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:According to [http://www.wftv.com/news/27544671/detail.html this article], in at least one case in Florida, the words used were "You are hereby sentenced to death." That sounds fairly standard. [[User:Marco polo|Marco polo]] ([[User talk:Marco polo|talk]]) 00:46, 18 April 2011 (UTC) |
:According to [http://www.wftv.com/news/27544671/detail.html this article], in at least one case in Florida, the words used were "You are hereby sentenced to death." That sounds fairly standard. [[User:Marco polo|Marco polo]] ([[User talk:Marco polo|talk]]) 00:46, 18 April 2011 (UTC) |
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:Incidentally, please note that there is no death penalty in 14 of the 50 U.S. states. I am proud to live in one of these. [[User:Marco polo|Marco polo]] ([[User talk:Marco polo|talk]]) 00:50, 18 April 2011 (UTC) |
:Incidentally, please note that there is no death penalty in 14 of the 50 U.S. states. I am proud to live in one of these. [[User:Marco polo|Marco polo]] ([[User talk:Marco polo|talk]]) 00:50, 18 April 2011 (UTC) |
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:: However, also note that the ''Federal'' death penalty applies to certain crimes in all 50 states. [[User:APL|APL]] ([[User talk:APL|talk]]) 15:06, 18 April 2011 (UTC) |
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::Thanks to Kansas not having one for awhile, the BTK guy gets to live to a ripe old age at state expense. Jeffrey Dahmer of Wisconsin would have too, except a fellow inmate decided to take matters into his own hands. ←[[User:Baseball Bugs|Baseball Bugs]] <sup>''[[User talk:Baseball Bugs|What's up, Doc?]]''</sup> [[Special:Contributions/Baseball_Bugs|carrots]]→ 08:13, 18 April 2011 (UTC) |
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== [[Anti-appetite]] pill? == |
== [[Anti-appetite]] pill? == |
Revision as of 15:06, 18 April 2011
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April 13
Free speech in Internet forums
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
In today's world where freedom of speech is the norm, why most Internet forums and reputed wikis (including Wikipedia) don't allow free speech within community discussion? While making threat of violence must be a ground for block, why harmless insults are prohibited? I have seen, in some wikis such as RationalWiki and Uncyclopedia, civility policy is much relaxed and insults are allowed in discussions (including the use of profanity), while it is much stricter than in Wikipedia in site like Conservapedia. Are not the policies Wikipedia:Username policy, Wikipedia:Civility, and Wikipedia:No personal attacks violation of freedom of speech? Thoughts? --Reference Desker (talk) 05:15, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Wikipedia can choose not to allow certain types of speech just as a school or restaurant choose not to allow certain types of speech. You can say whatever you like in your own home, or in public areas, but on government or private property that is not your own freedom of speech does not apply. Wikipedia is voluntary, not compulsory, so it does not compel you to do anything if you do not wish to contribute.AerobicFox (talk) 05:21, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Wikipedia is not a forum. HiLo48 (talk) 05:23, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Even better, Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not, a whole page for answering this question, especially this part WP:NOTFORUM. Heiro 05:28, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Wikipedia is not a forum. HiLo48 (talk) 05:23, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Returning to he OP's original question, is there really such a thing as a "harmless insult"? This encyclopaedia is global, covering massively diverse cultural environments. Having travelled a little, I know that what is considered great humour in one place can be considered quite offensive, or simply not understood, in another. Maybe the OP could give us some examples of "harmless insults". HiLo48 (talk) 05:55, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Its moot. If he is trolling, you are taking the bait. Heiro 06:03, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I am just curious: how do you know the op was "trolling"? Isn't "trolling" a derogagtory term not allowed on Wikipedia? Ottawahitech (talk)
- Its moot. If he is trolling, you are taking the bait. Heiro 06:03, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I always thought that quote was from Voltaire, anyway. --TammyMoet (talk) 09:26, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Apocryphal misattribution, I believe. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 09:37, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Oh no, it's a genuine, honest-to-goodness misattribution. From Wikiquote: Voltaire:
- Though these words are regularly attributed to Voltaire, they were first used by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, writing under the pseudonym of Stephen G Tallentyre in The Friends of Voltaire (1906), as a summation of Voltaire's beliefs on freedom of thought and expression.
- Another possible source for the quote was proposed by Norbert Guterman, editor of "A Book of French Quotations," who noted a letter to M. le Riche (February 6, 1770) in which Voltaire is quoted as saying: "Monsieur l'abbé, I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write" ("Monsieur l'abbé, je déteste ce que vous écrivez, mais je donnerai ma vie pour que vous puissiez continuer à écrire"). This remark, however, does not appear in the letter. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 09:41, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Oh no, it's a genuine, honest-to-goodness misattribution. From Wikiquote: Voltaire:
- Apocryphal misattribution, I believe. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 09:37, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- A worthwhile subject for the original poster to consider: What is the purpose of the website? If it is to construct a free encyclopedia, then it's pretty easy to see that insults, personal attacks, and shock photos don't contribute to this purpose — or, at the very least, the disadvantages outweigh the supposed "contribution" that insults, etc., provide to the purpose. Another subject is the popular misconception that "freedom of speech" is guaranteed somehow. In the US, the government is barred by the First Amendment from restricting the freedom of speech, but your local coffee shops and free-encyclopedia websites are not owned by the US government, so they can restrict speech within their borders as much as they want. It's OK that there's no absolute freedom of speech on Wikipedia, and in fact if there were absolute freedom of speech, this place would have turned into 4chan long ago. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:24, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Freedom of speed is guaranteed, not only by the US constitution, but also by other means. It is, e.g., covered by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the US, courts have held that demonstrations can be held on private property if this property takes the place of the public sphere. However, I agree that this guarantee is not absolute, and that Wikipedia is free to set its own rules. I'm not so sure that Wikipedia has found the right balance at the moment. WP:CIV is abused very often. The reason why freedom of speech is a good idea is not that it's written down in some document. The reason is that it allows for the free exchange of ideas, and allows us to diffuse conflicts by argument, not brawn. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 19:02, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- More importantly, if you force Wikipedia to publish what you want them to, that is a violation of Free Speech, since you are requiring that Wikipedia say things they don't want to say, and free speech means that you can't be forced to say things against your will. Everyone seems to forget that... --Jayron32 20:15, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- (ec) Quibbles on Stephan Schulz's points: The US Constitution doesn't affirmatively guarantee your freedom of speech, but instead just keeps the government out of it. Except when it doesn't (slander, inciting to riot, shouting "movie" in a crowded fire house). People can be found pretty easily who will argue that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights's vague freedom-of-speech clause isn't binding law in the US, and in any case I'd have to challenge you to locate a US case in which someone's freedom of speech was upheld because of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:18, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- If you want to quibble, the first amendment actually says "Congress shall make no law [...] abridging the freedom of speech". Read strictly, that means e.g. that congress cannot make property laws that allow the owner to restrict your freedom of speech on their property ;-). Of course there is, by now, plenty of case law and tradition that both ensures that government has an active role in maintaining freedom of speech, and that this freedom is not unlimited. I find it in very bad taste, however, that people keep bringing up Schenck v. United States, one of the less glorious moments of the US supreme court, and a case that was overturned in Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1969, for very good reasons. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 21:31, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- There are those who think "freedom of speech" somehow means the right to say anything, anytime, anywhere, without consideration for anything or anybody, except themselves because they feel like doing it. Freedom of speech has boundaries, and those boundaries can be considered the verbal equivalent of the old saying, "Your right to throw your fist ends where my nose begins." ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:56, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- More specifically, your right to free speech shouldn't infringe on my right to freedom of association and basic individual liberty. I should be free to live without hearing your odious speech and keep it out of my relationships if I want. --JGGardiner (talk) 08:47, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- (ec) Quibbles on Stephan Schulz's points: The US Constitution doesn't affirmatively guarantee your freedom of speech, but instead just keeps the government out of it. Except when it doesn't (slander, inciting to riot, shouting "movie" in a crowded fire house). People can be found pretty easily who will argue that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights's vague freedom-of-speech clause isn't binding law in the US, and in any case I'd have to challenge you to locate a US case in which someone's freedom of speech was upheld because of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:18, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
It would be nice if "In today's world...freedom of speech is the norm" but that is not the case. Taboos and censorship are imposed everywhere there is a power structure, Wikipedia not excluded. See the article Chilling effect (law) for an understanding of how free speech gets eroded. Wikipedia is fashionably free-spoken on sexual topics and gives more information on perversions down to and including Child pornography than anyone has a stamina for, but it has also developed a blocking or suppression regime with peculiar formalism (hands up if you ever used the word "incivil" before you saw it in Wikipedia!). This is not the place to be explicit about sins against free speech by Wikipedia admins beyond noting that A) Wikipedia has an arbitration committee who start handling a case by requiring each subject to answer exclusively YES/NO and may then dictate something else as "what you actually said", C) the same committee has deleted the ostensibly free questioning of a candidate for adminship so that in addition to their freedom not to answer a question, the candidate will not be seen to avoid answering, and D) it came as a surprise to me that one is prevented from quoting on one's talk page posts that are open for anyone to find in Wikipedia. The diffs for all this exist and sssssh! you won't hear them from me. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:53, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The European Convention on Human Rights explicitly states that freedom of speech can be restricted. -- Q Chris (talk) 12:21, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Do not refreeze
If I buy frozen food, it nearly always says "do not refreeze once thawed" somewhere on the packaging. If refreezing creates some health danger, how is it different than the initial freezing process? Astronaut (talk) 11:58, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Why is refreezing food bad from Straightdope, Is it safe to refreeze food from wiki answers :) Royor (talk) 12:10, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- (EC) My understanding is that the (re)freezing process is not itself the problem (though it might deleteriously affect the texture and taste of the food through additional cell disruption), but rather the possibly overlong period the food may spend in total both between the frozen states and after a second thawing prior to cooking, during which bacteria can proliferate, perhaps to dangerous levels. Refreezing merely suspends their multiplication, rather than killing them off, nor does it destroy any non-living toxins they might have produced, so after the second thawing they carry on where they left off. Also, as frozen food is often kept for long periods, one might forget it had previously thawed and repeat the cycle, thus compounding the problem.
