Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous
Wikipedia:Reference desk/headercfg
March 8
Maryland misprinted quaters
This question was moved from the article mainspace--The Dark Side 01:26, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
I was just wondering my mom has a quater with it looks like an acorn or a diamond on george washingtons chin of the new state quarters .... didnt know where else to go to get help on something like this ... Is there a way to contact the people directly or how would I go about that ... it is a Maryland (P) quaters ... thanks in advance for anyone that can help me out ..
Can you take an up-close picture of it and post it? 50 State Quarters does not mention any odd defects regarding Maryland quarters. V-Man - T/C 02:44, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- And, by all means, save the quarter. Misprinted coins and stamps can be worth big money to collectors, especially if your stamp has an upside-down airplane on it. StuRat 07:29, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Licensing
When uploading an image i have created, how do i tell which license to put up? Simply south 01:27, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Assuming you are happy to give it away - pick GFDL (Self). SteveBaker 01:51, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Or you consult Wikipedia:Image copyright tags/All and ask yourself a couple or three questions:
- Do I have the capacity to place the image under this licence (e.g. you do not have the capacity to put an image in which a third party owns copyright under a GFDL or PD licence - you'd be breaching their copyright by doing so.)
- Is the licence accurate / appropriate. (No point in using a PD-USGov-EPA (an Environmental Protection Agency image) if the image was by NASA)
- Am I happy to use a particular licence, given my understanding of its terms. (Generally relates to your choice to place your own copyrighted images under GFDL or PD OR CC or whatever.)
- Clearly you need to know a couple of things:
- The source / ownership of the rights in the image
- The nature of permissions given under various licence terms - again, I'm particularly thinking about PD, CC & GFDL. --Tagishsimon (talk)
- Or you consult Wikipedia:Image copyright tags/All and ask yourself a couple or three questions:
Weight Loss
If somebody lost 20kgs, would it make their face look a bit thinner? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 125.236.134.111 (talk) 03:19, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- Yes. Kaldari 03:35, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Unless the Chainsaw diet is what was implemented to lose said 20 kgs. V-Man - T/C 04:32, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I'd say, unless they weighted 200kg where 20kg wouldn't be much significant, in a more common case I think their face would look a lot thinner, not just a bit. --Taraborn 07:56, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Unless the Chainsaw diet is what was implemented to lose said 20 kgs. V-Man - T/C 04:32, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
I gained more than 20 kilograms very quickly a few years ago, and it didn't make my face look any different, or any other part of me :) HS7 19:30, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Have you asked anyone else (who lacks tact) if they can see the increase? Edison 23:15, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Chocolate
I remember reading some news about a disease spreading among the cacao plants, threatening them with extinction. I don't see anything in the appropriate articles. What happened? Clarityfiend 03:54, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- This Google search dug up some good sauce. This website discusses the Endophyte Trichoderma as a threat to cacao in relation to Pigeon peas; this makes general remarks about disease and gives some statistics; this goes into some detail about specific diseases. V-Man - T/C 06:43, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Tree Falling
My teacher was saying in class that if a tree falls, and no one hears it, it does not make a sound. But doesnt it make a sound? When it falls doesnt it emit sound waves? Just because no ones there to hear the sound , does it mean it doesnt make one? Wouldnt it be the same thing as saying that it doesnt cause movement if it falls if no one is around to feel it? But the ground still shakes. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.167.159.75 (talk) 04:01, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- If you really want to get technical about that kind of thing, I'd recommend the book Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy by Robert Jourdain. It has wonderfully fascinating details about how sound waves are produced, and how our bodies are able to transform them into electronic signals and piece them together as understood sound in our minds. Quite provocative. V-Man - T/C 04:51, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- That's a great book. The person I gave it to as a birthday present said it changed his whole concept of sound and music, and he's a musician. JackofOz 04:57, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I heard that technically, it doesn't cause any sound, just vibrations. It isn't by definition sound until it's been processed by the brain. Boring explanation, possibly... 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 05:28, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Does it have to be processed by your brain or just a brain? because it would be hard to find a forest without any animals or insects that would be close enough to hear it.--ChesterMarcol 05:31, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- ^ChesterMarcol took my question. ;) --Candy-Panda 05:38, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- (after edit conflict) I almost agree with that. Problem is, in a forest there would be lots of animals and insects to receive the vibrations and interpret them as sound. If you could absolutely guarantee that in the forest there is no sensate being with a capacity to hear, then I would agree it's just vibrations and not sound. But that's a hardly likely scenario. JackofOz 05:34, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Then we are inclined to address exactly what needs to be present in order to "experience" the sound. A brain? If so, how developed must it be? Human? Dog? Flea? What about other living organisms? I'm sure the grass the tree falls on must somehow sense the shock of a tree crushing it. If you are not a blade of grass, you will not be able to fully know what it feels... What about the tree itself? Can it "feel" itself falling? If we are to move to completely objective reasoning, how about a completely lifeless meteor striking another? Is there a flash of light? If so, who or what sees it? Does light need to be seen in order to be light? I think Hakuin Ekaku was on to something. V-Man - T/C 06:54, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
You teacher's statement (which is an old philosophical discussion) seems to violate Occam's Razor. That is, all things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the best. It is definitely simpler to suppose that things behave in a similar manner with or without an observer. To suppose otherwise requires some explanation of the mechanism. Incidentally, there is a case where the presence of an observer (or more precisely, an observation) effects a system, and this does indeed come with an explanation for the mechanism, see Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. (Note that I don't use a definition of sound as "vibrations perceived by a brain"; for me, sound = vibrations, whether anyone perceives them or not.) StuRat 06:56, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
I once read that this expression (along with "What is the sound of one hand clapping?") is used as a meditation technique to clear the mind and help you focus -- I believe it originated in Asia. It's a rhetorical question, and if you think about it, it forces you to imagine a tree falling but without making any sound -- which is quite profound. Also the stupid question "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" is senseless, for it is impossible for one hand to make a clap -- so your mind gets stuck on that one, too.
The questions aren't intended to be answered. I'm sure philosophers would answer the question differently depending on what kind of philosophers there are. Some would say a sound is only a sound if someone is there to hear it - others will say that soundwaves are soundwaves regardless of whether or not they're heard. The question nonetheless has no serious answer. If you had to reask the question in a vacuum or in space - things might be different. Rfwoolf 14:29, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
This needs a dictionary definition of sound, and in a thought experiment you can provide any conditions you want :) HS7 20:04, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Wikipedia no spell check
How come when you do a wikipedia search, it has no spellcheck? Every encyclopedia and dictionary ive used had spell check and correction, and I love wikipedia, but I find it very annoying that it doesnt correct mistakes. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.167.159.75 (talk) 04:05, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- Do you mean, correct your search, or correct the edits made? In a general sense, Wikipedia's overall nature of correctness is determined by the collective correctness. V-Man - T/C 04:47, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
I sometimmes have problms with sirchez because I dont spel good, it would be nice if it corected yur spellin fer ya.--ChesterMarcol 05:00, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I take that as a joke(?) but I'd anyway think it'd be nice if some kind of "fuzzy search" was implemented, á la Google etc... at least if there's no hits for the entry. 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 05:31, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- You might be amazed how much work goes into implementing full text search. I've had the misfortune of being involved in a couple of text search engine projects, and I can tell you that for a mass of data and site the size of Wikipedia, it's no trivial task to implement fuzzy matching (much less have the compute resources to handle it). You should see the size of Google's search farm. I do, however, know that Wikipedia uses a search engine based on Lucene, which I've had some experience with. Lucene supports fuzzy matching, though I'm unsure whether Wikipedia's front end allows it. I'd test it out, but search is borked at the moment. The default Lucene syntax to enable a fuzzy word match is to append a tilde (~) to the end of the word you are unsure of. Edit: Nevermind, search isn't borked, it just provides an utterly braindead error message to indicate you're trying to use Lucene functionality that it's blocking. It's really too bad that the Lucene front end that they are using with Wikipedia is so terrible (or purposefully severely limited), because you can make a very nice text search engine using some of Lucene's capabilities (thesaurus, stemming, snowballing, fuzzy search). -- mattb
@ 2007-03-08T22:30Z
- You might be amazed how much work goes into implementing full text search. I've had the misfortune of being involved in a couple of text search engine projects, and I can tell you that for a mass of data and site the size of Wikipedia, it's no trivial task to implement fuzzy matching (much less have the compute resources to handle it). You should see the size of Google's search farm. I do, however, know that Wikipedia uses a search engine based on Lucene, which I've had some experience with. Lucene supports fuzzy matching, though I'm unsure whether Wikipedia's front end allows it. I'd test it out, but search is borked at the moment. The default Lucene syntax to enable a fuzzy word match is to append a tilde (~) to the end of the word you are unsure of. Edit: Nevermind, search isn't borked, it just provides an utterly braindead error message to indicate you're trying to use Lucene functionality that it's blocking. It's really too bad that the Lucene front end that they are using with Wikipedia is so terrible (or purposefully severely limited), because you can make a very nice text search engine using some of Lucene's capabilities (thesaurus, stemming, snowballing, fuzzy search). -- mattb
Spellcheck in edit mode would also be a huge boon. Using standard word processors to spell check Wiki articles is a nightmare, what with all the wiki-formatting. I realize I could copy and paste the preview version of the article into the word processor, but I usually write offline and only import to the Wiki after I'm happy with what I've got. — Brian (talk) 05:34, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- If only Wikipedia could go "Did you mean...?" --Candy-Panda 05:40, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I get the funniest "Did you mean"s from Google sometimes... V-Man - T/C 05:58, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
1) As far as accepting different spellings in the search box, this can be accomplished by using redirects for common spellings.
2) A spell checker on edits would be nice, but we do have the US English vs. British English issue to deal with. You'd need to select which one you wanted for each article. I cut and paste everything into a word document and spell check it there. This only has a US English spell checker, though, so I run into trouble when spell checking an article written in British English.
StuRat 07:24, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- For forms editing, use a browser such as firefox. Comes with its own spell checker. Spell checking is probably properly a function of the browser not of a web application like wikipedia. To get yourself a google search box next to the wikipedia search box (google handles mis-spellings), see User:Henrik/sandbox/google-search --Tagishsimon (talk)
See Wikipedia:Village pump (perennial proposals)#Better search feature why we don't have such a feature. --Kusunose 09:05, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Actually, if you see the answer above, you'll see that the Wikipedia servers are struggling as it is, and can you imagine the extra processing involved if Wikipedia had to know check the spelling of search terms? -- that's basically the answer as I remember it. Rfwoolf 14:24, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Wikipedia's search engine has always sucked; it would have to be able to do better ranking of results long before bonus features like a spell check were taken into consideration. --140.247.252.156 16:15, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
A problem with Google always seems to try to correct some words of British spelling to American spelling. Simply south 23:11, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Wikipedia is unique in that it is composed of works from around the world, from people whose variants of English mean that there can be no easily achieved standard spelling. This makes it unlike other encyclopaedias (encyclopedias), as many of the words may be spelt (spelled) in several alternative (alternate) ways. Any attempt to push through (thru) a standardised (standardized) spelling - or grammar, for that matter - would cause debate over which side's judgement (judgment) was better with regard to the use of the words, and which side was favoured (favored) by the result. Those cases where British English and American English are different from (different than) each other can only really be solved by way of spellchecking if two parallel English-language Wikipedias were created, one for each spelling. That would create massive redundancy and a lot of extra labour (labor) for editors. And even then you'd get problems with spellings which don't entirely agree with either, such as Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English. To compromise, we use one spelling per article, with the local spelling used for articles relating to specific places, and in other articles sticking with whichever spelling has been used by whoever did the first major edit. There are an assortment of different varieties of English used in Wikipedia as a result, but hey, it adds a bit of colour (color :). Grutness...wha? 23:58, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Physical features
What is the reason behind the broad flat nose and large eyes of a negroid and straight nose and small eyes of a white guy?How many white races are there in this world?What are general features of caucasians?
