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February 6

Is it Weird?

I just recently made an article about myself and I ended up writing it in third person. I was just wondering if it was weird or not. I thought writing it in third person would make it better for the encyclopedia aspect. talk is my game

Weird is subjective, and we can't answer that. Writing about oneself in the third person is sometimes encountered on resumes, although first person seems more direct and personal. Various websites have mini-biogs of people, eg. university staff members etc, which are written, probably by the persons themselves, in the third person. Encyclopedia articles are about "someone else", so naturally they are written in the third person. In case you're considering creating a Wikipedia article on yourself (that's apart from your own userpage, of course) - DON'T. -- JackofOz (talk) 02:27, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You should NOT write articles about yourself on Wikipedia. Your self-bio article, SlaveofBetrayal, does not belong in Wikipedia. I took the liberty to nomitate it for speedy deletion, and copied its contents to your userpage (User:SlaveofBetrayal/Bio) where it would be acceptable. — Kieff | Talk 02:44, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You should read WP:AB before doing that. Ftbhrygvn (talk) 04:25, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Present Value of Depreciation

Not Homework - just interested. If we purchase an asset for say 10,000 and depreciate it on a flat line basis in ten annual "payments" of 1,000 each (interest rate 10%) we can calculate a Present Value of those payments of 6144. (The entire transaction has a negative NPV of 3,855).

This seems to tell me that the asset is overpriced at 10,000, as it is really only worth 6,144 in terms of its useful life. Obviously this logic creates a circular loop, in the sense that if we reduced the purchase price to 6144 and repeated the calculation we would still prove that it is overpriced and should really be worth 3,775 and so on ....

What am I missing here ? --196.207.47.60 (talk) 04:06, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I THINK this should go to the Mathematics section. Ftbhrygvn (talk) 04:28, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No, it's not a math question, it's about the economic basis. What you're missing is simply that the function isn't designed to be used that way. If $10,000 is required to purchase $6000 of present value, then that's the end of the process. You can't say that the purchase price, with the same annual payments, can be reduced to $6000 and reapply the function. Rather, you can say that $10000 paid in 10 annual increments is the value equivalent of paying $6000 in one immediate payment. $6000 in one payment and $6000 over 10 years, however, are entirely different things. — Lomn 14:17, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Depreciation is not a "payment" but rather the gradual loss of an asset's value over the estimated useful life of that asset (its a noncash transaction). Lomn is correct in that you cannot apply present value calculations to depreciation. Also the correct term for "flat line basis" is straight-line basis. What you calculated would be the amount ($6,144) that you'd have to place in a 10% interest investment vehicle to accumulate the total purchase amount ($10,000) 10 years from now. Rangermike (talk) 22:34, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hillary Clinton's coin?

Presidential $1 Coin Program

What will happen if Hillary Clinton becomes the President of the U.S.? Will she get 2 coins in the distant future? One First Lady coin may use a younger picture and the other president coin may use an older picture?

Bill Clinton is generally considered the beloved son of George H.W. Bush. And H.W. also has a son who is the current president. Then H.W.'s son's wife ... And then Bill Clinton gets another coin being Hillary's "First Lady". HA! HA! HA! It's a small world after all! -- Toytoy (talk) 04:18, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Note: If Bill Clinton didn't already have the permanent title of president, he would be called the First Gentleman. —Keenan Pepper 06:15, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, Grover Cleveland is apparently getting two, so they obviously don't especially mind issuing multiple coins of the same person. -Elmer Clark (talk) 07:36, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

"Bill Clinton is generally considered the beloved son of George H.W. Bush." What?!? Dismas|^(talk) 07:49, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think the original poster was trying to make a joke about George H.W. Bush's perceived embarrassment at his real son and the relationship GHWB and Bill Clinton have built working on things like tsunami relief. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 09:01, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Also the article toytoy links to suggests there's a very good chance this may never be an issue since the series would have ended before Hillary Clinton's 2 year death anniversary. If it's repeated then it may become an issue but who's to say it will be? Nil Einne (talk) 13:02, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Best religion and science?

Most of the religions are quite ancient and still possess the followers.At that time no one searched for the scientific basis of the religion and today no one is ready to Accept anything unless provided with scientific basis.Still most of the beliefs have no scientific basis.Why does not any reliable research tell that what religion is best to support the healthy and prosper survival of man-kind and other creatures except what Dawkin said about religion and science?--Mike robert (talk) 08:13, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

By definition, followers of any religion believe they alone possess the truth, so religion is not amenable to "reliable research", and wouldn't trust it any more than science trusts religion.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:53, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think all religions claim a monopoly on truth. Anyway, I think the original poster is trying to get at whether religion may play an evolutionary role, a question touched on in the article evolutionary psychology of religion. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 08:59, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There's a positive correlation of IQ, academic achievement and HDI with atheism. If you consider those people to be more "adaptable", then perhaps religion is an evolutionary liability rather an than advantage. --Taraborn (talk) 11:37, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There was a discussion about the relationship between intelligence and religious belief on Talk:Atheism. Some research indicates students with greater religious involvement perform better in school, although adherence to certain religious faiths (the Amish one, obviously, but others as well) weighs against educational attainment. The "fact" that IQ is correlated with atheism came from a MENSA newsletter mentioned in Dawkins' book. No one working on the Atheism article had heard of the author of the study or seen it first-hand, but attempts to remove the mention of it from the article were met with a feverish resistance similar to that you'd find from fundamentalists defending their religion. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 07:31, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And, of course, that "some research"... well, have you got any reference? Or, is it, perhaps, another product of your fertile imagination? --Taraborn (talk) 19:29, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See Talk:Atheism/Archive_37 for the discussion referenced above, and please try to keep sarcasm and conflict off the reference desks. Thanks. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:13, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Religions are based on faith, and if it were possible to prove that some religion was true, it wouldn't require faith and thus would not be a religion anymore. -mattbuck (Talk) 14:41, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Stop reading Richard Dawkins - he's making you sound like a cretin. That's genuine advise.87.102.116.134 (talk) 15:36, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not spelling correctly is also a good way to look like a cretin. Some free ADVICE for you, Mr. Anon. Matt Deres (talk) 21:33, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

How odd. Mwalcoff writes an interesting and calm response to Taraborn's assertion, and all the replies seem to have nothing to do with it. 130.88.140.121 (talk) 15:15, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, but you'll notice that those replies were written before my response. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 12:47, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ah. Then I am forced to wonder why you put it where you did without indentation, making the other comments look like replies to you. :) 130.88.140.112 (talk) 14:12, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I seem to recall there being a definitely correlation between agnosticism and education; in part because only people who have been somewhat educated would know to self-describe as it. There was a big study published maybe 8 years ago about religious statistics in the US, which I found quite interesting at the time, but I can't remember the name. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 16:08, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

K-2 tremors

How many tremors strike and how many snow storms occur on the K-2 peak in one hour? Any evaluations?--Mike robert (talk) 08:13, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Per hour? That seems a thoroughly impractical measurement. Anyway, while years out of date, this summary of weather reports for K2 may be useful in summarizing average conditions. A cursory search suggests that tremors are not an expected concern for K2 climbers. — Lomn 14:12, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

barrass - what is it?

Can anyone tell me what barrass is please? I came across the word in an eighteenth century English record of payments made to the poor. My ancestor received money for three yards of barrass, so I guess it might be some sort of clothing material. With thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.70.211.241 (talk) 09:06, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The OED gives - "Barras - A coarse linen fabric originally imported from Holland." Google expands on this and gives "A Coarse Linen Fabric Similar To Sackcloth" 86.21.74.40 (talk) 09:30, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sticky ideas?

I mounted some lights under my cabinets last weekend. The dimmer switch that is attached to them is touch sensitive. The back of the switch was meant to stick to a surface via some double sided tape. However, the switch has fallen off of the underside of the cabinets. So, does anyone have any suggestions on what to use to re-adhere the switch to my wooden cabinets? I'd prefer it not be so permanent that it takes wood with it if it needs to be removed for whatever reason. Thanks, Dismas|^(talk) 09:20, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The 3M Command adhesive (here) is a modern marvel. I've had hooks up in my kitchen for years and years, and they come right off when you want. It's hard to believe until you've seen it. --Milkbreath (talk) 11:04, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Use isopropanol to clean grease, etc. off the cabinet before you try again. Also, screws inserted into carefully pre-drilled pilot holes won't do much damage to the underside of a cabinet.

Atlant (talk) 17:55, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See what I mean? People don't believe how great those things are. Screws? Hah! We don't need no stinking screws. But the alcohol is needed, yes. --Milkbreath (talk) 18:39, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

may 2nd holidays

is there any other famous may 2nd holiday apart from the ones listed by wikipedia.am still researching a question i had asked earlier.i shaped the world and may 2nd is my day.new clue-its a public holiday...none of wikipedia info seems helpful,am still googling —Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.202.195.74 (talk) 11:36, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

While it's possible there's a really significant holiday or event we miss on May 2 I somehow doubt this particularly one that's said to shape the world and be a public holiday. Are you sure you don't have your dates wrong? May Day is Labour Day in a number of countries and internationally is often associated with Labour Day and the various labour movements even if it isn't the actual public holiday Nil Einne (talk) 12:54, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps one of the scientists who helped calculate the shape of the earth was born on May 2. --M @r ē ino 17:32, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Throbbing Gristle

Is it true that the rock band Throbbing Gristle are so loud when they play live they make people have uncontrolled bowel movements? Weasly (talk) 12:00, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ummm, let me think. No. --Tagishsimon (talk) 12:56, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I saw TG play twice last year and I can exclusively report that I didn't have to change my trousers. Even in their original 1976-81 incarnation, they were never that loud. There is much debate on who were the loudest groups of all time. My vote goes to Swans. The volume at their early gigs was supposed to make people throw up, although I saw them often and I never did. My hearing seems to have survived, as well. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 13:52, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Loudest group in the universe? Disaster Area --LarryMac | Talk 14:00, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Didn't The Who have a Guinness World Record for loudest live band? Or possibly some crap 80s hair metal band...gosh my memory has faded. Phileas (talk) 14:08, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Darn it, LarryMac, you beat me to it. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:14, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

in before Vitaly Chernobyl and the Meltdowns :D\=< (talk) 18:06, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Motorhead are the loudest,or at least have the loudest bass —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 14:34, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Manowar hold the record for loudest concert. --Ouro (blah blah) 14:43, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No, they don't actually. Blow me down, we have an article on this: Loudest band in the world. Don't tell the deletionists, it'll be gone in a trice. We've also discussed this before, see here. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 15:02, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Forgive my Manowarcentrism, I thought otherwise. --Ouro (blah blah) 17:50, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

"Loudest band" is really a pointless measurement. You can always make a band louder by using more powerful amplifiers, as long as you don't mind deafening the audience. --Carnildo (talk) 23:10, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not sure where this sits on a "loudest band" scale, but The Mint Chicks were once loud enough for plaster to fall off the concert hall's ceiling: see NZ Herald]. Gwinva (talk) 23:16, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You might find the brown note article interesting. --Sean 00:46, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You're all wrong. Spinal Tap go to 11. hotclaws 10:04, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Mythbusters ran a similar experiment to see if high-volume, low-frequency sound waves could cause bowel movements. They concluded that the myth was false. --M @r ē ino 17:34, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I nominate Throbbing Gristle for next year's followup to The Worst Band Names of 2007. --Sean 21:05, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You're a bit late. They've been around since 1975. And the name was deliberately chosen to be ugly, in keeping with the unsavoury nature of the group's preoccupations. It's Yorkshire slang for an erect... oh, you work it out :) --Richardrj ^talk ^email 16:18, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Waking Up

Hello all. I am considering a (fictional) scenario where a person is in a deep sleep from which they will not wake up (knocked out, concussion, coma, bone tired, drugged etc...). Are there any methods/machines which can be used to immedeatley wake up the sleeping person, or at least make them wake up faster? The more extreme the methods, the better! Thanks in advance.Cuban Cigar (talk) 12:09, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've seen a movie (I think it was about dark matter?) in which people are pumped with adrenalin and they not only wake up, they become almost superhuman for a while until the effect wears off. Sandman30s (talk) 12:33, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See: Son of Coma Guy. Lanfear's Bane | t 12:39, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hmmm. So I can see that there are a few chemical/injection methods. I'm particualry interested in non chemical soloutions (think something that could be done immedeatley, on the spot, in an emergency situation). Thanks!Cuban Cigar (talk) 13:01, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Electric shock? Bear in mind, waking up can be one of the most stressing points of the day, especially a rapid wakeup. If you want someone to come to very quickly, it has to be either a real emergency, or really a theoretical scenario. --Ouro (blah blah) 13:06, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I know it's a "chemical solution" but smelling salts seems a traditional option. Also, in my experience it seems like any combination of cold and/or wet is usually an effective way to wake a sleeping person. I had a buddy in high school whose mom resorted to keeping a bunch of marbles in the freezer and if necessary in the morning would dump them over him under the sheets where they would gather around the depression in the bed made by his body, invariably forcing him to get out of bed. Azi Like a Fox (talk) 13:53, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You could always brew some wake up juice. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:15, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

L-Dopa as seen in the "true story" Awakenings. Rmhermen (talk) 16:46, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It seems to me that this section and the one above about loudest rock bands should be combined somehow into a massive OR project. Matt Deres (talk) 21:40, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you these are great, keep them going! In regards to electric shock, would you need a specific machine, or could you salvage it from a power box/battery/household electricity supply?Cuban Cigar (talk) 22:37, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pain.Pinching the earlobes or knuckling them on the breastbone. hotclaws 10:07, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You might also want to read about some people who just snapped out of comas for no apparent reason, like Terry Wallis and Gary Dockery. --M @r ē ino 17:36, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

An oft-used laughing baby noise

Okay, I'm possibly being crazy here, but this has annoyed me for a very long time. There's a noise that appears in commercials for nappies/diapers, fabric softener, kids' toys, etc, and I think it's the Wilhelm scream of baby noises. It's been on TV for as long as I can remember (it was in a British Lenor fabric softener ad when I was a wee 'un and now I live in Canada and it appears in ads here too).

The noise is that of a baby laughing, and sounds a bit like "EH! Hahaha EH!" with lots of gurgling. My question: Am I crazy, or does this one sampled noise exist and has it really been used on TV for twenty years? Can anyone confirm my sanity? Also, where would the ad people get this noise from? A bank of cliched noises? Phileas (talk) 14:22, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I cannot confirm anything, but would speculate that it would be way easier to reach for a sound effects CD, than to find a compliant baby to gurgle in exactly wthe way the director wants. That makes the possibility of the Wilhelm baby quite likely. --Tagishsimon (talk) 14:31, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I also find myself recognising sound effects in adverts and TV from having previously heard them from computer games. The Perfect Dark menu sound seems to be oft used for opening doors that need futuristic panels. Perhaps everyone is attuned for different noises, like when you work for a company, for example, that has a lot of vans on the road, yet before you ever worked for that company you never noticed them. Lanfear's Bane | t 15:25, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Anyone know if this scream has been identified? I first heard it in Aah real monsters but noticed instantly the first time I played Starcraft that the sounds were identical --:D\=< (talk) 18:00, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Telenovelas filming in Florida

As of 2008, how many telenovelas will be filming in Florida? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 19:09, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This has been asked before[1] with no response. —BradV 00:25, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

plz help me

i have been giving plastic to my gerbils for them to chew on for a year now and it hasnt harmed them. Why shouldnt I give plastic to my Gerbils? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.144.145.223 (talk) 19:09, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

who has told you not to? ny156uk (talk) 19:14, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You probably shouldn't for the same reason that you can't keep water in plastic bottles forever: plastics are made out of petroleum and are harmful to your health. Of course, it depends on the type of plastic. Chris16447 (talk) 21:24, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Challis, ID

I have been looking at a Satellite map of Challis, Idaho, and i see these large dark circle and half circles. What are those? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.210.136.197 (talk) 21:09, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Circles such as those visible here are a mundane form of crop circle -- irrigated fields. A radius-length irrigation platform rotates about the center point. — Lomn 21:26, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See also our article on center pivot irrigation; we have pictures of both the equipment and the characteristic circular fields. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 22:10, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Cash

Why do we bother with two inherently distinct forms of cash? One is made of metal, the other of paper. The paper one is always worth more than the metal one, but by how much, this varies by country. Why is this? AFAIK paper money allows for more colourful and intricate designs than metal money. So why do we still bother with metal money? Is it only because we've known it since the ancient Roman times, well before Mary gave birth to that one famous dude, while paper money has only been known to Europeans for a couple of centuries? Which of these is cheaper to manufacture, anyway? JIP | Talk 21:29, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, before the invention of the printing press, paper money would have been very easy to counterfeit, and even afterwards it has taken a long time to get all the watermarks and things that make paper money very hard to counterfeit. Coins though can be much harder to counterfeit, partly by design (they have often milled edges so that you can't scrape the metal off at the edge), and also because the cost of the metals is usually higher than the trading value of the coin.

