had written was the correct answer and how all the others were wrong. ... Gauss had not been shown the trick for doing such problems rapidly. It is very ordinary once it is known, but for a boy of ten to find it instantaneously by himself is not so ordinary."

A nice fictional example of "work smarter, not harder" appears in the movie of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (possibly also in the original book, but I haven't read it). Dr. Watson has taken Sherlock Holmes to consult Sigmund Freud and a criminal case arises. At one point a past patient of Freud's, a prostitute named Lola, is kidnapped. Holmes and Watson go to the scene of the kidnapping, where they realize that Lola was carrying a bouquet of lilies and has dropped them one by one. "Ingenious creature", says Holmes, "she's left us a trail", and off they go. It turns out that the kidnappers, not having a place ready to hold a captive, have gone to a brothel and arranged to have her kept there. When Holmes and Watson arrive, they find Freud waiting for them. He explains simply: "Where else to hide a demi-mondaine but in a bevy of demi-mondaines?" And Watson says in some embarrassment, "We followed a trail of lilies."

--Anon, 05:05 UTC, October 14, 2007.

Death of Diana

Were any of the accidents that had previously occurred in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel investigated to determine if they could have served as a model for murder? Clem 20:59, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

"Los Angeles, California"

Why do people live in the city of Los Angeles where is the most best and 1st place winner to be affected by earthquakes?--Writer Cartoonist 22:40, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Entertainment? Clem 23:05, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

I can't answer that question, but I know that the Japanese have trouble understanding why the Dutch are comfortable living below sea-level, whereas the Dutch have the same difficulty understanding the Japanese' constant Tsunami threat. I guess a lot of places have this 'sword of Damocles' quality to them. It's never as bad as it sounds, and when you do get struck by real disaster, you won't exactly have the means to move to another town afterwards, so the population is maintained. I guess the real answer to your question lies in the people that move to Los Angeles, rather than just staying there. The UCLA students, the people that get job offers. My guess would be that they think, if there are that many people living there, the earthquake threat can't be so bad. If you got the perfect job offer in LA, would you let it stop you?risk 23:32, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

It's a big city with a lot going on in it. And the weather is warm and dry year-round. Earthquakes happen sporatically at most and have relatively low levels of death associated with them in any case, as far as risks go. Compared to the North East U.S.A., which is snowed under and has tons of half-melted ice on the roads and sidewalks for about half of the year, it's not a bad trade-off. Truly nasty earthquakes don't happen there all that often.

As someone who lived for many years in another earthquake-prone zone (S.F.), it is my observation that people are collectively quite willing to ignore and downplay the earthquake threat on a day-to-day basis. There is probably a psychological reason for this — it is not a threat they can change, it is not caused by any given human, and it affects everyone equally, so it becomes an "acceptable" risk.

In any case, earthquakes kill far fewer people in L.A. than the freeways there do (in 1994, the Northridge earthquake killed 72 people; in the same year some 420 or so people died in car accidents; in 1995, nobody died from earthquakes, probably the same number of people died from car accidents)— you might as well ask why people would live there because of the driving, as that's a bigger threat to their individual health than earthquakes. Or why anyone lives in a hurricane zone, or a tornado zone, or a place often targeted by terrorists, or any of the other "big threats" that one has, and whether those "big threats" are really kill that many people per year in comparison to the "small threats" like driving, cigarettes, mis-prescribed medications, bad dieting, etc. --24.147.86.187 02:21, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

What are the chances of getting killed by an earthquake when you live in LA? I don't have the total death toll over, say, the last century, but divide that by the total amount of people who have lived there in that timeframe and you'll probably end up with a pretty low figure. Much lower than the 0.5% chance of getting killed in traffic (no, really, it's that bad!). Still people drive cars, so the real reason is that people won't accept a risk until they're actually faced with it. And how often are there serious earhtquakes in LA? Also, people often assume that bad things only happen to other people. Or take global warming. The vast majority of scientists say that we're headed for a global catastrophy and still voters hardly use that as a basis for what party they vote for. People will believe what they want to believe. DirkvdM 18:38, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Since no major party (so far as I know) has made global warming a campaign issue, and anyway party discipline barely exists here, letting that determine one's vote would be a bit daft. Of course it's daft in the first place to entrust decisions in a wide variety of fields to the same people, so perhaps this observation is irrelevant. —Tamfang 16:28, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

That bit was not about people in general, not about the US specifically. In the Netherlands, there is only one party that occasionally brings up the issue, GroenLinks, and they only get a few percent of the votes, not quite enough to cause much change. DirkvdM 18:42, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Concerning the risk of living in the Netherlands, about half of it is above sea level. And if a dyke breaks, only one relatively small section will inundate - there's not just one dyke around the country, it's a whole network, so the next dyke will hold back the water, and at least there will be plenty of warning. And the dykes have been built to withstand anything except the sort of combination of effects that only occurs once every 10.000 to 100.000 years (depending on the location) - it's a way safer system than in New Orleans, for example. And even if a dyke breaks and you live in the inundated area, you still have a good chance of surviving - it's not quite as sudden as an earthquake. Take the North Sea flood of 1953, which was a really big one, killed 1,835 people - that's less than one thousandth of the Dutch population. And 30,000 were evacuated. So only about 8% of those at risk were killed. And after that the Delta Works were built (apparently one of the seven wonders of the modern world). So we're pretty safe here. :) A better question might be why people would want to live in, say, Israel. For most Israelis living there was a choice, unlike, I presume, most LAians, who were born there. DirkvdM 18:38, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Just FYI, the term for a citizen of Los Angeles is Angeleno. --Trovatore 23:27, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Ha! In California we joke that "everyone" is from somewhere else. —Tamfang 16:16, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

There's a heck of a lot more choice involved in living in LA than in Israel. More than two-thirds of Israelis were born in the country, and most Israeli families are from places like Yemen or Ukraine, where they wouldn't exactly feel comfortable going back. On the other hand, fewer than half of the people in LA County were born in California -- most are either from another country or elsewhere in the US. It's very common for Americans to move around the country. An LA resident who doesn't like earthquakes can move to Florida just as easily as the millions of New Yorkers and Ohioans who move there because they don't like cold weather.