- There is an inherent presumption that you will in any case cook the food either directly from the frozen state (if that is appropriate), or promptly after thawing, since an equally overlong single thawed period prior to cooking would be equally dangerous. Common sense should also prevail: a brief unthawed period before refreezing followed by cooking from frozen or after brief re-thawing, totalling the same as a single acceptable thawed period, should be OK, but the trick is being sure how long those periods actually were. (I have foregone linking to obviously relevant articles as you doubtless have the gumption to do so yourself.) {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.66.111 (talk) 12:28, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- The Straight Dope writeup says it all, and it squares with my understanding also. Bottom line: If you refreeze and re-thaw, you're putting yourself at serious risk of food poisoning. And it won't taste as good as it did the first time around, in any case. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 12:50, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
Commercial freezing is extremely fast and efficient; domestic freezers cannot replicate it.As food is thawing,bacteria get a chance to grow,the slow freezing in a normal kitchen will not halt this straight away. Hotclaws (talk) 10:18, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Frazer Diner, Frazer, Pennsylvania
Was the Frazer Diner once used as a vietnamese restaurant during the 1990's/early 2000's? Although the Linh Diner moved to a nearby strip mall in Frazer, Pennsylvania, I am convinced that it once occupied the space known as the Frazer Diner.
Owners of the Linh Diner at the time were Hao and Tam Nguyen. Hao is now the owner of East Bradford Spa in Downingtown, Pa. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.225.126.183 (talk) 13:04, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- This article indicates that Linh's Diner moved up the street to the strip mall where it now stands in 1988, and that Linh's used to occupy another diner nearby. However, that diner was unlikely to have been the Frazer Diner, which, according to this article from 2005, was in continuous operation under that name from 1972 until at least 2005, and apparently until today. However, Linh's clearly occupied another nearby diner space. Could it have been the diner now called The Classic Diner, like Frazer's Diner also located on Lancaster Avenue? Marco polo (talk) 20:34, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
The original poster is correct. The Linh Restaurant (now called Bamboo) was previously located in the Frazer Diner, and was known as the Linh Diner at the time. The 2005 obituary cited contains incorrect information. By 1985 it had already changed to the Linh Diner.
Austria, Liesing (suburb of Vienna) 1000th anniversary
Within the past ten years the Hastings County School Choir of Canada was invited to sing at a 1000th year celebration of the creation of the district of Liesing. I would like to know at what church this performance took place. Thank you. John A. Geen (email address redacted) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Johngeen77 (talk • contribs) 14:35, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I removed your email address because it is a target for spam hounds. Questions on this desk are not answered by email, you have to check back on this page for replies. I hope you do so, because I think I may have the answer for you. The 1000th anniversary of Liesing celebrations took place in 2003. This page (pdf file) is the district newsletter for June of that year. If you look at page 10 you will see a list of events (Termine). There is a concert listed by an American children's choir on 16 October 2003 in the Wotrubakirche. American could easily have been a mistake for Canadian. I have been to the Wotrubakirche many times, it is an interesting church in a modern architectural design. --Viennese Waltz 15:13, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- That might be a possibility, but I am doubtful because the page cited does not present the performance as part of the "1000 Jahre Liesing" celebration, whereas other events connected with the celebration do include that notation. Also, according to the German Wikipedia article on the district of Liesing, it was not created until 1938, so it could not have celebrated its 1000th anniversary. However, the district is named after the neighborhood and former village of Liesing. This village was founded in 1002, so it would have celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2002. The Wotrubakirche is not in the neighborhood and former village of Liesing, which was celebrating its 1000th anniversary, but in the adjacent neighborhood and former village of Mauer. The most likely church for a commemoration of the founding of the village of Liesing would be the parish church of Liesing, the modern descendant of the village's original parish church. Here is the church's web page with contact information. You might contact the church to confirm whether that choir performed there. They can probably understand a query in English. Alternatively, you could contact the woman who organized the 1000-year anniversary, Frau Mag. Heide Liebhart (per this source). Her e-mail address is listed here. As she is obviously an educated woman, I'm sure she would understand English. Marco polo (talk) 15:26, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- After doing a little more research, I saw that the "1000 Jahre Leising" commemoration was framed as a celebration of the history of the entire district, even though it was the actual anniversary of the founding of the village after which the district was named. Therefore, it is entirely possible that an event that was part of this commemoration took place in the Wotrubakirche. Marco polo (talk) 18:21, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- The Liesing district paper from 02.03 mentions "26.4., 19.45 h: Konzert eines amerikanischen Kinderchores, Wotrubakirche". Idem, 06.03 gives "16.10., 20.00 h Konzert von amerikanischem Kinderchor in der Wotrubakirche". Both refer to a concert of an (unnamed) American children´s choir in the church mentioned by V.waltz above. Liesing, now a district of Vienna, was mentioned first in 1000 AD as a minute hamlet but was destroyed in the course of the Ottoman sieges of 1529 and 1683. The millenium celebrations took place in 2003. However, Marco polo is correct in stating that Liesing was not a Viennese district until 1938. The millenium celebrations clearly had no connection to the district of Liesing, but - presumably - to some early medieval rights. Vienna around 1000 was a walled city (essentially the current first district) and a bunch of surrounding farming villages. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 19:06, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- After doing a little more research, I saw that the "1000 Jahre Leising" commemoration was framed as a celebration of the history of the entire district, even though it was the actual anniversary of the founding of the village after which the district was named. Therefore, it is entirely possible that an event that was part of this commemoration took place in the Wotrubakirche. Marco polo (talk) 18:21, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- That might be a possibility, but I am doubtful because the page cited does not present the performance as part of the "1000 Jahre Liesing" celebration, whereas other events connected with the celebration do include that notation. Also, according to the German Wikipedia article on the district of Liesing, it was not created until 1938, so it could not have celebrated its 1000th anniversary. However, the district is named after the neighborhood and former village of Liesing. This village was founded in 1002, so it would have celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2002. The Wotrubakirche is not in the neighborhood and former village of Liesing, which was celebrating its 1000th anniversary, but in the adjacent neighborhood and former village of Mauer. The most likely church for a commemoration of the founding of the village of Liesing would be the parish church of Liesing, the modern descendant of the village's original parish church. Here is the church's web page with contact information. You might contact the church to confirm whether that choir performed there. They can probably understand a query in English. Alternatively, you could contact the woman who organized the 1000-year anniversary, Frau Mag. Heide Liebhart (per this source). Her e-mail address is listed here. As she is obviously an educated woman, I'm sure she would understand English. Marco polo (talk) 15:26, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
Becoming a school counsellor?
