Wikipedia:Reference desk/headercfg

I keep seeing this spammed in a lot of the signatures of the DeviantArt community. What's the origin? Raptor Jesus 03:07, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"Accident" could mean an unplanned pregnancy, and "retard" is slang for a person afflicted with mental retardation. StuRat 19:41, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Googling that term turns up an explanation for its use in the DeviantArt community. 152.16.63.230 04:23, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is a hypothetical question and I have absolutely no chance of carrying this out, but, suppose I wanted to establish a new public high school in Geelong, Australia, how would I go about doing that? --Candy-Panda 08:31, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have a feeling that the Department of Education for Victoria would have something to do with it. They are probably in charge of building new schools. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 08:59, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. You might persuade the DOE that a new high school is warranted in Geelong, but whether they think you are qualified to run it or teach in it (if that's what you want to happen) is another question. JackofOz 10:12, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

who can make sense out of this number 18 ,2 and over 1 million? yep?and i have been told to make sense of it,

Sorry, I can't make sense of the question. Are you given the statement "18, 2 and over 1 million"? − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 10:17, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How about 2¹⁸= more than a million? Jfarber 10:27, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2¹⁸=262,144 < 1,000,000 − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 11:00, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

D'oh! If I was good at math, I'd hang out on the math desk more.  :-) How about 18¹⁸= more than a million? That would be 18, used 2 times... Jfarber 12:17, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Alt possibility: how about 18 twos? That's MUCH more than a million. Jfarber 13:08, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It would help an awful lot if we knew some context. What is being talked about here? SteveBaker 14:29, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You say "this number" and you follow it with "18 ,2 and over 1 million?" which is not a number in notation I have familiarity with, although it contains 3 numbers. Perhaps the question is copied imperfectly from the source, making it gibberish, or perhaps it is a novel numerical notation. Edison 15:10, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, one more try, since I checked with a math teacher with a quirky mind. He thinks this could be A SINGLE number if one accepts a) that the comma can be used as a decimal point, and b) that the word "over" is often used to mean divided by. That would give us a rewrite as 18.2/1000000 (or 182 divided by ten million). A very small number indeed! Jfarber 15:43, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

for a) commas and decimal points are the other way round in continental europe :) HS7 16:29, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Following Jfarber's math teacher's advice, the answer could be neon with a volume concentration of 18.2 ppm in Earth's dry atmosphere. See Air#Composition. ---Sluzzelin talk 22:02, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Please check whether the following are governmental environmental organisations?

• commission for environmental co-operation
• European environmental agency
• United nations environmental programme
• Wild life institute of india
• Indian institute of forest management
• Global environment policy
• Agenda 21
• world mateorological organisations
• World wilderness congress
• Central zoo authority of india 61.1.232.193 10:34, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What is meant by non-profit environmenatl organisation. 61.1.232.193 10:34, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Just because nobody wants to clean up your mess, doesn't mean you can try again and again. --Zeizmic 11:52, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Please do your own homework. We're not here to perform research you are expected to do on your own. -- mattb @ 2007-04-03T12:56Z

What you can do is check the spellings of the organization names listed here (e.g. Wildlife is one word, "global environment policy" is unlikely to be the name of an organization, etc.) and reread the answer already provided above by ny156uk and Vespine, to the repeat queries with this same heading. If this doesn't answer the question, you can check by searching each name, enclosed in quotation marks, using a Web search engine such as Google. As previous responses have indicated, further repeating this question here is inappropriate. -- Deborahjay 14:20, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

hi is there anywhere i can get a "ford traffic 3000" radio security code from , as the battery was disconnected. (i mean for free!)

tia

I did a Google search on "ford traffic 3000" and every single one of the hits on the first page of results was people looking for security codes! http://www.decodemyradio.co.uk seem to be offering a service to unlock these things at a reasonable price...but it's a very dubious thing. The code is put there to prevent people from stealing the radio...and if it were easy to "unlock" it, that would defeat the purpose of having it. SteveBaker 14:25, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Best bet is contact the manufacturer. There is a tale of 'putting it in the freezer overnight' that supposedly unlocks it, but I have no idea if this suggestion is just some urban legend or actually true. I suspect it is a little risky though, as freezing electrical stuff doesn't sound like the brightest idea. ny156uk 16:52, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A car radio should be made to withstand freezing temps, or it would die during winter in the northern half of the US and most of Canada. So, do I understand that any time you disconnect the battery (or it goes dead) you need to call Ford to have the radio re-enabled, with a hefty fee ? That sounds worse than the original problem (occasional radio theft), to me. If they can't do better than that, I'd rather not have a car radio, and just carry a portable radio with me, instead. StuRat 19:30, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Freezing the thing overnight is presumably about causing a supposed battery-backed EEPROM or similar to fail, such that it returns to factory defaults. Of course to be useful in this application a) the point at which the battery packs in when frozen must be above the point at which components or their mounting of the PCB is damaged by shrinkage b) the battery must recover from its frozen state and of much more importance c) you'll then need to know what the factory default code is. --Tagishsimon (talk)

how do i tell if i am using to much water and what does 411 kilolitres work out to for daily use over 6 months period

(411 l * 1000) / (6 days * 30) = 2283 l/day A family sized home water heater holds around 150 - 200 liters. So you are using over 10 times as much water as a conventional water heater holds. This article contains a table of water usage that shows that a typical American family uses around 280 liters/day (converted from 74 gallons) for home use. I would say you are using more than 8 times the average American does. Unless you are doing some major gardening, or have some other large source of consumption, then you may have a leak somewhere or your water meter may have a problem.--Czmtzc 14:01, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2,000 liters is an awful lot of water (imagine a tank full of water - shaped like a cube about 40 feet on each side!). If that much were leaking somewhere under or near your house every single day...the consequences would be pretty noticable - water would have to be eroding soil and washing out the foundations of your house. That's almost 2 liters a minute. If you turned on a faucet at full flow 24 hours per day, it could only just about produce that much flow rate. It have to be a broken pipe - not just a leak. I'm betting on a faulty meter. SteveBaker 14:19, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's worth suggesting user error as a possibility at least on par with a faulty meter. Consider how Czmtzc noted above that the asker's use is about 10 times that of the average American household's. What if, instead of a faulty meter, the asker accidentally typed "41" as "411", or accidentally read "41.1" as "411"? Either of those would also easily resolve the discrepancy. Moreover, I find either one significantly more plausible than a meter faulty to an order of magnitude. — Lomn 17:28, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2000 liters is 70 cubic feet which would be a cube with sides 4.13 feet in length. Not 40 feet on each side. Just one of those order of magnitude issues that plague our house. --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:38, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I just looked at the WIN Magazine final wrestling poll, and Michigan's ranking is WAY overrated. There final ranking was 9, despite going 2-10-1. Are the writers of this poll idiots? What kind of logic is this?

"How do ties count in ranking systems for wrestling" is a pretty broad question, but I bet someone can find some actual reference information to get you started. Other than that, the only semi-legitimate question I can squeeze out of this is "What Rubric does WIN magazine use to calculate ranking in its wrestling poll?" Unfortunately, poll ranking rubric information is generally only known to the staff of the magazine itself. If its the latter you're looking for, I'd recommend a letter to the editor. Jfarber 14:09, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In general, I would expect ties to be counted as halfway between wins and losses, for scoring. As for why the magazine came to that conclusion, ask the writer, he should be out shining that new Lincoln Navigator he just got as a "gift". StuRat 19:25, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Friends

I am looking for any information on the prescribed numbers of game wardens required to effectively manage an area of tropical forest (no. per acre/ha). Any litrature to cite will also be helpfull.

Thanks.

Wildlife section 1 14:18, 3 April 2007 (UTC)wildlife section 1[reply]

I would expect that to heavily depend on the number of poachers you have, and how well armed and willing to resort to violence they are. In a completely inaccessible region, none are needed. In a region where thousands of poachers are armed with automatic weapons and willing to use them on wardens, you may need an army division. StuRat 19:19, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Can you name a guy who got his name from AMERICA? Other than captain america. can you think of anyone?

Do you mean Amerigo Vespucci? Actually, America got it's name from him, rather than the other way around. · AO ^Talk 14:46, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

America_Ferrera she's not a guy though. -- Diletante 14:51, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A search of Wikipedia seems to indicate that America Ferrera is the only notable person to be named "America," although I don't doubt that there are others. Carom 15:51, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hey, I thought america was named after that welsh guy that owned john cabots boat

The argument for Vespucci is weakened considerably by the fact that countries are never named after their discoverer's first name, but their last. The argument in favour of Richard Americk (the man to whom you refer) hinges at least partly on that discrepancy. It is some while since I read any articles or books about this subject, but I believe that there may have been a map involved somewhere in the pro-Americk argument, one which (if genuine) supported the theory quite well. He was closely linked with John Cabot's voyage and the funding thereof. Adrian M. H. 15:36, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wrong way round! America got its name from Richard Americ: A British person. :-)

see Richard Amerike —Tamfang 22:05, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, it did get its name from Vespucci, not Americ. - Patricknoddy^{TALK (reply here)|HISTORY} 15:52, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I do not think it possible to state categorically either way when even the experts are divided on the issue. The Vespucci theory does not quite ring true for my earlier reason, and I for one am open to the possibility that the "Americk" theory may possibly be the right one. Adrian M. H. 19:29, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"The argument for Vespucci is weakened considerably by the fact that countries are never named after their discoverer's first name, but their last." You're forgetting Petoria. Capuchin 11:35, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You do know that it is fictional, yes? Adrian M. H. 16:04, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think many people are named after countries, the only american I can think of named after a place was the first british person born in the new world, named after the state of virginia, which probably doesn't quite count :( HS7 16:08, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

North america was named after americ, and south america named after amerigo, but neither of these got their names from america, and after a search on both wikipedia and msn the only name I have found is america ferrera

You people are slightly off the track. I need a male name which either has AMERICA in it or has been derived out of it. for example there is a name mentioned above Richard Americ. though it is not, but is can be believed to be derived out of AMERICA. so please.... can you think of any name?