What I don't get are people who live in places like the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which seem to be wrecked by a hurricane every few years. But I'm sure they would have a hard time understanding why I live in a place where, for a couple of months, you put cans of soda in the fridge to keep them warm. -- Mwalcoff 02:49, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

list of earthquake deaths in the United States —Tamfang 16:16, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Wow, that's even less than I thought. In the past century (which only just excludes the big one in San Francisco), it's only about 600. And in LA only 9?? DirkvdM 18:42, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Houses in the US tend to be built of wood (unlike the rest of the world, which tends to use brick, stone, or mud brick). And wood-framed houses (unlike brick, stone, or mud brick) are quite earthquake-resistant. --Carnildo 20:13, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Northridge (60 dead in 1994), San Fernando (65 dead in 1971), Long Beach (115 dead in 1933) are all in Los Angeles County. —Tamfang 22:57, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Actually Northridge is part of the city of Los Angeles. I found this out sometime in the 1990s when there was a movement for the San Fernando Valley to secede from LA -- my reaction was "the Valley's part of LA?". (I was living in LA at the time, and the Valley always seemed like something separate.)

However I don't know whether your "60 dead" figure is all in Los Angeles -- some of them might have been, say, in West Hollywood or Beverly Hills, which are not part of LA. --Trovatore 23:03, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Bracing for car accident

Assuming one is driving alone in a family sedan and an inevitable frontal impact crash is about to occur. How should one brace for the accident? Should the head be rested against the headrest? Should the neck muscles be tightened? etc... Similarly, how should one brace for side and rear impacts? Thanks. Acceptable 01:46, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

According to Death of Diana, Princess of Wales article it was displacement and tearing of internal organs which resulted in death of the occupants even though airbags were deployed for the driver and the front passenger. It is claimed by the attending medical personnel that no one would have died had they been wearing seat belts. Although this may or may not be true it does seem highly unlikely that bracing, one's self, airbags, seatbelts or anything else would be sufficient to prevent internal displacement and tearing of organs for any collision with sufficient G forces, also High Acceleration and the Human Body.Clem 02:29, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I seem to recall hearing that people who were asleep (with seat belt on) survived more often than those who were awake, the theory I heard said this was because the sleeping individual didn't tense/stress their body as they were unaware of the impending crash. So if that theory is true it would seem 'relax' is the best (if most difficult) approach to take. ny156uk 02:37, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Also notable is the fact that persons who are drunk have a higher survival rate for crashes than people who aren't, due to the fact that they are more relaxed (in support of the previous statement). The position of the seatbelt is also important. If it is not across the hip bones, but across the stomach, for example, it can cause a lot of internal damage. From personal experience, however (bike vs. contruction vehicle at 55 m/h, believe it or not), I'd encourage anyone entering a crash situation to attempt to manuver their vehicle into the same direction as the other vehicle, and speed up to reduce the force of the impact. If possible, try to position something between the more vulnerable parts of your body and anything that could harm them (pulling you legs up between you and the steering wheel. You might break your legs, but you're probably less likely to crush vital organs). justice 04:40, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

A Honda CRV with ACC (Active Cruise Control), automatically tightens the seat belt and applies the brakes for you if it's radar anticipates an accident while giving a visual and audiable warning as well.--88.111.33.45 07:48, 14 October 2007 (UTC) Arrghh 4 got2 sin --88.111.61.118 19:41, 14 October 2007 (UTC) :-)

Seatbelt pre-tensioners are actually pretty common nowadays - usually they are set off at the same time as the airbag. My MINI Cooper'S has them. SteveBaker 15:53, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Indeed. same for drunk people. Problem with that is that you're more likely to get into an accident in the first place. And that also counts for sleepy people. Sleepy driving should be as illegal as drunken driving. DirkvdM 18:52, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

What about stupid driving? --88.111.61.118 20:02, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

No problem unless it's dangerous. Of course one could say the same about drunken driving and sleepy driving. Actually, there should be a general test for the physical abilities required for driving. If old people tend to fail that, then maybe they should not be allowed to drive. DirkvdM 18:44, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

My brother once crashed on a highway, so he was probably going about 100 km/h when he hit a bump in a curve. And he wasn't wearing a seat belt. I don't know too many details of how he hit what,but he said it certainly helped that he stretched his arms and braced himself against the steering wheel. After the crash he had a terrible muscle ache in his arms. But the pain in his head was even worse, because he crashed sideways into the railing, as a result of which his head crashed against the side window. Which broke, I believe. To illustrate the seriousness of the crash, when he tried to sell the car for scrap, he could only get some money for the tires, which were brand new. DirkvdM 18:52, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

October 14

Austin skyline

Are the UT buildings considered part of the Austin skyline? Æetlr Creejl 02:19, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Considered by whom? Are they in downtown Austin? How tall are they? If I could see them against the sky, from anywhere in or around Austin, then I would consider them to be part of the Austin skyline. However, no skylines are definitive; they all depend entirely on one's viewpoint. If I couldn't see them from where I was standing, they wouldn't form part of the skyline.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 11:20, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Incas

Are there any Incas still left today? 65.33.220.127 14:00, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