I'm thinking of studying psychology but I don't want have to be in university until I'm 30 to get a job out of it. I don't want to become a teacher either so would being a school counsellor be a good choice? What qualifications do you need in Victoria, Australia? --112.213.199.90 (talk) 17:06, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Asking a school counsellor in Australia would be a good choice because that is what they are there for. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:50, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Faux "foreign alphabet" in other alphabets?
You generally see text written in the Latin alphabet but in a font that "looks like" a different alphabet, such as Cyrillic, Chinese or Hindu. But are there cases where this is done with a different alphabet, such as a non-Latin alphabet "looking like" the Latin alphabet, or another non-Latin alphabet? JIP | Talk 17:38, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Our article on font calls them simulation/mimicry fonts, see alsoSamples of simulation typefaces. None of these links include examples for faux-Latin in non-Latin scripts, but the keywords "mimicry font" and "simulation font" might help find such examples. ---Sluzzelin talk 18:41, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I've seen Hebrew characters made to look like Arabic and, at the website of the so-called Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Cyrillic characters made to look like Hebrew. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:37, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
(Just for reference, the OP is referring to something that would be the opposite of Volapuk encoding.) --Mr.98 (talk) 22:41, 13 April 2011 (UTC)Actually, nevermind. The OP means the opposite of Faux Cyrillic. --Mr.98 (talk) 22:46, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- For those intrigued by Mwalcoff's reference, here's the link. As for fonts in other scripts mimicking the Latin alphabet, I suspect they are rare, since nearly anyone who is literate in any script will be familiar with the Latin alphabet from logos, license plates (number plates), codes, the Internet, and so on. It's hard to pull off a faux version when most people are familiar with the real thing. Marco polo (talk) 23:07, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I've certainly seen texts in Thailand (product labels etc.) where Thai letters - while still Thai letters - are printed in a way rather resembling how Latin letters are usually printed. That is, the peculiar way the lines making up Thai letters are drawn is changed to something more like European fonts (e.g., the little circle ending some lines is made to look like a serif.) The end result is that many Thai letters in such a font look almost exactly like some Latin letters (with no related phonetic value). E.g, the Thai พ and ฬ appear just like Latin "w" (with different serifing); ล, very much like "a"; ร and ธ, like "s" (again, with different serifing); น like u; etc.
- I have not seen that level of stylization in Chinese (that would be hard!), but you see a Chinese book cover occasionally (fiction mostly) where the artist has changed the shape of characters so that they are made of elements that are more characteristic of Latin script than of Chinese characters. (E.g., they'd use a circle where a Chinese character like 占 has a square; or the left ("radical") part of 话 would be more like an English "i"; etc).
- In Cyrillic, the "look more like Latin" reform has actually already been carried out, and that look made mainstream: originally, in 1708 by Peter the Great in Russia (see http://www.omniglot.com/writing/cyrillic.htm ), and later picked by other countries like Bulgaria. E.g., the old-fashioned Cyrillic (or was it at the time) was made to look "Я", i.e. just like a mirror image of the Latin "R".
- And of course just like the artist doing the cover of an English book or a poster of a movie about things Jewish or Arabic would sometimes draw English letters in a style reminiscent of Hebrew or Arabic (with fancy serifing style, loopy ends of strokes, etc), a Russian book artist working with a similar topic would sometimes similarly stylize Russian letters. (User:Mwalcoff above gives an example). -- Vmenkov (talk) 04:11, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The Samarkan Font is a Latin font that looks like Hindi. -- Q Chris (talk) 08:00, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Warning - the following link is to an image that's NSFW if you're the kind of person who likes to have their monitor upside down. See this T-shirt, which has hebrew letters on it that make no sense. When turned upside down, it's a rather rude message in English. It's a cheat though - it mixes Hebrew block script and Rashi script. --Dweller (talk) 13:12, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Q Chris, Dweller: I am well aware that there are Latin fonts that look like non-Latin scripts. I was asking if there's fonts that go the other way around. JIP | Talk 16:25, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- That is a non-Latin script (actually two) that has/have been made to look like a Latin one. <scratches head> --Dweller (talk) 16:43, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Wait, do you mean that the letters on the shirt are actual Hebrew letters, not just fancy-looking Latin letters turned upside down, and they just happen to look like Latin letters turned upside down? In this case, I assume that what it actually reads out in Hebrew is completely nonsensical? In that case, I see your point, but to be perfectly "the other way around", it should make sense in Hebrew and be nonsensical in Latin. The idea being that it would be intended to be read by a Hebrew speaker, and the Latin similarity was there just to give it a fancy foreign feel, not to be the whole point of the writing. JIP | Talk 16:56, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- All of those are actual Hebrew letters, not even very stylised, which can be turned upside down to look like slightly iffy Latin letters, yup. Of course, the Hebrew lettering doesn't form anything coherent. ╟─TreasuryTag►belonger─╢ 17:04, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I knew there'd been a question about this before. --ColinFine (talk) 20:05, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- All of those are actual Hebrew letters, not even very stylised, which can be turned upside down to look like slightly iffy Latin letters, yup. Of course, the Hebrew lettering doesn't form anything coherent. ╟─TreasuryTag►belonger─╢ 17:04, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Wait, do you mean that the letters on the shirt are actual Hebrew letters, not just fancy-looking Latin letters turned upside down, and they just happen to look like Latin letters turned upside down? In this case, I assume that what it actually reads out in Hebrew is completely nonsensical? In that case, I see your point, but to be perfectly "the other way around", it should make sense in Hebrew and be nonsensical in Latin. The idea being that it would be intended to be read by a Hebrew speaker, and the Latin similarity was there just to give it a fancy foreign feel, not to be the whole point of the writing. JIP | Talk 16:56, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
See this image. The Russian text at the top says Орхан Памук and is supposed to resemble Arabic writing. I remember seeing an even better attempt on the cover of a Russian edition of a novel by Pamuk, and also an attempt to resemble the Devanāgarī writing system with Russian letters on the cover of another book, in a bookshop in Sofia, but I won't be able to recall those titles or find them on the web. --Theurgist (talk) 03:27, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- Beautifully (in this context) the book title "Sneg" or "Snow" looks like "CHEr" in Latin script. SaundersW (talk) 08:25, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
What is a common pre-insurance cost for removing wisdom teeth?