A female character in Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon is named "America Shaftoe". --TotoBaggins 17:46, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think the OP is asking for someone who has actually been named after america, but as for what they are really asking for, I have no idea :( HS7 18:01, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There's one very obvious guy's name derived from "America": "American". See American McGee. — Lomn 18:06, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have a feeling that the op means names that originated in America, instead of from other countries. But that's a guess. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 18:41, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There was an Americus Holmes. Corvus cornix 19:43, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How about Gordon MacRae - his surname is an anagram of America without the "i". Could the murder of members of a 12-step group who are trying to give up drinking be described as "AA Crime"? JackofOz 21:54, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Abbie Hoffman had a child named america; I don't know its gender. —Tamfang 22:05, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Per Richard Brautigan, who wrote "Trout Fishing in America," 'In April 1994, a Santa Barbara teenager named Peter Eastman Jr. legally changed his name to "Trout Fishing in America". At around the same time, National Public Radio reported on a young couple who had named their baby "Trout Fishing in America".' See also same story at Snopes.com [1]. U.S. census and immigration records list thousands of people with America as a first or last name: 9,460 in the 1880 census, for instance with America as a first name: In Philadelphia in 1880 there was America Mickey born in Pennsylvania about 1873 per Ancestry.com (subscription required). America is rarer as a last name: 207 in the 1920 U.S. Census, such as Thomas E. America, white, born in the District of Columbia about 1866. In the 1930 Census there was even a man named America America, living in Revere Massachusetts, white, born about 1902 in Massachustees of parents from Italy. Sadly, Ancestry had no one named "Captain America" although there may well have been officers of that rank with that last name. Many of the persons with America as a last name were black or were immigrants who may have chosen that name to make a statement. Some immigrants used America as a last name on the ship manifest, perhaps to replace their old world name for whatever reason. Edison 20:48, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I know anecdotally of an immigrant to Australia who chose the legal name "Twenty-One Bastard Australia". JackofOz 00:04, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Iracema, of course. A.Z. 04:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

there is an old adage that "greener pastures act as a drive to move."how do u justify this statement in favour of the merger on the basis of the organisation,the management and the employees?193.220.190.1 19:01, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Does the phrase "greener pastures" also include places where you can have your homework done for you by happy little elves ? StuRat 19:13, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ha ha...great answer StuRat. ny156uk 20:14, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks ! StuRat 02:22, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I need a list (or at least some information on) of Lithuanian Nobles. I have not been able to find a list of some kind on the wikipedia website. Also, I would like to know if any of the nobles' names might be a variation of "Lopatto". (Note: the name Lopatto might have undergone some Italian influence.) Even if it seems a little far-off, I really would like to know!--12.219.231.81 21:52, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

• Nobility in Lithuania
• Category:Lithuanian noble families
• List of Lithuanian rulers
• Szlachta

None of the above, at a quick glance, get you much further. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Are there any protein tablets that are suitable for 16yr old males? I want to build muscle, and have tried whey protein powder (drinks), and find them disgusting, are there any alternatives? If so, where can I get them from? Please advise me on such products that may be more palatable, but at the same time being suitable for my age. Thank You

We can't give medical advice. If you want real advice talk to a doctor, though I think strength training helps build muscle. Splintercellguy 23:00, 3 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Asking about stuff you can buy at the supermarket is hardly medical advice, it's dietary advice if anything. I don't believe protein supplements are dangerous to take for any age individual but you have to learn about your own body if you want to see any kind of effect, like do you know how much protein your body can absorb at any one time? Do you know how much exercise you have to do to turn that protein into muscle? drinking or taking protein won't do anything unless you already follow a strict exercise and diet regime. To develop one of those for yourself takes a lot of time and research or the help of a qualified personal trainer, there are no shortcuts, that's why infomercials about exercise machines promising shortcuts STILL air on TV and that's why those same machines gather dust and end up at garage sales or ebay a year after they are bought. Vespine 06:09, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(Agreed, dietary advice is not medical advice.) Unless you are a weightlifter, you probably don't have to worry about not getting enough protein for your muscles. If so, why not go with natural proteins, as in beans and nuts ? Fish are also a good source of protein. Eggs, meat, and fowl aren't quite as good for you, but still acceptable on occasion. Skim milk is also a good source. StuRat 06:23, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

• You're not trying to build muscle with just protein intake are you? There's no way around old-fashioned exercize. - Mgm|^(talk) 07:54, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

• Yeah I do exercise as well, I'll try just with high protein foods then. Thanks for your help!

• If you dont like the taste of whey protein try soy protein shakes. They taste quite a bit better in my opinion. They're a little harder to find and a little more expensive, and a little less effective though.

On Dec 2 1980 the French writer and Diplomat committed suicide. He left a note explaining his action. I had a typed copy at that time that I kept in my archives. I lost that copy and now I need it for research on Gary. Where do I find a copy of that letter please ? In French if possible - ani

The question was asked earlier at the Humanities Desk which was probably a better choice for posting it than here. Two helpful attempts at answering your question were already given there. ---Sluzzelin talk 00:52, 4 April 2007 (UTC) Sorry, I just saw that someone advised you to post the question here. Can't win for losing, eh? ---Sluzzelin talk 00:56, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How legal is torrenting? Let's say I download a season or two of a television show through BitTorrent. Will the FCC be coming to my doorstep with handcuffs? Or am I in the clear? --Captain Wikify ^Argh! 01:32, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

BitTorrent itself is legal, but yes, downloading a show like Scrubs without a license to do so is copyright infringement and is illegal in most countries. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T01:37Z

What exactly is a license to download shows? --Captain Wikify ^Argh! 01:52, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

One granted by the copyright holder. Usually DRM comes along with the deal, though. Put plainly, you're not legally free to download TV shows you find via BitTorrent. Insofar as I'm aware, no studios or television networks release shows this way. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T01:54Z

Gotcha. I always assumed that the instant you bought something, you held certain copyrights to it and were allowed to re-distribute it to an extent. Stupid ambiguous copyright laws... --Captain Wikify ^Argh! 01:58, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No.Generally (The details of copyright differ from country to country but are roughly the same in most countries) the copyright holder usually grants you the rights to watch a DVD (or music or game or anything else covered by copyright) in your own home and from the DVD in a normal DVD player. They don't let you copy it to another device or disc, you can't share it or show it publicly. In short you can watch it that's all. - X201 09:58, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I seem to remember that something like using the VCR to record a show is legal if you destroy it within 24 hours (In the UK at least), is there a same kind of rule that applies to bittorrenting? Capuchin 11:32, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nope! Main reason is that the VCR in that model is like a TiVO: where the law does allow you to copy something (and it doesn't always), the legal argument is that you are merely "timeshifting" that content -- that is, you were given a legal right to watch it because it was going to show up on your TV anyway, and you have some minor right over how you might want to watch that. BUT, on bittorrent, there is no assumption you would have had the legal right to watch that show, and no assumption that it would have come into your house in that form anyway so even IF you have a TV and missed scrubs, you still don't have the legal right to download it from scratch via bittorrent AFTER it was shown on TV. Jfarber 14:07, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Or before, even. Adrian M. H. 16:07, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow, you have a Psychic TV, too? Jfarber 02:55, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's REALLY important that people distinguish between what is sent and what does the sending. There is absolutely nothing wrong with BitTorrent from a legal perspective - it's just a file transfer protocol. However, it's likely to be illegal to download TV shows without permission - no matter what protocol you use. So, yes, you can use BitTorrent to transfer large files - no, you can't download copyrighted files without permission no matter how you do that. SteveBaker 22:14, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Just as there are no legal problems with HTTP, FTP, even the original Napster service... Until you start using them to violate copyright law. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T22:20Z

Is there such thing as a "true guise"? I know that a guise is the external form, appearance, or manner of presentation that typically conceals the true nature of something, so I'm not sure if the guise could be true, if it's concealing something thats already true. sorry, I'm saying this all wrong & confusing, but it's hard to put it into an actual sentence :) thanks alot. I'm trying to use "true guise" in a poem that I'm writing.

A good dictionary can always help out. OED suggests that guise can well mean nothing more than outward appearance, with or without the connotation of something concealed. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T02:19Z

Thanks much!