As for why we still use coins... it's probably a lot of tradition, and that a pile of coins seems so much more... tangible than some notes. Also note that coins don't burn... -mattbuck (Talk) 21:34, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This reply seems to be in praise of coins. So to turn the question around - why do we bother with notes? Wouldn't it be easier to use coins all the way up? JIP | Talk 21:39, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There's a third form of cash these days, EFTPOS cards that directly access your bank account. Ads for bargain sales often say "Cash or credit card only", but "cash" in that case means coins, notes or plastic cards. -- JackofOz (talk) 22:08, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not wild abut the analysis proffered, yet. I think there are four main physical characteristics of interest, which for notes and coins have the following relations / relative values:

	Production cost	distribution cost	Forgeable	Longevity
Coin	High	High	Easy	High
Note	Low	Low	Hard	Low

and we can posit as a rule that higher value units of currency are passed less frequently than lower values. The slope of this curve is quite important; it interacts with the longevity of the medium of the currency.

All things being equal, we will prefer harder to forge currency and we will prefer that higher value currency units are less forgable than lower value currency units.

At a certain point, the low longevity of the higher velocity currency units results in the cost of production and distribution of replacement high cost paper units outweighing the value of the anti-forge elements of the paper medium, and so a transfer to metal media is made.

I suspect it is difficult to assess at what point a unit of currency should be demoted to metal; it depends in part on the value associated with the higher forge resistency of paper. In the UK in my lifetime, the £1 unit switched from paper to metal. --Tagishsimon (talk) 22:22, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Part of the answer is historical. For a long time coins represented the value of the metal they were made of. This made it awkward to exchange large sums; for example, a Swedish 10 daler coin minted in 1644 consists of a 63x32 cm sheet of copper that weighs 19.7 kg [2]. This awkwardness made the idea of performing transactions using paper documents (essentially IOUs: "Such-and-such Bank promises to pay the bearer of this document 10 daler") very attractive, and these led to the symbolic money we are using today. Today (as Tagishsimon and others have already pointed out), coins are still good for small values, because they last longer in circulation (ever seen an Indian low-value Rupee note that's been in circulation for a while, and is barely held together with the help of several strips of tape?), while paper (and these days, plastic) bills are better suited for high-value cash, because of the ease by which coins can be counterfeited through casting. --mglg_(talk) 22:39, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It should also be pointed out that 'cash' or 'coins' represents a usually insignificant amount of the total money actually in use. The main reason we still have coins is that they are far cheaper to work with in machines, and are more convient to handle than notes in large numbers. Its much easier to handle 100 coins than it is to have to handle say 100 notes. You can quickly and easily see if a wrong coin is in a pack of coins, but for notes you pratically have to check every one. In many counteries the value of the metal actually suprases the value of the coin, in these counteries they have to make it illegal to melt down the coin and sell the raw metal for profit.--Dacium (talk) 23:53, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not all notes are made of paper, either. See Banknotes of the Australian dollar#Current series (polymer). Steewi (talk) 01:19, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's really, really hard to get people to change their habits regarding something as important to survival as money. For example, the United States two-dollar bill and United States dollar coin have never taken off largely because the US government, as a slightly libertarian democracy, has proven unwilling to wage the public-relations battle to get people to convert willingly or risk the disastrous backlash of trying to force a conversion. --M @r ē ino 17:41, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The advantage of coins is they're readily accessible and you can keep them in your pocket. So they're useful for small, everyday transactions like paying tolls and using vending machines. The advantage of bills (banknotes) is that they're light. You don't want to be carrying around $50 in change because your pants (trousers) will fall down. So it makes sense to use coins for small amounts and bills for large ones. Incidentally, the US Mint did spend a good deal of money advertising the Sacagawea dollar, and it generally got a good reception. But there's so much inertia in using the dollar bill that it would be hard to get the entire country to switch voluntarily. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 13:04, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

When Canada made the switch to dollar (and later two-dollar) coins, there was some griping, but nothing like the obsessive behaviour Americans show with their cash. In the end, it turned out to be no big deal at all. Matt Deres (talk) 14:03, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In Canada, I gather that they stopped minting the one-dollar bill when they introduced the dollar coin. Since paper notes typically last about eighteen months in circulation, the entire country would be switched over to the coins in a couple of years.

The United States, for no clear reason, continued to mint both one-dollar coins and bills. The result being that the only place I've ever gotten a dollar coin in the U.S. is from a vending machine. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 14:22, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Australia repeated (or was repeated by; I don't know which country did what first) Canada's experience. In phases, we got rid of the $1 and $2 notes, replacing them with coins. Our lowest note is now the $5, and it works just fine. -- JackofOz (talk) 20:03, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See Save the Greenback. In America, everything is a contest between lobbies, and in this case, the pro-coin lobby isn't powerful enough to outweigh the objections of the paper and ink industries and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing labor union. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:21, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

So the only advantage of coins is that they last longer? Therefore it makes sense to make them the lowest value. From what I've seen, 5 € notes get crumbled a lot, 10 € notes slightly less, 20 € notes very little, and 50 € notes and above stay crisp. (Finnish ATMs don't disponse notes above 50 € so I very rarely get to see a 100, 200, or 500 € note.) But judging from the above replies, wouldn't it be better if coins were replaced by plastic notes? They last longer than paper ones, their manufacturing costs are a bit higher, but they should be equally hard to counterfeit? JIP | Talk 20:54, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Knighthood

Hi there

I was just wondering, when someone is knighted, what is the significance behind kneeling and the sword being touched on your shoulders? I want to know why it is done to clarify the process.

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.122.242.165 (talk) 22:11, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Kneeling shows deference to the sovereign. I suspect the sword is a tradition, possibly arguably connoting the military association of knighthood, with arguable antecedents to the time when swords were more frequently carried and/or to the battlefield. I suspect the touch of the shoulder is a tradition connoting trust in the sovereign - a baring of the neck. I suspect these connotations are weak and to a large extent merely traditional. --Tagishsimon (talk) 22:26, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

With British knighthoods, my understanding is that the person kneels if it's actually the monarch who's doing the dubbing, but not if the role is being performed by a delegate, such as the Prince of Wales or a Governor-General on behalf of the monarch. -- JackofOz (talk) 22:33, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Kneeling is an ancient sign of deference, and servants (ie. those who serve, not merely menials) would frequently kneel before their masters (and even bow before their master's food). Any survey of ancient texts will give you examples of this, and the concept of "bowing the knee" before God is a common theme in the Bible, although we see men doing it before kings and officials as well. (As an aside, the word we usually translate as "worship" actually refers to lying prostrate before someone, so the wise men lay prostrate before baby Jesus, and didn't just dump a few presents). In terms of knights, the kneeling is tied up with feudal service, and submission/vow to one's liege lord. (The person knighting them is their superior, and it is almost certain they will owe him allegiance of some kind). Also, there is the concept of a "vow" being made when one assumes knighthood. That submission/deference idea remains in most of our minds: people freqently kneel when they pray, or propose marriage. Interestingly enough, while kneeling probably occured at some point in the early knighting ceremonies, it was not necessarily part of the central "dubbing" (for want of a better word), which I will explain in a minute. The sword-on-the-shoulder thing is actually a modern(ish) jumbling together of old knighting rituals. Strangely, despite its roots in the Middle Ages, there are relatively few descriptions of the actual ceremony of knighting, and if you read any studies you will find the same examples trotted out. But we don't know if these examples are typical, or if they were described in such detail because they were atypical. That said, we can gain a few principles. We don't see any description of the sword tapping the shoulder(and all that "I dub thee knight" beloved of Hollywood). The sword is a symbol of knighthood, and was given to the new knight along with his spurs ("to win one's spurs") and occasionally other armour, like a sword belt or breastplate. (The new knight would be standing as these are strapped on.) They need not be new, of course: might even have been the new-knight's own sword, just blessed or kissed or otherwise acknowledged. A few knighting descriptions refer to a colée, which is a blow rendered by hand or fist, usually to neck or shoulder. It was probably a hard blow which might even knock the knight off his feet (and to take it he probably did need to be on his feet). One source suggests the blow represents the last insult a knight can take, and is given that the knight may remember his vows. It seems that the modern knighting is a symbolic amalgamation of these ideas, coming well after the Middle Ages. By the way, approach the information given at knight with caution; there is some good stuff there, but inflated by Victorian re-writing and romanticisation, with a few Hollywood assumptions thrown in. It's been on my to-do list for ages. The same applies to books: there's some good ones out there, but be careful, because some are based on tertiary sources, and thus circulate the same nonsense round. But this is all clarifying medieval knighting; if you want to portray something later, then that would depend on the era: it all shifted gradually to the modern ceremony. Hope this helps; let me know if you need more specifics. Gwinva (talk) 00:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The modern tap on the shoulder was originally a very strong and potentially painful blow to the shoulders with the flat of the blade. As I understand it, it was meant to be a test of the knight's strength and loyalty. (This according to a local gentlemen and expert on medieval swords whom I have heard lecture several times.) --S.dedalus (talk) 08:01, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'd be interested in seeing his source: I don't recall ever coming across a reference to a colée being administered by a sword rather than a hand. I wonder what period? Gwinva (talk) 00:56, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are two very different forms of kneeling, indicating different forms of subservience. Kneeling of any kind (bending the knee = kneeling) indicates submission because it lowers the kneeler with respect to the person knelt to. Going down on one knee is a "ready for action" form of kneeling which indicates respect but that the person can get up again directly (hopefully in the service of the person knelt to). Going down on both knees is a fuller form of humbling since the kneeler cannot then get up or move easily, and is more completely at the mercy of the person knelt to. The first is a deeper courtsey, the second is the attitude of prayer. SaundersW (talk) 09:52, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Life's a beach

I'm looking for exceptionally unusual beaches: exceptionally fine sand, unusual colors, unusual compositions (I've heard rumors of a beach with radioactive sand), that sort of thing. --67.185.172.158 (talk) 22:42, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If I remember rightly (haven't been there since I was a kid) Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight is basically stripey, due to the strata of different-coloured sandstones in the cliffs. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 23:36, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Auckland's west coast beaches, such as Muriwai, Bethells, Karekare, and Piha have black iron sand which can have intense black colours, with reflective particles, and interesting patterns. I know some of the Scottish beaches are reknowmed for their white sand, but my mind's gone blank for the names. But there's many in NZ like that, including Doubtless Bay, but I don't know if that is unusual enough. Gwinva (talk) 00:43, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately Alum Bay has been ruined by tourism, and landslides. Jervis Bay is said to have the whitest sand in the world (excellent campsite too). Chesil Beach is quite interesting but it doesn't have any sand. And the beach under Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction is certainly unusual.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You may have been thinking of The "Beach Incident" at Sellafield with respect to the radioactive sand. Some areas of the coastline were also affected by radioactive Seagulls.[3] 86.21.74.40 (talk) 09:41, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Possibly the Thorium rich beaches in India [4]. -- Q Chris (talk) 16:30, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Bangor in Wales has a beach made of iron.It's the slag run off fron an old iron works.It looks amazingly wierd. hotclaws 10:11, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The beaches on the east side of La Palma in the Canary Islands have black sand that has a very high metallic content, (discovered whilst playing Travel Scrabble and dropping a magnetic tile on the sand) it also gets pretty darned hot during the day. Richard Avery (talk) 16:02, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The Caribbean, Brazil and dare i say Mexico have the best beaches in the world!, soft sand, turquois waters and amazing flora and fauna. Wikipedia is not the place to ask, go and see for yourself at FLICKR!. Ajj, now i feel like going to the beach. --Yamanbaiia^{(free hugs!)} 16:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Chesil Beach has pebbles naturally graded by size along its length [5] -- Q Chris (talk) 16:30, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Many of the beaches in Hawaii have black sand. - [6]. And there's Red Sand Beach. Corvus cornix_talk 19:42, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hm. Looks like our article on black sand doesn't refer to the same phenomenon as that in Hawaii, which is the result of lava floes. Corvus cornix_talk 19:45, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have fond memories of the barking sand at the Jersey shore. --Milkbreath (talk) 21:01, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There is suppossed to be a Whistling beach somewhere in the Western Isles of Scotland I think. 80.0.102.226 (talk) 23:52, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Skin

What genes are responsible for causing a snake and other reptiles to shed their skin? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.127.175.202 (talk) 22:51, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know the answer - but I doubt very much whether the answer is knowable. It is very rare for a question of the form "what genes are responsible for ... " to have an answer, unless it's on the level of "what genes are responsible for synthesising protein X?". A complex structure or behaviour is usually dependent on thousands of genes, many of which will also be responsible for other, apparently unrelated, structures or behaviours. --ColinFine (talk) 00:43, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

DVD recorder not working - help

I'm hopeless at describing these things so please bear with me, but maybe someone here will know what I'm talking about. I have a DVD recorder which is connected to the TV via a 21-pin scart cable. Something has gone wrong today and I am unable to record off the TV. Normally, I use the TV remote to switch between two positions, AV1 and AV2. They both show the same broadcast video and audio (when the DVD recorder is powered on), but AV2 is the one I use to watch DVDs and also to view the DVD recorder menus. What has gone wrong today is that I now get a blank screen on the AV2 position, although the audio is still there. When I set the recorder to record, I get the same - a blank screen and audio only. I have checked and double checked all the connections, particularly the scart ones. Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong? Many thanks. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 22:55, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Assuming you have tried playing a DVD (DVD recorders can play pressed discs by the way) and got only the audio stream, try using another SCART cable. If the video stream comes back, then the cable has a problem. If it still doesn't work, then the problem lies within the female connector or the device itself. If you cannot view the picture on both AV1 and AV2, you might have the brightness and contrast turned down or the TV itself has a problem. Hope that helps. --KLLvr283 (talk) 05:44, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

February 7

Torque Creep

In automotive, what is defined by the term "torque creep"? I came across that term on a website that mentioned something about holding in the clutch a bit longer while shifting to experience more "torque creep". Acceptable (talk) 01:01, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I haven't heard this term but to me it sounds like they're just talking about slipping the clutch while shifting to keep the RPMs from dropping down too far. This would help acceleration if you have an engine that lacks low-RPM torque. (I looked for an article on torque curve but we don't have it.) Slipping the clutch excessively will wear it out faster. Friday (talk) 01:39, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Avaya Stock

Would like to know the price of Avaya stock when it spun off from Lucent I had a few shares, they sent me a check, but do not know the price when I got it so I can use for capital gains refaw67.140.3.8 (talk) 01:07, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Advanced method of starting uphill

What is a more advanced method of starting uphill in a car equipped with a manual transmission, other than using the parking brakes? Can one apply a "heel-and-toe" method to it by holding in the cluch with the left foot and fully depressing the brake with the right toes and slowly swinging the side of the right foot to blip engage the throttle while letting go of the brake and clutch? Acceptable (talk) 01:44, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You -can- do that, and when I was first learning how to drive stick, I did it just that way a few times -- but it's not practical or tremendously reliable, and in a machine you're not familiar with, it's even more dangerous. Ultimately, the best way to do it is to learn the catch point of the clutch and be at that point when you're letting your right foot off the brake. You can release the clutch on all but the steepest hills, even without giving it gas, and there is some amount of time, maybe almost a second, before it stalls where the engine is pushing the car forward. In that time, make the switch and give it some gas before the engine stalls.