There are no Incas in the world today, in the same way there are no Prussians in the world today; the empire which gave them their name no longer exists. However, there are certainly decendants of the Quechua and Aymara peoples who lived in the Incan empire; see Demographics of Peru, Demographics of Bolivia, Demographics of Ecuador. FiggyBee 14:23, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Two unrelated questions

First, what percent of Americans vote? Second, what percent of Amercans are mentally retarded? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.227.21.225 (talk) 18:18, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

1. Around 50-60%, depending on the type of election. It's generally around 50% for local (i.e. House, mayor, town council) elections, and higher for presidential elections. 2. A quick google search on "percent of americans who are mentally retarded" turns up an essay from 2000 that claims 12% of all Americans. NASCAR Fan24^{(radio me!)} 18:27, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Note that the second percentage is (theoretically at least) independent from anything in the real world. It is basically the definition of mental retardation that the bottom p% of the population is mentally retarded. IQ is defined such that 100 is average and 95.8 percent of the population falls between 70 and 130. (ie. if everybody gets smarter, the average IQ stays exactly the same, if the difference between smart and dumb increases, IQ values won't change). Mental retardation is defined as an IQ of 70 or lower, or more specifically a value below two standard deviations below the mean. This means that by definition, 2.2% percent of the population is mentally retarded. No matter how smart everyone gets, or how the distribution changes, that value stays the same. That makes the value of 12% (as measured statistically, I guess) very interesting. I guess that most diagnoses are based on more that IQ alone and that accounts for the bulk of the discrepancy, but it's a large gap. risk 18:53, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

According to the article on mental retardation there are two more criteria beyond the IQ thing required before someone is diagnosed as mentally retarded, so the definition is less strict than I made it seem, but really that should only serve to decrease the percentage, not increase it. risk 18:58, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

See Elections in the United States. Last time, for the president it was 59%, for the senate 29% and for the house of representatives 38%. (Usually good for a smirk in the Netherlands - hey, aren't those the guys who think they have to force democracy down other people's throats? :) .) Often, the figures given are for the ones who registered to vote, not for the entire electorate, so be careful when you read such figures. Not included in the given figures are people who are not allowed to vote, such as retarded people (is that the reason for the second question?) and people in prison. If you include those in the electorate, the percentages would be even lower. Especially the amount of people in prison in the US is quite high, I've heard, but I have no figures on that. DirkvdM 19:02, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

According to Prisons in the United States, 2.2 million are incarcerated, with another 4.8 million on probation or parole. Algebraist 20:57, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Can Americans be barred from voting for incompetence? I haven't heard of it. —Tamfang 16:19, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Ok, that would be just over 1% of the electorate, so not such a big factor. Still not good, though. this table (in Dutch) shows the number of incarcerated people over time in various countries per 100.000 inhabitants. For the US that's in the hundreds, and almost tripled from 275 in 1982 to 690 in 1999. The table stops there, but according to your figure, it should have risen a staggering 1000 by now. Most other figures are well below 100. So the numbers of prisoners per capita in the US is more than ten times what it is elsewhere. It used to be bad, but since Reagan it's been rising very sharply. I wonder how many of those are in prison for smoking a joint. From a joint to the joint. :) No, not funny. DirkvdM 18:59, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

"Dallas and Houston"

Between the two cities in Texas which would be the best to live in? Houston or Dallas? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.32.134.152 (talk) 19:10, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

It really comes down to a matter of opinion. What are you specifically looking for in the two cities? NASCAR Fan24^{(radio me!)} 19:26, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I've been living in Dallas (which is really two large cities: Dallas and Fort Worth with Arlington and a bunch of smaller communities surrounding them) - and recently moved to Austin. I havn't lived in Houston - but I know a lot of people who have. My impressions of Houston are mostly that the extra humidity makes the hot summers truly miserable - the heat in Dallas is much more bearable. Aside from that, there is little to choose between them. Austin on the other hand (which is the capital city of Texas) is entirely different - vastly more culturally diverse. Austin's unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird" - and it certainly lives up to that. So, given the choice, I'd rate Austin as #1, Dallas/Ft.Worth as #2 and Houston a rather distant #3. But a lot depends on your criteria. SteveBaker 21:53, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

I have to agree with Steve, the humidity in houston is terrible. The DFW metroplex is so huge that you can find anything you need so Houston's size doesn't give it much of an advantage there. I think traffic in houston is worse than the metroplex too. I also hate houston for a host of irrational reasons... We'd all live in austin if we could. -- Diletante 23:43, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

My biased opinion is that the drivers in Houston are worse than in DFW. They change lanes unpredictably, but won't let you change lanes if you give them any warning about it, and they drive way too close together. Infuriating and scary. But driving anywhere in Texas takes about six months to learn because of the very short merge zones -- you have to learn to start negotiating a spot to merge while you're still on the ramp, well before the merging actually starts. --Trovatore 23:54, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Enough original research, folks. Isn't there, like, a "most live-able cities"" index we could refer to?--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 00:58, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Good point. Hmmm - so I checked: http://www.fortworth.com/ says that Ft.Worth is the 17th most livable city in the USA - and the most livable in Texas. Phah - nonsense! It goes on to extoll the virtues of "The Historic Stockyards". Well at one time (about 15 years ago), they truly were a historic site (well, the closest you ever get to history in Texas apart from "The Alamo"). However, they've turned the whole thing into a cheesy shopping mall. It's the only faintly historical thing for about 150 miles in any direction - and the best they could come up with was to fill it full of tacky gift shops and places where you can buy Texas-map-shaped belt buckles and fake Jackalopes. Pah! SteveBaker 04:07, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Oh, come on, the stockyards aren't the real Fort Worth. I actually find Fort Worth kind of charming; it feels much more genteel than Dallas. I very much enjoyed going to hear Buddy's Big Band once a month at the Southside Preservation Hall. On balance, yeah, I think I'd rather live there than Dallas. If you want to do something in Dallas, well, it isn't far. --Trovatore 04:38, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

health websites

do u guys know any places that i could find things about how to find heart rate and good exercise programs??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.210.23.83 (talk) 20:11, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