- Caucasian race is a good read for that. As far as differences in appearance, it probably has to do with Gene expression, as was mentioned by an editor earlier this week on this desk. V-Man - T/C 05:01, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
To take on just one issue, wide nostrils are good, in general, as they allow you to breathe in more air when running or otherwise exerting yourself. However, they have a disadvantage in colder climates, in that large amounts of cold air can get into the lungs and damage them. A thin nose warms the air more, preventing this damage. Thus, those living in colder climates tended to develop thinner noses, while those in warmer climates retained wide nostrils. Since this evolution has occurred, there have been lots of movements of people around the planet, so you will now find thin-nosed people in tropical climates and wide-nosed people in arctic climates. Since we now have ways to preheat air before we inhale it (heaters in our cars, for example), and don't often need to exert ourselves to the point where a lack of air becomes an issue, the width of the nose is no longer important for survival, so additional evolution of this trait is likely to slow. StuRat 07:16, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Although what StuRat just said seems to be a plausible explanation, maybe Genetic drift has something to do here too. --Taraborn 08:00, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
I'm sure I read somewhere that during the ice age some people, especially in europe, had larger noses than usual, as the air was so cold :) HS7 19:28, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
As for the question of how many white races there are: generally 'white' people (europeans) are considered one of the three races, even though asians and native americans (often combined into a single race) also have light coloured skin, and neither of these races actually has white skin, it is just often very light brown :) And as well as this different groups of people within each race can be different colours too, and of course some people say there are no races at all, just people who don't look exactly like us :) HS7 20:02, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Difference in physical features.
What is the reason behind sharp contrast in physical and facial features of different stocks of people(angloid,negroid etc..)though they have evolved from the same chimpanzee?210.212.215.141 05:03, 8 March 2007 (UTC)Ecclesiasticalparanoid
- It was a long time ago human evolved, more than enough to further evolve into different "sub-types". Basically, it's adaption to the climate. Dark skin is better in hot climate, light skin in cold etc... 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 05:33, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Also, people didn't evolve from chimps. Rather, both humans and chimps evolved from a common ancestor, and there have been numerous, now extinct, species in between this common ancestor and both us and chimps. StuRat 07:06, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- The founder effect article might also be worth a read. --HughCharlesParker (talk - contribs) 23:40, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
scrubs music
What's the name of the song played during the dancing part in this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlueiMkaaNk
thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Pennywise the turtle (talk • contribs) 05:04, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- I believe it is Diner by Martin Sexton. --ChesterMarcol 05:12, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
KOP
I read always the word "KOP" in reference of the Liverpool FC. What does KOP mean? And why the Liverpool FC is called by this term? And what is their relation?
- It's the name of the end of the ground where the home fans stand, and thus by extension the home fans.It's from Spion Kop which means Spy Hill, a battle in the Boer war.There is more about it in the Wikipedia article(Sorry don't know how to do the fancy link thing)hotclaws**== 10:48, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
How does PeterAnswers.com work?
How does it generate its answers?--Howzat11 10:00, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Educator Chris Wondra has a good explanation of the secret in his blog. Jfarber 10:29, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- What an evil site. I like it! --SubSeven 17:47, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- A co-worker and I once perpetrated a similar trick on a particularly technologically illiterate boss (this was back in the 1970's when people in general were less technologically aware). We took a microphone and placed it on a desk with the cord dropping down behind the computer (not connected in any way) - we had the computer's monitor and keyboard on the same desk. We told our boss that we'd been sent a demo version of this amazing new AI software that had voice recognition and could answer questions if you spoke to it through the microphone. So our boss would be told to speak slowly and clearly and not to use long words or colloquialisms or contractions ("Do not" not "Don't", etc). He'd ask it a question and within about 20 seconds the answer would pop up on the screen. Needless to say, I had connected a keyboard extension cord onto the back of the machine and was sitting over at my desk in the next cube along - with the computer's own keyboard sitting there disconnected. He'd ask a question - I'd hear it in the cube next door and very carefully type the answer (blind - I couldn't see the output). It was AMAZINGLY successful - and very, very simple to do. If he asked a question I couldn't answer, I'd type "This is only a demo. To obtain answers to all of your questions, please purchase the full version of this software." or something like that. SteveBaker 15:55, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Thanks for the answers and comments. Muhahaha... Now for some deceiving at school--Howzat11 06:12, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Random question 1
I was reading one of the above questions about different features and i thought of something. Anglo saxon/caucasians have developed light skin due to the cold climate. However, middle easterners seem to have a LOT more hair than anglo saxons, which seems contradictory since they live in deserts while 'white' people would have been better off with the more hair to protect them from the cold. Why is this so?Cuban Cigar 11:02, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- During the night in a desert the temperature routinely drops to freezing, so hair's warming function wouldn't be completely useless. Also cultural differences probably contribute greatly to typical amount of hair. Whether "full head of long hair" or "neatly trimmed crew cut" is fashionable in your part of the world. Islam's rules on beards probably contribute to the "middle easterners have a lot of facial hair" stereotype. Weregerbil 11:20, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Hairy arabs is not a steryotype. Im an arab, i have arab friends, ive lived in arab countries-arab man are *very* hairy. If the excessive hair is a protection agains the freezing desert cold, why don't caucasians/anglo saxons (who live in cold/snowy climates) not have this much hair?Cuban Cigar 11:39, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Hair also protects the head from sunlight and heat. Think outside the box 11:49, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Here's a counterintuitive hypothesis: since having too much hair and wearing heavy clothes makes one itchy, and makes the body more likely to retain sweat and sweat-smells (since such things cling to the hair), and because lots of hair can cause one to retain things like fleas which can often live inside clothes, perhaps cultures which demand more heavy clothes-wearing are ones in which there is a social/dating preference for less hair in mates. How's THAT for thinking outside the box? Jfarber 13:34, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
I am also curious about this question. I've noticed a lot of caucasian adults who don't have to shave that often and don't seem to get hair on places like their nose - and even in their 20s have little/no hair on their legs and chest - whereas others have a lot more up to the point where their eyebrows start to grow together and hair starts to envelope their cheeks! I do think it tends to depend on your ancestry's ___location on the globe - but what is the explanation? And, as someone with more hair than less, I'd say I'm subscribing to the seemingly western point-of-view that less hair is more attractive - and certainly more neat. And I believe I appear more attractive when (facially) shaven than not. Rfwoolf 14:12, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Surely darker skin would be better in cold places as dark colours absorb heat better :) HS7 19:26, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- People have evolved lighter or darker skin not in response to heat or cold but in response to abundance or lack of sunlight. The reason is that light skin, when exposed to sunlight, is better at synthesizing Vitamin D. In the higher latitudes, where sunlight is scarce, light skin helps maximize the synthesis of this vital nutrient. On the other hand, exposure of the tissues below the skin to too much solar radiation brings a risk of genetic damage or cancer. For this reason, people in lower latitudes have evolved dark skin rich in melanin, which blocks ultraviolet radiation and may have immune functions. Marco polo 23:45, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Lol i still don't see a defintive answer, this seems to be a hot topic.Cuban Cigar 08:13, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Random question 2
This has no realtion to the above question. Could someone reccomend to me any books/films where a dramatic contest is held where the subjects may be killed upon losing (eg Battle Royale, Contest or the Long Walk)? Cuban Cigar 11:04, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Lol i forgot to mention that i read the long walk. Any other suggestions?
- Well, the movie (The Running Man (film)) is very different from the novella The Running Man, and the novel King wrote as Bachman, The Long Walk. Battle Royale had a number of spin offs, all on the same theme, such as Battle Royale (film), Battle Royale II: Requiem, and two manga versions, Battle Royale (manga) and Battle Royale II: Blitz Royale.
- You could also try Rollerball (1975 film) (not the awful remake), and the short story it was based on. Also The Most Dangerous Game, a very good book by Richard Edward Connell, which is about a hunter who is bored of hunting everything else an starts to hunt humans. Movies Punishment Park, The Game or Series 7: The Contenders (awesome film) might also be of interest. Neil (not Proto ►) 14:31, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- There's Surviving the Game. In the film, a homeless man was hired by a group of hunters to cook for them for the week that they would be hunting. The first night that they got to camp, they all had a big feast and then went to bed. The next morning the homeless man woke to find himself on the wrong end of a gun. He was told that he was in fact going to be hunted and that he had a couple minutes to get dressed and start running. Dismas|(talk) 18:45, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- The Star Trek Original Series episodes Arena, Day of the Dove, The Gamesters of Triskelion, Spectre of the Gun and The Omega Glory all feature either deadly competitions or duels to the death, with "The Gamesters of Triskelion" being the most "game-like" one (and no, I'm not a nerd for knowing these; the Futurama episode Where No Fan Has Gone Before helpfully listed all the Star Trek episodes involving all such competitions). The Star Trek episode A Taste of Armageddon also featured a sort of deadly contest; for some inscrutiable reason, two warring nations agreed to build a giant supercomputer which would simulate the effects of thermonuclear war; anyone that the computer found to be "dead" had to report to a suicide booth to be killed. Laïka 21:17, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- There's Surviving the Game. In the film, a homeless man was hired by a group of hunters to cook for them for the week that they would be hunting. The first night that they got to camp, they all had a big feast and then went to bed. The next morning the homeless man woke to find himself on the wrong end of a gun. He was told that he was in fact going to be hunted and that he had a couple minutes to get dressed and start running. Dismas|(talk) 18:45, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Wow lots of suggestions will try to get my hand on these books/movies. Any more suggestions are welcome.Cuban Cigar 08:12, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
For a story that has someone killed upon winning a contest, try The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. — Michael J 18:17, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Theives
Theives keep on breaking into my shed, and stealing my things. How can I stop this, I'm shitting myself with fury here. I'm thinking of setting up a trapping system, possibly a hidden pit with spikes near the entrance, or something similar. Thanks to anyone who can help! - Richard Reynolds —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 125.236.134.84 (talk) 11:15, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- Don't do that or anything like that - if they are injured, then the police will press charges against you. I recall this happening when someone wired their iron gate up to the mains electricity supply. We used to have the same problem with dirty shed thieves, and solved it by putting one of those motion detecting security lights which turn on when they sense movement. I would also recommend not putting anything too valuable in the shed, getting a really good padlock, and putting bars on the window(s). You could also look at how easy it is to get into your back garden (or wherever you have your shed) and making it more difficult. All else fails, make sure you're well insured. And please don't shit yourself with fury. Neil (not Proto ►) 11:29, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Outrageous, what country do you come from buddy? France? Here in America we have the right to use lethal force against intruders. Though I don't plan on using it, I simply plan on injuring them and leaving them incapicatated until the police arrive. - R. Reynolds
- Since you live in America, home of the lawsuit, don't you fear these thieves will inevitably sue you? Check out Trespasser#Duties to trespassers, which states that you have a duty to warn trespassers of dangerous conditions (e.g. "Warning! This property is booby trapped!") − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 23:16, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- you cant do that —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 199.197.124.144 (talk) 16:31, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- The UK, where we are not allowed to murder thieves (some might say sadly!). But even in the US, while you are entitled to use lethal force against intruders, I am not sure if premeditated traps are quite what the cops would accept. Even if it is, I would try the security light first ... Neil (not Proto ►) 13:08, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- And even in the USA, the amount of force you're allowed to use very much depends on which state you live in. I'm pretty sure that you can't use "lethal force" against any intruder in most states (Texas probably being an exception). It depends what the intruder is doing. I'm amused that the original poster thinks France might be wishy-washy about such things. Is this another strange American stereotype about France? French law is actually pretty tough and I certainly wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of a French police officer (and I'm a British police officer!). -- Necrothesp 13:34, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- While I'd also check with the police first to make sure it's okay, assuming it is, I don't think I'd aim to harm intruders so much as I might aim to embarass them so much they would think it wasn't worth coming back anymore. How about finding a really nice toolbox, filling it with rancid pig guts? Don't forget to lock it tight, so the thieves take it home and THEN try to open it, rather than spewing it all over your shed. Other HARMLESS but dissuading tactics might include making the floor sticky (the thief escapes, but you keep his shoes, a la Home Alone), or putting a very sticky glue on a desirable (but SMALL) object, so that they can steal it...but not get it off afterwards. Maybe one that requires combining two substances -- put one substance on one object and one ofn the next, so only touching them in that order would cause the thief to be stuck tight? If going for the latter strategy, by the way, I recommend a vibrator -- that'll teach 'em... Jfarber 13:41, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Get an alarm and a sturdy lock and then call the police when it goes off. They'll either stick around and get caught or run and not come back. --24.147.86.187 13:51, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Just sit in the shed and wait for a theif.