I was blessed, growing up, by living in a house with a driveway that made me cuss every day, a STEEP hill, and it gave me plenty of practice. Flatter inclines give you more lag time to get that right foot over, and you don't have to let off the clutch nearly as much to hold yourself in position. You have to practice, though, and play with it a lot till you get the hang of it. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 01:53, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree it's unnecessary to be fancy here. Just being comfortable with the clutch is all you need. Friday (talk) 01:56, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A good way to get comfortable with your clutch is to practice stopping on a hill without using your brakes at all: you'll find if you keep your clutch just on the biting point you won't move. That's the point you're trying to hit. Also good for temporary stops (eg at lights) to avoid the whole hill-start thing. Gwinva (talk) 02:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

...and a good way to wear out your clutch quickly and have to do an expensive clutch replacement that much sooner. --169.230.94.28 (talk) 03:05, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend that either. I usually tell people a good way to practice is on a flat parking lot, moving the car forward only a few inches at a time. If you get good at doing that (and doing it quickly) a hill start will be no problem. Friday (talk) 03:08, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Nothing to be said against fancy ways, of course, but when I know that the hill's steep or there's a car close behind me (e.g., in a garage), I quit all pretensions and simply use the parking brakes. Nothing wrong with that. And much cheaper than trying the fancy stuff and not getting it right... :o) --Thanks for answering (talk) 04:28, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Using the parking break is the best way, and in the UK the only way you can pass your driving test. If you live in a hilly city you would wear out the clutch in no time if you hold the car on the clutch - especially waiting at lights. Using a heel and toe risks stalling or rolling backwards. The one provision is that your parking break must be a proper hand break. Those "extra pedals" with release leavers and stuff like that won't do. In Europe where most cars are still manual, almost all cars have a proper handbreak. -- Q Chris (talk) 16:14, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This came up once before and another UK editor said the same thing. I've still not heard a convincing case of why using the hand brake is the best way to do this; it sounds like it's more tradition than anything. Obviously, no competent stick driver is going to slip the clutch to hold the car in place- this is why they invented brakes. But by the same token, a competent stick driver will have no problem getting off the (foot) brake and getting the car moving quickly enough to avoid rolling backward. So why the handbrake? The best argument I remember hearing was for safety- someone might hits you from behind during the split second you're not on the brake. But to me, this is an argument for keeping on the brake when the car is not moving, not an argument for using the brake to assist uphill starts. Friday (talk) 16:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's the best way because it's the simplest way; it doesn't require split-second timing to avoid either a stall or rolling backwards, and it doesn't leave you dancing between the accelerator and the brake while riding the clutch if the car in front of you doesn't move or if something unexpected happens. Conversely, there are no advantages to alternative techniques; they're not faster, not better for the car, and not easier for the driver. The only possible reason not to use the handbrake is if you get satisfaction from making a very simple maneuver unneccesarily difficult. FiggyBee (talk) 16:59, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm guessing you're from the UK? I think the handbrake is easier for people who learned to do it that way. When I discovered this was standard practice in parts of the world, I tried it a few times. I'm sure if I practiced I'd get used to it, but for me, using the handbrake is not the simplest way. The simple way is just to drive the car, using the same basic controls I've always used. In the US, the handbrake is not really a control you use while driving (unless you're intentionally trying to skid for fun.) I've asked other people to try it, and (being all Americans who were not taught to do it this way) they all agreed that the handbrake added an unnecessary extra step with no tangible benefit. I can't make a good case for either technique being better- that's why I wondered if this was just tradition. Friday (talk) 17:05, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It seems to me that the handbrake technique is probably easier to learn and also less likely to go wrong. I admit, I don't have any evidence for this but IMHO FiggyBee's summary is accurate. Obviously if you've learned one way then adapting to the other way is difficult, but this doesn't mean one way isn't easier to learn and less likely to go wrong. It might help to consider what is most likely to go wrong with either technique. With the commonwealth technique, what may go wrong is either 1) You stall the car, but you don't roll backwards because the handbrake is still on 2) You accelerate too fast before releasing the handbrake potentially damaging the brakes and tires somewhat. With the US technique either 1) You stall the car and potentially roll backwards if you don't get to the brake in time 2) You roll backwards because you take to long to accelerate. Either way with the US technique it seems to me you are much more likely to roll backwards if you get it wrong then with the Commonwealth technique. Also with the Commonwealth techique hill start of not once you stall the car you should always have the handbrake on since you are taught to apply the handbrake when stopped. For a panicking beginner driver this leaves one less thing to worry about when they've just stalled and they can concentrate on getting the car started again without forgetting to keep their foot on the brake. It's not quite clear to me whether US drivers are taught to apply the handbrake when stalled but either way, it seems to me even if they are taught, they are more likely to forget about it then a Commonwealth driver who would in their mind knows they should always apply the handbrake when stopped. P.S. It also seems to me that the Commonwealth technique, particularly for a novice drive makes it easier to start slowly on a hill then with the US technique where an individual is more likely to panic and accelerate way to fast because they are afraid of rolling back. Nil Einne (talk) 14:09, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I can understand it varying from region to region, but is it cultural or geographical? In other words, does it depend on the gradient of the roads you generally use? I certainly find the handbrake the easiest/simplest method on particularly steep hills. Perhaps people are more inclined to use the handbrake if they learnt to drive in hilly areas. ?? or perhaps we just do what we were taught by our instructors, who do what they were taught.... Gwinva (talk) 21:04, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yep, interesting question. The only other thing I can think of (this just occurred to me..) If it's a region where people more frequently drive small, underpowered cars, this may explain the popularity of the handbrake trick. I don't find it remotely difficult to start on a steep hill, but I'm driving a car with lots of low-RPM torque. Friday (talk) 21:51, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That would fit the UK theory...if one is allowed to generalise outrageously, there are a lot of small, low-powered cars there. But (OR here) NZ likes the hand brake too (or did, in the days before automatic Jap imports), and also large powerful cars. But it does have a lot of hills, and unsealed roads. ??? There must be someone who's researched all this, surely... Gwinva (talk) 01:01, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

busses to/from NYC airports

I) JFK... 1) Which regular busses go to JFK? ... and
2) where can you transfer from the A, C or (preferably) E subway to these busses?
3) Our article talks about "Q3, Q6, Q7, Q10 (Local/Limited), and B15" and even about free transfers to the subways. How much are the bus fares regularly? 4) How do free transfers work? 5) And do these busses go 24/7 (or when don't they go)? 6) I've heard about some "H bus" that's supposed to be a good connection to JFK, but the article doesn't list it. Anyone's ever heard about that bus line?

II) La Guardia... 1.) The article says that "# M60 (All terminals), Q33 (All except Marine Air Terminal), Q48 (All terminals), Q72 (Central Terminal only), and # Q47" depart from La Guardia. Which one is the best to transfer to the subway to go to Manhattan? 2.) Do they go 24/7?

Thanks for all patient answers! I've tried to find answers on the MTA website, but didn't have much luck there... --Thanks for answering (talk • contribs) 03:59, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The best way to reach Midtown or Lower Manhattan from LaGuardia via public transportation is to take the M60 bus to the Astoria Blvd. subway station and take the N or W lines into town. The schedule is here. Some would advise against using public transportation in the wee hours of the night. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 07:19, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

From JFK airport, your best option would be to take the AirTrain (click here for info), which connects to the A train to Manhattan at Howard Beach. The AirTrain stops right at each terminal, whereas the buses go only to a central bus station at Terminal 4, from which you would have to connect to other terminals via the AirTrain, which is free within the airport. If for some reason you must take a bus, you can take the B15 (schedule) to the A train at Aqueduct, North Conduit Ave. or the Q10 (schedule) to the A train at Ozone Park/Lefferts Blvd. To pay your fares, you should get a Metrocard at a vending machine. The AirTrain fare (to leave JFK) is $5. The bus fare is $2, and the subway fare (for the A train) is $2. If put more than $10 of value onto your Metrocard (which you can use on subsequent trips within the city), you will get a discount of about 10% on the bus and subway (but not the AirTrain) fares. The same fares apply to the bus/subway trip from La Guardia: $2 for the bus and another $2 for the subway. You may not be able to buy a Metrocard at La Guardia airport, so you might need to pay a cash fare (exact change only) and get the Metrocard when you reach the N train station in Astoria. To my knowledge, and based on what I've read on the MTA's website, there are no free transfers between the bus and the subway (only between two buses). The free bus-to-bus transfer works by using the Metrocard. Your fare is deducted from your card when you enter the first bus, but not when you enter the second one during a set time period (sorry that I don't know the length of that period). Marco polo (talk) 17:31, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Don't forget Newark Liberty International Airport. The airport's tram connects to the New Jersey Transit and Amtrak train systems, so you can get to New York Penn Station very easily. --M @r ē ino 17:47, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Newark is another option. However, NJ Transit services from Newark Airport to Penn Station run somewhat less frequently (every 15–20 minutes from morning to evening) than the MTA Subway connections to La Guardia and JFK (more like every 10 minutes). (Amtrak runs even less frequently, roughly once an hour.) Also, the subway and connecting buses or AirTrain run all night from La Guardia and JFK, but there is no NJTransit or Amtrak service from the Newark Airport station between 2:00 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. Marco polo (talk) 20:52, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks to all! That's been very helpful!!

Just a follow-up regarding safety in the "wee hours of the night" - is that true for all public transport or would you advise against some of the options you've mentioned more than against others? And maybe even more important: What would you call the "wee hours"? :o) Are we talking already about 1-2 am, and/or 4-6 am? (I have to get to/from an airport to Manhattan, and I'd rather stay the remaining time at the airport... unless it's safer to go at about 1-2 am... Thanks a lot! Thanks for answering (talk) 20:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

One reason I recommended NJ Transit/Amtrak is that those trains have roving conductors that dissuade most unsavory types. The NYC subway also has transit police, although they tend to make their presence felt mostly at the major stations. I know I feel safer on trains & subways than I do on late-night buses, but I don't know whether the statistics back me up. --M @r ē ino 21:03, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There is some risk in taking the subway late at night, but it is not an overwhelming risk. It depends partly on who you are and how you are traveling. If you are a small woman traveling alone, then the risk may be prohibitive. If you are a large, young man traveling with others, then your risk is relatively small. On weekdays, I might hesitate to take the subway after about 11 p.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, I'd feel fairly safe until around 1 or 2 a.m. (For context, I am a relatively small, 40something man.) Things start to feel safer again around 5 a.m. You can increase your safety at late hours by standing near other reputable-looking people on the platform. If you do not see anyone else entering the station or waiting on the platform and you are traveling alone at night, then I would leave the station, make for a busy intersection or an open business, and call for a taxi. (You will need to have phone numbers of taxi companies and a cell phone handy.) Alternatively, just take a taxi to/from the airport if you are traveling late at night. Marco polo (talk) 21:35, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

While the NYC subway may be safer than it used to be, it's still not as safe as it is in some cities. They have ads warning people not to listen to their iPod headphones while in the cars lest they get mugged for the device. I'd echo Marco's advice about taking a taxi after 11. Then at least you'll be robbed legally. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 12:57, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What is this?

Can someone tell me what this is at these coordinates? 32.267218,-107.817469. It's in New Mexico. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.210.136.197 (talk) 04:01, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It just looks like a house West of Deming, New Mexico and slightly north of Interstate 10--ChesterMarcol (talk) 04:19, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Just a house? I looks more like some kind of tower. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.210.136.197 (talk) 04:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are a few outbuildings around it and some farm fields to the east. The exact spot looks like a hole in the ground--ChesterMarcol (talk) 04:28, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Upon Looking at Google maps, I can zoom in pretty close, it does look like a hole or a mine of some sort. Any ideas as to what it's for or what was mined? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.210.136.197 (talk) 04:33, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Take a look at 32.141529, -107.483992 it's a irrigation pond with some trees around it with mounded dirt on the sides. I think your original location is probably a dry irrigation pond.--ChesterMarcol (talk) 04:46, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Reading Deming,_New_Mexico#Economy, I suspect ChesterMarcol is correct that the object is agricultural in nature. --M @r ē ino 17:52, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The intro for Donkey Kong Country for SNES

A very good intro, but through some insane design decision, it apparently stop just as it is about to get good, and loops all over. At least it does in all the YouTube clips I can find, and when played in an emulator. I believe this is the case with the original game as well. Yet I know I have heard it fully on the real SNES, attached to a TV. So my question is: WHY would they loop it all over from the beginning just as it is about to blossom into the main part of the wonderful melody? I remember them showing the title screen with effects rolling over it repeatedly while the music was playing, but I no longer own the original cartridge so I can check in my original SNES to see if this is indeed an emulator bug or something (which is very unlikely).

Please answer. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.192 (talk) 04:40, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Also it makes sense to loop the music as well because it goes with what's on screen, the transition from Cranky Kong to Donkey Kong. Of course, you can hear the whole song if you press Start to get to the menu. --jh51681 (talk) 13:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Virgin Mobile Voicemail Message

What is the number to call in Australia to change my Virgin Mobile voicemail message? --Candy-Panda (talk) 10:14, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to this "it's as easy as dialling 212". Think outside the box 13:10, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for that. I changed my voicemail message to a Rick Roll hehe... --Candy-Panda (talk) 13:02, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Cool. Think outside the box 17:28, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Time travel

Assuming that one can travel through time, can one prevent a mishap, assasination and come back to the present.Will history be changed? Or will it change only for the time traveller?Can anyone answer me/ I hope my question is clear to all sumal (talk) 14:17, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See grandfather paradox. If you prevent the assassination, then what will prompt you to go back and prevent it (since it never happened)? 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:22, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Since people have not managed to travel back in time yet, to my knowledge, it's a bit hard to know definitely what would happen and what would be possible. Some speculate that, if time travel is possible, it isn't possible to change anything other than in a way you already have; so you could save someone's life, but only if their life had been saved at that point by you travelling back in time. This assumes a single, coherent space-time that you travel around, a single timeline that you jump in and out of. In that case, killing your own grandfather or preventing an assassination that you know happened would be impossible.