It's called Google. Jonathan ^talk \ _{contribs — er} 21:08, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Do not insult questioners. If you do not know the answer, abstain from responding. --Taraborn 21:24, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

That was not an insult. Jonathan ^talk \ _{contribs — er} 21:55, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

But it was dismissive and unhelpful.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 01:00, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

You may want to try WebMD. NASCAR Fan24^{(radio me!)} 21:25, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Conn family from Inverurie

Can someone help me please i was told if i come to wikipedia i would find inforation on the Conn Family from Inverurie/Huntly area, i have got lost and dont have a clue what to do next, please help. I am trying to trace this family as they are my Dad's birth family and he is in contact with them now and has some information, but we would like to go back in history if possibel how do i do this many thanks Dee —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.141.78.124 (talk) 23:10, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Despite what you were told, Wikipedia isn't a genealogy reference, and there's really nothing we can do beyond pointing you to the usual suspects in that regard -- local libraries for historical periodicals, genealogy websites, and the like. Obviously, your father's contacts will provide the best possible starting point. — Lomn 00:20, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

October 15

Son of the Mob

Does anyone happen to know where I can find a summary of the book "Son of the mob" by Gordon Korman? If you could post it here, that would be great. Thanks in advance! --IluvNicholas 00:04, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Amazon.com and other online retailers often include a short synopsis (for example) though they tend not to give you the ending. Google is your friend here. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 03:04, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

What is the best way to smuggle Cocaine?

Dear Wikipedia contributors,

What is the best way to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to the United States? The reason for this question is because I am planning to write a novel chronicling the adventures of Esteban Sanchez, a 17-year old teenager forced into drug smuggling by his poor single-mother. Esteban meets Rosario, a strange, but beautiful brunette much like Michelle Rodriguez. They talk and make deals and Esteban is at the point where he has to find a way to smuggle the powdered cocaine. How should Esteban do this? I beg of you to take into consideration his safety. Thanks you so much!

71.18.216.110 01:46, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I cannot tell you the various benefits of different methods (I expect the best methods are not yet discovered) as I don't go near the stuff, let alone deal or smuggle it. However, things you would need to take into account are the amount that they are supposed to smuggle (can it be taken by a single person?), the method of travel (commercial airline, surface travel through Mexico, ocean, etc), the amount of health risk the people are willing to take (carrying the cocaine in condoms inside the body is less detectable, but very risky, while a secret pocket in luggage is not a health risk, but easily detectable), and so on. Esteban's and Rosario's contacts are also important - are they able to bribe or blackmail a border official in advance? Bribery and blackmail is probably the safest method, because the border is the most dangerous part. However, the con to this approach is that there is someone in an official place who knows what you have done, and will dob you in if they are caught themselves. In addition it is also open to double-crossing (a common plot device in a thriller novel). A handy word for Esteban's role is 'mule', which refers to someone forced into smuggling drugs against their will. A mule's smuggling technique is often very risky, and they will not necessarily know for whom they are smuggling the drugs.Steewi 02:33, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

You might find the United States Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) Microgram Bulletin an interesting read. Skim through a few issues from the Bulletin archives to get an idea of the sort of creative things the DEA has run across. This issue describes plastic manufactured to contain 7% cocaine and formed into suitcase components, and hollow Aztec statues full of cocaine bricks. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 03:11, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Look up the book Snow Blind which is all about a guy who smuggled cocaine and his different methods. Also the various Howard Marks books as its all smuggling. Don't do it for real. Prison life is wasted life. Paul —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 10:47, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Your novel would be more interesting if you invented a novel method of smuggling. I would think along the lines of the safest method being not to have any contact with the goods themselves; they make their own way over the border using a their own transport that couln't be traced back to the sender. For example, see radio-controlled aircraft, carrier pigeon, bat bomb...--Shantavira|^{feed me} 12:47, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

It does sort of depend on the novel. If you want to convey the grim cold inhumanity of the drug trade, you need something believable, so you're best of with something that everybody knows about (like swallowing balloons). It would break the dramatic tension if young Esteban, in the middle of his despair, suddenly decided to build a cocaine catapult. (The whole thing could turn into a sort of deranged roadrunner-like string of failed schemes). risk 23:30, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Certainly the most horrific thing i've had the mispleasure to read in my life was a short story of an individual who smuggled cocaine in the innards of a young baby, they had 'balled out' and the innards filled with the cocaine. I can only hope the story was made up. Personally I really enjoy 'con man' style movies/books etc. so something that is really 'intelligent' and thought through. Doing things 'right under the eyes' of the authorities often makes for excitement/interest as you can build tension about close-calls etc. I'm not sure of a premise, but something that involves maybe throwing the 'dogs' off the scent at the airport, perhaps by setting up a smaller but more vocal drugs bust on the same flight - you might then be able to make it believable that your individual could 'sneak' through in the middle of the excitement. After all you wouldn't expect to catch 2 drugs busts on the same flight (well I wouldn't!) ny156uk 13:07, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

It would be pretty responsible writing if your "hero" got caught and spent the rest of his life in prison as a moral lesson to others. 87.112.85.54 12:19, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

2 questions

Hello, I have 2 questions.

1: In WWII, the Air Force fighter designation was "P" (like P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt), why wasn't it F?