- Sad to say, if somehow you saw the thief, called the cops, they arrived and caught the guy red hande breaking into the shed, he would be out on bail in a day, and it would get plea bargained down to some minimal charge like trespassing. Consider getting a big mean well-trained dog to bite'em. I knew a man who had an auto repair shop and had guard dogs at night. One morning he found a box or useful burglar tools (pry bar, big screwdriver, etc) inside the fence with a blood trail leading to the fence. The thief made it over the fence and halfway to the building before the dog woke up. He did not come back to ask for the tools. Edison 17:53, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Your best bet would be to have a few simple security devices. A light that comes on automatically when a person walks near is pretty simple but surprisingly effective deterrant. It is not implausible to fit an alarm to a shed so that could be an option. If the shed is 'out of view' you might want to have a large and obvious 'mirror' that can allow the shed to be seen from a variety of places. Alternatively you could invest in a larger lock, more study doors/frame or even (though maybe not possible) move the most valuable/steeling friendly goods into a more secure environment. Setting up 'traps' is not adviseable regardless of the legality of the matter. You could 'spray' your items with that invisible-spray that shows up under black-light (?). That way if you suspect specific people you can have the police do a search and find out. If you're really rich you could have CCTV or hire a security guard, but I suspect they are not viable options. ny156uk 17:50, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Set traps that don't actually hurt, such as a non spike filled hole :] HS7 19:25, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Those 'cheese-eating surrender monkeys' have no concept of law and order, which is what I was talking about to whoever made that statement. I am not rich, and do not have money for alarm systems, lest of all a CCTV system. I think it will be best If I build a pit, but do not spike it, seeing your advice. Though I may do another trap system, such as only use the backdoor of the shed, and if the front door is used, a series of very heavy weights well topple down on whoever opens it. Thank you all for your kind help, God Bless. - R Reynolds.
I don't believe any US state or county would allow the use of lethal force for the protection of property in a shed. The lethal force argument is for protection of life, not property. And setting up a trap is generally frowned on anywhere, even for protection of life. Corvus cornix 22:04, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I suggest covering the perp with paint, using the old paint above the door routine. Might make detection somewhat easier. --Tagishsimon (talk)
- I think there's been a few misconceptions about what you can do to intruders in the US. You can only use lethal force if they threaten your life. And make sure you don't use some illegal weapon like a gun without a permit. - Mgm|(talk) 22:18, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Just watch the movie Home Alone, that will teach you all one needs to know about home security, it's really more of an instruction manual than a movie.--ChesterMarcol 23:10, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
It's America, I have every right to do whatever I please. Those will tress pass on MY land, and steal MY things, will face MY wrath. Sorry of it sounds harsh, but I have the right. - R. Reynolds
- I'm sorry, but that is clearly not true. You do not have the right to do whatever you please. There are laws even in America, and they are enforced. Case in point: if you walk up to someone on the street and shoot them in the face, you will be arrested, tried and (hopefully) convicted. You will then face whatever punishment that court deems appropriate, because you do not have the right to shoot someone in the face. If people in America had a right to do whatever they pleased, burglars would have a right to burgle your house, and you would be denying burglars their rights by doing anything to stop them. Skittle 00:56, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
HOW DARE YOU. I have every right to act as I see fit on my own land. I was not refering to the general public. Obviously, murder, rape, and nudity are not permitted on public spaces, and for good reason. And people do NOT have the right to rob MY own possesions, and violate ME. I WILL NOT ALLOW BURGLARS TO STEAL FROM ME. Thanks. - R Reynolds.
- Which is funny, because your IP resolves to New Zealand (: VectorPotentialTalk 01:18, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for pointing out the obvious. I'm here in New Zealand on vacation for my sister's wedding, and her fiance suggested I use Wikipedia to search for a solution to my security problem back home. Apparently he edits articles here or something. But thanks for your help guys, and sorry if I came off a bit brash, I've being in a bad mood lately. Take care - R. Reynolds.
The paint on the door trick seems pretty good, so does the glue on the ground. mabye if you try both, he'll get covered in paint and you get his shoes. imagine seeing a shoeless blue guy running down the street. :D
- Keep in mind the plethora of burglars who sued their victims for whatever reason. Incidentally, I had a friend who had gasoline repeatedly stolen out of a fuel container in his shed. His solution to the problem was to put a "healthy" amount of sugar in the gasoline; the next time he checked it, it was half empty, and he never had gasoline stolen from him again. V-Man - T/C 03:49, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Richard, I don't think anyone is trying to upset you. Just be aware that setting up traps, wounding, and / or murdering can get you in trouble with the law, no matter the provocation, as it is premeditated, and your life is not in danger. Even if it's on your own land. The security light is a good idea, and they're really quite cheap now. Your local hardware store will stock them. Neil (not Proto ►) 12:39, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego (Deluxe Edition) download needed
I'd appreciate it immensely if someone managed to find a free download of Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego (Deluxe Edition) from 1994. There's a link on Carmen Sandiego, but requires some sort of payment. I daresay it's already abandonware so if anybody decides to be a complete angel, then thank you.
AlmostCrimes 13:25, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- It is available for download at Home of the Underdogs. Look at the section that says "Where to get it". --24.147.86.187 13:50, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
become taller?
hi I am a 15 years old and im currently 5'8.5 (174cm). Do you think I can grow 1 inch or more in a year? If yes, how? Do you think swimming or pilates will help me? If no, give another suggestion. Thank you :) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.36.235.35 (talk) 13:38, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- GPs will tell you that height is genetic and on a very small scale environmental. I disagree somewhat - I've observed that even within my own family, those members who are highly active and participate in sport have grown taller than others - I would say environmental issues play a significant role.
- That said, you may be due for a growth spurt, anytime around 12/13 and once again anytime up til about 21 (note: This is a generalisation). You can usually tell if a bone is due to grow some more if growth plates show up on xrays or scanograms -- so if you somehow ended up with xrays of your legs that would be indicative.
- So my basic answer is that there isn't a great deal you can do to make yourself grow taller - but an active lifestyle I believe may help - and that it is possible for you to have a growth spurt within the next year (usually if you haven't had one for a few years) -- but even if you don't go on a growth spurt I believe the 1 inch growth may be possible - I think in slightly more than a year though - 18 months perhaps.
- What I cannot tell you is if I know whether stretching or pilates has any proof of assisting growth, but I imagine that it couldn't hurt.
- Another small fact is that your height can be slightly altered by things like posture, whether or not you are flat footed or have postural imbalances, or a functional leg shortage (this is where the leg/legs are shorter but not physically - if you measure the bones they're fine) - and so in theory anything that aims to improve your posture will make you as tall as you can be at the moment - in other words I'm not saying posture work will make you grow more, but rather that posture work will make you stand taller -- but usually not by all that much.
- I hope this helps - sorry I don't know any more.
- Rfwoolf 14:02, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- "those members who are highly active and participate in sport have grown taller than others" — of course, correlation does not equal causation at all in such instances. --140.247.252.156 16:12, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Taller children are often encouraged to participate in sports. So much so, that a disproportionate number of adult athletes were born at the beginning of the year, as they got their start when they were the tallest in their age rank.--Pharos 06:19, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- "those members who are highly active and participate in sport have grown taller than others" — of course, correlation does not equal causation at all in such instances. --140.247.252.156 16:12, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- The rack usually works pretty well ;) Lemon martini 14:00, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
My daughter's the same age, and the doctor said she would gain another inch. I would make it a habit, to discuss such things with your doctor.. make a list! I would ask about body awareness and satisfaction, no matter what height, degree of skinniness, or body shape. --Zeizmic 16:15, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- wow these are really good answers! thx guys keep suggesting,im not so sure about the whole rack thing?! sounds painful :) :P —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.36.235.35 (talk) 17:14, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
See Rack (torture). We are not allowed to give medical advice in its applicability for use... --Zeizmic 17:46, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Try just laying on your back for a while, it can streighten out your spine :) HS7 19:24, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I am no expert on this, but I would think that nutrition would play some role. My evidence is that the children of immigrants to the United States are frequently several inches taller than their parents, who may have grown up in a nutrient-deficient environment. So it would probably help to make sure that you are getting adequate protein (fairly hard not to do in most developed countries such as the United States), calcium (dairy products are an obvious source), vitamins and minerals. Supplements will provide vitamins and minerals, but it is unclear that the body absorbs nutrients from supplements as well as it does from natural foods. Your best sources of vitamins and minerals are a varied list of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy greens (spinach, broccoli, kale, anything in the cabbage family). Marco polo 00:04, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Eat steak & veggies whenever you can, and take a either a capsule or a tablespoon of Cod liver oil (it tastes better with salt and lime). · AO Talk 15:07, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
War Crimes
In the book Shoah, as well as various others, there is talk of death camps crawling with SS guards as one would expect. They were needed in order for the final sollution to be implemented. Now I know about the Nuremburg Trials, which involved various Nazi leaders, but what I would like to know is what happened to the hundereds of Nazi SS that were involved in mass murder, were they ever tried and if so where, who what where when and why thanks guys and girls —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 14:11, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- One fairly recent case of a guard's being brought to trial, though not straightforward due to identity issues, was that of John Demjanjuk. -- Deborahjay 17:26, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I read about Einsatzgruppen Trial, and was amazed, only about 20 persons were posecuted, and only four were put to death, no-one convicted served prison longer than until 1958. Seemingly, the largest blame were put on the nation's leaders. 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 17:36, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
You will get some information on the various trials from the page on the List of Axis war criminals. This link is also very useful [1]. There are too many other pages which deal with specific prosecuations to mention here, so that on the Dachau Trials will have to serve by way of example [2]. I would also suggest that you look at Nazi Medicine and The Nuremberg Trials by Paul Julian Weindling, Prosecuting Nazi War Criminals by A. S. Rosenbaum and Occupation Nazi Hunter: The Continuing Search for the Perpetrators of the Holocaust by Z. Efraim. Clio the Muse 20:11, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- The article on Denazification is of relevance here. Some were tried, some were executed, some slipped away, and so on. And their fate likely would have depended which sector they ended up in, as well. --Fastfission 23:16, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Carb consumption
If, as every medico in the UK says, that to stop consuming carbohydrates is very dangerous, then how come Eskimos haven't died out? As I understand it, they only eat protein and fat. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Jardinero (talk • contribs) 14:45, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- I'd recommend a read of The Inuit Paradox, and then a broader google search. In short "What the diet of the Far North illustrates, says Harold Draper, a biochemist and expert in Eskimo nutrition, is that there are no essential foods — only essential nutrients. And humans can get those nutrients from diverse and eye-opening sources." --Tagishsimon (talk)
Newbie needs help!
Just created a new account to ask a question, but can't figure out how to answer one. Please help.Jardinero 14:56, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Not sure what you mean. If you mean 'how do I answer a reference desk question", then the answer is "much in the same way you just asked the question here". If not, then please clarify your meaning. thanks. --Tagishsimon (talk)
Sorry to be vague, but to ask a question I clicked on "ask a new question here"; there is nothing saying "answer here". Do I click on 'edit' and write my reply below the original question?Jardinero 15:07, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Yes. Indent it and place it after the post to which you are responding (placing a colon in front adds an indent level). StuRat 15:38, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Yup. Sorry, I forgot there was an "ask a question" link at the top of the page. --Tagishsimon (talk)
African King
Read a few years ago about an African King From East Africa who was taken as a slave through a rouge of trading with Europeans, and then once in europe, escaped and walked alone all the way back to his own people, to once again sit as king, and when the same slave trading Europeans came back he got his revenge. Who was this, and any other info, thanks.