Others speculate that you could change things in the past and that this would affect the future you returned to. This is often based on the idea of multiple timelines, or parallel universes. In that case, you are not so much changing the past in your universe as shifting yourself onto a different timeline with a different future. In that case, you could indeed prevent a mishap, but only in the sense that you would be living in a universe in which it had been prevented. The mishap would still happen in the universe you left, which was why you timetravelled in that universe. I would imagine a potential problem with this is that you would have no reason to timetravel in this new universe, so there could be two versions of 'you' if you travelled to the future. Of course, it might be that 'you' were never born in this universe, so it wouldn't be a problem. Or, it could be that your existance is incompatible with this universe and you fade away, but I think that's more fantasy than scifi :) 130.88.140.121 (talk) 14:38, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

BY MY OPINION, the person will only be a spectator and won't be able to do anything to change history. Visit me at Ftbhrygvn(Talk|Contribs|Log) 15:26, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Doesn't the uncertainty principle say that the mere act of observing something changes it. If that's true, you'd change history by just being there and doing nothing but observing. But you can't limit your impact to just observing, because the air you breathe is disturbed by your presence; that's a change. Therefore you'd change history just by being there, when originally you weren't. ("History" in this sense is not just events that have been recorded by historians, but what actually happens to physical matter from moment to moment.) -- JackofOz (talk) 20:09, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Um, right, but quantum effects rarely have played a direct role in history. At the human scale you can do it pretty much classically. So UP doesn't really matter a whole lot. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 16:02, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Philosophically, it could be considered as a free will / predestination type paradox, whereby going back to the past you would still have total free will to act as you wish (in as much as we can determine our choices now) and yet things would not ultimately change in the big picture just as fate somehow determines the present and future. In fact, time travel is an interesting construct for imagining various philosophies like that. Gwinva (talk) 00:40, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

fire + thunder

what do u get when u put fire and thunder together?am not sure if its a powerbomb coz on googling that what i got.or maybe its a trick question?please help —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.24.99.62 (talk) 15:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A more fierce fire. Visit me at Ftbhrygvn(Talk|Contribs|Log) 15:27, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thunder (an atmospheric shockwave) has the potential to extinguish a (very small) fire. Other than that, there's no non-metaphorical consequence of having the two together. That said, there are secondary effects -- thunder is always accompanied by lightning (which could cause a fire) and frequently by rain (which could extinguish a fire) -- but thunder itself is a virtual non-issue. A "powerbomb" appears to be a wrestling move, so I don't see how that's at all related. — Lomn 15:34, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If it is a trick question or riddle, and it does smell like one, it would help us to know the exact wording and the setting it was asked in. --Milkbreath (talk) 16:14, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

<joke>You get on fire and deafened at the same time! Yay!</joke>. Ilikefood (talk) 22:02, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You can combine fire and energy in Gunstar Heroes for a pretty good gun IIRC. And you can combine them in Kirby 64 The Crystal Shards, to set yourself on fire :D\=< (talk) 00:58, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

mothering sunday

have you any poetry or sermons on this subject —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.102.159.26 (talk) 16:43, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No. We'd recommend googling mothering sunday poem or mothering sunday sermon --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:56, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'd recommended using an advanced worldcat search like this, and buy the used book at ebay. --Rwst (talk) 18:24, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If one were to own land...

...would one own that bit of land to the center of the earth? Bellum et Pax (talk) 17:45, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I would say yes, since you are allowed to dig down on your own land, what would keep you from digging down to the core? (despite the immense difficulties, of course) 206.252.74.48 (talk) 17:49, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

National law need not give the land-owner that right. Some land in the United States has separate surface rights and mineral rights, for example. --M @r ē ino 17:55, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(ec)I'd guess that unless there are mineral rights to consider, the property is yours all the way down to the center. --Onorem♠Dil 17:55, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Although that doesn't necessarily mean you can do whatever you like under the ground any more than owning the land means you can do whatever you like on the surface or above. FiggyBee (talk) 17:59, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Traditionally (at least in the US and--I assume--in other common law jurisdictions) you also owned your land upwards indefinitely, into the stratosphere. (This is called cujus est solum ejus est usque ad coelum.) This created a lot of complications when air travel started occurring (i.e. do planes need permission to fly above your house?). Courts basically adapted to this by saying airplanes have a special right to fly through your property, which is justified by the needs of the public. Calliopejen1 (talk) 18:36, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The latin maxim is also sometimes followed by et ad inferos, which indicates that your (common law) rights extend to the center of the earth. Calliopejen1 (talk) 18:46, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, we have an article about this! See Cuius est solum eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos. Calliopejen1 (talk) 18:47, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I understand that in Bulgaria one can own a space from height x to y above a certain plot of land: that is the space occupied by a particular office or apartment. (I think it was Bulgaria: may have been Romania). SaundersW (talk) 19:38, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In the UK you can get "flying freeholds", most notable in the terrace house in Hebden Bridge. Gwinva (talk) 00:51, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See air rights. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 12:51, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Aren't there also regulations in some US jurisdictions concerning whether or not your neighbor's buildings, etc. can cast a shadow on your property? Corvus cornix_talk 19:48, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I once read an article that postulated that if you could somehow force the Moon into a geostationary orbit whereby it remained directly over your (rather large) plot of land, you'd theoretically own the Moon. The implications for the apocalyptically colossal effect on tides and the fate of humanity (and therefore the actual point of the exercise) was not gone into in any depth, though, as I recall. -- JackofOz (talk) 19:58, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

On this last question, The Man Who Sold the Moon by Robert A. Heinlein explored this idea, not by fixing the Moon's location, but by the fact that the Moon's orbit is mostly above the tropics, where the book's hero could easily convince the impoverished national governments of the early post-colonial era sell their speculative rights. Of course, even back in the 40s when Heinlein wrote that book, the idea that the world's governments would let someone get away with such a purchase was only true in his own little liberatarian universe. --M @r ē ino 20:10, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

To reinforce what has been said already on this, here's the straight dope. [7] —BradV 21:19, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What are those things you see in cartoons?

You know those great big pounding things you see on construction sites, for the purpose of flattening cartoon characters? Do they exist, what are they really for, and do we have an article on them? AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:25, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wrecking balls? Anvils? -mattbuck (Talk) 18:40, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No. Vertical cylinders, like pistons with no casing. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:44, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pile driver--Eriastrum (talk) 18:47, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. In the context of cartoons I'd never figured out that was what they were. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:50, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Of course, most of the world is switching to vibratory pile drivers so soon, no one will know "what those things {were}".

Atlant (talk) 19:02, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pear Sorbet Recipes

I would like some good recipes for the pear sorbet I had at a Japanese restaurant. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.236.29.237 (talk) 18:58, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A google search is your best option. --Tagishsimon (talk) 19:22, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You would be surprised; lots of restaurant chefs are willing to share their recipes, knowing that you would probably not get it perfectly right anyway. Sandman30s (talk) 10:47, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

From the shock experience of a friend, if it's an upmarket place, keep it light when you ask if there's a fee. ; ) Julia Rossi (talk) 01:41, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Voting

Is it too late to register to vote? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.127.175.202 (talk) 19:24, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It depends on where you live and the election in which you want to vote. Are you in the United States? If so, which state? Were you hoping to vote in a primary? If so, for which party? Marco polo (talk) 19:26, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Your IP address suggests that you are in California. If so, it is too late to register to vote in California's presidential primary, since it took place day before yesterday. However, California will have another primary on June 3 for non-presidential candidates (such as members of Congress), and you have plenty of time to register for that primary. The deadline to register is May 19. To vote in the general election on November 4, the deadline to register is October 20. See this California Elections web site. Here are voter registration instructions for Los Angeles County. Marco polo (talk) 19:37, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

So even if you wanted to register as Independent you still could not register and take part in the general election, that is too late? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.127.175.202 (talk) 19:53, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Huh? No, as Marco said, you can take part in the General Election if you register before late October. FiggyBee (talk) 20:06, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Romney delegates

Will Romney have control of how the delegates now in his camp will be reapportioned? I realize that - as of now - he has merely suspendd, not ended his campaign. But if he does end the campaign, I'm interested in knowing what will happen to the delegates already controlled by the candidate.

169.137.206.92 (talk) 19:45, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It was my understanding that if a candidate releases their delegates, the delegates are free to vote for whomever they want. I could, of course, be wrong... Corvus cornix_talk 19:49, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Legally, as I understand it, delegates at the party level are always free to do whatever the heck they want. Even in the November elections, faithless electors rarely face legal punishment. The punishment, rather, is social -- they get ostracized from party events since they've proven themselves not trustworthy. Now on to Romney. He and Edwards did not formally concede -- they suspended their campaigns. The main reason for the difference is that it allows the campaign to keep raising money, since both campaigns were in debt. But it also means that Romney and Edwards can exert some influence over "their" delegates. Once you get to a brokered convention, it's a free-for-all, and the delegates don't have to listen to anyone, but these delegates are supposed to be true believers, so they'll likely continue to let Romney and Edwards tell them what to do, even after it would be socially acceptable for them to go their own way. --M @r ē ino 20:20, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

CNN's article notes that (as a Republican) Romney will have his delegates redistributed at a state party level. Procedures for the Democrats are also explained there. — Lomn 20:50, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, looks like I stand corrected! As CNN says, "On the Democratic side, a candidate who "suspends" is technically still a candidate", but my analysis is wrong on the Republican side. I guess the RNC decided that they don't want failed candidates acting as kingmakers. --M @r ē ino 21:08, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pennsylvania driver's licenses

I know you say you can't give legal information, but just help me please. If you are 18 years old in Pennsylvania, how do you go about getting your driver's license, and is there really a mandatory 6 month period, and is there really a mandatory 50 hour minimum of learning how.? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.122.129 (talk) 21:32, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm pretty sure that even if you're over 18, you still need to start with a learner's permit. the PA DMV website explains how to get one. --M@rēino 21:46, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- The mandatory periods apply to under eighteens only. --Tagishsimon (talk) 22:26, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Supermassive Black Hole

Why hasn't the supermassive black hole 'consumed' the Milky Way? Has anyone estimated when this will happen, if at all? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.64.35.196 (talk) 22:26, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not enough time has elapsed. Consider how opening a bathtub drain does not result in all of the water immediately draining. As for estimates, there are probably many floating around out there. My rough survey suggests that the Milky Way, through various galactic collisions, will cease to independently exist long before the black hole could consume it. Our timeline of the universe (see more detail at heat death) suggests that stars will burn out long before black holes can possibly consume them all. So it's a long way off. — Lomn 22:45, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Also, black holes don't necessarily "consume" things orbiting them any more than a sun "consumes" planets. It's very massive and has a very powerful gravitational field but there can still be stable orbits. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 23:29, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I believe the one here in this galaxy isn't active currently, either. It'll probably fire up in the Andromeda-Milky Way collision though. · AndonicO ^Hail! 23:33, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think gravity works that way.. :D\=< (talk) 12:40, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's not a case of how gravity works, but whether or not matter is currently actively infalling the galactic center. The black hole does not have any greater gravitational impact on a given star than did the stars that preceeded it. Consequently, it's quite reasonable for the black hole to absorb the nearby stars that were already infalling yet remain stable with respect to everything else. — Lomn 14:44, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Be sure to practice your duck and cover drills before then. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:07, 8 February 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Gwinva (talk • contribs) [reply]

How do lute players play the lute without accidentely moving the frets?

I'm just wondering this, because the frets are movable and are tied onto the neck, so it seems likely that someone might accidentally move the frets while playing. I'm a guitarist so please excuse my ignorance. MalwareSmarts (talk) 23:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to lute, the frets were originally made from loops of gut tied around the neck. I imagine if they are tied very tightly around the neck they won't move. Lute players typically play notes, not chords, so they don't need to make the awkward hand positions that guitarists make. In playing guitar, these hand positions can put a lot of sideways pressure on the frets and strings, but the lute can be played with a much lighter touch. —BradV 03:13, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance

Thanks in advance for the answers. But back to my question. Is this special ops group kinda like the Rangers? I ask this becuase the only instances i hear of them doing are quite like missions rangers would do. I tried the article but that if you look is a peice of shit. BonesBrigade 23:34, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to the "peice of shit," the group is roughly analogous to the U.S. Army Special Forces (i.e., "Green Berets"), not the United States Army Rangers. Perhaps if you tried reading all three articles, you'd get some idea of the differences. Deor (talk) 23:49, 7 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The primary mission of USMC Force Recon is to provide the commander information about his operational area. Thus, they are primarily "eyes on the ground" or the"human sensor" the commander uses to develop his situational awareness / understanding and intelligence picture. This logically follows on with the task of targeting, which is another capability. That being said, they also can carry out "limited" direct action operations (generally for a Marine Amphibious Ready Group that is Special Operations Capable).

Some of the training USMC FC Marines undergo is Airborne (Static and Military Freefall), Pathfinder, Ranger, Scout-Sniper, Combat Diver (SCUBA), Mountain warfare & assault climber, Jungle operations, Urban tactics, Close Quarters Battle, demolitions, communications, photography, controlling aircraft landing operations, and directing air strikes, Naval Gunfire, and Artillery.

USMC Force Recon is like Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and Air Force Combat Controllers as they share the ability to conduct reconnaissance and targeting.

For instance - SEALs - A tactical force with strategic impact, Navel Special Warfare mission areas include unconventional warfare, direct action, combating terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, information warfare, security assistance, counter-drug operations, personnel recovery and hydrographic reconnaissance.

And Rangers - The cornerstone of Ranger missions is that of direct action. More specifically, Rangers are the premiere airfield seizure and raid unit in the Army. A typical Ranger Battalion or Regiment mission would involve seizing an airfield for use by follow-on general purpose forces and conducting raids on key targets of operational or strategic importance. Once secured, follow-on airland or airborne forces are introduced into theater and relieve the Ranger force so that it may conduct planning for future special operation force operations. Rangers rely heavily on external fire support. Ranger fire support personnel train extensively on the employment of Close Air Support, attack helicopters, Naval Gunfire (NGF), AC-130 Gunship and artillery. The close working relationships with units that habitually support the force ensures that the Ranger Force always has the required assets to perform its mission.

And Special Forces - A whole different beast... A few missions -

Unconventional Warfare (UW)
Special Reconnaissance (SR)
Direct Action (DA)
Foreign Internal Defense (FID)
Coalition Support (CS)
Counter Terrorism (CT)
Psychological Operations (PSYOP)
Civil Affairs (CA)
Coalition Warfare/Support (CWS)
Humanitarian and Civic Action (HCA) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.70.118.134 (talk) 01:59, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more. - SOF

So far im getting the picture that they primarily are just scouts for larger units of marines but at the same time can do most other missions of the other units under SOCOM. BonesBrigade 02:21, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

February 8

What is the recipe for Gordo's Beans or Gordo's Beans with Cheese?

The author of the now-defunct comic strip Gordo once published the recipe for Gordo's Beans with Cheese. It's a wonderful recipe, but I can find it nowhere. Please help. Bbklly (talk) 01:34, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It doesn't appear online, apparently, but it can be found in the book Accidental Ambassador Gordo: The Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola, which your local library may have or may be able to get for you. Arriola died just a couple of days ago, to the sadness of comic lovers everywhere. Deor (talk) 01:46, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Operating a motorized boat

What is the term giving when operating a motorized boat? For example, driving a car, flying a plane, sailing a sailboat. Acceptable (talk) 02:45, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Generally if a boat is large enough to be referred to as a ship or a yacht it is correct to say sailing, regardless of its source of power. When referring to a motorboat, we usually hear driving the boat. You also paddle a canoe or a kayak and row a rowboat. Piloting and operating are also used as more generic terms. —BradV 03:20, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

How about boating.... schyler (talk) 03:37, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That works in one way: I'm going to go driving; go piloting; go boating, but not in another: I'm going to drive my car; pilot my plane; boat my boat(?). It just sounds strange. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 20:18, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Does location matter? If I remember right when a cruise ship is out at sea the captain sails it, but when it comes into harbor a harbor pilot comes on board to dock it. So do captains sail and pilots pilot?--ChesterMarcol (talk) 03:50, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't refer to a captain "sailing" a ship. I must admit, I'm struggling to suggest an alternative (I guess he "commands") but to talk about "a captain sailing his boat" sounds almost like baby-talk.