I'm aware there are multiple variables involved (how impacted the teeth are, pain stuff given, dentist, state), but I'm really looking for a ballpark for the expected cost of removing all four of my wisdom teeth. I'm in the US by the way, North Carolina specifically if that matters. Chris M. (talk) 19:09, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I know this might seem obvious, but have you tried to call an oral surgeon to ask them? It would seem that if you picked a few and random from the phone book and said, "Hey, if I walked in off the street and offered to pay cash to yank some teeth out of my skull, what would it cost". I bet you could get a faster and more reliable answer than asking here. Just saying (oh, and I am in The Triangle area of NC and know a few good dentists, if you want to email me via the "email this user" function, I may have a few names). --Jayron32 19:21, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Looks like someone else in the Triangle area has a similar question. Some of the responses indicate that having all four extracted runs around $2000. I don't know how that relates to insurance, since it will be highly dependent on what your dental plan covers. One suggestion given in that thread is to consider having them extracted at a dental school. You could try UNC Dental School, which is very highly rated. Another option would be ECU whose dental school was recently accredited. --- Medical geneticist (talk) 00:43, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Removal of coin fron a lucite block
How do I remove a gold coin from a lucite block. (4" x 4 " and 1" thick)? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.115.63.247 (talk) 19:46, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Our article on lucite says it has a melting point of 320 °F (and the melting point of gold is much, much higher). It looks like melting/burning lucite may generate toxic fumes, though--so I'm not sure if you have a fume hood to use, or maybe you could do this outside.... Calliopejen1 (talk) 19:52, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Couldn't you just saw through the block? You can get most of it off that way, and fine work can be done with something like a dentist drill and a jeweler's loupe or other magnifier. --Jayron32 20:10, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- (ec) I wouldn't attempt to melt away the lucite unless you are OK with risking permanently defacing the coin. If your goal is to sell the coin, I would just bring the whole lucite block to a coin dealer, who may have seen this before. Although even though a dealer could grade and price a coin through a clear lucite block, any given dealer may insist on measuring and weighing a gold coin before buying it, to make sure he's not buying a gold-plated fake coin. Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:12, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Attempting to melt the resin isn't the way I'd do it. Acrylate casting resin isn't particularly strong, and you can probably get the coin out with a handsaw and a hammer-and-chisel. Hold it in a vice, and cut inwards from the narrow edges all round, to within as close as you feel comfortable cutting towards the coin. Depending on how good the bond is between the coin and the resin, it may just split on its own, or you may have to use the chisel (carefully) to split the block - I'd wear goggles, in case it shatters. You may end up with the coin still embedded in one half of the block, in which case you'll need to cut more away using similar methods - you could use solvents to soften the remainder once you have cut away the bulk of the resin. I'm not sure what solvent would work best, maybe someone else can advise here. Of course, if the coin is of exceptional value, you might do better to get this done by someone with experience. AndyTheGrump (talk) 20:16, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Lucite is susceptible to many organic solvents, including, apparently, acetone [1], which is easily obtained. Organic solvents shouldn't damage a metal coin, but I'm not making any guarantees. As others have said, it's probably best to saw off as much of the plastic as possible, so that there isn't too much to dissolve (note: I've never tried to do this: depending on the value of the coin, it may be best to take it to a professional). Buddy431 (talk) 01:43, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Cutting with a saw is not a good idea. if you accidentally damage the coin ,depending on what the coin is, you could dramatically reduce it's value. Look at the lucite block. If it was encased by a bona fide dealer the block may have a stamp or mark verifying it's authenticity with a number which can be authenticated by that dealer, in which case another dealer should be able to verify without removing it from the block. It's also a good idea to check the coin's value with a couple of reputable dealers first. Internet works. Once you've established it's value parameters try to get a dealer to accept it as is. If you must take it out of the block I suggest putting it in a sealed glass jar with enough acetone or toluene/toluol to cover it. The block should fall apart after maybe a day or two. those solvents are very highly flamable so no smoking and do it outside. General rule "don't mess with the coin if you don't have to".190.56.125.187 (talk) 01:41, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
arginine and methionine, is that synthetic creatine?
Amino acid supplement with arginine and methionine, is that synthetic creatine? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bnestie (talk • contribs) 20:52, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- Not exactly. See Creatine#Biosynthesis. Creatine is synthsized inside your body using three amino acids, Arginine, Methionine, and Glycine as starting materials. For normal people (i.e. those without certain conditions that may interfere with their body's ability to make creatine), you make all of the creatine you need to thrive, all by yourself, without taking any extra. Furthermore, if you are getting a balanced diet from a variety of foods, you are getting enough of those amino acids from your food intake such that you do not have to take the above amino acids as a suppliment. Even for people who have higher creatine demands (athletes, bodybuilders, etc.) the evidence is very sketchy that dietary intake of creatine or of amino acid suppliments, provides any real benefit over eating enough of the correct foods. It should also be noted that of the three amino acids noted above, only Methionine is an essential amino acid, that is your body is capable of making its own Arginine and Glycine as needed. --Jayron32 21:04, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
Race vs. Soda Preference
Forgive me for reinforcing a stereotype, but why does it seem that African-Americans have often expressed a preference for fruit-flavored soda? From as blatant as a Family Guy episode to as dated as To Kill a Mockingbird, where the narrator claims that the blacks in one scene enjoyed "the more vivid flavors of Nehi Cola". How valid is this, and where could it have come from? Finalius (Say what?) 22:27, 13 April 2011 (UTC)
- I work with (mostly) white Australian kids. They tend to show the same preference. Is there a pattern here? HiLo48 (talk) 00:58, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yes, I think you're on to it. Poor people can't afford real fruit juices, so buy cheap imitations, like Kool-Aid. Therefore, in places where blacks are poorer than the average consumer, this means they drink more imitation "juice" than the average consumer does. There is also a secondary effect, that, like "soul food" (meaning food they were once forced to eat because they couldn't afford anything better), this then became part of their culture, so that even affluent blacks may still drink imitation fruit drinks. StuRat (talk) 07:34, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Fruit flavoured sodas are also very popular amongst Asians. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 02:02, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I like fruit-flavored sodas, and I'm as white as Brooke Shields. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:23, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- No true Scotsman! —Tamfang (talk) 03:57, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- This is one of those racial prejudice things, based in old-south (US) misconceptions about the 'African races' (i.e., that sweet, fruity things must appeal to them because their 'race' comes from the tropics where those such fruity things are easy pickings). It's the same prejudice that claims African Americans all crave watermelon, and pretty much on a level with saying that white men like BBQing because it's built into them from their ancient northern ancestors tracking and roasting game in the frozen wastes. In other words, silliness. --Ludwigs2 05:54, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- To the extent it is true, I think it is probably the case that White Americans are out of step with the rest of the world more than anything else. Fruit flavoured soda seems more popular just about everywhere else. Some have suggested that African-Americans were ignored by the massive cola marketing machines and so cheaper companies like Nehi were popular in the community. This from the PR Museum on Moss Kendrix Sr. who later did work for Coke with African-Americans for example.[2] Annecdotally, I remember seeing Magic Johnson say that Black people like fruit flavoured soda when he was giving a reporter a tour of one of his movie theatres. They were in the fountains at his chain of theatres which catered to African-Americans. --JGGardiner (talk) 08:46, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Bill Cosby was known for advertising Coca-Cola, and aside from the obvious generic celeberity endorsement, perhaps this was in part a blatant (if perhaps futile) effort to expand sales among minorities. On the other hand, I recall Cosby one time addressing the stereotype of black people and watermelons by making this simple statement: "Watermelon is good, man!" (A lot of white folks think so too.) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:47, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- And this yellow man agrees with that sentiment. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 02:17, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- I'm remembering when Archie Bunker tried rather feebly to offer bribes to a Black official, who eventually said "I don't like chicken—" (big grin) "but I love watermelon." — Seedless watermelon don't taste right, dammit, and that's all I can find anymore. —Tamfang (talk) 08:08, 15 November 2011 (UTC)
- Bill Cosby was known for advertising Coca-Cola, and aside from the obvious generic celeberity endorsement, perhaps this was in part a blatant (if perhaps futile) effort to expand sales among minorities. On the other hand, I recall Cosby one time addressing the stereotype of black people and watermelons by making this simple statement: "Watermelon is good, man!" (A lot of white folks think so too.) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:47, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
April 14
unreasonable termination