2: If a stealth fighter fought an enemy stealth fighter, they'd have to be in visual range to fire, right?

Thanks. Cheers,JetLover (Report a mistake) 02:40, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

• 1) "P" was the prefix for "Pursuit" aircraft. If you'll peruse the "Post World War II" paragraph in the P-51 article, you'll notice they talk some about when SAC changed the designators.

2) F-117A's (the current airframe usually referred to as a "stealth fighter") are largely invisible to radar, but they themselves do not carry radar equipment (it's impossible to use a radar and be invisible to other radar sensors, so there's a tradeoff). They use thermal imaging to spot targets, mostly, and anything with a jet engine does put out a thermal signature, so they can use that to track in on each other, I imagine. Luckily, they are only in use by the US right now, and so wouldn't usually engage each other. They are (according to the F-117 Nighthawk article) slated for decommissioning next year, and the Air Force has closed down the flight school. The next generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor, hasn't really been fielded enough to answer the question (imho). Deltopia 03:23, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

It's also worth noting that despite the name, the F-117 isn't a fighter; it's a very small bomber. It's not very agile, and carries no air-to-air weaponry. FiggyBee 08:24, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Thanks! Cheers,JetLover (Report a mistake) 22:35, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Yeah - the stealth doesn't have any way to attack an enemy aircraft unless it's parked on an airfield someplace. They are also horribly un-aerobatic - they certainly don't 'dogfight' - and they are too slow to run away from any moderately modern plane. They are entirely dependant on stealth - once they've been spotted - they are in deep trouble. Whilst they certainly use really excellent thermal imaging - I'm fairly sure the camera looks mostly downwards. As for spotting a stealth fighter using thermal imaging - that's not as easy as it sounds. The F117 isn't just "radar invisible" - it's also close to thermally invisible too. The jet exhausts are much lower temperature than most jet aircraft (and they have no afterburners). The jet exhaust comes out at slower speeds through a bunch of special 'diffusers' along the wings that cool the exhaust before releasing it. It's engines are pretty quiet too - it's hard to hear it coming! It's weird shape even helps by confusing the eye - it just doesn't look like an airplane and it changes profile as it changes direction to a much greater degree than other planes. So it would be harder to recognise at normal air combat ranges. SteveBaker 03:52, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Big decision

Playstation 3 or x box 360? i dont know which 1 2 get can anyone help me out, i have a new samsung so i wud like 1 with best graphics and sound quality but i dnt know much about it.......thanx : ) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 08:42, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Wii, hands down! Aaadddaaammm 08:43, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

well both of them kinda suck wii is always the best but between those two.... XBOX 360 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dlo2012 (talk • contribs) 20:27, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Big decision

Playstation 3 or x box 360? i dont know which 1 2 get can anyone help me out, i have a new samsung so i wud like 1 with best graphics and sound quality and which 1 would have the best games but i dnt know much about it.......thanx : ) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 08:43, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Well the PS3 hasn't got that extensive a library yet (compared to the 360) but when you buy either you have to remember that the last generation of consoles lasted around 5/6 years so whatever you choose the games on them will only get better. Just compare the first few years of PS2 games to the most recent releases. I personally prefer the PS3 control pad so would go for that but it really is preference. I think the PS3 has slightly better raw power than the X-box a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_%28seventh_generation%29 gives a nice side-by-side comparison though. ny156uk 12:59, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

For me it's not much of a decision, because Halo 3 is only ever going to be available for the Xbox 360. But you may not be the Halo fan that I am so you should take a hard look here and here and decide for yourself. Also the Wii is super cool and should be given consideration. Man It's So Loud In Here 16:52, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Get the one that's cheapest and has the biggest library with the most popular games, of course: The PS2. (Seriously, $600 for a launch system with no game library? That's rent money in a lot of places. And ridiculous.) If saving money is important at all to you, wait a year or two before you buy any of the next-gen consoles -- there will be more games, better games, and cheaper prices if history is any indicator. Early adopters get screwed hardest. (Just my opinion.) Deltopia 17:52, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Rent money? For over two months! Skittle 22:25, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I recommend getting the one that has a game that you simply must have - until then hold onto your money and bide your time - let them come to you>83.100.252.179 18:53, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

trivia and popular culture

I strongly suggest wikipedia start a new wikiproject for trivia and popular culture references. I know the official policy is to incorporate the trivia sections into the main text of the article, but personally, my favorite wiki/websurfing activity is to read the trivia sections of articles. I find so many fascinating odds and ends and tidbits of information. Plus, the trivia section has so many interesting links to other wiki articles. Occasionally I revisit an article only to find the whole trivia section removed. That always makes me sad. I wonder how many articles I've visited and never got to read the trivia section. I check the history but it rarely says "trivia section removed." It just says "cleanup."

Anyway, just a thought I wanted to pass on to someone or at least release it into the ether of wiki and the internet. Could someone at least pass this on to someone who makes these types of decisions? Or maybe wikipedia should have a suggestion box or a poll for ideas like this that people can vote on and users could view the results. Thanks.Ozmaweezer 11:37, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Its a community wide decision to remove trivia sections from articles, one that I disagree with, by the way. Think outside the box 12:03, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I agree, it is a shame and I feel that Wiki has lost one of it iconic 'quirks'. Lanfear's Bane 12:38, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I feel it's not so much a community wide decision, as a community-wide ongoing endless debate. See Wikipedia talk:Trivia sections for part of it (including 8 archived pages, and I'm sure there are other places where the discussion rages on). Considering that the first four people in this thread (me included) believe that trivia sections should be allowed, I don't think we have a consensus just yet. risk 13:03, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Make it five in favour of allowing trivia sections. DuncanHill 16:25, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I'd favor them if they could be managed better, i.e. if they weren't magnets for ever-growing heaps of badly-written clutter. —Tamfang 16:29, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps Wikimedia needs to be extended to "understand" trivia sections and show them to the (seeming) large majority who like them and hide them from the (small but vocal) minority who think they're sub-elite cruft. Personally, I've cut way back on my contributions to the encyclopedia as certain cliques have made it less and less fun to contribute.