WikiProject Reference Desk Article Collaboration This question inspired an article to be created or enhanced: Ospedale Maggiore Please consider contributing

ok may name is gavin and im reading Erenst Hemingways book A FAREWELL TO ARMS and he menchions a place called Ospedale maggiore. is there any info on this place he wrote about? in trying to do a conpare & contrast of what he wrote and what he lived throgh at the time. contact me if anyone finds anything at <email removed to prevent spam --Captain Wikify ^Argh! 02:35, 4 April 2007 (UTC)>[reply]

I believe that means something like "greater hospital" in Italian, akin to "general hospital" in English. For example, the "Ospedale Maggiore di Milano" [2] is the Greater Hospital of Milan. I'd ask at the Language Ref Desk for a precise translation. StuRat 04:10, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The design was entrusted to Filarete, who directed the work until 1465 and to whom is due the general character of the building, done in terra-cotta after the style of the early Renaissance in Lombardy. Filarete was directly responsible only for that part of the existing hospital which lies to the right of the entrance beyond the large central court. This court with the chapel opposite to the entrance and the wing on the left, corresponding with Filarete's original building, were added in the seventeenth century. Hence the hospital consisted, in the Sforza era, of a square with buildings running through it in the form of a cross. Four inner quadrangles were thus formed, each surrounded by colonnades the principal of which Foppa was emloyed to decorate with frescoes representing the foundation of the hospital, Francesco's presentation of a model to Pius II. and other scenes connected with the building. One wing was reserved for men, the other for women, and at the junction of the four arms of the cross stood the chapel, so arranged as to serve for both parts of the hospital. Hard by ran the city canal whence water could be obtained for the various needs of the establishment. In all these contrivances can be traced the practical mind of Francesco Sforza, whose capacity for detail found equal scope in planning a hospital, which served as a model for all other institutions of the day, as in organising campaigns and marshalling armies. Filarete was succeeded in his office of architect by Guinforte Solari, who was followed in his turn by Amadeo. Bramante also worked at the hospital during his stay in Milan, contributing to the rich terra-cotta decorations which adorn the windows and the capitals of the colonnades. From the days of its founder until now the Ospedale Maggiore has been in constant use. Some 20,000 patients are received there each year, and it still holds its place as one of the best managed hospitals in Italy.Ady, Cecilia M. (1907). A History of Milan under the Sforza. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

—eric 05:10, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

EricR, I feel you are missing that it's a general term, and there is a "ospedale maggiore" in many Italian cities, like Trieste [3], Parma [4], and Bologna[5]. Your response above and the article you created seem to focus solely on the one in Milan. StuRat 18:32, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, yes i am focusing on the one in Milan, but can see how this all might be confusing. Part of the question was about the hospital building itself, the one Ernest Hemingway stayed at while recovering from shrapnel wounds, fell in love with Agnes von Kurowsky and used as a setting for A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises. The structure itself is notable as the site of one of the first community hospitals (one source calls it the first lay hospital), the largest such project in the fifteenth century, a hospital which was in continuous operation until (i think) 1923 at that location, and one of the first Renaissance buildings in Lombardy. We already had a few redlinks to and one request for creation of the article. Most of my sources simply call it 'Ospedale Maggiore', so i took that to be the most common name in English.—eric 20:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

To avoid the confusion, I suggest that you name the article about that specific hospital Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, as in the Italian Wikipedia, with Ospedale Maggiore being used for a general discussion of such hospitals in Italy, perhaps including a list. StuRat 23:41, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Just seen on the news that there is a Tornado/Servere Weather outbreak going on RIGHT NOW. Is there a article on this ?! 65.173.104.19 03:09, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also seen this on the Weather Channel. 65.173.104.19 03:24, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Tornadoes of 2007 WP:SOFIXIT. Anchoress 04:48, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also Late-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak. Anchoress 04:50, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I know when everyone drinks red wine, their teeth turn a bit purpleish. Mine get very stained. My brother's only slightly. And though it doesn't matter much, I feel a bit self conscious walking around with a purple mouth all day until I can get to a toothbrush. What could be causing the difference in how our teeth stain? How could this be fixed? Is it a lack of enamel thing? Thanks 70.108.199.130 04:28, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds like plaque, which would explain the toothbrush bit. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 05:19, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Why not just stick with white wine ? It's either that or tell everybody that you're "blue-tooth enabled". :-) StuRat 05:52, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Aaargh! *collapses from overdose of bad punitude* 66.195.208.91 03:07, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, dental plaque can be stained by certain foods and drinks, hence why the color goes when you brush your teeth. I suggest you avoid red wine, or perhaps get some dental floss or mouthwash. I like the blue tooth enabled idea though! SGGH 08:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hmm looks like you found some cheap? disclosing fluid or disclosing fluid

It has been recommended that at dinner parties you serve white wine for this reason. But if you floss and brush properly - and maybe if you get your teeth polished by a dentist - I think it might help this problem Rfwoolf 07:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

which cuban celebrity was born under the name miss anderson?am to find the husbands name who made this quote laugh..'its hot' its a guy--212.49.87.210 05:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This Google search may get you somewhere — the asterisk is a "wild card" character, here substituing people's first names. 66.195.208.91 03:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you are both a reverend and a doctor, would your title be Rev Dr or Dr Rev? To be honest I don't think he's either and he's making it up but I still have to work out the correct way to write the letter! SGGH 08:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think it's Rev Dr, but I can't put my finger on why. It just sounds better. By the way, you don't describe someone as "a reverend". You say they are a vicar or whatever. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 09:45, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes I know, it just saved me saying "vicar/bishop/member-of-the-church" etc. Thats for your answer, I ended up putting Rev Dr. because it sounded better, though he is certainly lying so on the letter itself I just put Mr :D SGGH 10:49, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You should never write "Rev Mr". It would be "The Rev John Smith", or "The Rev Dr John Smith", but never "The Rev Mr Smith" or "The Rev Mr John Smith". JackofOz 11:36, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I remember reading of the Reverend Dr Spooner. Reverend had been shortened to Rd :D DDB 12:15, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

He's a liar in any case :D its against the law to pose as if you have a Ph D, and probably a Rev. title too SGGH 12:31, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You don't say which country's law you are referring to specifically, but in most countries it is not against the law to call yourself Dr. It is only illegal to attempt to use the title for fraudulent purposes. Rockpocket 05:11, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It is certainly possible to be both a Reverend and a Doctor, especially if your doctorate is in Theology or the like. Also true that, since (as our article shows), Reverend is a stylized, generally honorary title, someone with an honorary doctorate is legitimately able to self-refer as (and should be referred to as) "The Reverend Doctor". (It is also possible to be described as a reverend in SOME religious denominations, despite what Richardj says above -- don't assume we're all Catholic here!) This is admittedly anecdotal, but the two or three people I've met with such status in academic used "The Reverend Doctor so and so" as their formal address, as with DDB's example above. Jfarber 13:56, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wasn't assuming anyone was Catholic. The fact of the matter is, as our article states, "As ['reverend'] is not a noun it is not a synonym for an ordained person. Thus, in traditional usage it is incorrect to say that someone is "a reverend" by using the word as the name of a job or role." --Richardrj ^{talk email} 00:28, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Duly noted. The definition of "Reverend" as NOT a noun in this usage Pwns my anecdotal knowledge of a single person who used it, apparently incorrectly, to refer to herself...it is possible, as I said, but it is also wrong. Jfarber 10:15, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It is indeed a solecism, but it has/had a certain foothold in Westerns (movies) and things of that kind. JackofOz 10:50, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ian Paisley is sometimes "Rev", sometimes "Dr", sometimes neither, but, oddly, never both. jnestorius^(talk) 00:14, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, he gets the RT Hon. Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley, instead. Natgoo 14:50, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could ask them what they want

I think it's Rev. Dr. - there's a guy at my church who is studying/in the seminary/whatever to be a permanent deacon (so he'll be Rev. on account of being a deacon). He's also studying for a PhD (which is a doctorate PhD) and I think I remember him saying that when he gets his PhD he would be Rev. Dr. Smith.

Also, isn't 'reverend' an adjective, so it would come before the 'Doctor' bit, which would be a noun? Just my two cents. -Joe^Talk!_Work 23:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The proper written form is Rev Dr. However, Rev is not a spoken title. In speech, please refer to the person as Dr, unless they specify/insist otherwise. Freedomlinux 17:33, 7 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

why is it that when a television set is turned on but only showing a black screen does it still produce so much light?

My guess is that a Cathode Ray Tube still continuously cycles through the raster scan, regardless of the image DDB 12:12, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And as sets age, their electronics may not be able to completely "cut off" the electron beam in the CRT. I've got quite a few not-very-old Trinitron computer monitors with that very disease.

Atlant 16:06, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cheap TV sets sometimes do not have a circuit to achieve DC restoration invented in 1933 by Allan Blumlein, so black becomes gray. DC restoration keps the bright part of the picture from affecting the dark part. It has always seemed remarkable that a TV screen looks, gray or green when the set is turned off, but when there is an image the green/gray can look quite black, only by the effect of the lighter image near it, when it is no darker than it was with the set off. Same with movie screens. Edison 23:47, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is this anything to do with black level clamping? [6]

?c=b—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.109.118.157 (talk • contribs).

If it's an LCD, this could be leakage through the screen. This has long been a problem with LCDs, and particularly older and cheaper ones. Newer ones don't have as big a problem with it, though you might still notice some light coming through when the picture is completely black. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 23:53, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

• In any case, the only way for TV black to be "true" black would be for the light to go off completely — there's no such thing as "black light" (a blacklight is a different thing altogether). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.195.211.27 (talk) 19:20, 7 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

okay what is mh exit on a strip.i heard earlier asked this question but now i have more info.its about indonesia thats my first clue.am not sure if its exit or hexit or something that sounds like it. 2.what are the 5 best songs ever produced.any genre 3.who knows a chat room where i can chat with big women.as in fat or rather plump

1-no idea :(

2-I don't think you are suppose to ask oppinion questions here :(

3-I doubt there are any specifically for you and fat women, I think you will have to ask women on normal chat rooms:(

HS7 16:15, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2. There is no answer to this question, it's impossible. There is no general consensus as to the best songs of all time. Like HS7 says, it's all just a matter of opinion. Think about what your favourite songs are, that's all that matters.