I work for a cleaning company . Today we were on our way to clean up a house (in the company car) & i realize we are making alot of stops where we are literally just sitting there and waiting for about an hour. My teamleader was trying to get drugs.(i know this because I hear her talking to another team leader who is also in a company car ) & she has done drugs on the job before) I was really angry with her & told her to do that on her own time & she gets mad at me and we begin to argue. I tell her I am not going to work with her because first of all shes using my work time to look for her drugs & get high, second shes totally rude when i tell her what she is doing isnt fair. So she calls my boss and tells him I am sick and can't work. Which is a lie because i didn't want to work with her because she spent my work time looking for drugs! but of course she wasn't going to tell the boss that, anyways about an hour ago I recieve a phone call from my boss telling me that i am being terminated from the job because I argued with my team leader & refused to work. So i tell him what happened and he doesnt acknowledge anything i said and basically hangs up the phone. Do I have a case? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mj991185 (talk • contribs) 01:37, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The Reference Desk doesn't give legal advice, and for your own good you should consult a legal advisor, not anonymous randoms on the internet. Depending on where you live, perhaps you can contact your trade union, a community legal service, or any lawyer who deals with this type of law. If illegal drugs are involved then maybe you can consider reporting this to the police. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 02:01, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I wouldn't even call the police. I would find a lawyer first and see what he advises. He might advise calling the police, or he might not. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:24, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Bugs, in relation to the police, I was referring to the bit where the OP alleged that the co-worker was dealing in (or using? not entirely clear) illegal drugs, which sounds like something you would call the police about. Not the employment law part. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 04:18, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Given the inherent dishonesty of the former employers, turning them in to the cops could seriously backfire, as they would probably say it was the fired employee that was using the drugs. That's why I wouldn't call the cops. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:41, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Like Bugsy says. Don't bother calling the police. What happened to you was common everyday social injustice. not a crime. the police are not interested. If you're in the U.S. Most struggeling attornies will give a first consultation for free because they are trying to find clients. All you need is the yellow pages and a phone. I suggest getting free consultations with three or four because they don't all agree on what is possible. And the upside of that is even if you don't get any positive results from any attorney, after three or four consultations you'll probably be ready to just forget the whole thing and get another job.190.56.125.187 (talk) 03:06, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- 190, in some other countries you can get better (or more objective) first point of contact legal advice from trade unions rather than private practice lawyers. In some cases the trade union lawyers may even offer the full suite of services up to and including appearing in court on behalf of the employee. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 04:20, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I seriously doubt that you could ever gain financially by taking such a case to court. Even if you win (which seems unlikely without any actual proof that what you said is true), legal fees would likely be more than any settlement. So, I'd chalk it up to experience and move on. StuRat (talk) 07:27, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- That's legal advice, which we're not supposed to do. The OP should consult a lawyer and determine for itself whether it's worth the effort. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:42, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- @190.56.125.187 it is presumptuous to declare that the police are not interested. They are employed to investigate and act on drug related crime, and you can have no idea what supporting information the police already have. For all we know they already suspect that a certain cleaning company is a mafia front for drug dealing, and a witness on the inside is what they need. I advise the OP A) be absolutely sure what you observed i.e. names of both the company car drivers, what drug dealing you have actually seen, what money exchange, whether any of the drug activities seemed routine (e.g. meetings that are likely to continue now you are out of the way) and be very clear about what you said to your boss about drugs at work and his (non)reaction. B) Ask politely at the police station to report drug dealing. Be clear about the facts because you will probably be talking to a front desk cop who will decide within a minute whether to call a detective to hear you. C) At the risk of sounding rude, you will not get the attention you deserve if you come across as a cleaning woman with a gripe. You will offer to help the police in their job which is crime, not your termination which is a civil matter. Do you have a civil case? My guess is Not Yet. But if the police do identify drug crime in the company, you may (ask a lawyer! ask a lawyer! ask another lawyer!) have a presentable case as a terminated Whistleblower for whom courts show varying degrees of sympathy. See the linked article for private organizations in the US and UK that should give you realistic free advice on your chances and may even fund your lawsuit. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:33, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The OP needs to realize that the former employers may very well have thought of everything you've just mentioned and may well have a counter-story ready to go. That's why consulting with a lawyer (or multiple lawyers) is an absolute must. The OP has to have its ducks totally in a row and in the right order. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 10:46, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- In relation to the criminal matter: in some countries there is a duty on some people to report some crimes so I wouldn't ever advise someone not to report a crime they know of unless I was sure that was legally aboveboard in their jurisdiction.
- Drugs offences are treated extremely seriously in some cases, punishable by death, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a duty on the OP to report. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 02:09, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- I think it's premature to assume the OP is from the UK or the US. For all we know they could be from Singapore or Tanzania. Or Canada or Australia.
- In relation to the employment matter, I say again, if there is a trade union that offers employment type of advice where the OP lives, they could well be the best choice in terms of expertise, dedication and cost. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 02:15, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- The OP needs to realize that the former employers may very well have thought of everything you've just mentioned and may well have a counter-story ready to go. That's why consulting with a lawyer (or multiple lawyers) is an absolute must. The OP has to have its ducks totally in a row and in the right order. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 10:46, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- @190.56.125.187 it is presumptuous to declare that the police are not interested. They are employed to investigate and act on drug related crime, and you can have no idea what supporting information the police already have. For all we know they already suspect that a certain cleaning company is a mafia front for drug dealing, and a witness on the inside is what they need. I advise the OP A) be absolutely sure what you observed i.e. names of both the company car drivers, what drug dealing you have actually seen, what money exchange, whether any of the drug activities seemed routine (e.g. meetings that are likely to continue now you are out of the way) and be very clear about what you said to your boss about drugs at work and his (non)reaction. B) Ask politely at the police station to report drug dealing. Be clear about the facts because you will probably be talking to a front desk cop who will decide within a minute whether to call a detective to hear you. C) At the risk of sounding rude, you will not get the attention you deserve if you come across as a cleaning woman with a gripe. You will offer to help the police in their job which is crime, not your termination which is a civil matter. Do you have a civil case? My guess is Not Yet. But if the police do identify drug crime in the company, you may (ask a lawyer! ask a lawyer! ask another lawyer!) have a presentable case as a terminated Whistleblower for whom courts show varying degrees of sympathy. See the linked article for private organizations in the US and UK that should give you realistic free advice on your chances and may even fund your lawsuit. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:33, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- That's legal advice, which we're not supposed to do. The OP should consult a lawyer and determine for itself whether it's worth the effort. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:42, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Nuns with Guns
I have seen this picture a few times and I was curious as to the origin. Could anybody help me out? Americanfreedom (talk) 05:04, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- "Well, kids are a lot tougher these days, and whacking them with a ruler just isn't getting the job done." :-) StuRat (talk) 07:28, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The picture has flat perspective, no shadows where you'd expect them and abruptly sharp outlines on the figures. I think it's a Photoshop creation. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 08:45, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Could well be. It's all over the internet, but the source is not certain. One use of it has been with a caption suggesting that these are the "virgins" that await terrorists in the afterlife. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:36, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- A quick google search turns up lots of hits relating to Rage Against the Machine. Pfly (talk) 11:20, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- It was on RATM merchandise long before Photoshop was around...not that it couldn't be faked some other way, of course, but apparently it's a real photo, and Tom Morello thought it was hilarious, so they bought the rights to it. But the band doesn't know where it comes from either. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:26, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Huh? 1990: Photoshop 1.0 released. 1991: Band RATM formed. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:30, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Oh, well I guess I was thinking of Photoshop as used by people to create stupid things on the Internet. Anyway, the photo is probably still real. Adam Bishop (talk) 17:46, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- It could be "real", i.e. not manipulated, but those might not be real nuns. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:52, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Oh, well I guess I was thinking of Photoshop as used by people to create stupid things on the Internet. Anyway, the photo is probably still real. Adam Bishop (talk) 17:46, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Huh? 1990: Photoshop 1.0 released. 1991: Band RATM formed. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:30, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- It was on RATM merchandise long before Photoshop was around...not that it couldn't be faked some other way, of course, but apparently it's a real photo, and Tom Morello thought it was hilarious, so they bought the rights to it. But the band doesn't know where it comes from either. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:26, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- A quick google search turns up lots of hits relating to Rage Against the Machine. Pfly (talk) 11:20, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Could well be. It's all over the internet, but the source is not certain. One use of it has been with a caption suggesting that these are the "virgins" that await terrorists in the afterlife. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:36, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The picture has flat perspective, no shadows where you'd expect them and abruptly sharp outlines on the figures. I think it's a Photoshop creation. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 08:45, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
HMS Astute: Why is murder by a sailor on a sub a crime for the civilian courts?