- Sounds like fiction to me. A king would not have been likely to be taken as a slave, as most slaves were prisoners taken by one African tribe during a war with another, who were then sold to slave traders. And walking back to Africa from Europe sounds impossible to me. StuRat 15:44, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Sounds like fiction to me, too, but not completely implausible. Tribe A takes king of Tribe B prisoner during war, sells king to traders. King later wanders through France & Spain to Gibraltar, and then hitches a ride to north Africa, and walks some more. Or, I suppose, if heading for east Africa, went via Italy or Turkey, 7&c. Okay, long walk. But as we mounted crusades long before Iraq Wars 1 & 2, we can take it that humans can walk long distances. (Don't even get me started on the stilt walker who went from Moscow to Paris.) --Tagishsimon (talk)
- What is a "rouge of trading?" And once the "slave trading Europeans" had sold him, was there some warranty that if he escaped they had to go back to Africa and find him? Seems like the owner would be the one looking for him. If our ancestors could make their way out of Africa to Europe right after the last Ice Age, it is probably equally possible to walk the other way.Edison 17:43, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- It would be possible to walk from Europe to Africa (with a short sail or even row between the two), but how would a penniless slave feed himself during the months that such a trip would take? This is what makes the story hard to believe for me. Marco polo 00:10, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- (Correcting myself:) Of course, it would be possible to walk the whole way, by going around the Black Sea, across eastern Asia Minor, and then along the east shore of the Mediterranean Sea to cross the Isthmus of Suez, but how would such a person feed himself? How long could such a person get away with crop pilferage without getting caught? How would a sub-Saharan African not attract the attention of authorities while traveling on foot through Europe? Marco polo 02:00, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Perhaps as he made his way through various lands he impressed people that he might indeed be royalty by his dignity , bearing, and self confidence. As a monarch, he might have known other monarchs and trading magnates in various large centers of commerce along the way. Perhaps he did the then equivalent of the constant spams we now get from people in certain countries offering us amazing wealth if we only help them out. If his country traded with any other country, or had diplomatic relations with any other country, he might have ben able to get a sufficient loan to evn buy passage back on a trading ship. Edison 21:04, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
"Bertrimer Subject", Russia
I am researching family history, and have found the reference: "Bertrimer Subject", Russia. Can you enlighten me please? 89.241.34.204 15:40, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Can you give a bit of context in which you have seen this phrase? It sounds odd to me, and it doesn't bring up any google hits, which makes me suspect it's not quite right somehow. --Richardrj talk email 17:02, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
St Patrick's Day Parade in NYC
As an African-American, is it wise to see the St. Paddy's Parade in NYC in person this year? I have heard rumors of racists groups promoting their ideals.
- The only mention of racist groups and the NYC parade I can find is here, where the chair of the Ancient Order of Hibernians compared a gay and lesbian group who wish to join the parade to the KKK. It seems unlikely that such a well organised parade would permit racist groups to be involved, and therefore I would suggest you will be as safe on St Paddy's as you would any other day in NYC. Rockpocket 22:31, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Agreed. I think the odds of being on the recieving end of any type of serious racism in a major, modern metropolis, especially in public, are tremendously slim. And New York is quite liberal relatively. At any rate, the threat of running into racism is not, in my opinion, so great (absolutely nowhere near so great, in fact) as to be a good reason not to go to the parade. 70.108.199.130 06:20, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
False alarm attack
Is there a term for the practice of triggering a number of false alarms when preparing to commit a crime, so that any real alarms triggered by the crime will be ignored? (Like the Boy who Cried Wolf, but where the boy and the wolf are the same person?) NeonMerlin 22:05, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Don't know if there's a jargon term for it, but it is a form of Social engineering --Tagishsimon (talk)
- I can't think of an answer either, but I just wanted to mention a delightful movie from 1966 called How to Steal a Million. --Anon, March 9, 2007, 00:59 (UTC).
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf is mentioned in the False alarm article, but not in the sense that you refer to. It later links to Culture of fear, but no real term is used to describe the exploitation of a false alarm. Perhaps you could make it up! V-Man - T/C 03:08, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- I can't think of an answer either, but I just wanted to mention a delightful movie from 1966 called How to Steal a Million. --Anon, March 9, 2007, 00:59 (UTC).
- My limited vocabulary only gives me desensitize, but that's probably too broad. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 05:36, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- How about Bushicize? (Cheneyvate if you Bushicize for financial profit) Clarityfiend 06:26, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Dick'n'bushify? − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 20:33, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Marketing jargon
Define and upstream and downstream marketing. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.8.160.70 (talk) 23:39, 8 March 2007 (UTC).
- I don't think you can have read the rules at the top of the page. The second rule says "Do your own homework". Even if your question isn't your homework, it looks so much like it that no-one's going to touch it. Try searching wikipedia for the word 'marketing' and see where that gets you. If that doesn't help, then google is your friend. --HughCharlesParker (talk - contribs) 23:46, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- Fortunately, the other rule is "break all rules". The most succinct (actually, the only) explanation I found in the time I was willing to allot to this task is here. Briefly, upstream is "design your product/service & its marketing around your customer's needs" whilst downstream is "do what you can to sell the same old tat, irrespective of consumer need". Respecting Hughcharlesparker's position on this, you will get a Z grade if you merely cut & paste my paraphrase :) Finally, remember that this is one random web page's definition. YMMV. --Tagishsimon (talk)
The German Wikipedia
(This isn't really a technical discussion, it's really a question a general question about a website.) Why doesn't the german wikipedia do in-line citations for its sources, even in featured articles? For example, check out their featured article from a few days ago: [3] (I can read German pretty well, but I'm too embarrassed to try my hand at composing this question in german.) Jolb 23:43, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
- I've just tested it, and there's no technical reason. Don't know the policy reason, but they clearly have a different FA standard. --Tagishsimon (talk)
- I think it's just that - a policy/style issue. Each language varient of Wikipedia has it's own rules on style and content and such. For example, the German Wikipedia bans the 'fair use' exemption for copyrighted images where the English version does not. Inline citations are nice once you get used to them - I'm a little surprised that the German wiki doesn't use it - someone should probably bring this up at the German equivelent of the Village Pump. Sadly, my German is utterly non-existant - so that's not going to be me either! SteveBaker 15:38, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- It’s simply that the article has been substantially written in 2006, when requirements and best practices were rather different. And although German Wikipedia merely requires reliables sources to be stated (which deosn’t necessarily have to be in the form of inline citations), I sincerely doubt the article in question would gain FA status nowadays. Cheers ✦ hugarheimur 18:56, 12 June 2019 (UTC)
March 9
Sonic the Hedgehog Xbox Live "Very Hard Mode" download help
Where is the Very Hard download for Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox 360)? Could someone give me detailed instructions on how to get it, or create a link? I've already searched the entire Marketplace and found nothing, yet everyone is saying IT IS there. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.86.254.89 (talk) 00:25, 9 March 2007 (UTC).
Who's being unfair?
I recently got laser eye surgery done (LASIK) and after missing one day of school plus the weekend, I was back in school. My eyes are still dry and scratchy and I have an anti-biotic drop I have to take every 3 hrs. and an artificial tears drop I have to take twice an hour or more if I feel the need to. I don't need a mirror or anything I just kind of tilt my head a little, expose the conjunctival sack and pop my drops in. I sit in the front row of the class (and I pretty much have to because my vision is still recovering) and my geometry teacher is an absolute wussy. He said it's disturbing and I have to leave the class to do it (why the hell doesn't he just look away?). I did that a couple times then it got too bothersome and I was missing important stuff so I went back to doing it in my seat. He kicked my out, but I didn't leave and did it again. He told to the vice principal, and I got suspended for 2 days. I'm pretty damn frustrated because I missed important midterm reviews in two classes. I think he (and the office) were totally unfair. What do you think? Should I complain to the schoolboard? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.53.180.124 (talk) 02:28, 9 March 2007 (UTC).
- It sounds like an authority issue. Who cares if the teacher is a wuss, if he is the one who has the right to boss you around? And trust me, when you are a student, a teacher does have that right. The more you fight it, the more trouble you'll get into. Don't get me wrong - if you like drama, keep on fighting the system. But your best bet is to just cool off and go with the flow of things. Having the correct attitude about authority like that is very important, especially when you have similar relationships with managers and bosses at work. V-Man - T/C 02:57, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Based on your account, my opinion is that teacher and administrator were unfair, though you also appear to have been unnecessarily confrontational by staying after the teacher told you to leave and applying your eye drops again. My opinion is that if you complain to the school board, they will think that you are a troublemaker. What would be much more effective would be to have a parent complain. Your parent could make the case better than you, because the parent is not directly involved. Also, a parent is a taxpayer and a voter, and ultimately the school board members' jobs could be at risk if your parent knows enough people. (The board may not know how influential your parent is or isn't.)
- Bear in mind, though, that if your parent complains, your teacher may respond by enforcing rules very strictly where you are involved, and by grading your work more ruthlessly. It might actually be more in your interest to approach the teacher, apologize for disrupting his class (even though you are not apologetic in your heart), explain that you stayed because you did not want to miss out on his teaching, and asking if there is a way you can make up the review, perhaps in his office hours, before the exam. Marco polo 02:56, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Yeah, get your parents on it. And if it is just putting drops in your eyes I fail to see how anyone could find that so disturbing as to require you to miss school. (Well, the missing of school was probably for insubordination, but in any case I think the request was draconian to begin with, and in any case according to your account you were only being insubordinate in order to further your own learning, which is hard to argue with.) A complaining student will get nothing but more flack. A complaining parent will get results, stat. --24.147.86.187 02:59, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
This seems like the sort of situation that the serenity prayer was invented for. --Anonymous, March 9, 2007, 03:10 (UTC).
- I'd like to hear your teacher's view on this, as well... 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 03:13, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- It's interesting to hear that you've had LASIK so young (well it sounds like you may be young) -- your eye prescription should be stable for at least 2 years, and if your eyes still grow and change you may have to have surgery again or you may have to start to depend on glasses / contacts again.
- Another thing I should point out, is that when putting eye drops into your conjunctival sac, especially for dry-eye purposes, I do find it helps if you keep your eyes closed for a good minute or so (maybe 45 seconds or whatever) - my opthalmologist always said I should do that and when I finally started listening I could see that it does keep your eyes moist for longer (and technically you are supposed to sit there pulling down your conjunctival sac half the time - which is a mission to do with both eyes - but I wouldn't say pull them down for the whole minute you're waiting). For this reason, I believe it may be more pleasant for you to do this outside the class room -- unless there are passers by in the hallway that might think you a bit weird and will disrupt your attempts.
- From your account I would agree that the teacher is being a bit unfair. Did your doctor/parent provide you with a letter outlining the instructions for your eyes? And I'm sure you're aware that airconditioning-smoking-and-wind can be very very harsh on sensetive and dry eyes.
- My advice is to firstly obtain a note from your parents/doctor simply requesting that they do their best to accomodate your condition as your eyes are in a very vulnerable state. Now, just keep this letter on you in case it comes in handy. Then you need to decide whether or not you can obey the teacher and do your drops outside - you may decide that you cannot because you'd be missing out on an important lecture/information or you would be disturbed in the hallway. If you decide that you can do these things outside then to me that is best - so you can do the full minute in peace without people staring at your teary eyes. If you decide that you cannot do this outside, then you need to hand your letter to this teacher explaining the situation - perhaps get this ratified by the principal. Call in your parents/guardians if necessary.
- Good luck, and remember: your eyes are very very precious, don't let people stop you from looking after them
- Rfwoolf 03:49, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- You are being discriminated against due to a medical condition. This is illegal. File a grievance with the school board. If that doesn't work, try your local ACLU. --Nélson Ricardo 04:58, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
i agree with Nelson, sue him!--Lerdthenerd 11:25, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Ignore the anonymous comments above. Whether or not you end up suing them, you'll find that a calmly-worded letter from a lawyer will usually work wonders in getting a school administrator or school board to "do the right thing". Look in your heart and if you really don't feel you were deliberately being a jerk, try to get your parents to contact a lawyer. The situation will almost certainly work out in your favor.
- Just talk to the teacher, politely and calmly, no need to go overboard with lawyers and all that ridiculousness. Suing will not work; the teacher has every right to ask you, politely, to temporarily leave the classroom while you do that, if it creeps him out. It doesn't matter if he's being a wuss, he asked you, and he has a right to do so, and you refused. You were then confrontational by doing it again after being expressly asked not to. A suspension was overkill, if that's all you did (is it? or did you mouth off?), but I don't think you helped your own situation. Neil (not Proto ►) 12:34, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- I'm a teacher, I've been a "team leader" (initial punishment go-to for other teachers), and a house director for a 60 boy boarding school dorm; I've been on the teaching/admin end of this sort of issue. My opinion is still my opinion, but it's worth pointing out that what I've never been sued yet.
- And I support your teacher, and your principal, as long as they made sure you had access to the same CONTENT of that class (not at the same TIME, ir in the same way). Partially, that's because blatant insubordination AFTER being told directly not to do something is a serious issue. But let's deal with the two issues separately, shall we?
- Let me start by saying that I do NOT agree that there is any discrimination happening here. If putting in eyedrops in class is going to be visible, then it distracts the entire class, period. You yourself said every moment of that day was high stakes, so that raises the stakes for such distraction. Asking you to leave to do it still supports the learning of everyone in the room, including you (I'll come to that in a minute) as well as giving you the opportunity to fulfil your medical needs.
- Yes, you have to leave in this scenario; It is YOU who has the conflict between a need to be in class and a need to fulfil medical needs. And yes, the teacher needs to have accommodated you. But (and here's the very crucial part) such accommodation is for your overall learning/comprehension, not for a given moment of classtime review. Are their other ways to review the material? Were you given ample time before testing to ask questions, and review in other ways -- ways which, I note, don't always involve the teacher? Were you able to use other ways to account for missed time, such as having access to other students' notes? Then you've been accommodated. Period.