3. I'm sure there are some. Forget about web-based chat, the place to go for real chat is IRC. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 10:49, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

who am I not allowed to dedicate books to? Can I write a book with a dedication to wikipedia, or would that count as advertising. Is there a law that says you need someones permission to dedicate a book to them, and does it still could if I don't mention them by name, eg 'to my family'. What would happen if I ignored your answers and dedicated a book to someone I shouldn't? And can I dedicate a book to a place, or is that advertising, or pointless due to some subtle meaning behind dedications that I haven't quite understood. JS

I don't see why advertising would be illegal in your own book. If you want to put "dedicated to Ray's steak house, where the baked potatoes are always free and Tuesdays are all you can eat steak nights", go right ahead. It is polite, of course, to ask permission before mentioning someone in your book. StuRat 18:18, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Karl Marx asked Charles Darwin if he could dedicate volume one of Das Kapital to him. Darwin sensibly refused. Clio the Muse 19:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Consult a lawyer for legal questions. AFAIK in the US, free speech rules apply so as long as you don't use copyrighted material without permission, or slander anyone you can put whatever you want on whatever page you want. -- Diletante

Hey I want to complain.I went to Ray's steak house last week and had to PAY for my baked potato :( Lemon martini 10:27, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ray's Steak House... let me write that down... :-) · AO ^Talk 12:31, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are always theories that people like Andy Kaufman, Elvis or 2pac faked their death. Are there any famous cases of someone faking their death and then returning later to everyones surprise? -Lapinmies 16:15, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

lord lucan may have faked his death, but he didn't come back :( HS7 16:16, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Aimee Semple McPherson was the equivalent of a televangelist (before TV) and first faked her own drowning, then reappeared claiming to have been kidnapped by evil Mexicans. She was charged by the police with faking it all, likely to carry on an affair with a man who disappeared at the same time. StuRat 18:13, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Agatha Christie went missing for ten days, her car found in a ditch, then she showed up claiming to have amnesia. Corvus cornix 20:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

John Stonehouse, a former British government minister, faked his drowning in Miami; he was discovered a month later in Melbourne, Australia, rather to the Australian police's surprise (they thought they'd found Lord Lucan!). -- Arwel (talk) 23:23, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Our very own List of premature obituaries contains quite a few. Two other people believed by many people (not me) to have faked their own death are Peter Falconio and Jesus Christ. JackofOz 04:14, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I assume that the theory that Jesus Christ faked his death is not straight forward - there are some proponents that simply say the Jesus might have not died when he was crucified because although rare it was possible to survive a crucifiction - and in the bible it says afterwards some guy visited Jesus's coffin with various herbs - it has been said that those herbs were healing herbs indicating that Jesus was actually alive - and if that be the case he may have survived the crucifiction altogether. Rfwoolf 07:31, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Very possibly true. There's now a huge literature about this and related questions, with some authors proposing that Jesus was complicit in the plot. Some say he survived and travelled to India where he died. At this remove, I doubt we'll ever "know" one way or the other. That's why there's such a thing as faith for those who believe he really died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. (Btw, Happy Easter for all of you for whom this is the case. For the rest, all I can say is: Klaatu barada nikto.) JackofOz 10:43, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

does stephen fry count, going to france without telling anyone for a few days

I doubt the Jesus theory works seeing it would be hard to heal a man with a spear wound, broken legs, bleeding forehead, hand, and ankle, move a gigantic stone, be able to sneak past an alert-research their shifts technique-squadron of the Roman guards (note the Roman army was at its peak at the time), and walk about (on broken legs), walk through a door (later), without collapsing during all of this. I doubt any herb could heal someone so dead even after three days. Plus he had to unwind himself from probably 50 feet of cloth used to bind his body. No one could have helped either theywere all to scared.-Randalllin 22:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

1.what is a google template and its functions 2.give me a great sight which talks about what went down during the eightys.bell bottoms afros...etc. 3.what is something great to buy in dubai for 100 dollars.sumthin interesting and unique. 4.give me a great excuse to attend an a list wedding.guys are to send emails and if u have a unique reason ur in.help me out

5. Who are you and 6. Why are you asking? —Steve Summit (talk) 23:29, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

7.i need a good reason ,so help me out guys.

9.a good reason to do what?

8 what happened to 8

• Most likely, 8 became part of 7's crafty plans concerning 9, to the horror, as we all know, of 6. Anyway, I don't think we can we can help you here — sites like these can help if you're having language difficulties. 66.195.211.27 19:44, 7 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wasn't sure whether to put this question on the math, computing or science desk so I am putting it here. I want to graph an exchange rate (or price for a commodity) over time. I will have a set of data points which include the price paid per unit, and date of transaction.

How do I draw a line through all these data points which approximates the average market price? How can I asses the direction and rate of the market?

What is the most common/useful way to represent this kind of financial data? I will have a relatively small number of data points, maybe 10s per week, rather than thousands per day.

Thanks! -- Diletante 16:49, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The usual way to draw a graph of a value varying around an average, is to calculate the average, by adding all the price data together and dividing by the number of bits of data, then drawing this as a streight line parallel to the x axis, then marking the actual data around this and drawing another line between each bit of data :) To asses the direction and rate, you might need a moving average, which is complicated enough that I doubt I can explain it properly :( HS7 17:21, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you want to go one step further and draw a straight line that isn't parallel to the axis, you could use a sum of least squares method or some other method to fit a straight line to the date. You can also go further and fit polynomial curves to the graph. Another approach is to calculate a running 30 day average (or whatever period you prefer), and graph that. Those long term averages tend to be a bit "lumpy", but smoother than the base data. I would say the Math board is the best place to post this. StuRat 18:03, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For stuff like that I use Equation Grapher with Regression Analyzer. Thats actually package of two programs, and you need the Regression Analyzer. It can graph several types of "average" lines, trends and whatnot, and you choose the one you feel best represents what you are trying to achieve. Shinhan 12:35, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! What I really want to know is what is the "Right WayTM" to graph market price. I have been searching around on google and wikipedia but can't figure it out. Once I figure out the right way i will be implementing it in PHP. -- Diletante 15:16, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Does anyone have a link to the total population in the United States workforce (preferably working full time)? I've been looking everywhere for this but I can't seem to find the figure. It should be relatively simple, but the best I can get is this article:

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_QTP27&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U

Which says the answer is about 130 Million. (I had assumed it was more.)

Is this perhaps the source I am looking for? Robinson0120 17:02, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

According to the CIA Factbook: [7], the total workforce was 151.4 million in 2006 with a 4.8% unemployment rate, which makes for 144.1 million employed in 2006. That's over 10% higher than your figure, so I suspect that yours ignores nonresidents (legal and illegal), while the CIA includes them. StuRat 17:55, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Damn, why didn't I think of the factbook? Thanks a lot, StuRat. I thought it was low. Robinson0120 18:20, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You're quite welcome. When the CIA occasionally gets something right, let's all be sure to take advantage of it. StuRat 23:34, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In this Thomson Local Isle of Wight 2006-7 telephone directory, under the 'compensation' section, there are two adverts for dial4aclaim.com and easyclaim.com. The content of them is the same, just reordered and differently-designed. Both of them are ran by a company called TimeBond Ltd. What is the deal? Why might there be two almost identical adverts for two companies offering identical services and both ran by the same company? Also, do I ask too many questions? Vitriol 19:19, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps they are trying to give the impression of more competition (i.e. consumer choice) than there actually is.

Perhaps they were once two separate companies who merged, but wanted to keep both original brands (and packs of loyal customers).

—Steve Summit (talk) 23:26, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Where can I find documentation on how the Lib of Congress secured rights to digitize materials for Am. Memory?

Looking for information on how rights to digitize copyrighted materials (not materials in public domain) were secured by the Library of Congress for their American Memory site.

• I think it differs by collection. As far as I know, the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record doesn't have any copyrights on its material, since the materials were commissioned for the HABS/HAER program. On the other hand, the Coca-Cola Television Advertisements collection is protected by copyright as mentioned at this page, but the Coca-Cola Company granted permission to the Library of Congress to present the materials for educational usage. Your best bet is to check the terms of usage for any particular collection. --Elkman ^(Elkspeak) 21:47, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is there any way to improve vision without surgery.

Are you by chance asking about this-> See Clearly Method? dr.ef.tymac 20:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Your question is too vague even for an opthamologist or other expert, which is probably who should be answering it, after having examined you. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:05, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, by playing video games. Anchoress 21:08, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Depending on your particular vision problem there may well be, yes. For example, if you are suffering from night blindness due to a lack of vitamin A, then changing your diet or taking vitamin pills to ensure that you get sufficient vitamin A may improve your vision, or at least keep it from deteriorating further. StuRat 23:31, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Get glasses (spectacles) ?

Just eat right; works for me. Vranak

an answer to a similar question a little while ago was to avoid wearing glasses

Well, the thing is that "vision" could mean "how well your eyes function" or just plain "how well you see", which are, counterintuitively enough, different, thanks to such wonders as glasses and contact lenses. Sometimes, not wearing glasses can help your eyes develop better; then again, sometimes they will only get worse, especially if you have any of a number of genetic vision issues (standard nearsighted/farsightedness, glaucoma, progressive blindness, etc). 66.195.208.91 03:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a universal remote control that can connect to a radio, TV, etc. automatically and wirelessly? 68.193.147.179 20:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are lots of remotes out there that can be 'taught' commands by pointing your original remote for whatever the device is and pushing the buttons. Some others have l-o-n-g lists of devices that they support. None of this is entirely automatic though - pretty much every kind of TV, radio, etc uses a different set of IR codes than every other kind - so there is always a certain amount of setup with these universal gadgets. SteveBaker 22:07, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Even the universal TV remote which turns almost all TVs off, takes up to about 5 minutes to operate for some TV sets. Going through a spectrum to not only turn off a device, but to control it.... you would definately need a programmable. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 03:55, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah - that gizmo ("TV-B-gone" or something?) sends every possible code for every possible TV type - with the commonest ones being sent first. It gets most TV's in just a few seconds - but more obscure TV's can take a lot longer. SteveBaker 05:02, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In 2006, the year of our Wiki, I came across a wiki page of a list of notable suicide letters around the time of the amish murder/suicide incident. It had a pretty thorough list of names including the likes of Kurt Cobain. Wikisource by -Subject, subcat +Suicide Letters. Has this entire category been deleted by the anti-wiki robots? Please do note, I am fine mentally and physically, and I am not easily swayed by literature to go and off myself. I just had some peculiar questions of my own in regards to the writing style similarities and differences of these folks of yesteryear. Thank you. 216.100.216.5 20:56, 4 April 2007 (UTC)JACOB V[reply]