A British sailor, while on duty allegedly fired the weapon he had been issued as a sentry, killing a Lt. Commander and wounding another naval officer. How on earth is this a crime to be tried in civilian courts? See [3]. Does the UK have military courts as they did in the 18th century? Edison (talk) 05:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Two points: first, the article states that the military agreed to try the case in civil court, implying that the military had jurisdiction but passed it on. As to why they might have done that: the ship was docked at the time, and not on combat duty; there was no active state of war; there were apparently civilian dignitaries aboard at the time of the shooting. The Crown may want to pursue charges that the military can't, or the navy might not want the sub tied down in port for the duration of a military trial, or... likely the reasons for shifting the case from military to civil courts will be spelled out in the case, so patience will bear fruit here. --Ludwigs2 05:36, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- (edit conflict) Part of the issue seems to be that the submarine was not on maneuvers, and was docked at the time of the incident. While the UK certainly does have military courts, see Military Courts of the United Kingdom, it says that "The Court Martial may try any offence against service law, which includes all criminal offences under the law of England and Wales." (bold is mine). The use of the word "may" indicates that they are not obligated to try all criminal cases, and the specific details of the case (that the murder occured while the submarine was docked, in the presence of civilian authorities who were touring the boat) may have led those who decide these things to decide that it would be better to try the case in civilian courts. --Jayron32 05:42, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- It's not uncommon for British soldiers who commit serious crimes (even while on duty) to be tried in civilian courts, e.g. Lee Clegg[4], and Kevin Williams[5], charged for murder in Iraq. --Colapeninsula (talk) 09:39, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- It's normal for serious offences by members of the armed forces (that break civilian law, not just military law) to be tried in civilian court in the UK. I think the idea is that the law should treat everyone equally, so everyone should get tried in the same court. Murder is murder, the fact that he was a member of the armed forces shooting a senior officer on a naval vessel doesn't make any difference. I think the only time they would use a military court was if the trial would involve classified information (or possibly for convenience during wartime). --Tango (talk) 11:50, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- "A hearing at Southampton magistrates court on Monday was told by Nick Hawkins, chief prosecutor for Hampshire Crown Prosecution Service, that the director of service prosecutions had agreed to hand over jurisdiction of the case to the civilian courts." Alansplodge (talk) 19:56, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Oh, I've just realised that Ludwigs2 has already covered this point. I suppose that the Navy would want to be seen to be having the whole thing dealt with by an external authority rather dealing with it internally and risk claims of a cover-up. Alansplodge (talk) 20:05, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
I have no idea about what the actual answer to this is... but I would be inclined to believe the newspapers on this one. Shadowjams (talk) 07:26, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
Celebrity Influence
Are there any specific examples where a talk show host, celebrity or political pundit significantly and single-handedly boosted or lowered public opinion of a politician or someone running for political office. Sorta of a weird question, but it would be great if someone could think of a time this happened, because possibly other than Glenn Beck and Van Jones, I can't think of any off the top of my head.--ChromeWire (talk) 06:12, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Walter Winchel was famous for doing this type of thing, and specifically for boosting the infamous US Senator Joseph McCarthy. StuRat (talk) 07:17, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Boosting? Corvus cornixtalk 01:21, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yes, boosting, where boost means "to assist in overcoming obstacles, or in making advancement". See Wiktionary:boost and Wiktionary:boosting. StuRat (talk) 03:32, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Ah, sorry, I was thinking of Edward R. Murrow. Corvus cornixtalk 17:30, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yes, boosting, where boost means "to assist in overcoming obstacles, or in making advancement". See Wiktionary:boost and Wiktionary:boosting. StuRat (talk) 03:32, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Some people say Obama wouldn't have been a serious contender in the Democratic primaries without Oprah. Our article on her says she may have delivered as many as one million votes for him. And there's also the Colbert bump. --JGGardiner (talk) 08:45, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Long, long time ago, Shirley Temple was running for Congress. Johnny Carson did a skit in which he dressed in a typical Shirley-like dress and sang a parody song called "On the Good Ship U.S.A." This ridiculing of her attempted run for office was said at the time to have cost her a lot of votes. In any case, she was defeated in the election. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:21, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Not likely that made any particular difference. Pete McCloskey won that race, with 57% of the vote; Shirley Temple Black ran as an independent, and only received 3.5%. --jpgordon::==( o ) 15:16, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- When Thomas Dewey was running for President in 1948 against the incumbent, Truman, a famous woman (I forget who) remarked that Dewey looked like "the little man on a wedding cake". That was also said to have cost him votes, and Truman narrowly won the election. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:24, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Teddy, made the Dewey comment. [6]. Edison (talk) 18:40, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- During Richard Nixon's run in 1968, he appeared on "Laugh-In" in a quick cameo saying "Sock it to me." It was said that this gained him some votes as it gave him some artificial "hip-ness". Maybe not as many votes as the Chicago police riot, though. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:27, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Saturday Night Live has sometimes affected popular opinion of politicians. Much was made of Tina Fey's Sarah Palin, and also Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford. Not sure if it affected anybody's opinion, but Dana Carvey's George H. W. Bush impression is still remembered as being spot-on, even though Bush didn't actually talk like that. Staecker (talk) 11:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Newspaper editor Kelvin MacKenzie effectively claimed that he won the 1992 General Election in the UK - see our article about the the now notorious It's The Sun Wot Won It. --Dweller (talk) 12:57, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I think just about any instance is going to be mostly hearsay and guesswork with varying degrees of validity. Did Andy Donato keep Joe Clark out of office by repeatedly drawing him wearing "idiot mittens"? Lots of people in Canada seem to think so, but how would you ever measure such a thing? Matt Deres (talk) 14:43, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- That's untrue - this particular incident, for example, is pretty solidly attested to. --Dweller (talk) 15:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Somewhere I recall reading a sociological study of the effect that The Right Stuff had on the presidential campaign of John Glenn in 1984 — they did things like measure opinion polls of people who had and hadn't seen the movie, or how they changed after they saw the movie, etc. --Mr.98 (talk) 15:56, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- As a serious journalist, he didn't fit any of the categories you provided, but it is worth mentioning that Lyndon B. Johnson supposedly attributed a loss in public support of the Vietnam War to Walter Cronkite. Kansan (talk) 04:41, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- One show rather than one person, but David Steel blames Spitting Image for giving him the image of being powerless and "in the pocket" of David Owen. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:38, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- An earlier UK example is TW3, a wildly popular 1960s satirical show on the BBC headed by David Frost, which did a very successful character assasination of Alec Douglas-Home in the run-up to the 1964 General Election. The broadcasting rules were changed shortly afterwards. Alansplodge (talk) 00:11, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- One show rather than one person, but David Steel blames Spitting Image for giving him the image of being powerless and "in the pocket" of David Owen. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:38, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- The photo of Robert Stanfield dropping a football supposedly cost him an election. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:13, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
ME OR MS
i am B.E.mechanical engg. 3rd year student now shall i go for MS or ME .plz help me out to get the brief difference between the two — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sesanspanda (talk • contribs) 07:56, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Perhaps other people recognise those initials, but I don't. To me they stand for Multiple sclerosis and Myalgic encephalomyelitis - which would be a nasty choice. We might also find it useful to know what career you wish to have and where in the world you live. --Dweller (talk) 12:21, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I think I recognized them as Master of Science and Master of Engineering ... ---Sluzzelin talk 12:26, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Different countries (and even different universities in the same country) have different names for their degrees. Where are you studying? Regardless, you are probably better off asking your tutor or departmental advisor or whatever you have. It's their job to provide you with this kind of advice and they'll know the options better than we do. --Tango (talk) 15:20, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Why remove ICACU lpage
There used to be a page about the UK Central Authority or ICACU (International Child Abduction and Contact Unit). When did you remove it, by whom and why? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.144.84.16 (talk) 09:26, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- It looks like it's become a short section of the article called Official Solicitor. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 10:27, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Snakes onions
I wonder if anyone can help me with the following. A few days ago while walking my dog in the woods I across some plants that had an overpowering and quite nauseous smell. I seem to remember coming across them before when I was a child and being told by my parents that they were called "snakes onions". Can anyone tell me anything about them( what do they have to do with snakes and why do they smell so strong etc?) as I don't seem to be able to find reference to them anywhere. thanks MO —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.33.230.34 (talk) 13:50, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Possibly Allium sativum ophioscorodon aka the "Serpent Garlic". It's mentioned in our list of plants with edible leaves. ---Sluzzelin talk 14:00, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Though my first thought was the wild-growing (and ubiquitous) Allium ursinum (Ramsons, or "Bear's Garlic" where I live). They're currently smelling up my neighbourhood (but they're delicious with pasta). ---Sluzzelin talk 14:05, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Can you describe how the plant looked? Shape of leave, size, etc. would be helpful. The Allium species above are not usually described as having a nauseating odor. As others point out, they are quite tasty. In contrast Eastern_Skunk_Cabbage does smell genuinely bad. They use the odor of decay to attract insects which are interesting in dung / corpses. I see now that your IP is in the UK, so I should note I do not know if Symplocarpus species are found there. SemanticMantis (talk) 15:55, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Military training