- There is no reason, in other words, why your teacher must accommodate those needs in the classroom, IN THE MOMENT, unless it puts you at medical risk...AS LONG AS your educational needs can still be met in other ways. In fact, doing so (in-the-moment) puts your needs above the needs of the whole rest of the class, which is just...well, bad community, bad teaching, and a really good way to make sure that no one in the class learns as well as they would have otherwise.
- If the teacher said you could not leave to put your drops in, THEN you have a case. This goes against medical orders. Otherwise, pay no attention to those student lawyers.
- Note, though, that this is a totally separate issue from the insubordination, as others have noted above. Refusing to leave when a teacher asks you to leave a room is pretty serious in most schools. This has nothing to do with your medical issue. I'd say suspension is harsh but fair.
- Imho, if I had a student who came to me and said "I've been out, I have these medical needs," I'd be confident we could make it work. That's what accommodation means. But accommodation involves letting the adults charged with framing the overall situation ultimately decide what's best for that community, within the parameters established, and with the usual opportunity for review and oversight.
- Accommodation, on the other hand, does not mean YOU get to decide HOW you can take your drops, or insist that your ideal way to learn (not missing any second of time + needing drops) are more valuable than overall community needs (teacher and all students, including you, have best potential to focus, and to understand the material). It means we get to make sure you get what you NEED (which is, notably, not "being in class" but "learning the material fairly") and to do so in such a way that gives everyone the best shot overall at focus, learning, health, comfort, and time.
- This past week, for example, I had a student who had a medical note saying that the student needed to be able to drink water "as needed". She tried to suggest this gave her the ability to have a cup of water at her computer workstation. Instead, I gave her the option of sitting near the door, as there is a water fountain within 30 seconds walk, and releasing her from the usual "sign out to go out" policy. Student would have preferred to swig at her desk, of course. But her note does not (and would never) say "at desk" -- because that's not what she needs. She just needs ACCESS to water, just like you need access to drops. If she HAD brought a cup of water into my lab, she would have been sent to the principal pretty darn quick, where he would have rightfully dealt with this as a challenge to authority, not a medical concern. I am, as always, available after school for make-up work, incidentally, but the student has chosen to keep up with notes from her peers as a way to account for the occasional missed sentence. Jfarber 14:53, 9 March 2007 (UTC) (whoops -- forgot to sign...)
- In my opinion (as a parent of a teenager) - I would much prefer that my child make a simple statement at the time of the problem - something like "This seems a bit unfair - but OK - I'll do as I'm told"...then promptly and willingly to do exactly as instructed. Then tell me about it - and I will be the one to go ballistic at the school (which - trust me - I would in this case). That way you are protected from any kind of blame and cannot possibly be punished - but you'll get some kind of satisfaction that there have been consequences for your teacher - even if it's only to have to take out 20 minutes of their lunch break to listen to a pair of irate parents ranting on and on about it. Sadly, it's probably too late for that this time because you neatly managed to go from being clearly and obviously "in the right" - to being clearly and obviously "a disruptive student"...bummer. Now it's going to be very hard to focus on the real problem and you'll be fighting entirely the wrong battle - it's gone from being a problem with a stupid and unfeeling teacher who didn't properly understand a medical need - to being a problem of classroom disruption for which you now have to prove your innocence. Give it up this time - apologise - do whatever it takes to sort things out quickly and amicably. Next time - play "good cop, bad cop" - let your parents be the "bad cop". If your parents are not up to this role (which would be a terrible shame - but I don't know your family situation) then talk to your school's councellor - or possibly the school nurse. But this time - it's a lost cause. Go with the flow. SteveBaker 15:30, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Steve, I'm a parent and a teacher -- and I'm always happy to have the parent be the "bad guy", as you suggest, though I think there is an age at which it really does benefit the kid to learn how to take on that responsibility for themself. I also would note that, if you decide that 20 minutes of my lunch break is "punishment" for me, you should know that, from the teacher perspective, you are actually punishing your own kid by doing this, and for two reasons: a) I am 20 minutes less prepared for teaching YOUR kid, and b) because I have feelings too, I am that much less able to give your or ANY kid the respect they deserve for the remainder of the day, ebcause belittled and frustrtaed people are just plain less effective int he workplace. Do what you want, but don't pretend that punishing your kid's teacher is a good way to make imporvements to the ways your kid can, should, and will elarn from that teacher.
- But more importantly, in this case, I disagree with your premises, and want to make sure you AND the original querent here see that yours is not even all parents' perspective.
- Specifically, Steve, I'm VERY interested in why you think the "legitimate medical need" here needed to be filled in the classroom, since as far as I can tell, the teacher seemed to have no problem with the student leaving class to serve his medical needs...and we've heard NOTHING about whether that teacher offered (or would have offered if the student asked) to help the student account for the "important stuff" he thought he was missing by leaving. In other words, I think we don't have enough information to know whether the teacher was being "stupid and unfeeling", so such accusation may be not just unfair, but ultimately undermine young peoples' ability to be effective advocates for their own education. For all our sakes, can you / will you comment? Jfarber 15:53, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- PS sorry for any spelling/language errors in the above -- I've only got five minutes between classes, on a rare day where I happen to be overprepared and thus don't need those five minutes to reorganize my thoughts for my next class; I had time to write that, but I have no time to proofread. Jfarber 15:56, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Since I'm old, and a non-legal-combative Canadian, I'll put in my looney: It's just that I've found over the years that 'attack dog' parents don't do their kids any favours over the long term. --Zeizmic 18:19, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- I guess it's too late now, but one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is that you have to choose your battles. Yes, it seems silly that the teacher would make you go outside to apply eyedrops. But this is not a matter that touches deep-down ethical or political beliefs. I would have approached the teacher after class and let him know why you objected to being forced to leave the classroom to apply eyedrops. I'm all for standing up to authority, but I'd say you've got to do it when the authority is being really unreasonable and you have exhausted all of your other options. While you're perfectly within your rights to complain to the school board, don't think they will give you much sympathy. That said, I think the principal went overboard by suspending you. -- Mwalcoff 23:41, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Everyone has a lot of answers. I have a lot of questions. Maybe you wanna think about them.
- Does someone have the right to tell you what to do?
- If so, where does this right come from? Power, chance, money?
- Does your teacher have the right to boss you around?
- Who gave him that right? Did you?
- If the answer is yes, why do you give him that right?
- Do you really want to learn geometry?
- Do you like school?
- Did you choose to go to school or did someone choose it for you?
- Is geometry really so important for you that you will accept to be in the presence of someone who you think is disrespectful to you just because you want to learn it?
- Can´t you learn geometry somewhere else? In books or with another teacher?
- Shouldn´t a student have right to study in a place where he feels comfortable?
- Is it just me or is it a lot easier for the principal to suspend a student than for the student to suspend a principal?
- Why is it easier for the principal to suspend a student than for the student to suspend a principal?
- Is a school supposed to teach the students to act in a good way? If the answer is yes, then: why would a good school ever use suspension?
- Why not teach people right from wrong by talking to them and using arguments supporting your opinion?
- Is the purpose of suspension to teach the students to act in a good way? If the answer is yes, how does suspension do it?
- If the answer is no, then what is the purpose of suspension?
- Why when the student does something considered wrong by the school they suspend him and prevent him from going to the place where he should learn how he should act (the school) instead of making him go there more often? A.Z. 06:43, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- To answer the first few questions: yes, from their responsibility to the whole class to teach them algebra, yes, the country and your parents gave them that right, yes, irrelevant, irrelevant, yes, no, depends what you mean by comfortable, yes, because students are selfish and shortsighted with short fuses, yes, by creating consequences for unwise actions, suspension also prevents students from undermining others' learning, while making their parents take their behaviour seriously, because it makes him consider his actions more carefully next time, while putting an angry person in a school they are angry at will not generally lead to anything being learnt. I hope this helps. Skittle 13:50, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- Thank you for your answers, Skittle. It helps a lot. Even though the idea was that the student who asked the question would think about them, he can still think about them and now he can think about your answers and my response to your answers as well. You didn´t answer all questions, so you need to say what questions you are answering or no one will know to what questions your answers are referring, except for a few.
- Do YOU accept and agree that your country has the right to give someone the right to tell you what to do? WHO gave your country that right and why?
- Do YOU accept that your parents have the right to choose someone to tell you what to do? WHO gave your parents that right? It wasn´t you.
- IS IT irrelevant whether you like geometry or not?
- Are you selfish and shortsighted with short fuses? WHY do you go to a place where they think you are like that?
- Don´t ALL unwise actions have consequences even if you don´t "create" them? Why don´t they tell you what they THINK you have done wrong and then let you ANSWER and talk to them until they convince you? Will a student EVER learn wise from unwise or will he always need someone to suspend him when he is bad?
- Does it look right to you that the reason to consider your actions more carefully is the fear of getting suspended?
- This doesn't look right to me, but then, I don't think I heard anyone here seriously suggest that this was the actual reason to consider your actions more thoughtfully...and I certainly don't think this is what any teacher or administrator believes, or what they would tell students. Instead, I'd suggest that considering actions more carefully should be done (in school situations) because you share responsibility for making sure that the educational environment works best for ALL students, not just yourself...and that forgetting that (and acting on that refusal to behave appropriately as part of a community of learners) is a kind of community disruption, which can naturally result in suspension, which we might then define as part of the learning process (what's being taught/learned here via temporary removal from the community is, for you and others both, that public and disruptive anti-community behavior cannot be tolerated IF a community is to be effective, less the community devolve into chaos, which in schools means no one learns at all.)
- Unless, of course, you believe that anarchy is a social structure which effectively supports learning, especially when, by definition, not all learners are LEARNING specialists -- i.e. will accept short-term "counterintuitive" lessons which have been proven to most effectively lead to long-term knowledge/skill/awareness...and are aware enough of pedagogical theory to take daily ownership of their own learning in ways that will maximize that knowledge, skill, and attitude potential. If you do believe this, bless you, and perhaps you should drop out of school so you can learn in your own anarchic environment, as it might genuinely work best for you; if you accept it, know that this is not an age issue -- even adult learners need some external management of such management. Jfarber 12:24, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
- No one learns anything if they´re not interested in the subject. If the kid really wants to learn geometry and he doesn´t think he can learn on his own, then let him choose his teacher, let him choose his school and let him choose his own rules, let him choose whether suspension works for him. If he does not like geometry and does not want to study it, you will only make him hate school, teachers and math by forcing him into something he does not wish to do. If you think geometry is important, show him that by using arguments. If you think management is important, show him that, teach him that, convince him of that. If your counterintuitive lessons are so proven and so effective, just point that out to the student, show the proofs, show how effective they have always been and let him reach his own conclusions and choose for himself. Whether freedom of choice is anarchy or capitalism or whatever doesn´t really matter. A.Z. 18:58, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
- It is not the job of a school to "sell" education, or its curriculum, in part because it is not the school, but the school BOARD -- usually a group of parents -- who determine curriculum. (Well, them, and the colleges that require certain standards for admission.) Even if it WERE the job of a school to convince students that the curriculum was worthwhile, though, that would be a prerequisite for a course, not part of a course.