Atlant 18:15, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

The biggest problem with trivia articles and sections is that they're hardly ever sourced. It's all along the lines of "well, read the book or watch the movie", but that violates WP:V. Corvus cornix 17:06, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I too love the trivia. What more can I say? I'll bet there are some awful ones in the popular culture/latest fads articles - anyone got a really bad example - just for fun (I know this is fundamentally wrong)83.100.252.179 18:51, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Why don't you guys just start a trivia wiki? It could have no real content, only trivial content. Your "What TriviaWiki Is Not" statement could be "a real encyclopedia". I'm sure people would flock to it. Make it GFDL compliant and you can use the deleted Wikipedia sections without any trouble. --24.147.86.187 20:11, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I've removed trivia sections and incorporated them into the main article. This has been because trivia sections are supposed to be places for people (inexperienced with Wikipedia usually) to add facts that they don't know how to incorporate into the article, or so I understand. Also (and this is usually why I do it) because a trivia section gathers stupid nonsense. After a few weeks of sorting through rubbish, I tend to incorporate good stuff into the article (in a way that usually adds to the meaning of the 'trivia' and increases the usefulness of the article) and delete the stuff that doesn't belong. I've tried just maintaining the sections, but it's never-ending and it's really unfair to expect people to work out what doesn't belong in Wikipedia, and how they can improve it by writing lovely, cited facts, when this stuff is there, inviting them to add rubbish. Plus, the 'trivia' and 'in popular culture' sections have to be among the most mocked, devaluing sections to the general public, reducing Wikipedia as a whole in the public's eyes. Which is annoying. Skittle 22:23, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, it is a conundrum. Some "trivia" sections do contain some truly awful stuff; but on the other hand I've found some gems there too, which have sent me off in unexpected directions, leading to the creation of new articles. We also find bits of "trivia" embedded in the guts of articles, which have to be surgically removed. I guess it comes down to what one means by "trivia" - one person's trivia is another person's valuable information, depending on their particular interests. Some articles have what is essentially a trivia section labelled as "Other" or similar. Maybe we should re-label "Trivia" sections as "Pending Inclusion" or something like that (I know it's a contradiction in terms, because they're already part of the article, just not in a very prominent place in the article). That way, readers would get that that they're not fully accepted, and may never make it into the article proper - or, they may. -- JackofOz 22:39, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Indeed. If the pages didn't have to look encyclopedic in the meantime, I'd heavily favour such an option. Part of the problem does seem to be the title, since people assume it should be filled with trivial things they happen to know (or 'know') about the article's subject. It can seem a bit like the theory whereby people fill whatever space you provide (which I'm sure has a proper name, and probably an article, plus many interesting links to fascinating articles, but sadly I must go to bed now :) rather than look it up on google, as my heart truly desires). I've found lovely things in trivia sections, but then I've found lovely things in all parts of articles (except perhaps the dense middle-sections of some technical articles, which seem to be written for people who already understand and know everything the section says). I suppose the challenge (which I shall now make my life's work) is to incorporate 'trivia' into articles in such a way that skim-readers read the section and notice the interesting fact. Skittle 23:36, 15 October 2007 (UTC) Oh, and if you want an example of how stupidly awful such sections can be, I seem to remember And did those feet in ancient time being very bad in the past. Try checking the history, maybe how it looked in May... Skittle 23:54, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

This is certainly a tricky one. I'm not a deletionist - I want Wikipedia to contain all information of all kinds. However, the problem with trivia is that it's just never kept at the quality levels a truly useful encyclopedia demands. It's FAR too easy for any random person to come along and tack on a trivia item to an existing list - who ever checks it? If they don't provide a solid reference, how can you check it? We've all seen those emailed "List of 101 amazing facts" - about 90% which are urban legends - or easily disproved - we can't allow that to happen to Wikipedia. Sure a good, solid list of boo-boos in a particular movie is interesting to read. But how interesting would the list be if 90% of the items in the list were flat out untrue? It would just be pointless and annoying.

These lists all too frequently end up a complete and utter mess. A dedicated editor, trying to maintain a high quality article has a HORRIBLE time. If the trivia section has a handful of items in it, people (mostly anon editors with zero prior editing history) will relentlessly add more and more - none of them checkable - half of them untrue - most of them entirely irrelevent. When you try to clean them out, the people who stuck them in there will rant and edit war and threaten to set the admins on you (like that's going to work!) - they'll generally be an utter pain in the ass. So - in the end, we're better off without this stuff.

I've written two articles to the best standard that Wikipedia espouses (ie they made it onto the front page as featured articles) - and one of them had a trivia section of sorts. That article was about the Mini (a variety of British car). At the time, it seemed a good idea to list the important movies that the Mini appeared in. This was for the serious reason that the car ended up being a cult icon of the 'swinging-60's - and that had a lot to do with how it was shown in the media. Well, I picked a handful of movies in which the car had 'starred' prominently (eg, "The Italian Job", "Goodbye PorkPie", etc) without which the Mini would not have been the success it was. I swear - within a month of doing that, we had 'grown' a list of 60 or more movies and a bunch of TV programs! Some of them (eg "The Bourne Identity") undoubtedly 'starred' the car - but couldn't possibly have 'influenced' it because they were made after the car ceased production!