The situation is slightly different in the case of the pilot, since he doesn't actually assume command when he comes on board. He advises the captain, often to the point that he's the one giving the helm orders, but the captain is still in charge. Also, any inshore "navigation", in which one refers to land features, bouyage, etc rather than stars, radio signals, GPS etc, is properly called "pilotage", whoever is doing it. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 18:17, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Las Vegas: 299 miles

How do highway sign-makers decide what part of town to measure to when giving distances? For most towns, it doesn't really matter, as they're only a mile or two across. But what about for big cities, like New York or Las Angeles? What about for towns that are off the highway: do they give the distance to the town, or to the road leading to it? --Carnildo (talk) 02:57, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know about the USA, but British Empire/Commonwealth countries usually measured to the central post office. This led to interesting situations, where the post office gave its name to the town (which, apparently was the source of Napier, New Zealand) Gwinva (talk) 03:04, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Within the States it can vary. Regardless of whatever the theoretical ideal is, I've often observed on the Interstate that the difference in miles-to-town from sign to sign is not the same as the difference between corresponding mile markers. — Lomn 03:12, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Paris, France, has a bronze cobblestone in front of Notre Dame cathedral that is the official starting-point for all distance measurements-- "Kilomètre Zéro". Perhaps other cities do the same? Rhinoracer (talk) 12:42, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In Helsinki, Finland, the city's measurement point is defined as the Erottaja square in the commercial centre area. JIP | Talk 15:48, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

From Charing Cross: ‘Charing Cross is officially recognised as the centre of London; distances to London are measured to the location of the original Eleanor cross’ -Joe^Talk_Work 15:57, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It is typically the distance to city center or downtown. So in very large cities you could actually already be in the city limits and still see signs saying x miles to wherever. The reason they choose the center rather than where the city starts at the city limits is due to the fact that the center doesn't change much and city limits could change dramatically over time, thus requiring them to change the signs. --Holderca1^talk 18:25, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, forgot the second part of your question, from my experience, the distance is in fact to city not the road leading to it. For example, it may say a city is 12 miles away, but the exit for the city is only 2 miles away. This can cause confusion in drivers when they see the 12 mile distance, than only a mile further down the road they see the sign for the exit to that city notifying them it is just a mile to the exit. --Holderca1^talk 18:30, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think that this can vary. When I was young, I remember a highway sign in the town where I grew up reading "New York 50 miles". Then, at a certain point, a new sign was installed that read "New York 38 miles". The first sign measured the distance to New York City Hall. The second one measured the distance to the city limits at the edge of Queens. In retrospect, I suspect that this change was the result of lobbying by developers who wanted to entice home buyers with the prospect of a shorter commute than they would actually face. Marco polo (talk) 19:45, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There was a debate on this subject in the Reno, Nevada area 2 years ago due to a sign error incorrectly listing the distance from Carson City to Reno on the then brand new Carson City Freeway. If I recall correctly in one of the area newspapers a Nevada Department of Transportation official stated the NDOT standard is from downtown post office to downtown post office. You may search the area newspapers to see if you can find the story. It would be either the Reno Gazette Journal or Nevada Appeal.Davemeistermoab (talk) 20:22, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Found it .... see http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20051108/NEWS/111080052 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Davemeistermoab (talk • contribs) 20:25, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In the United States, it varies based on the state, or to be more specific, the agency placing the sign. MoDOT, which is the state roads agency of Missouri, appears to measure to the outer city limit, which would explain why the numbers tend to be revised down through the years. You can read the what the fascinating MoDOT Engineering Policy Guide has to say on the matter. If you want to know the specifics on a particular sign, I'd recommend that you contact the DOT that owns the sign. Most DOTs are quite friendly and happy to answer questions such as these. —Scott5114 ↗ [EXACT CHANGE ONLY] 04:55, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Why are there so many special operation units in the US?

Marine Corps Force Recon, Army Special Forces, and Navy SEALS

Aren't all of these units similar in capability and function?

Why not merge them all?

Or is there an advantage to so much redundancy?

Does Special Forces see action anymore?

Lotsofissues 03:30, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

army Special Forces is for infiltration behind enemy lines. One of the requirements to joining special forces is learning a new language (these days it is arabic). Navy seals are for amphibious warfare, and not sure about marines. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Goon Noot (talk • contribs) 03:43, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

They're distinct as a matter of history and pride, as much as anything. No service is going to quietly give up one of its most prized elite units in the name of consolidation, even if there is a vast degree of overlap in the various forces' capabilities. The diversity does allow for degrees of specialization -- it's nothing that couldn't be accomplished under one name, but the specialization would still have to exist, as no one soldier will be able to fill every possible role to the highest degree. Since you've got to specialize either way, it makes good sense to keep everybody happy and leave them separate. For the latter part, special forces certainly still see action on a regular basis. — Lomn 04:12, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I feel almost left out without any mention of Air Force Special Tactics units. There are six brands of Air Force "special forces" units, mostly revolving around the Air-Force specific tasks of supporting air traffic from uncomfortably outfitted locations, surviving after falling out of an airplane in hostile territory, and retrieving those survivors. While these Airmen train and often operate with their counterparts in other services, they all have unique skillsets which are not duplicated by Seals, Special Forces, or Force Reconners. They also don't have anything like the marketing savvy, so most people have never heard of them (of course, it's hard to make a cool movie about a combat weatherman). Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 13:52, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

When the US Army Rangers were set up in WW2 to copy the British Commandos, there was opposition from the Generals in charge of US armies, because they felt that taking the most warlike 100 men out of a division could cause a charge to stall in the face of fierce opposition, but a few heroes could lead the multitude of random soldiers to continue the advance, based on World War 1 and US Civil War experience. To overcome their opposition to "cherry-picking" the Rangers were supposed to be a training operation, with the men to be returned to their units. That did not happen. When the Rangers were shown able to pass through enemy lines and seize objectives from the undefended rear, as in North Africa, there was more support from on high. Edison (talk) 15:20, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well there somewhat organized under SOCOM, and they actually do most of the same things. The only differences i see is that each unit specializes in a different field of special ops. Like Navy SEALS amphibious, Force Recon, recon. BonesBrigade 20:50, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Language is a unique requirement of The US Army Special Forces program. If you are going to work with and train forces in other countries it helps if you can speak the language. That really is the "value added" feature of the Special Forces program, training other forces. In Phase V they get a go at language training. Arabic is not the rule, and in fact only targeted at guys in EUCOM or CENTCOM. Other languages include Russian, German, Czech, Hungarian, French, Polish, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Thai, Teglog, Spanish, Portuguese, Persian, Pushtu, and Urdu. - Hope that helps - SOF —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.228.199.39 (talk) 00:47, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If you look at JP 3-5 (Joint SOF Operations) you will find only a few DEDICATED special operations units.

US Army. Special forces (SF), Ranger, Army special operations aviation (ARSOA), PSYOP, and civil affairs (CA) units.

US Navy. Sea-air-land team (SEAL), SEAL delivery vehicle team, and special boat team units.

US Air Force (USAF). SO flying (does not include USAF rescue/combat search and rescue units), special tactics, combat weather, and FID units. For those keeping track they are:

27th Special Operations Wing (SOW)- infiltration, exfiltration and re-supply of special operations forces; air refueling of special operations rotary wing and tiltrotor aircraft; and precision fire support.

1st SOW

The 720th Special Tactics Group (STG)- Special Tactics (ST) combat controllers (CCT), pararescuemen (PJs), special operations weathermen (SOWT). They organizes, trains and equips ST forces worldwide to integrate, synchronize, and/or control the elements of air and space power in the area of operations. It also provides long-range operational and logistics planning, and deploys command and control elements during special tactics force employment or deployment.

18th Flight Test Squadron evaluates aircraft, equipment and tactics in realistic battlespace environments to provide decision makers accurate, timely and complete assessments of mission capability. From concept development to system fielding, the unit's mission improves the survivability and combat capability of special operations forces worldwide.

352nd Special Operations Group (SOG) plans and executes specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate, and resupply special operations forces

The 353rd SOG is the focal point for all U.S. Air Force special operations activities throughout the USPACOM theater. The group is prepared to conduct a variety of high- priority, low-visibility missions. Its mission is air support of joint and allied special operations forces in the Pacific. It maintains a worldwide mobility commitment, participates in Pacific theater exercises as directed and supports humanitarian and relief operations.

he US Air Force Special Operations School (USAFSOS) is a primary support unit of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the Air Force component of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The School is collocated with, and directly supports, USSOCOM's Joint Special Operations University.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.228.199.39 (talk) 00:52, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Jeopardy

Why do people have to say "What is..." before the answer? MissingYes (talk) 03:37, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Because the blue card that is read from is in the form of an answer so the contestants "ask" the question. Take a look at Jeopardy. schyler (talk) 03:39, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It was a gimmick to make Jeapordy distinctive from all the preceding quiz shows on radio and TV. Edison (talk) 15:15, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. The inspiration was the then-recent game show scandals where contestants on conventional quiz shows were secretly given the correct answers if the producers wanted them to win. Revealing the answer to start with was obviously something different from a conventional quiz show, right? (I know, not really, but it's a gimmick.) Hmm, that's interesting: despite the amount of detail in the article, this bit doesn't seem to be in it.

The original idea was that in a category like "Weights and Measures", the card would read "5,280" and the player would respond "How many feet are in a mile?"; but good questions of that type are hard to find, and so now we have "This unit is 5,280 feet" and players answer "What is a mile?", which is much easier to do.

Who is--Anonymous, 00:11 UTC, February 9, 2008.

That's what we'd all like to know. :) -- JackofOz (talk) 05:05, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have never actually seen Jeopardy!, but what I have heard from it, makes the idea of "your answer must be in the form a question" completely useless. All they actually do is move the words "what is" from the question to the answer. It would be better if they were just like regular quiz shows. JIP | Talk 20:48, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Having tried out for Jeopardy, it actually adds an extra layer of difficulty to answering the questions. They advise you to go home and practice while watching the show. Your tendency is to just blurt out the answer, but you have to keep it in the forefront of your brain to phrase it as a question, not extremely difficult but it adds an extra wrinkle. Mad031683 (talk) 22:46, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I assure you that if you watch the show for enough decades it eventually becomes natural. The game show Win Ben Stein's Money had a generally similar design with a different gimmick, and it used to happen regularly that one of its contestants would drop into Jeopardy! habits and say "Who is Bill Clinton?" instead of "Bill Clinton". In fact, it happened often enough that they developed a response for it: the answer would be accepted, if correct, but the contestant continue the game with a dunce cap on their head. --Anonymous, 00:20 UTC, February 15, 2008.

John Appleby, inventor of the "knotter"

One of the big problems for 10,000 years was the cutting and "binding into sheaves" (bundles" the cut grain. The perfection of the machine, called a "grain binder" was due to the invention of a "knotter," a device that tied a knot on a bundle of grain after it was cut by the grain binder's sickle bar. What was the input of John Appleby, who solved this major problem; for his "knotter" was used on various makes of grain binders, such as the McCormick grain binder? Appleby is the unsung hero who solved this great problem, but I need more information on him and the invention he offered. Mediapower (talk) 03:48, 8 February 2008 (UTC)mediapower[reply]

United States Patent 90,807

Issued to John Appleby

Issue Date: June 1, 1869

Current U.S. Class: 56/455

Patent details. SWAdair | Talk 07:50, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

shares

what are second line shares —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.162.112.64 (talk) 05:42, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You don't give any context, but one usage means share issues that are in the second tier of a market in terms of market capitalisation. In the UK stock market, for example, second-line shares would be the "mid cap" share issues that are in the FTSE 250 index rather than in the FTSE 100 index [8] [9]. Gandalf61 (talk) 14:57, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

ABS in snow/ice

Anti-lock braking system states that ABS increase braking distance on slippery surfaces such as gravel or ice, but increases driver control when compared to non-ABS brakes. Suppose one is an experienced driver with a car that has ABS that can be turned off and is driving on icy and snowy roads, should one turn off the ABS when trying to maximize safety? Acceptable (talk) 05:46, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I found this link http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=488594&i=20

and this one (see http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/124638/article.html

hope that helps 83.104.131.135 (talk) 09:33, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No you shouldn't turn it off (switching it off is rarely an option anyway). Also to help with your driving may I suggest you also look up "Cadence braking"? --WebHamster 15:03, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

My 1991 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro contained an ABS on/off switch and its owner's manual offered exactly the advice that Acceptable is describing. The argument went that in slippery conditions on light snow, the wheels might achieve better braking if they could lock and "plow up" a small amount of snow in front of the locked wheels. Having said that, I always drove with the ABS on and on my 2003 A8, the switch has disappeared (unless turning off "ESP" also turns off ABS, which I don't think is true).

Atlant (talk) 16:10, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Please note I didn't say it was impossible to turn it off, just that it's a rare option. There are very few cars on the market where it is an option. None of the cars I've ever had with ABS fitted allowed it to be turned off. I should also note that the effectiveness of ABS is because they do momentarily lockup the wheels thereby reaching maximum braking efficiency, also building up that layer of snow you referred to. As an advanced driver of over 30 years I can attest to the fact that rarely is there a situation when ABS will make things worse (unless of course one is performing reverse J spins or handbrake turns <vbg>) and all things considered it's best to leave the option switched on (if switching is an option). --WebHamster 00:49, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Constructive Dismisal

In the above context, should one take action against the perpertrator before or after one has found a new position? by action I mean legal advise, or financial reconpence. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 10:43, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Listen - apart from Wikipedia NOT giving legal advice - in ANY jurisdiction (which you have omitted to nominate anyway), I can tell you that raisng an action (in UK Law) for Constructive Unfair Dismissal, was, for me at any rate, though successful in the end of the day, fraught with potential pitfalls and unexpected challenges from the (as you incorrectly put it) alleged perpetrator. Advice? See a Lawyer. 81.145.240.25 (talk) 12:48, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Something a little less bitey is our normal way of answering questions, 81.145. Answers: 1. Before or after - it is immaterial. 2. Lawyer or in the Uk Citizens Advice Bureau, or union recommended. There is probably a time limit before which you must start an action. As 81.145 noted, it will be stressful and the outcome always uncertain. --Tagishsimon (talk) 13:21, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

... and note that the questioner is asking for legal information, not for legal advice. Gandalf61 (talk) 13:35, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry Gandalf, but when I see the word "advise" in a question on Wiki, in the context posed here, I feel I am entitled to suspect that the questionner meant "advice". And I would appreciate, for future personal reference of course, the Wiki definition that separates "advice" from "information", when it might be uncertain from the OP what the questionner (possibly myself) actually seeks by way of response. Thanks in anticipation. 81.145.240.25 (talk) 14:23, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If you guys are going to have an extended metadiscussion, please take it to the appropriate place. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 14:28, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Helpful wikilink for those of us who don't live in the UK. (who's being country specific now?) Also I agree this is a request for legal information not for advice :D\=< (talk) 00:56, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In general, one should always seek legal advice sooner rather than later, and one should seek that advice from a qualified professional—not from random strangers on the internet. We cannot advise you on legal strategies. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 14:28, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Earth

I am trying to find a high resolution image of earth that shows half of it in light, and the other half in darkness, but, I wish to see the lights from cities on the dark side, it does not have to be accurate, a photograph or realistic in anyway, just beautiful. I saw one a few years ago. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 16:00, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There's a couple of examples here. You might also find this page interesting. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 16:10, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the effort, I was hoping for something more like link 1 but more photograph like, and was hoping for high res as I would like to use it for wallpaper. Thanks again for you effort, it was better than I could do. :-) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 16:27, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are some images such as [10] that show part of the world, also Image:Nightfall_europe-and-afrika_20050507-184500.jpg and it's well known variant [11] which was taken by the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia before it's ill-fated re-entry.[12] 86.21.74.40 (talk) 16:59, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, but with all due respect, that could not have been taken by the space shuttle crew as it is not a photo, as ther is no cloud cover atall. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 17:02, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

shrug* the last NASA link I gave (a Columbia memorial site hosted by the RST arm of the Goddard Space Flight Center) says that it was. 86.21.74.40 (talk) 17:12, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It does say that, but they're obviously wrong (embarrassingly so, for any NASA site). Not only are there no clouds, but the topography of the ocean floor is visible -- utter nonsense. — Lomn 19:37, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't believe you're going to get a real photo that shows both daytime and nighttime with lights. The light levels are so different that any single photo couldn't be exposed properly (at least, without use of a fairly epic Graduated Neutral Density Filter.) The examples you'll find, like the alleged Columbia shot above, are certainly composites, if not renderings. jeﬀjon (talk) 17:11, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In fairness, the OP did say that the image didn't have to be photographic or realistic. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 17:14, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Look at 'Earthlink' or 'EarthDesk'.--Johnluckie (talk) 06:55, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Drain cover type identification...