- I am serious about the anarchic structure, by the way. Plenty of students learn better in non-school environments. If so, that is a matter for the student to take up with the parent, not the school. Jfarber 22:22, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
- If the student is angry at the school, why doesn´t the school make a big effort to better understand his reasons and try to improve so students are not angry at the school anymore? A.Z. 18:29, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- I see nothing here that suggests otherwise. But there's a limit to that. Sometimes, A.Z., just because someone is angry, it doesn't mean they're right. Jfarber 22:22, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
ULTRA and enigma debate
Where is a website or place where I can read about debates of historians on the actual effectiveness of ULTRA on the outcome of WWII? 64.230.5.36 02:36, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Other than trying to figure out how to narrow down an intense Google search, I'd recommend clicking around the external links for the Ultra article. V-Man - T/C 03:54, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Colour to a blind person
How do you explain colour to a blind person? --Candy-Panda 05:49, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Well, I suppose you would compare it to pitch.--Pharos 05:59, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- You could take the Mask approach and supply them with cool running water for blue or a warm stone for red. Dismas|(talk) 11:43, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Certainly musical pitch is a good analogy. Volume of a sound (amplitude) is like brightness - Pitch of a sound (frequency) is like colour (there are even analogs of chords in mixed colours) - and the spatial position of a sound is like the position of a splotch of colour in your field of view. Aside from the fact that sound waves are vibrations in the air and light waves are electromagnetic - and that the frequency of vibrations of light is vastly higher than sound - that is not just a good analogy - it's the literal truth. Temperature is a less good analogy because we aren't equipped to distinguish frequency from volume - hotter versus colder is kindof a mixture of the two. So the sound analogy is a better one. SteveBaker 13:57, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Of course, if the blind person has little to no grounding in the physical sciences, a pseudo-scientific analogy may do little to clarify matters. I cannot think of a good way of explaining it, though. -- mattb
@ 2007-03-09T14:14Z- That may be true - but I think most people can understand the concept of the pitch of a musical note versus it's volume. Of course that's describing what it is - not what it seems like to sighted people - so I guess the nearest analogy is that colour affects the look of something in (very approximately) the same way that smoothness or texture affects the way an object feels. That might give the blind person a better understanding of the way we use colour in day-to-day perception. SteveBaker 15:17, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Of course, if the blind person has little to no grounding in the physical sciences, a pseudo-scientific analogy may do little to clarify matters. I cannot think of a good way of explaining it, though. -- mattb
- I don't think it would be possible at all, because before you explain colour to them, you'll have to explain what it means to see things in general (ie: explain sight), which seems like an impossible task to me. - Akamad 23:47, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Synesthesia suggests (at least some) human brains are able to couple senses, suggesting that the use of once sense to accurately perceive our interpretation of another is not such an abstract idea. Rockpocket 01:30, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- It just seems like a near impossible task to me, because I imagine the conversation going something like this:
- Blind person: "What is colour?"
- Non-blind person: "Colour affects the way we see things in the same way pitch affects the way we hear things?"
- Blind person: "What does it mean when you say 'see things'?"
- Non-blined person: "Ummm..."
- Akamad 01:35, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- It just seems like a near impossible task to me, because I imagine the conversation going something like this:
- With respect, Akamad, blind people fail to detect light in their eyes, they do not lack the basic understanding of what being able to see means. I presume you do not have the ability to read minds, yet you can (again, I assume) comprehend what one would mean when they say "I can read your mind". Rockpocket 07:18, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- I think the appeal of the question is that sensation is such a low-level thing -the only real thing actually (go read Hume)- that it's pretty much impossible to describe it in a meaningful way. Analogies are useful, but how are you going to describe on a visceral level what it feels like to see? I'd say it's impossible, but for a blind person resigned to never experiencing sight, analogies are certainly useful to understand it --frotht 01:50, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
- What difference does a colour make to a blind person.The colours we see with our naked eye are nothing but visible spectrum waves and their interference waves.To say clearly they are our mere perceptions but not absolutes.They are sensed by reeds &cones in our eye and the theory that a colour is 'actually' a colour is wrong.The only thing is that a blind person cannot perceive light leave alone the different spectrums in it.If some extra terrestrial being exists which can perceive our "so called u.v. radiations" then a non-blind person will be considered "blind" with respect to it.210.212.215.141 09:45, 12 March 2007 (UTC)Prosemite
Cruithne and UFOs
Google "Cruithne and UFOs", related matters, and you'll get several sites that claim this rock is a UFO. UFO Casebook (Since it got deleted, go to www.ufocasebook.com) has a selection of alien races. Type in the SEARCH area, "Alien Races" and check out the entry on the Reptilian Aliens. It says they have a asteroid that has 30,000+ of them in it, waiting to hit this planet. 65.163.112.107 08:02, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Where can this be placed ? 65.163.112.107 08:03, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Oh really - this is utter meowmix. When they say that the astronomers "have not yet ruled out that it is artificial" - that is not the same thing as "Astronomers believe it to be a UFO". Sure they havn't ruled that out - but then they also haven't ruled out that it's made of Lime Jello and sings the Chicken Dance song on alternate Thursdays. Please - extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence - and right now there is zero evidence that this is anything other than a boring old run-of-the-mill captured asteroid. SteveBaker 15:12, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- You mean, where can it be placed in Wikipedia? There seems to be plenty of possible places in the "See Also" section of the entry on UFO where you might ACKNOWLEDGE claims that a certain rock is a UFO. But remember, the "truth" you'd be placing is "there are claims", not "this rock is a UFO."
- EVEN THEN, unless you can demonstrate that your above sources are reliable by the usual Wikipedia standards for source material, then the answer to your question seems to be "Sorry, this cannot and should not be placed here at all."
- For example, I note that the UFO page manages to remain legitimate by NOT trying to claim that such things as UFOs and reptilian aliens exist or not, since the evidence is too controversial...but by merely categorizing the types of claims people make. Jfarber 15:06, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
i'm replacing cuss words with meowmix, so make sure to make your comments clean ones
- What a completely meomix thing to do. You must be a complete meowmix meowmix - and I think you should just meowmix meowmix meowmix yourself. Seesh - Meowmix! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by SteveBaker (talk • contribs) 02:59, 11 March 2007 (UTC).
Smile
What exactly does it mean when a girl smiles at a boy (not necessarily looking at him)everytime she comes accross him?Actually it happened to me two to three times with the same girl.People say(only few)that I look strange and some say I look deadly.What may be the reason of the smile?
- Funny question. It's hard to calculate the meanings of facial gestures in person--much harder over the internet. There really isn't enough to work with here. Age? Her persistence? Does she focus particularly on this third-person boy when she smiles, or does she smile at lots of other people? What is meant when you say she smiles at him but doesn't look at him? Smiles and looks away? That could be indicative of shyness, and shyness is indicative in turn of what what I think you're question is getting at--that she possibly has a crush of some sort on the boy. Otherwise, it could just be friendliness, especially if the girl is more than a year or two older and the boy is, as I for some reason suspect to be the case, young. If you want a better answer (which may still not be possible), we'd need more details.70.108.199.130 06:16, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Hint: smile back and see what happens. --Ouro (blah blah) 09:43, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Scary Movie 4 Trailer
Can anyone tell me the name of the song in the trailer for Scary Movie 4? I'm not meaning Karma Chameleon, It's the song that starts playing once the tripod starts blasting people. I've being looking for it for ages, and only thought just now to ask here. The trailer is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0zAlXr1UOs --IvanKnight69 08:42, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- First of all there's every chance that it's just a generic movie score. But do you know what it sounds like? It sounds like "How soon is now" by Love Spit Love - sounds very much like it but isn't it. You may have to watch the movie and see if the song turns up there. If you're desperate, email Miramax or the production company itself and see what they say Rfwoolf 10:46, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Thanks, I've watched the movie and it isn't in it, or in it's soundtrack listing. The song continues later in the trailer after Dr Phil cuts his own foot off. It doesn't sound like a generic movie score to me, sort of sounds like perhaps a 70's/80's motown song, or something similar? Thanks for the tip, If I don't have any luck I'll try emailing. :) --IvanKnight69 11:51, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Hmmm. I agree that it sounds like a 70's/80's motown song - my idea that it was "How soon is now" was based upon the limited spurt after the tripod starts shooting people - but then after doctor Phil, if it is the same song, it sounds more Motown.
- The only lyrics I managed to make out clearly is at the very end, it says "Do what you want". Good luck. Rfwoolf 18:08, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Though simultaneous postings to multiple Reference Desks is discouraged, this sort of question might do better on the Entertainment Reference Desk. -- Deborahjay 15:00, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Urgent Help Needed please.
- The aged father of a close friend is dying and has asked his son to make very specific arrangements for his funeral, including the music. The father has asked for Mario Lanza's version of "Because you're Mine" to be played at the service - but neither my friend nor I are able to source it locally (Scotland) as the film and soundtrack were apparently produced in 1952. Neither of us is into music downloading but I wondered if anyone here might be able to offer any advice on how we could obtain the above-mentioned track at pretty short notice. Thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by CasualWikiUser (talk • contribs) 17:53, 9 March 2007 (UTC).
- the song is available to buy for 79p on the UK iTunes Music Store. You would need to install iTunes if you don't already have the application. It can then be easily written to a CD if you have a CD-RW on your computer. Hope this helps. ny156uk 18:07, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
It's generally available, but you'd have to kidnap a neighbour's kid to get it! :). I noticed it's from a 1998 album: Mario Lanza's greatest performances at MGM, in the classical section. This is really modern for the classical section at your local record store! --Zeizmic 21:21, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Just to say thanks to the above respondents, especially ny156uk. I have left a message on your talk page. But thanks again, I got the track I was looking for, and was able (eventually) to copy it to CD. And as you suggested, it did only cost me 79pence. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by CasualWikiUser (talk • contribs) 13:11, 10 March 2007 (UTC).
Cloaked Jew...?
I scanned both Jews and Who is a Jew? articles without finding any reference to the term “Cloaked Jew.” Can anyone tell me what this term means? 64.92.13.184 18:04, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- This putative term you're querying seems to appear neither in Wikipedia nor on the Web at large (based on a search using Google). Did you perhaps extract it from some larger context? A particular cloak worn by Eastern European Jewish men on the Sabbath or other festive occasions is a knee-length outer garment, usually of black silk cloth, called the kapote. As an outward sign identifying a religiously observant Jew, this in instances of antisemitic attacks would make the wearer a prominent target. Jewish men today, including such
prominentvisible figures as therappercontemporary rock/reggae musician Matisyahu, wear this garment by choice and/or in adherence to the garb acceptable within their community.-- Hope that helps, Deborahjay 18:38, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
Agriculture's share of labor force
Hello and thank you for your help,
I am trying to find statistics that show the agriculture, in terms of the labor force it employs, has decrease from 1900 to today.
I can find partial trends, over some decades, as well as the latest data, but no comprehensive histogram. Data for western europe would suffice.
Thank you,
Wahydrising sunset 19:08, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
[Email address removed; see notes at the top of page Phileas 20:53, 9 March 2007 (UTC)]
- You could try EarthTrends -- no comprehensive histogram, but the right data for you to construt one. Jfarber 01:26, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
Gold prices
For a long time, gold was $35 an ounce. Then it suddenly jumped up to ridiculous heights. Gold#Price doesn't really do a good job of explaining why. So what happened? Clarityfiend 19:18, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- The dollar article should, but doesn't, offer an adequate explanation. Until 1968, the U.S. government promised foreign holders of dollars that they could demand an ounce of gold for every $35. However, the United States was engaged in deficit spending to fund the Vietnam War that increased the supply of dollars faster than U.S. gold reserves were growing. Foreign demands for gold threatened to exhaust U.S. gold reserves. So the guaranteed conversion price was gradually increased. Finally, in 1975, the United States completely abandoned the gold standard, because deficit spending was increasing the money supply so fast that orderly convertibility into gold was no longer possible. Because the money supply (and by extension the demand for gold) was expanding very rapidly, while the supply of gold was expanding very slowly, the price of gold rose sharply. There was something of a speculative bubble in gold prices during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The gold price dropped during the 1980s, but it has remained well above $35/ounce, which prevailed in an era of slow money expansion. This reflects the sharp drop in the dollar's purchasing power. In recent years, the price of gold has been rising again. This is a reflection of the rapid expansion of the money supply (not just in the United States) resulting from historically very low interest rates. This time, due to the vast expansion in the supply of tradable goods and services with the entry of China and other formerly closed economies into the world market, there has been little consumer price inflation. However, there has been dramatic inflation in the prices of tangible assets such as real estate and gold. Marco polo 19:58, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- (edit conflict)You might also be interested in Bretton Woods system and Nixon Shock. As to why it "suddenly jumped up to ridiculous heights" see 1979 oil crisis:
—eric 20:08, 9 March 2007 (UTC)Theoretically, the rise in oil prices should have had a deflationary effect following an initial inflationary rise in the overall price level. This is because the price increase in oil was essentially a tax, whose net effect should have been to reduce demand...Instead, different from the outcome the president was led by his advisers to expect, the rise in oil prices had stoked the inflationary trend rather than banked it...The deflationary effects of the "oil tax" were being overridden by the growing strength of inflationary expectations that prices would continue to rise regardless of administration pronouncements to the contrary...The effect was a determined consumer effort to shift wealth out of money into the acquisition of real assets such as gold and real estate. The price of gold would exceed $300 per ounce in July, on its way to $700 in 1980; investors and speculators acquired the precious metal as a hedge against further inflation. Thornton, Ricard C. (1991). The Carter Years: Toward a New Global Order. p. 437.