Possibly the article Suicide note? --Tagishsimon (talk)

wikipedia used to contain scanned images of famous suicide notes. The image of Kurt Cobain suicide note was deleted on December 31, the text was deleted from wikisource on December 16. wikisource:J. Clifford Baxter suicide note met the same fate on December 12 and wikisource:Charles Carl Roberts suicide note on December 11; . The logic was that since the person committing suicide has no intention of making money on it, he is releasing it into the public domain. This logic seems to have been rejected, but I cannot find any debate about it. There was a posting on Wikipedia:Possibly unfree images but no debate. The wikisource text and the category were deleted as PROD's without debate. Perhaps this issue should be revisited in a formal manner. Jon513 13:26, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I was mistaken, there was a debate here. Proposed deletion on wikisource is different than Wikipedia:Proposed deletion on wikipedia. Jon513 14:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Who is in the rock band The Transcenders?

http://www.thetranscenders.com/index.cfm - They've changed their name to HenryStar, it appears. Who knew? --Tagishsimon (talk)

When I was watching Jazzy B's video Oh Na Kuri Labdi on Youtube, I noticed that he was wearing a Brazilian sweater. I was wondering where can you get those clothing that has your country's name on it like Bangladesh, for example? Don Mustafa 19:36

Dunno about sweaters - but for polo shirts, hoodies, T-shirts, etc you can go someplace like www.cafepress.com where they'll put any design you like onto anything they sell. SteveBaker 04:55, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

which one gets rid of stomach fat quicker (and/or more efficient in getting rid of it)- crunches or jumping jacks? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.211.8.100 (talk • contribs)

Someone, I'm guessing you, asked this very same question a couple weeks ago. Check the archives. Found it. See here. Dismas|^(talk) 23:46, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

oh, that's not exactly what I meant, but thanks anyway. I meant specifically, more like which one is just better for that kind of stuff. everything answered to that other question doesn't have much about this type of thing.

As said in the answer to the other question, you can't spot-reduce fat from any area of your body. If you mean, which of those two particular exercises burn more calories, I would be inclined to think that it was jumping jacks, since your are moving your whole body and working out more muscle groups. Why not do both? (But, if you don't exercise for at least 3 hours per week, it's unlikely to have any effect whatsoever. It is important to watch what you eat as well, if you want to lose weight.) BenC7 01:18, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

HAHA, theres no real point in doing crunches or situps or any ab excercises if you have a stomach. And theres no way to just get rid of your stomach only without surgery. You need to lose weight, and you will lose weight from all over including your stomach. So to answer your question, jumping jacks because it will burn more calories faster, but forget all that, just run alot and cut your calories bigtime. I was 200Lbs, 5'10 and about 20% BF and my personal trainer said only consume 1200 calories a day. So you might want to do that. And also do weight training so you don't lose too much muscle while your losing weight. Try to lose about 3 pounds a week, anymore than that and you'll be losing mostly muscle.

If you're interested in reducing girth, spot exercises to improve flabby muscle tone—e.g. sit-ups or "crunches" for the abdominal area—are indeed likely to produce a noticeable improvement. Jumping jacks, on the other hand, would be more likely to improve cardiovascular fitness and perhaps "burn calories" at a faster rate, if overall weight reduction is the goal. -- Deborahjay 22:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

how are public libraries dealing with copyright in specificity to digitization efforts?

Every library finds a different solution, but all are addressing the issue in some way. For example: I'm a school information specialist, but I've researched several digital versions of things-that-were-books with our local public library, and can point you towards several solutions which allow digital files to be lent out without physical media...everything from download-and-listen solutions like Overdrive to loaner audiobook players much like an iPod, but with no way to get the file "out". Each manages to protect its copyright inherently via the limitations of the media -- for example, Overdrive files are software-proprietary (though the software is free), and once the book is downloaded from their website, it's checked out and unavailable until I return it; the software requires that I delete the file to "return" it, and I get charged just like a book was overdue if it's late. But I've yet to see a solution that leaves it easy and open for patrons to copy, or to keep media after it has been "returned". On the other hand, as a serious user of four town libraries, I can tell you that there is still nothing in place to keep patrons from copying CDs before returning them...and no mandate to start buying only CDs with DRM, either. Jfarber 02:48, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Where would I find up to date info on Sole traders and whether thay are obliged to pay themselves the minimum wage in the UK?--SlipperyHippo 02:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

According to this document from the UK government, "you are not entitled to receive the minimum wage if you're... genuinely self-employed". This document defines self employed to an extent that would appear to include sole proprietorship. Rockpocket 07:36, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The minimum wage for soul traders is typically the wages of sin. :-) StuRat 14:05, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How the heck can a sole trader be forced to pay himself a wage, if he has a bad period he has no income, therefore no personal earnings. Silly question.90.4.126.146 14:21, 5 April 2007 (UTC)petitmichel[reply]

With respect, if I thought the answer was obvious or the question was silly, I would not have asked it here. I ask because on the first web site to come up on Google, when entering minimum wage uk it said that even the directors of the smallest startup company must pay themselves the minuimum wage. Ok this may be incorrect-- Im asking where I should find the correct info --SlipperyHippo 16:26, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's worth noting Slipperhippo that much of business-regulatory law doesn't apply to very small businesses, and certain regulations/requirements only come into force at set business-sizes. So (without knowing the details) say someone employing less than 10 people does not need to complete the same health & safety/pay-scheme/etc. etc. as a firm employing 100 or 1,000 staff. I don't know where to point you regarding small-business law other than to say if you were more interested try request details from a local government agency, they should be able to help point you in the right direction. ny156uk 16:05, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You are right to suspect that the Google result may be wrong; company directors do not have to pay themselves anything, any more than a sole practitioner would - though bear in mind that the way in which each earns their money is different. Many directors do not pay themselves for the first few months while things are tight. (Note: from a UK perspective) Adrian M. H. 22:13, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

OK thanks for the sensible answers! I'd still like a refernce though.--SlipperyHippo 19:05, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have read several books and tried several methods for reading books faster, including Photoreading techniques such as mind-mapping, dipping, and super-reading. One problem I cannot get over that I think is really slowing me down is that whenever I do start reading word-for-word (in the sections that are most relevant) I must say the words "out loud" in my head in order to comprehend. If I just pass my eyes over, I don't retain it. Is there any way to train myself to comprehend without "saying" every word?

Thanks very much,

Jron5 02:53, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try paraphrasing it in your mind, especially with difficult material. For example, "Hark, what light through yon window breaks ?" can become "What's that light shining through the window ?". StuRat 05:34, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, try experimenting with general reading where you cut off your inner voice and try reading by letting your brain do all the work - just start looking over the words and letting your brain interperate them for you instead of using your inner voice to "recite" the words. Of course this might be your very stumbling block and you might not be able to do it - but that's why you might start with something simple, perhaps something in the 1st person, then try reading something written in the 3rd person, and so on. I'm not an actual "Speed-reader" per se, but I read quite fast, and find I can read things much faster if I turn off my inner voice and/or stop 'reciting' what I'm reading, and much like StuRat said, it helps if I paraphrase by letting my brain do the interpreting for me. we're just so used to analysing what we read as we're reading it, or pronouncing things as we read it - we're taught to do this in school and especially when we read 1st-person writing. Rfwoolf 07:16, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

We have an interesting article on speed reading. You might get more specific help if you explain why you want to read more quickly. Speed reading methods usually involve a drop in the level of comprehension of what is being read. There are situations where a lower rate of comprehension is acceptable - for example, you may be skimming a long technical or legal document to find the 2-3 paragraphs that you really need to read carefully. But if you are revising for an exam then speed reading may be inappropriate. Gandalf61 10:58, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The problem you describe is called subvocalizing. Besides what that page discusses and the comments noted above, you might consult with resource advisers at your local public library or community college to help you evaluate options for the most effective training suiting your personal requirements. -- Deborahjay 21:57, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you all very much for your responses. To explain my problem more specifically: I am able to read very quickly and find relevant information when I am doing my own research. For classes, however, we are often given readings where it is necessary to pick out and remember the important points. When I don't know exactly what I am looking for at the beginning and must read at least certain sections in depth, I am very slow. I will try the paraphrasing and keep working at not vocalizing. I would welcome any other suggestions as well.

Thanks very much once again, 68.73.206.95 23:00, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If the reading material comes accompanied with questions to be answered, read these first. Otherwise, try asking your teacher or teaching assistant in advance to help you identify the relevant issues. (Don't worry about showing ignorance - you're there to learn, and the teaching staff will probably welcome your demonstrating interest!) Another suggestion: learn to highlight or mark significant material as you go. This improves with practice, but at the outset (and with particularly densely written texts) it can be daunting: how to know what to mark? and of course not to clutter up the page with what might after all be irrelevant. So instead of a yellow highlighter, try working with a light touch, i.e. using a 0.5 mechanical pencil to make check marks/asterisks/arrows in the margin, bracket significant passages, circle or box key phrases, etc. Even if you don't go back and review the text, the act of marking will help fix some points in your memory. Discover what works for you. Let your system evolve. You need reading comprehension as well as speed, so give yourself some time. This is a skill worth developing, that's useful also after graduation. -- Deborahjay 07:46, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I am totally unfit and do not like exercise nor dieting. Is there a safe supplement to instant burst of energy for say a couple of hours ?

I don't think so, most I've heard of are illegal drugs such as speed, and all that.--$UIT 05:20, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, there's caffeine, nicotine, and plain old sugar (not a drug, but it does give you quick energy). Of course, all of these can be harmful to your health. StuRat 05:30, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well you might find that if you commence exercising - you will gain a lot more energy - exercising can be anything from swimming (even lightly), walking, pilates, yoga, running, etc. - and this would be far superior to any ideas of taking drugs (legal or otherwise). Diet can play a role too - I would be more conscious about what you consume, for example drink more water (buy bottled water if you can't handle the taste) try to get at least 1.5 litres a day (other sources aim for 3 litres a day as an ideal goal) and lay off things like soft drinks (diet or otherwise). Stay away from things with harsh preservatives - and actually if you can cut down on salt that might help you with water retention. Finally, your sleeping patterns can affect your energy levels - you might look up circadian rhythms and see how your body releases certain hormones throughout the day that assist you with things like energy, allergies, digestion, etc.