Then I watched one of the movies that was listed (I think it was "Hotel Rwanda") - and after watching the movie all the way through, I didn't spot a Mini ANYWHERE in the darned thing. When I challanged the editor, he pointed out that it was off in the distance, parked someplace in ONE scene. Argh! That's a totally USELESS piece of information. If every item appearing in every movie for the briefest of moments should be listed in a trivia section for that item, the encyclopedia would end up being mostly gigantic lists of completely irrelevent information! When I decided to delete that entry - we ended up with a 3RR violation from the other guy - then all sorts of other nastiness. Appeals to higher authority...you name it.

It was WAY out of hand. Back then, we hadn't gotten to the present situation where trivia sections can be reasonably be deleted on sight - so to avoid any more major arguments, I decided to fork off a second article "List of Movies with Mini cars in them" - linked to it from the main article and moved almost all of the list over there - keeping only those few items that could be worked into nice prose descriptions of how these movies influenced sales and popularity of the car. In other words - ONLY mention movies that influenced the history of the car - not mentioning any where the car merely happened to be the one the producer happened to have handy on the day!

Eventually, the deletionists AfD'd my "List of Movies with Mini cars in them"...which I think is a shame, actually. But the article about the Mini is MUCH better off without that ever-growing, unmaintainable, unsourced, never-complete list. Overall, I think that getting rid of 'trivia' sections everywhere is not appropriate. Having sourced lists of errors in movies, easter eggs in computer games, that kind of thing - IS relevent - and the suggestion to turn those into prose is often unhelpful. But having "Trivia" and "Appearances in the Popular Culture" sections being tacked onto articles as automatically as "See Also" and "References" are is a truly terrible idea and it absolutely has to be stamped out.

SteveBaker 03:28, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

A problem is that the deletionists made this {{trivia}} tag and it would be silly for the inclusionists to have a tag that says that the section should stay. Thus, the impression is given that the deletionists form a majority. Maybe if there is such a section that has gotten out of hand, there should be an alternative that says "Trivia sections are meant for information that is side-ways related to the article. Before adding info here, please first check if it shouldn't go into another section of this or another article." Or something along those lines. Of course everything in Wikipedia should be true, however trivial it is. (And vice versa - if it's true it should be in Wikipedia. Somewhere.) Maybe the disputed info there or elsewhere in the article should go to a separate 'fact sheet', as I proposed on my user page. However, that is not entirely the same thing, so this suggestion is only is-ways related, so is it a trivium? Ah, good, I've already added the tag. :)

Steve, what you did is also something I suggest on my user page - if an article or section becomes too long, just make a separate article out of it and leave the main entries in the main article, with a link to the long list at the top - that's the standard way Wikipedia works, something I doubt many people will disagree with. If even that list becomes too long, it could be split into even more separate sub-articles. However, I agree that your mini example is rather over the top. But it is also quite exceptional - I've never encountered something as extreme as that. DirkvdM 07:03, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Oh, and regarding the original question, it already follows from the above that I disagree with splitting off specific sorts of info from Wikipedia. Everything should stay here. I'd also like to see other wikiprojects integrated into Wikipedia. Such as Wiktionary. If the title of an article is a dictionary word, then the meaning should be given in the article. That will in most cases be a very short section, so it's silly to make what is basically a stub for that. And on a different site even. DirkvdM 07:08, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

My only comment on "if it's true it should be in Wikipedia. Somewhere" is that it's undeniably true that any notable person you care to name goes to the toilet, has pimples on their backside, and sometimes has bad breath. That's an extreme example, obviously, but extreme examples have their uses. The purpose of this one is that it demonstrates that a line has to be drawn somewhere between trivial and non-trivial true information. The only question is, where? -- JackofOz 09:25, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Hair changes

I'm 25 years old and I don't use any chemicals in my hair I don't straighten my hair and I do not blow dry my hair. I have recently noticed that a lot of my hair is changing from dark brown natural color to very very coarse black hairs and I don't know if this is an aging issuse or what so if someone knows then please let me know what's going on... Thank You, Amanda P 75.67.39.27 17:44, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

"communication"powerpointpresentation for seminar purpose

i need powerpoint presentation on general communication. where can i get it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.161.46.62 (talk) 18:03, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

You can use the google search key filetype: to search for specific file extensions. For instance, filetype:ppt "general communication" gives you powerpoint presentations on the internet that contain the phrase "general communication". It's probably best to ask for permission if you want to use it for a presentation of your own. risk 19:26, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

• You'd probably be better off making one of your own. If you are learning at this seminar, using someone else's presentation will come out and get you in heaps of trouble. If you're teaching, I'd be wondering why you've been asked in the first place. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:50, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Plenty of fish dating site "Compatibility Predictor"

I would like to join this dating site but when I do the compulsory quack personality test, or "Compatibility Predictor" as they describe it (which cannot be changed or retaken) it says I have "no self control". I believe I have very high self control - the exact opposite of what it says. I would imagine that someone with no self-control would be an aggressive, rude, emotional, heavy drinker. I am very polite, cool, and do not drink. I cannot bear to be described as someone with no self-control, hence I cannot join the site. The other aspects of my personality are fine.

Could anyone tell me how to fill in this 48-question test to give a more realistic result - ie that I do have excellent self control? 62.253.53.14 19:43, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Maybe your just in denial, or you could just make a new account and try until you get it.--Dlo2012 20:30, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

If one of the questions is "Do you wet the bed", answer "No". That might help. But more seriously, if you answered the questions honestly then either A) you have no self control or, more likely, B) the analysis of the questions is poor. If its the former, misrepresenting yourself to get a better "review" is not going to help you in the long term. If its the latter, do you really wish to be part of a site that gets it so wrong, especially since you will be using the same analysis to choose a potential partner? Rockpocket 22:46, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Indeed. If they are willing to start throwing such ambiguous terms around based on an algorithmic analysis of a small questionnaire, I doubt the psychological research behind any of it is anything to write home about. If the site drops the ball this badly at the introduction, why would their matching algorithm be any better? In fact their matching algorithm probably works off this initial misguided analysis. risk 23:37, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I do not solemnly swear...