- The causes of price inflation are disputed. The oil crisis article suggests that prices can be driven up (seemingly magically) by "inflationary expectations". However, the money to drive up prices has to come from somewhere, namely an increase in the money supply. This in turn is controlled by the actions of governments and central banks. While some economists believe that expectations can drive up prices autonomously, others have argued that attributing causality to expectations (rather than to deficit spending and/or interest rates running behind the rate of inflation) serves to deflect responsibility for inflation away from the governments and central banks that alone can control it. Marco polo 20:39, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Orange (UK)
Anyone know how i can get through all the automated rubbish on their callcenter phoneline (07973100150) to speak to a real person? You need to type in an orange phone number but i cant make calls from mine at the moment as it is locked (contract ended).
Cheers Rickystrapp 20:59, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Hi, press 0# each time that you are prompted for a number (3 times). 21:46, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
Thank you Rickystrapp 00:30, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- If you just need to type in your phone number, why does it matter if it expired? Do they hang up and call you back rather then just using it to know who they're talking to? Nil Einne 21:35, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Human Extinction
If we were all to disappear tomorrow, how long would it be before all signs of human existence are gone? I'm thinking that without constant maintenance, most structures would eventually fall apart. Wood frame houses would rot without a fresh coat of paint every few years, bridges will rust and collapse. Would the pyramids last as long as anything built today? How about concrete vs. stainless steel construction?
- Some rather depressive magazine did a piece on this a few months ago. I forget which, but they seemed to suggest that most traces of mankinds existance would be gone with 500 years. I suspect many things would not 'disappear' but be buried/hidden from view. I think the Pyramids would potentially end up falling victim to sandstorms? Bridges etc. would stand for decades untouched if not more. It will be a long time before we have to know, perhaps by then the Pyramids will already be long gone? ny156uk 23:28, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- Our bones and our most solid structures (maybe flight data recorders are among them?) would at least be present in some form for millions of years. I heard about a CD-like disk called the Rosetta disc which was conceived for this purpose: preserving information for geological time spans. --Taraborn 23:28, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- I cannot recall wherefrom, but the article suggested that a half-mile cubic container could contain all human life present and past - and if then pushed over the edge of the Grand Canyon, it would literally disappear from view for all time coming, wiping out any evidence of human existence on Earth. Discuss. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by CasualWikiUser (talk • contribs) 00:22, 10 March 2007 (UTC).
OK, OK, I didn't sign it - and I forgot to pre-empt the purist question about who would do the pushing.... My apologies for both omissions - Just let your imaginations wander. CasualWikiUser 00:25, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Seeing as we find signs of dinosaurs existence today and they have been extinct for 65 million years, and considering we are slightly more adept at creating long lasting materials than they were, I would say 100s of millions of years. Rockpocket 01:12, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Depends how long it will take for Voyager 1, Voyager 2, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 to be destroyed. --88.109.39.128 14:33, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- The Lunar plaques should last a while too. Algebraist 17:58, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Demanding that ALL traces are gone would put an exceedingly long time limit on it indeed. We make things out of materials like gold that simply do not corrode or decay in any way. So I'm thinking that an item of gold jewellery would be around until the present continents are subducted under the earth's crust - and that's billions of years. If you looked at something like the sculptures on Mount Rushmore or the Pyramids, then erosion will EVENTUALLY get them - but the big, anaomalous pile of identical gold bricks stored at Fort Knox is going to be there for a lot longer. I agree though that the deep space probes are most likely to be the longest lived things of all. The odds of them hitting something is almost zero - until most of the universe has been sucked up into black holes - they are likely to survive pretty much intact. I don't think there is much that could utterly erase us from history. But no matter what, 500 years is FOR SURE too short an amount of time. There are plenty of artifacts we find (like cave paintings, stone tools) from primitive man that are millions of years old...and it's likely that fossilised remains of modern man can be found someplace that would last a lot longer than that. SteveBaker 01:42, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- An impact event would help things along, so to speak. Imagine some alien life forms finding Voyager, deciphering the plaque on how to find us and finding a dying ball of wind and sand instead of the Earth. --Ouro (blah blah) 09:41, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- By the way, if we were able to find tools made by hominids, why won't anyone find ours which are infinitely more advanced, common and in some cases resistant? I find it very unlikely that a future civilization won't find any evidence of our intellectual feats in the far future, unless Earth is completely obliterated by the Sun exploding and so. --Taraborn 20:08, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- An impact event would help things along, so to speak. Imagine some alien life forms finding Voyager, deciphering the plaque on how to find us and finding a dying ball of wind and sand instead of the Earth. --Ouro (blah blah) 09:41, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Women
How to get a woman?
- Read some biographies about Giacomo Casanova. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 23:51, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
- This tells you not only how to get a woman, but how to get the Woman of Your Dreams (also known as a mail-order bride). Alternatively, you could just be yourself and speak to woman that you find attractive. Unless you have particularly high standards, you will probably meet someone that reciprocates in time. Rockpocket 01:02, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- The simplest way would be to use a giant spring-trap baited with chocolate. --88.109.39.128 14:34, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Really you can order Britney Spears by mail order now? Jesus, I knew she's sunk low but not that low (Just joking, there's no way in hell she's the woman of my dreams but the joke worked well, I think) Nil Einne 21:33, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
March 10
missingno.
When encountering (NOT capturing) a Missingno. in the US version of Pokemon Yellow, will it have long term damage in the cartiage? If so, what are the possibele risk?--PrestonH | talk | contribs | editor review | 00:51, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- One (36th?) of the items in your inventory will be super-doubled. However, it won't have any damage unless you capture it. -Wooty Woot? contribs 03:06, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Ummmm... Does freezing the game (3 or 4 times) after encoutering Missingno. cause damage?--PrestonH | talk | contribs | editor review | 03:11, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
100 billion dollars
President Bush is trying to raise another 100 billion dollars for the war in Iraq. This seems like a great deal of money but if we divide that by 300 million people in the US that works out to about 300$ per person or 25$ per month per person. Is my math right? Also, does anyone know the total amount of money in circulation (I'm talking about actual cash, not debt), because I am wondering what number one would get by dividing that number by the population. Duomillia 01:45, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- A sum of $100 billion divided by 300 million people equals $333.33 (and a third) for each man, woman, or child. That amounts to just under $27.78 each per month. The total money in circulation in the United States (M2, defined as physical cash, plus checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit) amounted to $7.1445 trillion as of February 26, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Divided by 300 million people, that equals $23,815 each. Marco polo 02:46, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- European and Asian readers note that in the United States, "billion" means "thousand million", and "trillion" means "million million". Marco polo 02:53, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- The monthly figures would only apply if the total amount had to be collected over 1 year. Was that part of Bush's goal? If not, a longer collection period would mean smaller monthly amounts. JackofOz 02:50, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- (after edit conflict) That's what I get, too. But the issue of "how much does it cost people to support the war" isn't a math problem, though it's couched like one here; it's a social problem. A significant perentage of US taxpayers don't pay any taxes (they get them all back); an even more significant percentage of the population are not taxpayers, but deductions (like my 2 year old kid). In more human terms, my wife and I are getting all our taxes back for our family of four; someone else would have to throw in our 1200 bucks, and I don't think Bill Gates is planning on it. As such, that money is likely to end up coming from monies which could otherwise have been available for, say, our local schools (and sure enough, the state we're in has told us that there will be federal monies coming in this year for schools, and this is a big part of why -- and the state gets less from the feds, and thus they have less to give schools, too).
- Incidentally, Jack has a good point, but again, to put this in real terms, borrowing against the future has its own problems...less monthly amounts would only apply if no one ever asks for a hundred billion the next year, and the next, ad infinitum. More realistically, this money needs to come from somewhere to be spent relatively soon. Jfarber 02:55, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- According to this source and this ideologically very different source, Bush is asking for $93.4 billion in supplemental funding, that is over and above the funding already voted this year, for operations just through the end of September. That is a rate of $13.34 billion per month, or $44.47 for each man, woman, and child in the country. As others have suggested, the budget deficit exceeds this, so this is $44.47 in added debt each month for each American. Marco polo 03:05, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
First, these expenditures are non-recurring and are applied directly to the debt. As such, yearly cost calculations and talk about the "deficit" is a non-sequitir. Secondly, 97% of the income taxes in the U.S. are paid by the upper 50% of 'wage earners so the cost is only distributed among this much smaller subset.[4] 37% of the taxes are paid by the top 1% of wage earners so the cost is even less to the vast majority of Americans. --Tbeatty 08:00, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- "...seems like a great deal of money."?!? A hundred billion is a great deal of money! According to Marco Polo's figure, that's 1.4% of all the money circulating in the US. Clarityfiend 08:56, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Interesting stuff. Perhaps look at (http://thebudgetgraph.com/) for a look at just how much defense/security costs. Of course $100bn seems like a lot of money but it isn't. According to that poster (on the site i mentioned) the AIrforce costs $130bn and that is no doubt around the same amount every single year. The money whilst a lot is not amazingly difficult for the government to work into its budget if it works intelligently (we live and hope...). ny156uk 10:17, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- It is not difficult for the government to raise the money as long as foreigners are willing to go on lending! Marco polo 14:15, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- A wee query relevant to Marco Polo's point about European values of a Billion being 100 million. How do international clearing banks and similar financial authorities deal with transferring large sums of money, bonds, certificates etc., between USA, Asia, and Europe and vice-versa when the numerical values of Billion and Trillion are vastly different?
greek word or gibberish?
Does this word mean anything in greek, if so, what? i thought that i heard somebody use it or write it down before, but im not really sure. the word is this; ΏώąΙί thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.211.8.100 (talk) 02:10, 10 March 2007 (UTC).
While I know nothing about the Greek language, searching for it on google reveals nothing, so it may not be a word, but don't take my word for it ;). --IvanKnight69 10:34, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Babelfish translates it as "W'w'?Jj'" So I'm pretty sure it's gibberish, or horribly misspelled, either way I'll always differ to a native speaker over an automated translation utility. --VectorPotentialTalk 16:38, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
Why don't you ask on the language desk? Sashafklein 16:59, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
enquiry about acceptence of article sent to Wikipedia
Whether the article sent by me on 2nd March 2007 entitled 'Vedantic Cosmology' was scrutinized and accepted by Wikipedia. Please reply me on my E-mail ID <email address removed>
- This appears to be your first edit. Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "sending" a Wikipedia article? − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 07:10, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Hi. I'm afraid your article was deleted on 1 March 2007 by Jimfbleak with the justification (unsourced text dump, nn [non-notable]). You can get a more detailed explanation from that editor. Rockpocket 07:11, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
sending sms
i have a sony k510 mobile phone. can i send a word file or notepad file (Windows XP)over the phone as SMS using data cable- file manager?
thank you 124.43.246.46 10:09, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
Clarification Request:
As you may know SMS deals with plaintext only, so formatting is generally lost and certainly images. There are things like MMS that are used to send certain multimedia over phones (but the sending and receiving phone must be able to read MMS and be MMS enabled), and then there are things like email (on phones) that can send and receive any type of file/data (size allowing). Now, do you need to know how to send the files from notepad (.txt extension) and word (.doc extension), or do you need to know how to send the plaintext contents of such files ? Rfwoolf 20:03, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
An Old Coin
A while ago, I inherited an old coin, it's being sitting in a drawer for years, I haven't really thought about it much, til now, when I thought that perhaps I could ask about it here to see if anyone knows what type of coin it may be, and what era it was from.