To strictly answer your question, caffeine might be your best bet for a legal drug. Things like sugar would work too, but you might react badly to sugar, and, things like fructose might be a better form of surgar for you.

Note: We cannot give medical advice, please consult your doctor before following any medical advice. Rfwoolf 07:09, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Our article on energy drinks compares the active ingredients of some of the more popular drinks. Rockpocket 07:12, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I highly recommend getting off your ass. It is worth it! − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 10:42, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Milk chocolate works for me: sugar + caffeine + milk solids (protein etc.) Vranak

Take Twas Now's recommendation, definatly. · AO ^Talk 12:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You say you don't like exercise, but how do you feel about life? Exercise does not have to be something you hate. It doesn't even have to feel like exercise. If you're totally opposed to any deliberate form of "exercise" right now, you could start by just walking more, or taking the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. (If even those feel like ordeals, you're really out of shape, and it's even more important that you do something to get out of this trap!) —Steve Summit (talk) 02:47, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I doubt this is a drug, but there are Energy Gels that can quickly (15-20 minutes digestion time) give you energy. Jamesino 21:59, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I was wondering if there are any books in which the narrator was killed well before the end (and does not narrate from beyond the grave), meaning that the first person narrative would have to be changed into third person.Cuban Cigar 12:04, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thats interesting. I haven't seen a book where the narrator was killed but its a cool idea. There probably is one, and if I find any I post them. Think outside the box 12:16, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If I remember correctly DOUBLE INDEMNITY continues....??90.4.126.146 14:19, 5 April 2007 (UTC)bookwarm[reply]

I believe I've read a few like that, although I can't currently place which ones. I seem to recall the device of a found diary or letter being common in certain sorts of stories, which would then finish with the equivalent of "No more entries written. However, 5 years later a body was found walled into the old church." or whatever. Skittle 16:37, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Not a book, but a movie. Sunset Blvd. is narrated by the corpse we see floating in the pool in the first scene. Corvus cornix 18:40, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't at least part of the TV series Desperate Housewives narrated by a woman character who committed suicide ? StuRat 20:37, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Both of those are 'beyond the grave' narration, which the querent specifically excluded. Oo, one that I remember in the 'found diary' category would be Witch child. Skittle 21:45, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I might have not phrased my original as accuratley as i'd like. I wouldn't consider letters journals etc as narration, rather they are just ... well, not part of the narrative, they are an addition.Cuban Cigar 07:26, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In the Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie) the story is written by a person who turns out to be the murderer. The book finishes as he puts down his pen immediately prior to committing suicide. In a sense, then, he communicates from beyond the grave.86.219.161.217 15:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)petitmichel[reply]

hey up cuban, if i remember correctly 'song of stone' by iain banks is 1st person (present tense as well i think) and the narrator is killed at the end - something i'm sure my english teacher told us was a no-no, but hey banksy is an award winning writer he can do as he pleases - abe.195.188.254.82 12:10, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Not to sound anal, but my original question said the narrator is 'killed well before the end'. That said, I'm very thankful for the input.Cuban Cigar 13:19, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

When does "the office" (us version) come back on air? they stopped so they could make more episodes, i just dont know when they'll be airing them.

The NBC website says that a new episode will be on tonight, i.e. 5 April 2007. As they say, "check your local listings." --LarryMac 13:48, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

upto what extent do you support the above subject? - 61.2.76.79 14:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I find it interferes with my ability to do my own homework. --Tagishsimon (talk)

1. Questions about what WE support are not reference questions. If you're looking for a bunch of opinions, I recommend asking your question on an Internet Forum.
2. On the other hand, if you're looking for the set of arguments which would let you make your own informed opinion on this topic, or you'd just like to see to what extent experts in the field support or deny the validity of the above statement, the article Technology contains several strong sections with overviews of(and links to discussions of) the various ways in which people see the relationship between technology and ability evolving over time. Jfarber 15:43, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't really understand what you mean. By technical development, do you mean technological improvements or technical abilities acquired by people? And what do you mean by "human ability": is it creativity and imagination or is it technical knowledge? A.Z. 19:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This article descibes a report demonstrating that "human small toes became weaker during the stage of prehistory known as the Upper Palaeolithic, and that this can probably be attributed to the adoption of sturdy shoes. The invention of rugged shoes reduced humans' reliance on strong, flexile toes to grip and balance." So in terms of little toe ability, technical development appears to have played a role. Rockpocket 20:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The question can mean basically anything if the querent doesn't make it clearer. A.Z. 20:41, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How can you find out names and addresses of new people movoing into a neighborhood? Does the Power Co. , US Post office, Phone Co. or any other source sell that info to marketers?

I doubt any federal services would sell personal information of that sort to private companies, especially with the foreknowledge that it would be used by scum marketers. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 16:15, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(However, my comment is based more on hope than certainty.) − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 16:16, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know where you live, but (at least In the U.S.) your hope is an absolute uncertainty. Every time I've moved (with the exception of the time I took care not to fill out any change-of-address cards or otherwise let anyone except my immediate family know my new address), I've been deluged with junk mail targeted at new move-ins ("Call us for a quote on drapes for your new home", etc.). —Steve Summit (talk) 02:40, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you read the fine print on the change-of-address forms, it actually says that they are funded by the Direct Marketing Association (USA), and that in return you permit them to spam you. I once heard a hilarious quote from a member of that body on the topic of the mail being unwanted by most recipients: "There is no junk mail, only junk people."  :) --TotoBaggins 10:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If the newcomers are buying property, then in the US, that property transaction is a matter of public record and is often reported in the local newspaper. Marketers definitely pick up and utilize this data.

Atlant 17:27, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Domania lists dates of recent home sales around a particular address. You could probably use the address you find on a site like this to get the name. (I'm less sure about the last link, in my test in gave me the name I was looking for, but use at your own peril.) I don't know how often either site updates, so you may miss a move-in by a month or two, or the name you lookup may be the old resident. It's better than nothing. (It's morality as an invasion of privacy however, is up to you.) --Ybbor^TalkSurvey! 23:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I am working on a blog post for an exercise blog but before I posted it I had a question. Other than the usuall sports, running, bike riding, etc. what other forms of exercise are there? Or rather, other ways to burn calories... One that I came across was carrying the grocery bags makes you stronger. Any websites come to mind? --Zach 18:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Carrying groceries isn't a sport, or did I read that wrong? If you're looking for everyday things that you can do to burn extra calories, you could take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. Dismas|^(talk) 18:12, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, I'm not saying carrying the groceries is a sport, its just a simple way to become a bit stronger (or so I've read)... If you know of any sites that give you examples of every day activities that are calorie burners is what I'm saying. Thanks!! --Zach 18:20, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Google search everyday activities burn calories returns a bunch of links that look pretty relevant. --LarryMac 18:27, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perfect!! Thanks! Wish I thought of that search :) --Zach 18:36, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are gaming sites I could visit, but in winning money, I'd have to pay for it. Are there any game sites where I can win money and NOT have to pay for it?

Bear in mind, any site doing this would have to be making money somewhere. Since it seems unlikely that they would be making enough money from advertising alone (or we'd probably have heard of them!), I would imagine any site claiming it was offering this would have a horrible, horrible catch somewhere. Just something to remember in your search... Skittle 21:35, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Poker websites have free tournaments (freerolls). The prizes aren't huge and the number of players tends to be large (which means it takes a while to get in the money), but it is ==> FREE <==. Clarityfiend 00:16, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Pogo.com gives away money on many of their games, up to around $10,000, I believe: [8]. The catch is that only a very few people ever get any money, and they get the money from advertising and premium memberships (which doubles award amounts, as well as providing other member benefits). StuRat 02:42, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I noticed something weird in the Ronin Warrior OVAs.Everytime the warriors armor up,they say "2 ARMS!!". But when I watched the Japanese version this was never said. How come this phrase was added?

I would expect that the English version is actually using the phrase "to arms", which would sound entirely different in Japanese than "two arms". It may also be the case that "to arms" simply isn't a direct translation; it seems exclamatory rather than expository to me. — Lomn 21:29, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But in the Japanese version "To arms!!" was replaced with a yell or battlecry or sometimes nothing at all.

A lot of things change due to translation. In general, dubbed anime gain a significant amount of material aimed at Westerners. For example, there are dialogue in English missing from a few scenes in an anime DVD that I have (Key the Metal Idol). Other examples include putting in Western jokes in place of the original (Full Metal Alchemist). Some add in dialogue explaining something that most Japanese would know, thus cutting out the original dialogue (happened in Cowboy Bebop). Japanese voice actors are also a lot more highly respected than the Western counterparts, who I (and others) believe they're better at it overall. Thus, in the case of Ronin Warriors, the actors probably thought it sounded better for them to say something instead of making a convincing battlecry. Even the name Ronin Warriors wasn't the Japanese name directly translated either, but Ronin is a good selling point, just like Wanderer Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) became Samurai X in the U.S.). Of course, the examples I gave were the first ones that popped to mind, and there are countless more changes between the original and redubbed. There is one good thing about the dubbed tracks though. Original Japanese dubs usually only have 2.1 stereo, while the English re-dubs often have 5.1 surround. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 02:41, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What are the pros and cons of resistance training (using 'rubber bands' and exercise bands) when compared to free weights/barbels? For example, is it more effective for muscle mass/tone, is it better on the bones, etc... Thank you. 74.14.72.116 22:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Resistance training has both a section on Benefits and drawbacks. More specific information on Barbells and dumbbells is more difficult to come by, but a look at Strength training should be a good place to start (particularly Strength_training#Benefits, Strength_training#Safety, and Strength_training#Free_weights_versus_exercise_machines). --Ybbor^TalkSurvey! 22:48, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

So yeah...What's in boop? It smells so bad...kinda like fart

and what about poopstains?