Do the military use weights as part of their strength training? Clover345 (talk) 14:41, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- In which country? let me guess... --Tagishsimon (talk) 15:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Wouldn't you be a little shocked if there were a military in the world that never used weights as part of strength training? --- Medical geneticist (talk) 17:04, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- To the right is a photo taken inside a US aircraft carrier's gym. The medicine ball itself is a sort of weight, and other weights are visible in the background. Comet Tuttle (talk) 17:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Not really an expert but I have seen footage of British and US troops using heavy logs for team exercises. Gymnasium-type weights are used on warships where other types of exercise are more difficult. Alansplodge (talk) 19:50, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Every military service. Why the weird assumptions User:Tagishsimon? Shadowjams (talk) 07:22, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Not really an expert but I have seen footage of British and US troops using heavy logs for team exercises. Gymnasium-type weights are used on warships where other types of exercise are more difficult. Alansplodge (talk) 19:50, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Tunnel or bridge linking New Zealand islands
Has there ever been serious consideration of a bridge or tunnel linking the North and South Islands of New Zealand? I'd guess the limited population would make it economically unviable, but would there be any specific engineering challenges (I'm thinking earthquakes might be a concern). --OpenToppedBus - Talk to the driver 14:44, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Earthquakes are plainly an issue, but they're an issue for tunnels like the Transbay Tube and the Seikan Tunnel. The undersea portion of the latter is about 14 miles, the same as the minimum crossing of the Cook Strait (and much less than the Channel Tunnel). So the issue is the cost, as you say: there's just not enough traffic using the existing ferries to justify the scary prices such long tunnels come in at. But tunnel boring machines get better each year, so maybe it'll be affordable sooner or later. -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 16:02, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The Strait could also be bridged: the problem is shorter than the Hangzhou Bay Bridge or the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Again cost is the big problem. -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 16:09, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Greater over-water distances have certainly been traversed; the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel crosses a major shipping channel and at 23 miles long is much longer than would be required to connect the North and South islands of New Zealand. As far as Earthquake proofing, there are numerous bridges in other known earthquake zones (San Francisco Bay for example). The San Mateo – Hayward Bridge is 7 miles long; I don't see why the 14 miles of the Cook Strait would present additional challenges in the Earthquake department that lessons learned in constructing bridges in the Bay Area wouldn't be useful for. I think the main reason that it hasn't been done is lack of demand; a project like this would need to justify its own existance by being useful. According to [7] the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel serves an average of 9700 vehicles per day; while the San Mateo - Hayward Bridge serves almost 10x that number. I can't see that many people needing to get from Wellington to Picton and environs; certainly the existing ferries can handle the capacity... --Jayron32 17:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- The long bridges mentioned all cross relatively shallow bodies of water. For example, the bay beneath the Hangzhou Bay Bridge has a maximum depth of only 14 meters[8], and the bodies of water crossed by the other long bridges mentioned are all similarly shallow. By contrast, Cook Strait has a maximum depth of 140 meters, and building bridge supports of such a height that could also withstand the forces of strong tidal currents, earthquakes, and tsunamis would be a monumental engineering challenge. The resulting structure would be extremely expensive. The only existing structure that crosses a body of water comparable to Cook Strait in width and depth is the Seikan Tunnel, which cost nearly US $4 billion to build in the 1970s and 1980s. Adjusted for inflation, that would be close to $10 billion today. It's hard to imagine the traffic between the two New Zealand islands justifying that expense in the foreseeable future. Marco polo (talk) 18:09, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- A nautical chart, with depths in metres, is here. For short crossings, I can't see a sensible route that doesn't cross the 200m contour, so in practice it's worse than 140m. It's shallower and flatter further north (but 140m is still about as shallow as I can see any crossing being), at the expense of much greater length. If someone really wanted a bridge then I guess Troll A stands in deeper water than that, but having a bunch of such towers would be insanely expensive. As to immersed tube designs, Marmaray (the world's deepest) is 60m down; a sensible Cook Strait tube would be more than twice as deep and more than a dozen times longer. So I think a deep bored tunnel is the only practical option. -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 10:35, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Possibly you could have a deep bored tunnel across the deeper and more exposed eastern two thirds of the crossing. Conceivably it could emerge into an immersed tube across the protected, shallower banks off of South Island, though connecting a bored tunnel and an immerse tube would be a novel engineering feat. I could imagine that such a hybrid would save money, but the cost would still be in the multiple billions. Marco polo (talk) 16:50, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Thanks all - fascinating answers. --OpenToppedBus - Talk to the driver 08:41, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
Avoding the tax man
I sometimes use UK on-line retailers to send gifts to relatives in that part of the world. I do it for two reasons, first because the delivery from a UK address to a UK address is quicker than from here but also because it means that I can avoid the GST charged if I purchased it here and because I don't live in the UK I don't pay the VAT either. Really it's because I forgot their birthday until the last minute. Again. This also works within Canada, if, for example, I order from BC I don't have pay the PST. The first part of the question is, does this work for people living in other countries ordering from Canada? Are they able to avoid paying the GST and the PST? Even if the goods are shipped somewhere in Canada? The second part is what stops the system from being abused? If, again for example, someone in the UK was to transfer me the money would I then be able to turn around and buy them a new car and thus avoid the VAT? CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 20:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- What does the no-VAT checkout look like? Does Amazon show it as a savings line in their calculation? And how does it show the difference for zero-rated items like books vs full rate items like electronics? -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 20:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- First of all, just because Amazon does not collect a tax does not mean that the purchaser is legally exempt from that tax. (See this site, for example.) Second, for large purchases such as cars at least, governments are very sensitive to tax avoidance and are likely to take action when they find it. For example, where I live at least, it is impossible to register a car without proving that you have paid sales tax on your purchase of it. If you say that the car was a gift, particularly a gift from someone in a foreign country who could not have driven it to the location of registry, your registration is likely to be red-flagged and targeted for investigation. If found out, the person who transferred money to you to purchase a car on their behalf could end up facing penalties. Marco polo (talk) 20:38, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yeah, I think this would be pretty much straight fraud. Like a lot of fraud-related things, it's down to the fact it's obvious when investigated, rather than obvious at the time. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 20:40, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- OK. I had assumed that it was fraud of some type and have no intention of trying any of this out. A car was a bad choice, I forgot about the small details like registering it, so what about something smaller such as TV or computer. It would seem to me that as long as you were not doing this on a regular basis then the government is not very likely to notice. I don't know how the Amazon UK checkout looks as I haven't ordered through them. The company I did use last time, PhotoBox, just shows 0.00% for VAT rate and actual VAT. I do now know that Amazon has a unified log-in for all their sites except for Japan. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 21:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I'm wondering if by any chance you are confusing goods rated at 0% VAT, with an exeption from VAT for you as a non-UK purchaser. My limited & rusty knowledge of the VAT system says that goods for export can be sold at 0% VAT (the VAT Retail Export Scheme); but you're describing a scenario of a delivery to part of the UK. Such a purchase would be liaible for VAT, unless the goods themselvees are zero rated - non luxury items like food and books. So I'm not seeing any tax avoidance option here. --Tagishsimon (talk) 21:48, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- I'm not sure. I did some digging and found that Amazon will not charge VAT on goods they are shipping out of the UK and this (not really reliable) agrees. HM Revenue & Customs says I may be able to get the VAT refunded as I leave and a lot of info on getting stuff shipped in. The closest thing I could find, 8. Liability of some common items, indicates that posters, photos and photo albums, all things I have ordered, are charged VAT. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 23:33, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yeah, I think this would be pretty much straight fraud. Like a lot of fraud-related things, it's down to the fact it's obvious when investigated, rather than obvious at the time. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 20:40, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- First of all, just because Amazon does not collect a tax does not mean that the purchaser is legally exempt from that tax. (See this site, for example.) Second, for large purchases such as cars at least, governments are very sensitive to tax avoidance and are likely to take action when they find it. For example, where I live at least, it is impossible to register a car without proving that you have paid sales tax on your purchase of it. If you say that the car was a gift, particularly a gift from someone in a foreign country who could not have driven it to the location of registry, your registration is likely to be red-flagged and targeted for investigation. If found out, the person who transferred money to you to purchase a car on their behalf could end up facing penalties. Marco polo (talk) 20:38, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
Fake RPG
This question was originally posted on this user's talk page [9] and I thought it more appropriate for refdesk, so moved it here. Chzz ► 20:35, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
On wikipedia I once stumbled across an odd article discussing a fake RPG that can be found on the internet. The game advertises being completely interactive when in reality the only interactive element is creating the character. After generating the character the game proceeds to load up a series of windows with loading bars indicating that your character has "succeeded at killing the knolls" or "killed a rat". Nothing is ever rendered and the amusing bit is that the game continues to go on with the quests without any further participation of the "player". The game is also a browser based game that one can download to their desktop if they are so inclined.