The coin appears to be made of a hard, metal-like substance. and is dark brown, the edges are somewhat eroded. On one side is the image of man wearing a Roman-style hat, with the words 'Stephanus D.C. Anglia Rex above his image. On the other side, there appears to be an image of some sort of monument, with two people looking at it on the left-hand side. On the bottom of that side, there are the words 'NAT 1105 COR 1135 MORI 1154. Does anyone know what type of coin it may be, and from what age? If it would help, I can take a picture of it and post it here. Thanks for anyone who can help :) --IvanKnight69 10:33, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
That would be from the reign of King Stephen who reigned from 1135-1154. The words are Stephanus D G(Deo Gratia) Anglia Rex Natus 1105 Coronus 1135 Mori 1154 which translates from Latin as Stephen By The Grace of God King of England Born 1105 crowned 1135 died 1154,so it would appear to be some sort of commemorative medal in honor of the king.That should help you be able to value him a bit more accurately-a coin dealer could help more with that Lemon martini 11:51, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Presumably the dates are given in Roman numerals. Otherwise it is a hoax, because Arabic numerals were not in use in Europe at that time. Marco polo 14:10, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Also, shouldn't it be "Angliae Rex"? Marco polo 14:12, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Some information can be gleaned from this link. --LambiamTalk 21:19, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
Martin Vanbee
Does anyone know any biographical information about Martin Vanbee, please?61.19.202.173 13:07, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
ERA
Shall be grateful if somebody can explain this sentence from Jefferson Parker's Black Water: `Archie's ERA was 2.18 and his bass plugs worked'90.14.146.166 15:12, 10 March 2007 (UTC)petitmichel
- I would assume ERA refers to earned run average. anonymous6494 16:07, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Because of the bass plug, I thought it might refer to the acoustics term Early Reflection Absorption, yet I cannot interpret the sentence. Could you perhaps provide some more context, petitmichel? ---Sluzzelin talk 16:12, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- The bass plugs are the choice bass plugs Archie brought for Lee while he was dating his daughter. The fact they worked, and Archie's proficiency as a pitcher in the all-American sport of baseball, were reasons for Lee to trust Archie. --LambiamTalk 21:37, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
spelling question
First of all, is this the place to ask about spelling?
Or, in general, where do I look to find spellings of various forms of a word?
Specifically, the gerund of binge: is it bingeing or binging? If binging what about the gerundial form of bing, the onomatopoeic word for a shape sound, similar to ping. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Nealatlex (talk • contribs) 16:26, 10 March 2007 (UTC). Nealatlex 16:28, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Oddly enough, our article on Binge eating disorder uses both spellings (: VectorPotentialTalk 16:33, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Merriam-Webster gives both, with bingeing first. --Nélson Ricardo 17:37, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
if it works in the same way as other words, it would be binging for binge, and bingging for ning, which sounds ridiculous to me, but I don't make up the rules :( HS7 22:08, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- I seriously doubt that. The gerund for fling, bring and sing do without the double g. Why should bing be any different? JackofOz 00:30, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Editing Problem
I have a big problem. And I mean HUGE. When I am logged in, I can't click the Edit this Page button. When I do, it wants me to download index.php. I've tried everything that I can think of. I can click on the edit section buttons or the + signs to start a new discussion. When I am logged out, though, I can click the Edit This Page button without any problems. Is anyone else having this problem? Can anyone help me? My logged out talk page is User talk:24.16.54.4 if you want to go there. otherwise look on my signature.
--Ryan TALK 16:41, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Go to Preferences, click the Editing tab, which boxes are checked?--VectorPotentialTalk 16:55, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- If you uncheck "Use external editor by default" that might solve your problem--VectorPotentialTalk 19:42, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- What browser are you using? It doesn't sound like it is handling the MIME headers correctly. --24.147.86.187 18:08, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Some standard things you can try: Delete/clear all cookies, and then retry. Clear your browser's cache (temporary internet files). The problem may come down to the skin you are using with your wikipedia user or the preferences of your user. Rfwoolf 19:55, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
vehicle value
Which vehicle (cars, trucks) manufacturer holds their value the greatest? 69.76.2.46 18:27, 10 March 2007 (UTC)Heidi E-mail removed for spambots
- What do you mean with "vehicle"? Cars? Airplanes? Submarines? 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 18:36, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Hey - be fair - the Q does state cars and/or trucks. Can't you read?
- Hey- be fair - the person that asked the question went back and added (cars, trucks) to the question after 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ asked what kind of vehicle. Can't you check the history, or sign your posts?--ChesterMarcol 19:54, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- It is hard to generalize, but makes and models with a reputation for long-term reliability tend to hold their value best. In no particular order, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo, Toyota, some Honda models, and perhaps Subaru tend to depreciate less rapidly than other makes, at least in the United States. You can check used-car values for different years, makes, and models at this site. Marco polo 21:06, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- First off, I want to apologise to Wakuran.
Secondly, I want to apologise to ChesterMarcol.
Thirdly, I want to ask Chester whether he can spell. I mean - Aricles I have Written??????????????????
Info
After seeing this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO6VY3C6PNw I went to find some more information about this guy but I couldnt find anything on wikipedia or google and other searches, Im wondering if anyone can help? Joneleth 18:48, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- His name is James Yu, from a group calling themselves Team FS. I don't know where they are based, but at 01:36 in the video you see a sign "Birchmount Friendship Classic", so this was apparently recorded at Birchmount Gymnastics Centre, which is in Ontario. --LambiamTalk 22:06, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
Police departments in Canada
What's up with policing in Canada? What does it take to get your own police department? I just moved to Canada (Vancouver area). I noticed the local transit authority, TransLink has their own police department. Is it because their buses and trains go to the suburbs? How strict are cops when it comes to jurisdiction issues? For example, I live in a house in Burnaby, literally accross the street from Vancouver. So if a cop is chasing my down the sidewalk and I cross the street, he's gonna stop and call Burnaby police to take over? Speaking of which, Burnaby, like many cities here with hundreds of thousands of residents, don't have a city-run police department. The national police do the job. Meanwhile the CN rail company, and the University of Toronto have their own police dpartments (what a joke!) the latter is within Toronto police's jursdiction. Anyway, what do other suburbs of majore North Amercian cities do for policing? Do they each have their own police dpartments, form "metropolitan police" dpeartments, or leave it upto national police? Do most Canadaian provinces and U.S. states have provincial/state police forces too? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.53.181.30 (talk) 19:25, 10 March 2007 (UTC).
- You usually have better luck with a single clear question, leaving out the rants. --Zeizmic 19:41, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- There is some ranting, but there are also some requests for information. I don't know enough about Canada to be sure, but from your description, the situation is similar to the U.S., except that in the U.S. there is no national police as such, certainly not a national police force that would patrol the streets. We have the Federal Bureau of Investigation which investigates federal crimes, but it does not do street patrols or enforce state or local laws. Every state (I believe) has a state police force. Their job is to patrol state and interstate highways and often state property, such as state parks. However, street patrols are usually the responsibility of the jurisdictions below the state level. Typically these are county police, for unincorporated and for some smaller incorporated areas, and town or city police forces for the larger incorporated areas. Transit agencies that span local jurisdictions typically also have their own police forces. Some metropolitan areas have a metropolitan police force whose jurisdiction includes multiple incorporated and unincorporated areas. Finally, some institutions, such as universities, may have their own police forces. However, these institutional police forces typically have limited powers (for example, they may not be allowed to carry firearms) and have to call in the government police force with jurisdiction over their area to formalize arrests and take suspects into custody. Police departments typically do have to obtain permission from a neighboring department to pursue a suspect into a neighboring jurisdiction. There may be a standing agreement to allow such pursuits and/or a standard procedure for taking the suspect into custody in a neighboring jurisdiction. It is all somewhat confusing: a byproduct of the complex system of federalism and strong local government that prevails in both the United States and Canada. Marco polo 21:00, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- To add a few more details, only three provinces have their own police forces, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland. Except in major cities, which generally have their own forces, the other provinces use the RCMP. - SimonP 21:16, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- There is some ranting, but there are also some requests for information. I don't know enough about Canada to be sure, but from your description, the situation is similar to the U.S., except that in the U.S. there is no national police as such, certainly not a national police force that would patrol the streets. We have the Federal Bureau of Investigation which investigates federal crimes, but it does not do street patrols or enforce state or local laws. Every state (I believe) has a state police force. Their job is to patrol state and interstate highways and often state property, such as state parks. However, street patrols are usually the responsibility of the jurisdictions below the state level. Typically these are county police, for unincorporated and for some smaller incorporated areas, and town or city police forces for the larger incorporated areas. Transit agencies that span local jurisdictions typically also have their own police forces. Some metropolitan areas have a metropolitan police force whose jurisdiction includes multiple incorporated and unincorporated areas. Finally, some institutions, such as universities, may have their own police forces. However, these institutional police forces typically have limited powers (for example, they may not be allowed to carry firearms) and have to call in the government police force with jurisdiction over their area to formalize arrests and take suspects into custody. Police departments typically do have to obtain permission from a neighboring department to pursue a suspect into a neighboring jurisdiction. There may be a standing agreement to allow such pursuits and/or a standard procedure for taking the suspect into custody in a neighboring jurisdiction. It is all somewhat confusing: a byproduct of the complex system of federalism and strong local government that prevails in both the United States and Canada. Marco polo 21:00, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Well, actually, we do have a national police force in the US, the U.S. Marshals. My sense is that they are somewhat less important than their Canadian counterpart, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. --Trovatore 21:47, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Oh, and about state police forces: The only statewide police force in California is the California Highway Patrol. That explains, I guess, why it was the CHP that was investigating whether some of Governor Schwarzenegger's political opponents had broken any laws when they found voice recordings of some of his private meetings in a non-public (or at least not-intentionally-public) area of his website. I thought it was strange at the time that the CHP would be involved; shouldn't they be chasing down speeders? Actually, I still think it's strange; it seems to me more of something that the Attorney General's office would handle. --Trovatore 22:00, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- So they're patrolling the information superhighway. --LambiamTalk 22:16, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Oh, and about state police forces: The only statewide police force in California is the California Highway Patrol. That explains, I guess, why it was the CHP that was investigating whether some of Governor Schwarzenegger's political opponents had broken any laws when they found voice recordings of some of his private meetings in a non-public (or at least not-intentionally-public) area of his website. I thought it was strange at the time that the CHP would be involved; shouldn't they be chasing down speeders? Actually, I still think it's strange; it seems to me more of something that the Attorney General's office would handle. --Trovatore 22:00, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- What you're probably finding is that some public organizations in Canada – typically those which operate a large number of facilities, occupy a large amount of land, and/or interact extensively with the public – have their own police services, which in many cases are made up of Special Constables. Special Constables are employees of the organization (a transit authority or major university, for example) who have been trained in police procedures and have the powers of a regular police officer while on the transit system or campus. Note that the local police service shares jurisdiction; you can't escape from the local police just by running on to a University campus.
- In the case of the University of Toronto, for example, the University of Toronto Campus Community Police Service has a number of sworn Special Constables[5]. On campus they have regular police powers of arrest and detention, and the authority to enforce criminal and provincial law. In addition, they receive training that is specific to the needs of the University environment.
- Similar powers and specialized training are provided to the Special Constables on other university campuses, national organization, and transit authorities.
- As a minor aside, I note that the Special constable article needs updating; if someone wants to dive in there. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 23:14, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Generally, the law is pretty flexible when it comes to crimes in progress... I'm sure the Vancouver police could step across the street to arrest you. I remember there was an issue a few years back in suburban Cleveland where one suburb complained that the cops from another suburb were parking on the first town's side of the street when looking for speeders. The situation regarding police departments in the U.S. differs among the states and even among counties. In Ohio, for instance, you might have a township with a part-time police department that mostly writes speeding tickets. If a major crime happens, they might call the county sheriff's department or the Ohio State Highway Patrol for assistance. On the other hand, in Cuyahoga County, almost all of the territory is in one incorporated municipality or another, so the sheriff's department is a small agency that mostly deals with the county jail, and the state highway patrol only patrols the interstates, I think. There is no U.S. federal equivalent to the RCMP -- the FBI does not do ground-level policing anywhere. -- Mwalcoff 23:56, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
how do i read my emails?
I have Aol broadband, and want to read my emails. I have never done this before so I haven't got a clue. As far as I can tell I have to sign on to the internet, which i have also never done before. Since i have broadband, it should sign streight om, but it doesn't and instead tries to phone Aol and then fails. What should I do, and I am expecting an important email soon, that has to be answered within 24 hours. Help. And I am really serious about not having a clue. HS7 22:05, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Have you tried AOL's tech support or Help line? Dismas|(talk) 22:11, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
- Suggestion, since you obviously have an alternative means to connect to the internet, go to AOL.com and input your screenname and password and you *should* be able to check your mail from there without having to ever connect using the AOL framework--VectorPotentialTalk 00:19, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Petrified Human Ear?
Hello
My name is David and I found a stone "exact size and looks' as the human ear, I am curious about to whom to send the pic's to find out more about it.
I have had it for several years now and having no luck to this answer. What group do I need to contact to learn more about it,.
thank you David —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 72.73.135.54 (talk) 22:49, 10 March 2007 (UTC).
- Try Pareidolia...or eBay. Clarityfiend 23:52, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
March 11
Job Statistics
I am looking for a website(s) that offers current and projected statistics (like job saturation) on jobs/occupations in the United States. Thanks. --Proficient 00:15, 11 March 2007 (UTC)