Ok, so if you have to be sworn in for court (after I'd read the article before about not swearing on the bible) and you are a bona fide card-carrying Satanist, what are your options? I personally wouldn't feel proper swearing on a book I'd consider false, but if I did go ahead and swear on something I didn't believe, would that still hold me libel for perjury? Why take an oath on the bible anyways and not the Constitution? Wouldn't THAT make more sense? Hmmm...65.248.93.200 22:51, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

From the Perjury article - "Perjury is the act of lying or making verifiably false statements on a material matter" - i.e. when you are giving material evidence. The taking of the oath is a procedural matter. As to what would happen if you took the oath, gave evidence and then informed the court that you swore to tell the truth on the book of a belief system you didn't personally acknowledge - I don't know. I'd save yourself the trouble and simply affirm instead. Exxolon 23:11, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Those who do not believe in swearing (and there are even Christian groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who will not swear) may "affirm" instead. Corvus cornix 23:17, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Why would a Satanist even worry about this moral dilemma? Clarityfiend 02:53, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

I have had to appear in court a few times. (I'm a journalist; it goes with the job.) I live in the U.S., and I carry a little pocket-sized copy of the Constitution with me. They always accept me using that. (How could they not? After all, that's what the whole legal system is based on.) — Michael J 05:27, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Of course, this very much depends on the country. You appear to live in a predominantly christian country. How is this done in, say, Indonesia? I'm sure one can use the bible there too. How is that in christian countries? Can one swear on the Koran or Torah in such countries? DirkvdM 07:16, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Religious Jews are exceptionally reluctant to take any kind of oath (even one privately between oneself and God) and the Rabbis have discouraged it for at least two millenia. In particular, swearing on the Torah would be an anathema. (Besides, you're not supposed to touch a Torah's parchment) In western courtrooms, Jews generally affirm to tell the truth. To the best of my knowledge, a Jewish religious court (Bet Din) has no true equivalent to swearing in. --Dweller 10:18, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

October 16

Rocky Shores vs.Sandy Shores

Why are some shores rocky while others are covered in fine sand? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.55.72.254 (talk) 00:17, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Rocky shorelines are formed by weathering and erosion, while sandy shorelines are formed by deposition. Not all shorelines formed by erosion are necessarily rocky. Rocky shorelines occur only where bedrock is exposed at the surface. Typically, along rocky shorelines, soil and weathered rock are carried away by the action of currents and waves above low tide. This leaves only the underlying rock. Sea currents running along shorelines transport sediment, such as sand, from rocky shorelines and the mouths of rivers to shorelines where the sediment is deposited to form beaches. Shorelines where beaches form are typically bays enclosed by headlands or barrier islands that develop from shoals offshore of long, linear coastlines. In both cases, sand and other sediments are deposited in places where the rapidly moving water that has swept sediment from the mouths of rivers and coastal headlands slows down. When the movement of the water slows, for example along a shoal or a recessed shoreline, the sediment falls out. It is then washed up by waves and becomes part of a sandy beach. Marco polo 01:54, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Official name for sequential manual

There are a lot of pages in Wikipedia that deals with various semi-automatic/sequential manual transmissions and I am somewhat confused by them. What is the official/technical name for a sequential manual gearbox (one with a clutch and paddle shifter) such as those found on modern Ferraris? Acceptable 00:32, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Anime Movie Name

I was watching a anime film but i dont know the name,its about some guy who's like a space adventurer,at the start of the film,he shown as a baby,boy.teenager and adult,he has a female robot who falls in love with him,and then some unicorn or whatever,and finally the adventurer becomes a baby again and he is taken by the female robot now a human woman,i would like to know the name of that anime film,thank you!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lord Lutz (talk • contribs) 02:19, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Worked solutions to past O Level A Maths papers.

My A Maths ten year series doesn't have worked solutions. I can practise, but I don't know whether my working is correct. Where can I get worked solutions to past year O Level A Maths papers? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 166.121.36.10 (talk) 02:25, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

ESPN Bottom Line

ESPN Used to have a Bottom Line sports update at the 28th and 58th minute of every hour. What is the reasoning for changing that to the 18th minute instead of the 28th minute?

Deportation as a means of getting a free flight?

Could this work? An American overstays his 3 month tourist visa in France, hoping to get deported and out of the country for free. 63.199.241.243 08:38, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

It could work, but bear in mind that once you've been deported from a country, that will stay on your record and they may never let you back in (in the case of France, that may apply to the entire EU). You might also find you have trouble getting into the country in the first place if you don't have a return ticket. But WP:IANAL. FiggyBee 08:58, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

French and Spanish recommended booze allowances

In the UK we are subjected to various health groups telling us how much to drink and when and in what way. It tends to be contradictory as one day we should drink red wine the next day it should be white wine.

What are the recommendations or weekly allowances recommended by the health police of these two countries ?

Thanks.

Paul —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 10:07, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

• I wouldn't take much notice.At one time,doctor's recomended smoking as relief for asthma .It changes so often and some studies are not really bias free.hotclaws 10:27, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Don't do anything to excess and you should be OK. 87.112.85.54 12:06, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't think I have ever encountered a reputable group claiming that white wine is better for you than red...