Typically it is from colon bacteria which release gases either as they grow or if they die and their cells breakdown. An example of these bacteria is Escherichia coli. 121.45.238.81 22:59, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try Human feces#Composition − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 01:51, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also it comprises large amounts of cellulose, dead blood cells etc —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.109.246.75 (talk) 01:53, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

And I believe that at least part of the smell comes from bile. StuRat 02:38, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The gases in it also allow it to maintain a limited amount of buoyancy. bibliomaniac15 04:33, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are many resources available on the Web with advice on "stain removal" + feces (particular for source and surface). The key factor seems to be enzyme action in the laundry detergent or a pre-wash treatment, to break down the stain before it sets and become impervious to subsequent removal. -- Deborahjay 07:31, 6 April 2007 (UTC)-[reply]

The sense of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch are senses. But, are "sense of humor" or "common sense" senses too?Coffsneeze 22:58, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, Coffsneeze. As the article on sense explains, living beings are equipped with many faculties for perceiving stimuli that go beyond the "classical" five senses you listed. (nociception for a human example, electroception for a non-human example) Common sense and sense of humor, however, use sense in a non-physiological meaning. See wiktionary's entry on sense to make sense of the possible senses of sense. ---Sluzzelin talk 00:34, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But aren't there people who reduce psychology to physiology and therefore give sense of humor a physiological meaning? A.Z. 02:22, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Of course, the sense of humor, just like the sense of justice or other similar qualities, can be explored neuro-scientifically. This involves studying cognitive processes of information though, a huge field in neurosciences, but not quite the same thing as "a system that consists of a sensory cell type (or group of cell types) that respond to a specific kind of physical energy, and that correspond to a defined region (or group of regions) within the brain where the signals are received and interpreted.". We may receive the humorous information through our perceptory senses (watching a funny situation, hearing a joke, etc), but the trigger to our brain's humor-centres (wherever they may lie) happens through cognition, which isn't part of the sensory system. ---Sluzzelin talk 02:34, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The nerve centres for humour are located in the funny bone, which is of course located in the humerus. That's why observing the chicken dance evokes so much mirth; watching the subject exercising her/his funny bones through repetitive motion stimulates a sympathetic nervous response which activates the giggolipids, which carry the nerve signals to the hippocampus, so named in a regrettable transliteration of 'Harpo Campus', the institution where the hippocampus was discovered. The existence of giggolipids explains why people find fat people funny. Don't bother saying any of this is wrong unless you can provide evidence that proves it. ;-))) Happy Friday! Anchoress 19:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I need help here.Portal:Roman_Catholic_ChurchBewareofdog 00:45, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

• From the condition of that page, I assume you need coding/formatting help?--VectorPotential^Talk 00:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes I do.Bewareofdog 04:55, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How many people have appeared on at least one episode of a game show shown on national US television? List of U.S. game shows could be used as a guide. A rough estimate is okay. Thanks! Reywas92^Talk 01:49, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow, I'm not sure if this is a number anyone has thought to calculate before. Well, if we say, totally randomly, that there are/have been 100 notable American game shows, and that each has had 5 seasons of twelves episodes with 2 distinct (important because many people appear multiple times on the same show; see Brian Jennings) guests each episode, that comes out to 12,000 of us, which would come out to a measly .1% of the US population. Ah, the wonders of making things up! Anyway, working along these lines might get what you're after. Or counting each of those episodes, but that sounds awfully tedious. 66.195.208.91 02:49, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You're thinking of Ken Jennings, of course. --Maxamegalon2000 03:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

By my link, there are obviously much more than that. I'd prefer an estimate with larger, less random numbers. That must be way off, because Jeopardy! alone, with over 5,000 episodes and two new players each, is over 10,000 contestants already. Wheel of Fortune (US game show) has three new players per episode. Thank you, Reywas92^Talk 03:47, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And there's The Price is Right as well, with how many episodes per year, six contestants per episode, for how long? --Charlene 04:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The article says 6,684 episodes. And don't forget the three contestants who don't make it up to the stage. That comes out to 60,156 contestants. --Maxamegalon2000 05:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I play guitar in a band,we play stoner rock because is a mix of Grunge and Psychedelic rock but now we want to play a mix of alternative rock and pop/rock but we don't know the name of that genre,can someone tell me the name of alternative rock and pop/rock's mix?,THANK YOU!!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lord Lutz (talk • contribs) 02:29, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

That may more be a matter for the Entertainment desk. The best answer I can give would be alt-pop-rock, but it's possible I made the term up. Or you could try "diluted pop" or "diluted alternative" on for size. My guess is that there is no one correct answer, and that you've reached a point where the subgenres are so close together it's kind of silly to draw the lines. Maybe you should just tell people you play some enjoyable music ultimately inspired by all those crazy revolutions of 60s America, and leave it at that! 66.195.208.91 02:54, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try consulting broadcast DJs you respect, or behind-the-scenes staff such as the music librarian or playlist coordinator of a radio station playing the kind of music you're moving toward. The station's website (you can search on Google) will probably have a "Contact us" e-mail feature, since many organizations in the entertainment industry, as well as mainstream cultural institutions, don't take phone inquiries. -- Deborahjay 07:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

College rock. Anchoress 19:37, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

After Katrina (or whenever prices change), the gas prices at the stations went up immediately. But why don't the station owners only change their price when they actually get a new delivery of gas? Surely the price you pay should be based on whatever they paid when they got the gas, which isn't changing? 68.231.151.161 04:20, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The Master took care of this one here. anonymous6494 04:41, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You take out X gallons from their tank - they charge you what it costs to refill the tank afterwards. It just depends on how you look at it - and you can just guess which way they look at it. The question is - what happens when prices are dropping? Do they keep their prices high until the new delivery at the lower price comes in? SteveBaker 04:43, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are also expenses involved in operating a gas (petrol) station, not least the wages and taxes. You may recall that, post-Katrina, quite a few gas stations went out of business. This was because the prices they were charging were not enough to cover their internal expenses plus the next (much more expensive) tanker-load of gas (petrol). It isn't gas stations that have been making huge profits in recent years, it is oil companies and refiners. Marco polo 13:00, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The economy does not work to plan, but supply and demand. In times of crisis, retailers turn to price gouging. This is said to be an acceptable, effective method of rationing, although it is also heartless and cruel. Other reasons for pricing of petrol is transport. In Sydney, where I live, petrol is more expensive in nice neighborhoods. This is partly because lousy neighborhoods have industry that subsidise transport costs of petrol to the outlets. Weekend filling is a silly idea, as prices jump midweek. Presumably there is a fill cycle that makes it profitable to charge more on weekends, but less early in the week. DDB 14:25, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

On the other hand, we had a sudden gas shortage in Ontario (lasted a few weeks), because of a refinery fire, and a train strike. Many gas stations just went dry instead of popping up the price like they should have. Lots of people hoarded gas. Eventually gas came back, but at a much higher price. So the moral question is: should all the gas stations just close, or should they instantly jack up the price? --Zeizmic 15:07, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Here in Massachusetts (U.S.A.), prices have been rising steadily, though there has been no shortage. I think that gas/petrol prices tend to move in the same direction worldwide, although there may be spikes in areas with shortages. The spike in the area of the shortage brings in supply from elsewhere and drives prices up slightly worldwide. I have not noticed that prices rise midweek here. Stations seem to raise prices steadily and somewhat randomly throughout the week. I don't think that Americans necessarily fill up on weekends. Many people have commutes such that they need to fill more than once a week. On the other hand, posher neighborhoods in Massachusetts do tend to have higher gas prices, as in Sydney, even though the poorer neighborhoods no longer have much industry, if any. So I don't think that industry subsidizes the gas price, at least in this region. I suspect that it is more a matter of higher land prices and retail rents (and lower price sensitivity) in the "better" neighborhoods. Marco polo 15:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

After George W. Bush's trip to Latin America and Brazil last month, the ethanol prices at the stations here in São Paulo went up. Are both events causally related? A.Z. 05:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe, maybe not. We can't tell you for sure. But to assume so is to commit the error of Post hoc ergo propter hoc. --Ybbor^TalkSurvey! 13:44, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How do I get rid of scratches on my mobile phone screen? --Candy-Panda 05:51, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Plastic polish, maybe. In my experience there is little you can do to significantly restore the surface of a soft thermoplastic. -- mattb @ 2007-04-06T06:31Z

You get a new moblie phone! Theyre cheap enough —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.208.218 (talk) 21:09, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

plz tell me the relationship for magnetizing current in improving the voltage/ making the flux stronger/ improving the power factor in Power capacitor??? Regards

imran jalal —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Imranjalal (talk • contribs) 08:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

I would expect magnetizing curreent to be a big factor in inductors and transformers but not in capacitors. Where is the magnetic field in a capacitor? There would be a small one around the leads when it is connected to alternating current or when crarging or discharging, but not much of a magnetic field stored in the dielectric between the plates of the capacitor. In a circuit with motors (inductive and resistive load) the current lags behind the ac voltage. Adding a power factor correction capacitor (in which current leads ac voltage) of the right size and voltage rating can put the voltage and current closer to being in phase, reducing the reactive current which serves no purpose in the electrical distribution network, but which only reduces voltage on the circuit and increases the loading on lines and transformers. Edison 18:33, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I live in Geelong, Australia and would like to know if there are any buses available for any of these these locations and times.