This type of drain cover is used when a centralised sewer pipe is used (for example in a high rise residential building) and the vent pipe is a long way off. Due to this, the cover together with the water trapped in the container acting as a trap prevents the gasses from backflowing into the building and also traps insects with it's moist underside. During a drain clog, the back pressure on the pipe will force up the cover, acting as an early warning device. What is the nomenclature for this type of drain cover and which article should I put it in? --KLLvr283 (talk) 16:13, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You could start with plumbing here [13]; it's possibly a "backflow preventer". Nice clear pix in clever format by the way. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:19, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! --KLLvr283 (talk) 01:20, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The Stoned Age

I am trying to find info on a movie I saw in the early to mid 90's about two guys that drive around in thier car listening to hard rock music, smoking joints and trying to find women. It was very funny. and a parody of my high school life. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 16:25, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about it can be found at The Stoned Age. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 16:33, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pumped up stomach

On YouTube I have seen videos of fat men "pumping up" their stomaches. It is not clear how they do this, but they grow very large and "firm". Any idea what the hell is happening? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.192 (talk) 17:34, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Could you send us a few links to the videos in question so we have a better idea of what you mean? The way I understood your question is that they somehow blow up their stomach like a balloon? --Emery (talk) 22:36, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Like this crap or this crap #2? --Ouro (blah blah) 11:20, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

IANAD, but it looks to me like these guys are just sticking their guts out while pretending to inflate them with pumps, kind of like how guys will seem to move their eyes from side to side by twisting their ears or fart by having someone pull their finger. They're just gags. 99.236.51.219 (talk) 20:17, 9 February 2008 (UTC) Whoops, forgot to sign in. Matt Deres (talk) 20:20, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hence the word crap in my question. I have thought so, too, but it'd be interesting to hear from the OP if what I found is what he found. G'nite, y'all. --Ouro (blah blah) 20:50, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

kevin trudeaus birthdate

Research finds Kevin Trudeaus birthdate to be February 6, 1963. In his book,"More Natural Cures Revealed, on page 17, last paragragh, he states he is seventy years old only looks in his forties. Which is the truth? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.221.252.179 (talk) 19:49, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know the source for the birthdate given on Wikipedia, but I see that Mr. Trudeau has a long history of making 'patently false' claims in his books and commercials. Algebraist 20:17, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

<BLP violation removed Corvus cornix_talk 23:08, 9 February 2008 (UTC)> --98.217.18.109 (talk) 15:59, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

WTF? Now we're not allowed to report on whether someone is a convicted felon for fraud and who is making patently false claims? Read my reply yourself—all the facts of it come from his page on Wikipedia, all of the interpretation is my own, and I don't think that's a problem. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 16:05, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Repeating Chess Matches?

Why don't chess matches between very good players often go the same way? If, judging by the prevalence of the chess puzzles in newspapers, in which readers are invited to guess at the recommended solution, there are usually a few distinguishable 'good moves' from a particular arangement, and many chess openings are standardised, why don't good chess players, who can be assumed to be able to identify these 'good moves' fairly well, lapse into games that have been played identically before?

Is there really so much variety that can be garnered from playing well (as opposed to making random legal moves), or does this in fact happen?

Thank you, D aniel (‽) 20:56, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The article chess states that the game-tree complexity of the game is in the order of 10¹²³. With that many possibilities it is very unlikely that two games would go the same way. —BradV 21:24, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That doesn't really answer the question, though, because the thesis here is that each branch of the tree is far from equally likely. Of the 20 opening moves I can think of (2 each per pawn + 2 each per knight), there are preferred "good" moves. Consider, though, that each player might have differing styles and strengths, and that one difference will have a butterfly-in-China effect on future moves. The first couple of moves might often be the same, and moves from an identical midpoint might often be the same, but it takes very few moves to change the nature of the game completely. jeﬀjon (talk) 22:13, 8 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This essay gives some examples of duplicated games. -- BenRG (talk) 00:08, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

One reason players may avoid repetition is simply that they'd find it boring. Also, if it became known that a particular player always played the same line, opponents who knew they were going to play him would study it and learn all the best counters for his usual moves. --Anonymous, 00:20 UTC, February 9, 2008.

The Chess problems you see in newspapers are specifically designed to have one optimum solution. Not only that, they usually feature very few remaining pieces. If a real chess game between two experts ever reached the point where it resembled a chess puzzle then the game would essentially be over, the outcome would be a forgone conclusion, and they might not even bother playing out those last few moves. APL (talk) 02:23, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm so sorry I can't find a reference for you (don't have time - someone might google it successfully) but I vaguely recall that in the history of chess there HAVE been complete games that 'went the same way'... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.51.122.26 (talk) 11:26, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Suppose there were a finite, small number of chess games that the 'experts' would play. At the board, one player would recognize that the particular opening being played would lead to a particular outcome—let us say that White would win. Black would also recognize this 'standard' game. Not wishing to lose, it follows that Black would choose to do something differently. As others have noted above, situations where there exists a single, unambiguous, clearly optimal move do not occur on every turn; Black would certainly choose a different move at one of these junctures. Once one player breaks from the 'standard' game, all subsequent moves will have to respond to that change, and a 'new' game is played. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:56, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, all D aniel (‽) 19:17, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

February 9

Is it okay to type this e-mail to a bodybuilder?

Is it okay to send an e-mail about how his/her works, and how fast in beats per minute (bpm) does he/she work up to in exercise? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sirdrink13309622 (talk • contribs) 01:03, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

~~You can only ask.~~I mean, it doesn't hurt to ask. You could also check if they have a website with their workout information. Julia Rossi (talk) 06:43, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Although you should only regard this as trivia. Please don't use the information from some random body builder to set conditions for yourself, that would depend on your age, sex, physical condition etc and you should see a doctor if you have any serious concerns Nil Einne (talk) 13:55, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The best way is to contact a physician personally and disscuss any physique related problem with him.I guess this is the best and safest thing to do rather to make guess yourself or to act upon suggestion of any un-expert person.OK!--Mike robert (talk) 16:57, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Are there such things as easy wish spells?

Just wondering...are there such things as easy wish spells? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sirdrink13309622 (talk • contribs) 02:27, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There must be many, fingers crossed -- ; )Julia Rossi (talk) 02:41, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

...and touch wood. :) Grutness...wha? 05:07, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And wishing on a star. Corvus cornix_talk 21:04, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. 130.88.140.112 (talk) 13:53, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

mp3 music collection

What programme would the wikipedians recommend i use to organize my music collection automatically? Ie. organize the folders into artist/album/track and also rename all the tags to their correct names. A bonus would be for it to download album art. Does such a programme exist, or do i have to do it myself? thanks RobertsZ (talk) 10:54, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'd recommend WhereIsit for the cataloguing and Tag&Rename for the tagging and accessing/inserting album art from Amazon. --WebHamster 11:10, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

iTunes. —Nricardo (talk) 16:21, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You don't say what operating system you use. Anyway, I use Rhythmbox and love it. —Keenan Pepper 22:08, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

For Linux, I would use either Rhythmbox or Amarok. For either Windows or Mac, iTunes is the way to go. —BradV 03:25, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

marketing (customer communication)

Discuss what is meant by relationship marketing and how effective communication contribute to customer loyalty and retention.

C.A18:24, 9 February 2008 (UTC)Clement adu (talk)

To me, this looks like a verbatim transcription of a homework question. If I am mistaken, please correct me, and accept my apologies. If I'm correct, please read the section at the top of the page, that begins with "Before asking a question". --NorwegianBlue^talk 18:31, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree, it does seem like a homework question. Cryo921 (talk) 07:38, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Look in any good marketing text.86.197.46.100 (talk) 16:02, 10 February 2008 (UTC)DT[reply]

Travel in Norway

Hello,

With any luck, later this year I'll end up arriving by square-rigged ship in Måløy, and needing to get home to Southampton in the UK. It looks like Bergen is the nearest real airport to Måløy, and Norwegian have some reasonable air fares to Stansted. But how best would I get from Måløy to Bergen? I'd be leaving the ship on the 2nd of August, probably early in the day. Thanks. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 18:34, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Tall ships' races, eh? I've never been there, but according to the Norwegian Wikipedia, (Måløy, kommunikasjon), the Hurtigruten stops daily at Måløy. In addition, there are several departures every day to Bergen by express boat. I'll leave a message at the Norwegian reference desk, asking if someone could supply more information. --NorwegianBlue^talk 19:47, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

One alternative is an Ekspressbåt (http://www.ruteinfo.net). I haven't seen what the other Norwegians have written on the subject, but this is the fastest and easiest means of travel. There is only one departure for Saturdays, which is at 07:15, arriving in Bergen at 11:50. This - (http://www.ruteinfo.net/ruter-f1/r/23-531.htm) - seems a good bet. You'd have to phone them to find the fares, or book online (I didn't come across those two in my brief, brief search), but calling +47 55 90 70 70 should provide you with all necessary information.

The second alternative is, as mentioned, hurtigruten. You may order a ticket with hurtigruten at hurtigruten.no. The south-bound ship from Måløy to Bergen departs at 05:45, and you may find this conflicts with your schedule. The ship arrives in Bergen on the same day at 14:30. Luggage can be stored in a dedicated room aboard, and because it is such a short trip, a cabin shouldn't be needed. Breakfast and lunch will cost £12 (NOK 125) and £28 (NOK 290) respectively (rounded off), but is not mandatory, of course. Without these costs included, the ticket fare will be £78 (NOK 799). You may of course bring your own food, and I normally prefer this alternative. The cafeterias tend to overprice things by a lot. The first is a far cheaper alternative, but this is by far the most enjoyable and scenic. :) 81.93.102.185 (talk) 10:25, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I should add, from the docks to Flesland Airport is approximately an hour or so. Saturday traffic isn't very bad, but so long as you don't have a flight departing at 14:00 or earlier, you ought to be relatively safe - ASSUMING that travels abroad demand you to check in one hour before the flight, AND that the trip Bergen-Airport takes one hour. I'm no authority on this, so please confirm bus correspondance. 81.93.102.185 (talk) 10:29, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Note that you could also fly from Ålesund (Vigra) - not every day to London, however. [14] (English link top right) Jørgen (talk) 20:42, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yup, Tall Ships' Races it is. I sail occasionally as volunteer crew on the TSYT's brigs, and I've put in a bid to do that voyage as either Watch Leader or Deckhand. I believe the Races are quite popular, though, so there's no guarantee that I'll get it. Thanks for your help in the travel research! 81.187.153.189 (talk) 00:01, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Political Ads

What is the origin and purpose of the phrase "I am (political canidate's name) and I approved this message"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.248.229.103 (talk) 20:00, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The political disclaimer and resulting parodies stem from a new requirement enacted through the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA). BCRA requires candidates, parties and interest groups to include both an oral and written disclaimer statement with radio and television ads, thereby taking responsibility for the content of the ad. The legislation built out of a series of nasty attack-ad elections where candidates would disclaim responsibility for smear campaigns while allowing them to proceed.[15] — Lomn 20:36, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Length of Lolita

In terms of numbers of words, is the novel Lolita longer than the novel Madame Bovary? If so, by how much? 99.240.177.206 (talk) 23:34, 9 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Whew, I have no idea about the number of words, but Madame Bovary appears to be longer. Besides running a significantly larger page count (440+ to ~320), the audio book for MB is on four CDs while the audio book for Lolita fits on only three. Both indicate that Madame Bovary is about 30% longer than Lolita. Matt Deres (talk) 00:22, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

February 10

Deep deep discounts

Through my employer, I get a discount at Staples office supply stores. Sometimes the discount is only a dollar or two but quite often it's much larger. For instance, yesterday I bought some blank CDs. The pre-discount total was $21 and some change. After applying the discount... the new total was $4 and some change. I saved more than $15! It's something in the neighborhood of a 75% discount. How is this possible? Does Staples still make a profit in this case? Dismas|^(talk) 03:17, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The fact that your discount varies based on the product suggests that it is based on their cost, not their sell price. Obviously ~~your employer~~ Staples makes a fair bit of margin on products like blank CDs. —BradV 03:27, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's also possible that the discounts on some of the products make them loss leaders - if it gets more employees from your company into the store, hopefully to buy other products as well as the CDs, it might be worth it to Staples to lose a little money on sales of the CDs to get the increased business overall from your company, especially if it's fairly large. -Elmer Clark (talk) 03:29, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It is a large company. International, with ~5000 employees just in this state alone. But it's not the maker of the CDs as BradV seems to be thinking. Dismas|^(talk) 03:34, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, I misread the question and thought you were working at Staples. Your company's discount is probably a cost-plus system rather than a list-less system, leading to higher discounts on high-margin items (e.g. CD's). I corrected my statement above. —BradV 07:37, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

They could have just been clearance items.86.197.46.100 (talk) 16:01, 10 February 2008 (UTC)DT[reply]

Drought

Why does drought affect prices of stuff like wheat? Is it because that stuff will taste worse? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 03:42, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Because it dies and can't be harvested. Then there's less of it for sale and the laws of supply and demand mean it becomes expensive. But you're probably also right in thinking that what does survive will be of lower quality. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 03:54, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

To try and clarify: what I mean is the farmers affected by drought will have less wheat and lower quality, so probably have to sell for less. The global market will have less wheat, and higher prices for a certain quality. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 04:04, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Drought II

Why is drought believed to be the "worst natural disaster"? It doesn't do stuff that other disasters do, like destroy buildings. Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 03:42, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What is the basis for your claim of drought being "worst"? As one possibility, though, drought adversely affects food and water supplies over a large area. Destroyed buildings are generally less detrimental to basic human survival, as it's easy to fashion alternate shelter. — Lomn 04:25, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If a storm knocks down your house, you rebuild. If a drought wipes out every farm within 200 miles, you starve to death. Which do you think is worse? --Carnildo (talk) 21:27, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

How exactly does a nuke kill you?