• Highton to Grovedale (before school)
• Grovedale to Highton (after school)
• Grovedale to Belmont (after school)
• Grovedale to the city. (after school)
• Grovedale to High St, Belmont (after school)

I would also like to know the respective bus stops. Thanks! --124.181.241.101 11:35, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Here is the website for one of Geelong's transit providers. Here is the route map. As you can see, routes 70 and 71 link Grovedale Secondary School with the rest of Geelong. Here is the outbound timetable to Grovedale. Here is the inbound timetable from Grovedale. These bus routes run to High St., where you can make connections to other lines. Line 14 serves a different part of Grovedale and links it to Belmont. Line 15 also serves Belmont from High St. Here is the timetable for routes 14, 15, and 19, which apparently also links Grovedale with Belmont. Here is a timetable for Line 16, which links Grovedale, High St., and Highton. For the bus stops, you will have to scout the streets shown on the network maps or else phone the respective bus companies (listed at the bottom of this page). Marco polo 12:54, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you so much! That is very helpful to me! :) --124.181.241.101 13:07, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What percentage of archivists currently working in the U.S. are certified by ACA, the Academy of Certified Archivists? I am about to enter the field and wonder whether the certification fees are worth it. Thanks!

I cannot answer the specifics of your question, but I prefer to employ people who can convince me and/or demonstrate to me that they can do the job at hand, rather than those who have a bit of paper that claims that they can do it. In other words, there is little in favour of an employer simply picking those who look good on paper. Against other candidates, even those with some accreditation, you can still win out by presenting yourself really well. I would guess that the ACA accreditation will not necessarily mark you out in any significant way. Be proactive and offer to work on a short-term volunteer basis in order to gain experience, pointing out that you would like to stay there long-term if they want to keep you (otherwise, they won't get much out of the deal if they train you and you leave in three months). Hope that helps some. Adrian M. H. 15:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I strongly recommend talking to others in your field. Credentials matter much more in some fields than in others. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the percentage you ask for, but dropping by a few archives and talking to the staff should help. Marco polo 15:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I live in Delhi/Noida. I am keen to meet other wikipedians hailing from these places. How do I get to meet them? sumal 16:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You might start by getting connected with them over e-mail via the most relevant Wikipedia mailing list though I don't see one for India or the Hindi language. You might try at the Hindi Wikipedia, Wikipedia:Notice board for India-related topics, Category:Indian Wikipedians, or Wikipedia:WikiProject India? --140.247.251.165 16:30, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Can a spot on velvet fabric that has been crushed be re-raised? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bethewishes (talk • contribs) 17:21, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Try gently brushing it against the nap. Anchoress 20:20, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

does anyone know where to buy good vintage chanel in the UK? and where's the cheapest place to buy chanel in the world (from boutiques or well known department stores) or are the prices still the same no-matter where you are?? :) XOXO —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.42.11.179 (talk) 17:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Sorry for the bluntness, but this is a serious question and I honestly can't figure it out!

They are not able to 'shake it' like men. So to avoid dribbling into their pants, they wipe it with paper. Sorry for the bluntness!

If I have a LOT of semi-legitimate complaints for a food corporation's product, but I use a fake name, but they eventually link up all my names and track me down, can I be sued?

Wikipedia does not dispense legal advice. --Ybbor^TalkSurvey! 19:34, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not asking Wikipedia, I'm asking the people who reply here. If your words do not add to the question or the response, keep silent. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.199.8.98 (talk) 19:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

The people who reply here do not dispense legal advice. Check the bulleted list at the top of the page. --LarryMac 19:56, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What enzyme would you recommend to dehydrogenate ethylbenzene into styrene?

I can't answer your question, but someone at the Science Reference Desk might be able to. Marco polo 21:54, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I heard that Roaring Springs was involved in a class-action suit for having too much acetic acid in their paper. Will this affect their stock price?

I know nothing of the case or the company in question, but if it is true, then I suppose that it might do, but it might not. One can only speculate. Adrian M. H. 20:39, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you have heard this, then so have investors, and it has already affected their stock price. Marco polo 21:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Do people actually buy those weird clothes that fashion designers make? how do they make money without targeting the middle-class consumer?

I'm no fashion expert, but I think that the most outlandish stuff is probably just there to show their creativity and promote their designs, while other, more toned down designs will actually be sold. The weird stuff gets seen in the tabloids, but it's only one part of fashion design. A bit like concept cars in that sense. Adrian M. H. 20:42, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Are there any hidden codes in commercial software?

What ever happened to the guy who made the Excel first-person game? Was he fired?

Easter egg (virtual) may answer some of this. Don't know about the second question tho. Friday (talk) 21:21, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

why were wooden slats so popular on the walls of rooms in the 70s-80's? What's the psychological interpretation of this indoor decoration trend?

Why are they curved domes? Why not make them rectangular like every other building?

Wouldn't that make it a pyramid? Adrian M. H. 20:44, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

no, you are purposefully misreading the question.

AGF. I am not deliberately misreading anything. Maybe your phrasing needs revising, because it appears to me as if you are asking why a domed roof is round. If you are asking why a particular building has a domed roof, I cannot answer that, certainly not without knowing what the building is. Adrian M. H. 21:05, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

As Dome states, they "have a great deal of structural strength." Rectangular structures have corners, so they're weaker at some spots than others. Also, a minor point, but domes enclose the same volume with less material. Finally, they are more aesthetically pleasing. Clarityfiend 21:49, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is the cork in cork board real or fake?

Cork (material) mentions its use in bulletin boards. I'm sure there are many that aren't really cork. also. Friday (talk) 21:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In cork boards its real. The cheaper ones are not called cock boards —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.37.37 (talk) 21:26, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

How come the US never gets credit from INdian tribes that many of the state names use Indian words in them?

Is there a way I can pay my congressman to send mail for me so I get discounts on stamps and he gets cash for his franking privledge?

So you want to find a congressman dumb enough to risk his reputation and probably commit some kind of crime for a few hundred dollars? Clarityfiend 21:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Why does the stock market go up when there's a ton of mergers? Do mergers indicate the strength of an economy?

In mergers and acquisitions, one firm purchases another by buying its stock. This increases the demand for the bought company's stock, and according to the basic principles of supply and demand, this raises the price of the company's stock. If many mergers and acquisitions occur in close sequence, this activity can drive up the prices of stocks as a whole. We are currently in such a period. Market commentators differ on whether this activity indicates the strength of the economy or whether it stems from a glut of liquidity or easy credit. In the latter case, prices of assets such as stocks could be driven up faster than their ability to yield a return. Marco polo 22:06, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I heard that high-tech electronics were banned from import into N. Korea. How do you get goods into N. Korea in the first place? Is there a trade route with S. Korea or one with China? I wish to sell goods, especially cheap food products with high caloric content such as Cinnabons to N. Koreans.

Who's going to pay for it? The "Dear Leader" and his cronies don't particularly care if the average North Korean is well-fed or not. Clarityfiend 22:05, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a memo explaining the original rationale for the stop sign being octogonal? I heard it was an octogon so you could see it and recognize it even from the side and behind it. Is this true?

Are things getting cheaper or more expensive? For example, 10 years ago was the ratio of the price of a 20oz coke to the price of a flight from NYC to LA greater or less than it is now?

See inflation. Friday (talk) 21:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Some things are getting cheaper, some are getting more expensive. See Mars bar

Why doesn't the gov't give money to companies specifically for research into making their products cheaper and with less waste? why do they give it to academia who pump out tons of useless, nonpractical (but nonetheless interesting) papers every year?

Are you serious?

Why is Ben so popular in Japan where othe rAmerican musicians have not even been noticed?

This is probably a question the Japanese themselves could best answer. Maybe it's all about marketing. Maybe it's about him resonating with the Japanese culture in some ineffable way. Ian Thorpe became a cult figure in Japan, when many other famous and successful swimmers were virtually unknown there - why? better ask them. JackofOz 21:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a theory that you tell the quality and need of a product by the percent spent on marketing it versus actually making and developing it? can I have a link to said theory?

When you complain to companies and you use false names to do so, do they get angry at you if they find out? What if you make up the complaints and they're not even real?

Asking the question a second time will not get you a different answer. Adrian M. H. 20:47, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I do not understand, I am only asking if someone will get angry at me? Does this break policy? Please, no personal attacks.

We cannot get involved in commenting on a situation or action that may have legal issues around it. You have intimated that you might want to make up complaints and use false names. Hopefully, that was just a hypothetical question, but we just should not go there. And nobody is attacking you; don't be over-sensitive. Adrian M. H. 21:02, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Are these true or just from urban legends?

See blood libel. jnestorius^(talk) 20:37, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The articles on child sacrifice and infanticide might interest you as well. Cult is hard to define, but rituals of sacrificing infants don't appear to have played a significant part in our anthropological history. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:52, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I forgot to add, I have defined a cult as any faith or religion less than a century old. Perhaps this will help when you are trying to answer my question.

I couldn't find any sources credibly reporting this occurence in new religious movements . This doesn't mean it never happened anywhere, I only scanned a limited amount of sources. To answer your question: No, the claims are almost certainly not true, but the origins of these misconceptions date back way outside the realm of urban legends, as explained in the article Jnestorius linked to. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:51, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Why exactly are women allowed longer to go to the toilet than men in a factory situation? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.208.218 (talk) 21:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

There's little the reference desk can do to help explain the policies of some unnamed company. This may be a question to ask the foreman. Friday (talk) 21:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No you misunderstand: this is/used to be general pracice in most factories regardlesss of the company.

Could be the 'wiping time' 8-)

Could be the de-kecking and/or 'wiping time' 8-) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.37.37 (talk) 21:22, 6 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

What is the origin of the phrase "Praise from Caesar is praise indeed?"Jamesbatic 21:30, 6 April 2007 (UTC)Jamesbatic[reply]