Besides getting hit by flying debris, how exactly does it kill you? bibliomaniac 1 5 05:31, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As far as I know, it is mostly the debris. Getting thrown around by the shockwave would also do it. The radioactive fallout comes later. I welcome more detailed information. X) --Masamage ♫ 05:39, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Or the blast and thermal radiation. Read about it at Effects of nuclear explosions. —RR (talk • contribs) 05:50, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(ec) See Effects of nuclear explosions. The heat will kill you way out beyond where the blast would. The heat is inconceivable. The shockwave will kill you, too, if you're close enough, just like with any bomb, and if you've somehow survived the heat, like having been behind something. Same goes for hard radiation from the blast itself, if you've somehow avoided being fried to a crisp in the first millisecond. You can die later from radiation sickness from being where the fallout comes down. --Milkbreath (talk) 05:52, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Depends how close you are. Very close, blast. Further out blast, damage from falling buildings, etc. Way out, radiation sickness. Further, cancer over a long period. Best bet. Don't be there.86.197.46.100 (talk) 15:59, 10 February 2008 (UTC)DT[reply]

It depends where you are and what type of nuke it is. There are different equations that describe the radii of the various effects (the fireball itself, blast pressure, thermal energy, radiation) which vary quite a bit depending on the yield of the weapon (in very small nukes, say 1kt or so, the radiation reaches further than the blast pressure; in very large nukes, the thermal energy can cover hundreds of square miles, inflicting third degree burns on anyone it comes in contact with). If you are far enough away from the immediate effects, there is still the issue of fallout, which can cover thousands of square miles (depending, again, on the yield of the initial weapon). So there are a few different ways that any given nuke can kill you. Of course, even without a nuclear core, being underneath one that was accidentally dropped can be bad for your health. ;-) --98.217.18.109 (talk) 16:01, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See Radiation poisoning too. Oda Mari (talk) 18:50, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The searing thermal radiation can burn you to death at a distance far enough away that the burst of gamma rays are non-lethal. Hence Duck and cover. Edison (talk) 03:46, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Although fallout has the widest range of any possible killers. The attack scene of Threads is frighteningly realistic in its portrayal of what happens to one house within a couple of miles of ground zero -- first the thermal radiation at the speed of light, which burns to death those exposed to the light and sets flammable objects on fire; then the blast wave at the speed of sound, which turns the home to rubble; then the lingering radiation, which slowly kills many of those who managed to survive above ground. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 04:48, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Exploding cesium

Suppose I have 2g of 99.99% pure Cesium. I'm guessing it would have to be safely stored in a vacuum-like ampule right? Suppose I throw that ampule with 2g of cesium in it and break it. How big of an explosion would the cesium create a) in room temperature air, b) in water and c) in liquid chlorine? 99.240.177.206 (talk) 05:48, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This question would better fit the science Reference Desk. I suppose you had already read the article on cesium, including the Precautions section? --Ouro (blah blah) 06:45, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'd say: A small one, if any, in all cases. 2g is a tiny amount. While a Cesium atom will gladly get rid of its outer electron, it is also very massive, thus the given 2g contain relatively few atoms, leading to only a small amount of released energy. Disclaimer: I am not a chemist, and you should not try this at home (or anywhere else). -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 12:26, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Tend to agree - in context less than a banger (maybe you call these firecrackers). Also in air I don't think it will explode as such maybe catch fire. In water yes - bang!.87.102.79.203 (talk) 16:32, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are many cesium/water videos out there eg http://video.aol.com/video-detail/group-1-metals-reaction-with-water-slow-motion/2502091714 - note ignore the braniac ones (a tv program) as they are fake..87.102.79.203 (talk) 16:45, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Counties

Why are there counties in uninhabited areas? 124.181.26.71 (talk) 08:10, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think the answer may be different depending on whether you really meant "counties", or countries. And if you did mean counties, can you specify which country you're talking about. Thanks. -- JackofOz (talk) 08:15, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can you also specify which counties you're talking about? See county. It would seem that by any definition, all counties are inhabited, as they are administrative districts, and there would be no one to administrate no one if they were totally uninhabited. (I changed your question title for administrative purposes.)--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:45, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think the OP meant "Why is land that is (basically) uninhabitable, such as the Sahara Desert or really Northern Canada part of a country's territory?" Well mostly the answer to that is for the land's natural resources. Siberia, for example, has tons of natural resources (even though Siberia is inhabited, just sparsely). The same goes for northern Canada. Also, if it wasn't under the jurisdiction of some country (and its laws), people could do anything there and it might become a bit chaotic. --Emery (talk) 21:16, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As far as I know, no county consists entirely of uninhabited areas, although Loving County, Texas comes close. Sometimes, an uninhabited area will be divided into sub-areas, such as districts or numbered survey townships, for ease of administration. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:25, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Speaking of Loving County, Texas, the website for its county seat shows that it has a courthouse but no lawyers live in the area. Just how can you have a courthouse with no lawyers? Judges are lawyers too, mind you. What is the deal? I'm confused. Discharging P (talk) 23:42, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

They must not be counting County Judge Don Creager [16]. The article has a funny story -- the only serious crime on the docket at the time was a man who threatened the waitress at the cafe and smashed a window after being asked to stop cursing. The guy was charged with assault on a government official because the waitress is also the county's elected justice of the peace! -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:36, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A law license is not always required to be a county judge [17]. Rmhermen (talk) 06:09, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

literature

my teacher asked us to find more about symbols of fear, but i can't find anything.. can you help me? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 218.186.8.11 (talk) 09:56, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Could you narrow it down a bit?; which books,which genre, which authors or something.hotclaws 10:40, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Already answered on the Humanities desk here [18]. Dear 218, please stick to one desk to keep the thread together. Julia Rossi (talk) 12:51, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Basketball Strategery

Forgive me if this is a stupid question; I know virtually nothing about basketball. I just saw a sportscenter highlight where the visiting team was down by three and fired (and missed) a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game. The defending team, as I see it, had three options: (1) Wait and hope the shot misses. (2) Block the incoming ball on the descent, which I think is goaltending (but isn't it better to risk that the guy won't make his foul shots? would he even get three foul shots?). (3) Grab the incoming ball and slam it for the "alley-oop", a deliberate own-goal sort of thing, which would have given the opponent two points, still a losing score.

I've never seen or heard of anyone trying either (2) or (3). Are there rules to prevent these situations? Does anyone ever try them and I just don't see enough basketball to know about it? Thanks, Deltopia (talk) 14:06, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You are correct that what you describe in scenario (2) would be goaltending--you may not realize that (3) would qualify as goaltending as well. Any interference with the ball once it has begun its descent toward the rim--regardless of what the defender does with the ball after s/he touched it--is illegal. When someone is called for goaltending, the penalty is more severe than foul shots; the shooter is automatically awarded 2 or 3 points, depending on where the shot was taken. This is why no one would ever, ever, ever risk goaltending a three-point shot. --The Fat Man Who Never Came Back (talk) 14:20, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You're correct that a foul would give three foul shots in this situation, and there's a debate to be had as to whether that improves the defending team's odds of victory. Another occasionally-seen strategy, though, is to foul the trailing team before they can attempt a shot. This gives them only two free throws, and with a three-point lead and very little time remaining, can be a good way to prevent a three-point opportunity. — Lomn 16:59, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As well, depending on the location of the defenders, the player taking the shot may be at a difficult position to guard against. Like what was said above, if the defender acted too vigilantly, he risks fouling the shooter. If he does that and the ball does not go in, the shooter receives 3 foul shots (assuming he shot from past the 3-point line). If it does go in, the shooter is rewarded 3 points and 1 foul shot, making for the possibility of a 4 point play. As well, the defender may have just seen the shot as a desperation attempt and calculated that the potential consequences was not worth trying to stop the shot. Acceptable (talk) 19:22, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

"Claim for fame"

What's it mean? [19] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.192 (talk) 14:37, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If you gave some context (rather than a link which is totally pointless, because it is just to somewhere else that you have asked the question) answerers might have a chance of being able to help you. Are you sure it is not 'claim to fame', meaning 'reason for which [the person or institution] is or might be known'? --ColinFine (talk) 14:45, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.192 (talk) 16:18, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Difference between acronym and abbreviation?

I have tried for years, but I just don't get it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.192 (talk) 19:12, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Acronym = USA (Capital letters of United States of America) - Abbreviation = Ky (short form of writing Kentucky). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.145.242.121 (talk) 19:37, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Take a look at this page and our article on Acronym and initialism. --Emery (talk) 21:09, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Acronym for me have always created a new word eg. RADAR, CABAL Sandman30s (talk) 11:58, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Cities that twin - any tourist benefits???

I am going on holiday to Nice on the Cote d'Azur in Southern France and whilst looking it up on Wikipedia, I noticed that Nice is twinned with several other cities, among them Edinburgh in Scotland, where I live. Can I expect any benefits when I get there like a glass of wine or a free lunch with the mayor, or perhaps free entry to any art galleries or museums, or perhaps a free bus ticket etc. If not, what is the purpose of cities twinning with each other except perhaps to provide excuses for a free jolly for the town councillors and officials of the respective cities?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.145.242.121 (talk) 19:32, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

From Town twinning: "In practice, the twinning arrangements often lead to student exchange programs, as well as economic and cultural collaborations." So I suspect there is no such thing as a free lunch. 194.171.56.13 (talk) 20:14, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do we have an article on the game "Tumbling tower"

I'm looking for the Wikipedia page for a game called Tumbling tower. Either we don't have one or that name is less known than the common name for it, which I don't know what is. --Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 20:24, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Jenga? Foxhill (talk) 20:29, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Travelling question

How does one get from Helsinki, Finland to Seeboden, Austria and back without ever travelling by aeroplane? I have formulated a sort-of plan involving travelling throughout half of Sweden, the whole of Germany, and over half of Austria. Even with an InterRail Global Pass card, it will cost me over 480 €. This will take me a bit over a week (I plan to stay in Seeboden for three days), from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning the next week. Is there any way to make this faster, or cheaper? JIP | Talk 20:39, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

When are you planning on travelling? In the summer there are ferries from Helsinki to Rostock, Germany. Corvus cornix_talk 21:07, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to Google[20] it's 2,386 km by car. —BradV 21:10, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I am planning to travel in July. I don't have a car. The route shown above is very much like the one I have calculated above, which would cost me 480 €, not including hotel costs or food. JIP | Talk 21:15, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Try this, though they don't seem to have July fares up yet, but you might be able to extrapolate based on current fares (I would imagine summer fares would be more expensive). Corvus cornix_talk 21:22, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

For the cheaper, hitchhike it. This is very simple - just have a sign saying "Austria" and you'll be fine. --Montchav (talk) 21:59, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do people still hitch across Europe? I did it in 1983, but it was not quick. I would allow at least a week, possibly more, from Finland to Austria, and you would still need to pay for ferries, unless you went through Russia. Speaking of traveling through Russia, that might be a cheaper option by train, but it would add about 12 hours to your travel time each way. You can travel by train to St. Petersburg Finland Station, then take the metro six stops to St. Petersburg Warsaw station. From there you would travel via Brest, Warsaw, Katowice, Ostrava, Brno, Bratislava, Vienna, and either Salzburg or Villach to Spittal-Millstättersee, the closest station to Seeboden. Your cheapest option, if you are willing to consider it, would actually be to fly. I have found return airfares from Helsinki to Klagenfurt (the nearest airport to Seeboden) for around €375 on this site. Flying would take about 5 hours each way, including a change of plane. Marco polo (talk) 23:31, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sure people hitch-hike across Europe. Last year I did a total of 9300 km, going from Poland to Croatia and back, and then from Poland to Spain via Switzerland, and back. It's very, very popular, very convenient and a fun way to spend time. One of my favourites. --Ouro (blah blah) 13:13, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The Tallink ferry from Helsinki to Rostock is out of the question. It arrives so late that any trains to Austria the same day would mean I would have to spend hours at some German railway station alone in the middle of the night. And coming back, it leaves so early that I would practically have to arrive the previous night and again spend the night at the station. However, I did find a nice ferry connection from TT Line from Trelleborg to Rostock, which would leave me several hours of spare time both when going there and coming back. Going via Russia is also out of the question. It is much too far away, I still don't trust Russia in general, and I understand no Russian or Polish, and only a little Estonian. I realise it would be much faster, easier, and perhaps also cheaper to fly, but this is an experiment. I have never travelled to continental Europe and back without flying at some point. My father told me flying is the least ecological way of travel there is, so I took it upon myself to plan a journey to Seeboden and back without flying. JIP | Talk 19:45, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Also, I find trains and ships much more comfortable than aeroplanes, even if they are slower. And I simply hate the long queues and strict security measurements at airports. When travelling by land or sea, I get to skip all of those. JIP | Talk 21:34, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

sports players wages

Is there a good page here, or a good site on the web, about the differences in players' wagse in different sports? Ranging from the $50m a year soccer players to the world champions in really low-level sports, say, tiddlywinks, but with everything in between? Web searches haven't been so productive on that front. Thanks in advance. --Montchav (talk) 21:12, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Micromanagement companies

Do any entire large companies have a reputation for micromanagement, because only micromanagemers are hired or promoted to the positions, or because company training encourages it, or because the senior executives' own micromanagement requires it of the managers? Neon Merlin 23:25, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A thought experiment: What is the difference between "management" and "micromanagement"? One is where a person spends his/her productive efforts planning, training, and supervising others who directly do useful work, so that the labor force can concentrate on their labor with good chance of being productive. The other is when such a manager is too zealous, and his/her efforts are seen as interfering, instead of helping. This is a subjective analysis by the workers, the MM's equal-level managers, or by the MM's own supervisors. The MM would not, of course, consider what he/she does as micromanagement; he/she would believe his/her efforts to be useful and good.

Thus, if someone IS a MM, his/her efforts hinder the company. Any company that promoted such destructive behavior would quickly become less competitive than another company that promoted good management skills, right? Such a company would be less profitable, and grow smaller with time until it either went bankrupt, or fixed it's problem. In the long run, it's a self-correcting problem. Not that that makes anyone working with such a person any happier.

Anyone with experience in the workforce can give personal examples of micromanagement. It gets stomped on, though, by the MM's supervisor, as soon as productivity starts to fall and the MM's excuses are recognized as self-serving, blame-shifting BS. Sometimes that takes a while. -SandyJax (talk) 14:55, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

February 11

Strep Throat

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis or prognosis. Please speak to your physician about any concerns you might have on this issue.--TenOfAllTrades(talk) 02:10, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Chevrolet 2.8 liter V6 information please.

I have been told that you can install a 1985 Chevrolet S-10 2.8 liter engine in a 1987 2.8 liter S-10 pickup if you use the timing belt cover from the 1987. Also I have been told that the 1985 2.8 liter can be used in a 1986 Caifornia registered S-10 if you have all the required CA smog components (TBI, computer, etc,). Yet I have been told that the 1987 S-10 2.8 liter engine can't be used in a 1986 S-10. Why is that? Have I been given some bad info somewhere?69.236.82.186 (talk) 03:22, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Matrixism

What is the correct web address for Matrixism http://www.geocities.com/matrixism2069 or http://www.geocities.com/truematrixism ? 71.231.120.227 (talk) 03:35, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Anyone can set up a website for Matrixism. It's not officially recognized so choose whichever website you prefer.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 12:24, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The article is obviously referring to one or the other not both. Which one is all I am asking. 71.231.120.227 (talk) 12:57, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

By the way what do you mean by "officially recognized"? 71.231.120.227 (talk) 12:57, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Since this is yet another transparent attempt to gain Google standings for an invented "religion" that crops up on the Ref Desk every few months, I've unlinked the addresses above. Spam is not needed here. — Lomn 15:04, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The questioner should note that links in Wikipedia articles (or on the ref desk) are all nofollow, so they are not indexed by search engines, and any attempt to increase rankings by including external links in Wikipedia is therefore a waste of time.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 15:17, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As a point of interest, Most of the previous questions about Matrixism appeared from the 206.188.x.x range. This may be a genuine question. APL (talk) 15:58, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know what Lomn is referring to. I just want to know which Geocities website the article is referring to. I don't have access to the references for the article. 71.231.120.227 (talk) 21:55, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Stripping

My girlfriend wants to get a job to get out of the house and make some money. Should I encourage her to become a dancer? She is very sexy and has a lower back tattoo. Discharging P (talk) 04:25, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know what having a lower back tattoo has to do with it. Since you're asking an opinion question, it's hard for me to answer with anything other than just another opinion. And the ref. desks are supposed to be places for factual questions. My gut reaction is not to encourage her unless it's something that she wants to do. If it's just your fantasy to date a stripper, this won't go well... If you want to discuss this further, hit up my talk page. I've dated two dancers before and can lend an ear if you like and maybe answer some questions about the lifestyle and such. Dismas|^(talk) 04:58, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

~~Butt~~ But lower back tattoos are sooo unique ;-) --hydnjo talk 05:51, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think that this would be a better subject for a talk page. Like Dismas said, the reference desk is for factual questions, not for posting opinions.--Dlo2012 (talk) 18:07, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Am I the only one who thinks it's stupid to call strippers "dancers"? The majority of professional dancers, whether female or male, won't have anything to do with stripping. Why is there need for such an euphemism? JIP | Talk 21:43, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I hate to point fingers and I try to assume good faith, but after looking at the userpage and contributions it would appear that this user may be a troll. --Emery (talk) 23:36, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The Stock Market Doesn't Make Sense to Me II

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aj2Rd_QSs4sE&refer=home

How does the company just produce more shares of itself to sell?

66.91.224.203 (talk) 09:31, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A company can issue more shares at any time. When a shareholder buys a share, they are buying an entitlement to a slice of the future profits of the company, which are distirbuted as dividends. On the face of it, issuing more shares is simply cutting the pie into smaller slices. However, the deal offered by the company's management is usually that they will expand the business by investing the capital that they raise from selling the new shares (maybe in new plant or more R&D or a new product line or taking over a competitor) leading to a bigger pie in future. So despite there being more slices, everyone's slice will end up being bigger than before, not smaller. To protect existing shareholders' rights, they are usually offered "first refusal" on the new shares - this is known as a rights issue.

The Société Générale rights issue which is mentioned in your link is a special case, as Société Générale are proposing to use the funds raised to "replenish capital" i.e. to keep themselves afloat and avoid a takeover. They are gambling that existing shareholders have confidence in the long-term future of the bank, if it can survive its current crisis, and that maybe new investors will be looking for a bargain if the shares are issued at a low enough price. Gandalf61 (talk) 12:09, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Were there people in space (other than a quick "hello" and back) before the moon landings?

Were there people in space (other than a quick "hello" and back) before the moon landings? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.192 (talk) 12:42, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. 194.171.56.13 (talk) 12:57, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed. See everything on List of human spaceflights, 1960s before Apollo 11. Gagarin did a single orbit in Vostok 1, the X-15 flights were definitely in the "quick hello and back" category, and the early Mercury missions only spent a few hours in space. However, the later Gemini and Soyuz missions spent several days (nearly 2 weeks for Gemini 7) in Earth orbit, and Apollos 8 and 10 went to the Moon and back (without a lunar landing, of course). Gandalf61 (talk) 13:10, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Writing checks/cheques - okay to put 1/2 instead of 50/100?

I was writing checks to pay bills today, here in the United States, and one happened to be such and such dollars and 50 cents. My checks just have a line with "Dollars", instead of a "/100" before the word dollars. I suddenly mused about whether it was necessary to express it in hundredths - would it be possible to write "x and 1/2" on the line? My hunch is no, since the billing department (and bank) would than have to be able to handle numerous different fractions and it would slow things down a lot, but I was curious. But, not curious enough to try it with my own check.209.244.30.221 (talk) 15:04, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As a general, legal rule (not that we would ever give that kind of advice here), a legal instrument of payment is anything which is acceptable to both the payer and the payee. If you wanted to write it in Roman numerals, that's perfectly legal as long as the water company accepted it (and cashed it). As a general banking practice, which is a very different thing, they tend to ignore the sloppy handwriting in the blank and just go by the numbers in the little box off to the right. Here's a Straight Dope article on other interesting things you might want to know about checks. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 18:49, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A friend of mine once worked nights in a cheque-processing centre in the UK, being shown scanned pictures of checks on a screen and typing in the details. I believe that machine-printed checks were OCRred automatically, and it was only the handwritten ones that this room full of people were typing. If I remember rightly, they were told to reject any cheques where the written and numerical amounts didn't match. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 19:06, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do supplements go bad?

I bought two buckets of supplements (Whey and mixed protein) some five months ago but then stopped weight training and abandoned my diet plan. So those supplements were just sitting there. I'm going to start again, can I use those supplements or would they have gone bad. They were pretty expensive :[ --ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 16:44, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Have you checked the packaging for this information? If they've gone bad and they're expensive, have you considered just eating actual food that has the nutrients you're looking for? Friday (talk) 18:13, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've checked the packaging and it says nothing about any expiry date. As for your "actual food" suggestion, supplements do serve a purpose. ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 19:12, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Noctifer

What does the word Noctifer mean? I know its a band or something like that but I want to know the meaning of it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.116.31.254 (talk) 16:46, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

www.dictionary.com —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 17:16, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

sorry, was not on there. Immortal are such a good band though, try Cradle of Filth or Melechesh. Much better, the only thing worse than Immortal is Burzum. Long live Lamb of God —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 17:19, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's actually explained in our article on Noctifer. 86.21.74.40 (talk) 17:48, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What's not mentioned there is the relationship between the names Noctifer and Lucifer. Noctifer brings the night just as Lucifer brings the day. Algebraist 18:44, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Letter tails on olde scriptes

Like, the twiddly bits they used to continue the tail with on ys and things. What are they called? Vitriol (talk) 18:16, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

serif? As in many fonts are sans serif (without serif). ny156uk (talk) 18:50, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You may also want to consult our article on Thorn (letter). Bovlb (talk) 21:16, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Curlicues? -- BenRG (talk) 22:18, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think Ajsh is asking about swashes, or about flourishes in general. (Check out this page for some lovely swashes. Here's a page with many examples of typographical flourishes.) --Anonymous, 22:37 UTC, February 11, 2008.

Swimming Pool Stage Mist

I am looking to install a device (called a nebuliser perhaps ?) that would create artificial fog for decorative effect on my swimming pool: the dry type of mist that pumps out of a machine used in stage productions. I specifically do not want a high pressure water spray that would make the surrounding area wet .... I once saw such a device like this on the net, but strangely enough cannot find anything like it. Do such things exist, and where can i find one ?--196.207.47.60 (talk) 18:31, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Two of my friends work (for different companies) hiring out stuff like this. I've only ever heard them referred to as "smoke machines" 81.187.153.189 (talk) 19:10, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I consult in pool installations and can help you with this if you still need it. Drop me a line, [email address removed] - remove ALL the spaces and replace at and dot. Hope you find what you're looking for. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Waterworks42 (talk • contribs) 19:23, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

User's only contrib, Wikipedia is not for soliciting. — Lomn 20:23, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Dry ice from a fog machine would be what you want. Skittle (talk) 21:36, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Three Russian astronauts dead and in space

Someone told me that their are three russian astronaughts who died up in space and are still up there floating about since in space people are kind of freeze dried. Is this true? Or is there any instance of space bodies up there...or deaths in space? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.220.2.13 (talk) 21:34, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to space accidents and incidents, only 4 soviet cosmonaunts died in flying spacecraft. Of these, Vladimir Komarov died when his craft hit the ground after his parachute failed. The remaining three suffocated when Soyuz 11 depressurised during re-entry preparations, but their craft (and bodies) landed intact. Looking at the US incidents as well, there appear to be no human corpses whatsoever in space, and the Soyuz 11 crew are the only humans to have ever died in space. Algebraist 21:47, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Some people do, however, have their ashes sent into orbit. eg Gene Roddenberry Angus Lepper^{(T, C, D)} 22:27, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Though his ashes are no more, apparently. Has anyone had their remains sent out far enough to survive indefinitely? Algebraist 22:55, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

How do ashes burn up on re-entry ? Is it the greater heat involved? Fribbler (talk) 23:58, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Cremation remains are not, strictly speaking, ashes; rather they are pulverised bone. But yes, the maximum temperatures experienced during reentry are much higher than those found in a crematorium furnace (approx 7000K and 1500K, respectively). FiggyBee (talk) 00:30, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Vote on the creation of Isreal

I can understand most of the votes against, but why Greece and Cuba?129.112.109.251 (talk) 21:45, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Greece apparently had a long history of close relations with the Arabs, probably due to a mutual antipathy with the Turks. Also, as one guy commenting on this page says, Greece had to worry about the Greek population in Egypt until Nasser forced most of them to leave in the 1950s. As far as Cuba goes, there are some JSTOR articles that discuss its vote, so you can probably find the information you seek at a university library. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:40, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A place that starts with 'X'

This one is rather simple to understand. I need a city, state, province, nation, continent, island, or other land feature that starts with the letter X (It could even be just called X, if you know one of those). I've searched the whole web and nothing is coming up. --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 22:31, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Xanadu? There are a number of places in China with romanised names starting with X; Xinjiang, Xi'an, etc. FiggyBee (talk) 22:39, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(ec * 2) Here's a list. Angus Lepper^{(T, C, D)} 22:40, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Isaac Asimov once posed this as a puzzle: What does New York City have in common with Xenia, Ohio? Answer: each is the largest city in the US that starts with that particular letter of the alphabet. The Chinese cities, of course, only start with X in the transliteration used today; in the original Chinese they wouldn't use the letters we know at all. --Anonymous, 22:43 UTC, February 11, 2008.

I can't believe it! Looking back, I went through every Wikipedia "List of cities by country" but accidentally missed the Chinese one! I fel so stupid now. Thanks Figgy bee & Angus Lepper. --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 23:20, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are tons of them in China - X is a common transliteration, including for the Mandarin words meaning "West" (Xi) and "New" (Xin). It's also a fairly common letter in several lesser-known European languages - there will be places in Malta starting with X, for instance, and several Catalan locations, like Xixerella. Brazil's Xingu River is the longest river in the world to start with X, IIRC. Grutness...wha? 23:37, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

An atlas of mine lists the following places: Xanthi (Greece), Xanxere (Brazil), Xapury (Brazil), Xero (Paristera Island Greece), Xibury (Brazil), Xilokastron (Greece), Xingu (Brazil).Simonschaim (talk) 11:10, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have just found a much longer list of such places: Xalanga, Xanten, Xarayes Swamp, Xavier Arizona, Xenia, Xeragi, Xeria, Xermamenil, Xerokhori, Xeros Island, Xertigny, Xerxes Canal, Xeuilley, Xicotencatl, Xie River, Xilitia, Xirakias, Xirbi, Xiririca, Xitta, Xocurina River, Xonacatepex, Xoungs, Xyli Bay, Xyloskalon Pass, Xynias Lake. Simonschaim (talk) 12:35, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

US Census figures

Where can I find the US Census figures for a particular city since it was founded (for example, if I was looking for Salt Lake City, Utah's population figures since it was settled, 1847, then I'd need the Census figures from 1850 onwards)? Thank you very much - 70.58.35.196 (talk) 23:10, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The census website appears to have full reports on all censuses, including what you want, but I can't see anywhere where those figures specifically are presented. You might have to trawl through scanned pdfs yourself. And Salt Lake had a population of 6142 whites and 15 free coloureds in 1850. Algebraist 23:26, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Alright, thanks a lot! 70.58.35.196 (talk) 23:37, 11 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

February 12

student loans and tax return

I was told that i could use this service and have my tax returned to me instead of my student loans. Where can i get that help at? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.47.164.247 (talk) 00:06, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

To be honest I'm not quite sure what you're asking. However (this is US-specific, based on your IP) if your student loans are in repayment you should investigate whether you can claim a deduction for interest paid -- see IRS Publication 970 for more information. On the other hand, if you're still having student loans disbursed, then you probably have educational expenses, and should see the same publication for information on credits or deductions that may be applicable based on those expenses. --Trovatore (talk) 01:27, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

what does this word mean in slang?

"tweeky" Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.242.188.137 (talk) 00:58, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A "tweeker" can be an amphetamine or methamphetamine user, so I guess "tweeky" could mean acting in a way typical of such a user. FiggyBee (talk) 01:15, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Urbandictionary.com is a fairly good place to check out the meanings of slang terms, the page for tweaky claims it means "something that is not very well put together". Does that help?--droptone (talk) 12:44, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

For HiFi nuts, and maybe other electronics enthusiasts 'tweeky' can have positive connortations - sort or meaning it is fun to fiddle with, or there are positive benefits from fiddling with it..87.102.81.140 (talk) 13:05, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

construction

04:53, 12 February 2008 (UTC)Jolape (talk)What is the total square footage of roof space for all residential homes and commercial buildings in the continental U.S.A.Jolape (talk) 04:53, 12 February 2008 (UTC)Jolape[reply]

I would guess about 1.3 *10¹¹ square feet of residential roof area, at 1000 square feet per residence roof, 300 million inhabitants and 2.3 persons per residence. Ballpark estimate only. Not including commercial, governmental, institutional, etc. Note that estimates of real estate may be usable square feet of floor space, and buildings are likely to be multistory, making the roof area les than the floor space. Perhaps [21] or [22] can furnish you with some source data, but I expect assumptions will be required to relate square feet of commercial space to roof area. Edison (talk) 06:03, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wouldn't this question go better under the Mathematics refrence desk? --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 06:21, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The NIE and US diplomacy towards Iran

US diplomacy works towards getting Iran to stop enriching uranium. The US intelligence community releases an NIE declaring Iran has stopped work on design, obviously shattering diplomatic efforts.

So help an average citizen try to understand these events. WTF is the government so seemingly out of step with each other?

Lotsofissues 09:16, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

You're suggesting that the Intelligence Agencies should lie to promote Administration policy? FiggyBee (talk) 09:34, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not suggesting that is the right thing to do. I'm not bringing up any normative considerations. My question: Isn't the government supposed to be really cohesive at this echelon? So WTF? Lotsofissues 09:46, 12 February 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lotsofissues (talk • contribs)

Ideally government policies would be evidence based and would cohere. Experientially this is often not the case, and it would be naive to expect it to be so, not least in the worlds of "intelligence" and US foreign policy. I vaguely recall the wanton misuse of "intelligence" by the executive branch when short of a casus belli for the Iraq debacle. It would not be a vast stretch of the imagination to suppose that there might be a reaction from the US intelligence community. On a personal note, it is possible and preferable that you desist from swearing when asking questions, out of civility to those who read this board. --Tagishsimon (talk) 10:14, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Dodgy dossier. That is all. 130.88.140.107 (talk) 13:32, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Game code!

I found that in "nokia" mobiles every game will have a code to enable the game to go in a smooth way making it rather easy! For eg: In "Bounce" game of nokia 2600 or 2310 the ball will die if it touches the spikes or demons! But if u type "787898" immediately after starting the game...no spikes & demons will obstruct u! Try it....It's true...Thus if u people know any of such codes for other games plz put them here....ThanQ! Temuzion (talk) 12:12, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]