I recall the game had the word "action" in it's title, but beyond that am at a loss as to what the game is called nor can I find it in the listing of games on Wikipedia.— Preceding unsigned comment added by Travza (talk • contribs) 20:17, 14 April 2011
- I'm pretty sure that you're describing Progress Quest. Some things don't quite match, but it is largely as you described: a brilliant parody of role-playing games (I speak as someone who enjoys them). Paul (Stansifer) 20:44, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yes, it's Progress Quest, which has actually been influential. Wizards of the Coast created a Facebook game called "Dungeons & Dragons Tiny Adventures" in which you create the character, choose equipment, click "go", and the character goes and adventures for many hours by himself. (Here's the Wikia page.) Comet Tuttle (talk) 23:43, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
- As a sort of browser meta-game/parody, Progress Quest
was in turn influenced byalso influenced "Upgrade Complete", which is also slightly more of a 'real' game. See game here [10]. SemanticMantis (talk) 01:00, 15 April 2011 (UTC)- I'm skeptical about that; Progress Quest was released in 2002, according to the article, but I doubt that Upgrade Complete is much older than the Jay Is Games review, published in 2009. Paul (Stansifer) 04:09, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- My mistake, I was confusing progress quest with a (much newer), similar game. SemanticMantis (talk) 14:32, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- I'm skeptical about that; Progress Quest was released in 2002, according to the article, but I doubt that Upgrade Complete is much older than the Jay Is Games review, published in 2009. Paul (Stansifer) 04:09, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- As a sort of browser meta-game/parody, Progress Quest
- Yes, it's Progress Quest, which has actually been influential. Wizards of the Coast created a Facebook game called "Dungeons & Dragons Tiny Adventures" in which you create the character, choose equipment, click "go", and the character goes and adventures for many hours by himself. (Here's the Wikia page.) Comet Tuttle (talk) 23:43, 14 April 2011 (UTC)
April 15
Garden advice
I bought some sprouts ten days ago in a health food shop with the intention of eating them But this is the start of the garden season so I put many of them in starter pots and am about to put the peas in my garden. My questions are; Is there any chance that the peas are sugarsnap or mange tout type? The beans are reddish brown Are they going to be bush beans or pole beans?..What do I need to know about growing the chick peas and lentils in Zone 6 USA. Are they going to introduce any dread diseases to my other plants? 01:17, 15 April 2011 (UTC)Sesquepedalia
- Does it say on the packet what types of sprouts they are? They could be all sorts of things; see bean sprouts for a list. I'm sure they'll grow just fine, but they might not produce anything edible.--Shantavira|feed me 09:41, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
Yes the package said beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, alfalfa . There was more alfalfa than everything else together. The lentils, by the way were greenish and not red or black as they could have been. Is there a way to tell if a bean is a pole bean or bush bean without growing the plant? I have in the past infected my Zucchini plants with a wilt I brought in on some cucumber seedlings. But I don't think beans or peas do that to each other as cucurbits do. Sesquepedalia 13:23, 15 April 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sesquepedalia (talk • contribs)
- Here are sites offering growing tips for lentils and chickpeas. What they both have in common is that they are crops that originate from the Middle East, where they are typically sown in the winter and harvested in late spring. I also live in Zone 6 and find these legumes somewhat difficult to grow properly. The problem is that they need 3 to 4 months in which temperatures get above 60F during the day for at least a few days a week, don't fall much below freezing at night, and don't get above the mid 80s during the day. Once you get a really hot day, they stop growing. So, you need to plan on harvesting in June. That means planting in early March, which just isn't feasible outdoors in Zone 6. You could probably just about get away with planting them outdoors now, but they are not going to have time to produce a good yield before it starts getting hot. You will harvest skimpy pods with skimpy beans inside around late June (at which point they start drying out and turning brown). While legumes will not pick up most diseases that infect squashes (such as cucumbers and pumpkins), they can and do pass many diseases between legume species. Finally, to have much of a yield at all, you should inoculate the seeds with rhizobacteria. Marco polo (talk) 14:14, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
Help identifying an object
Anyone know what the object on the left is? I personally think it's a cannon ball, but my wife doesn't believe me (she says its too small) Anyway, I found it on a friend's land (a seldom used deer camp) where I was doing some metal detecting. It was inside what I think must have been an old tree stump, that had rotted away to not much more than a hole in the ground. It was pretty caked up with mud and grime, but cleaned up rather nicely with hot water. It is definitely a dense metal, and extremely heavy. I wonder if anyone can tell from the size what/when it was used for? I was within 30 miles of Jackson, MS. Also, if it really is a cannon ball, is it worth anything? Could it possibly still be dangerous? (Aside from accidentally dropping it on my foot). Thanks Quinn ☂THUNDER 04:02, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- First of all, cannons vary in bore; three-inch balls may not be dramatic enough to decorate the courthouse lawn but they did exist.
- Aren't cannonballs generally solid iron? Not likely to explode spontaneously.... —Tamfang (talk) 04:57, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Explosive shells are almost as old as the cannons themselves. See List of cannon projectiles. The picture at the bottom even shows one of those round cartoon "bombs" with the little fuse out of the top; those really used to be fired by cannons. However, decorative cannonballs are usually nothing more than solid Round shot. --Jayron32 05:13, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- OP here- Well, I don't see anywhere on it where a fuse might have gone inside, but it's pretty well covered with rust, so I moved it to the back shed just to be safe :). Quinn ☂THUNDER 05:32, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Have you taken a magnet to it to verify that it's iron?
- Agreed. And even if it had once been explosive, it likely would be a dud by now. (After all, it slammed into a tree and that didn't make it explode, so it was probably a solid ball in the first place.) It was probably fired in one of the two Civil War battles near Jackson: Jackson,_Mississippi#American_Civil_War_and_late_nineteenth_century_.281861.E2.80.931900.29. As such, it probably does have some value, but probably not thousands of dollars. If you can remove the surface rust and find any writing on it, that may increase it's value somewhat, especially if it's a Confederate ball. Some photos of the place where you found it and a map showing the locale might help establish it's value, too. StuRat (talk) 06:46, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Patina is one thing, like tarnished silver or copper, but layers of rust are another story. For one thing, rust doesn't stay put, it falls off on it's own, and nobody wants a collectible that's going to leave chunks of rust all over. The other issue is if it hides detail under the rust, like the manufacturer. StuRat (talk) 07:14, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- The America civil war was hard on shot putters in the southern states who, no matter how Olympian their prowess, would have been barred from competing in the early Olympic Games that were already regular events at Wenlock, UK because no nation recognized the Confederate States of America 1861 - 1865. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:59, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- I wondered at first if the item was a natural phenomenon, as with this:[12] ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 14:27, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- OP here- Any suggestions on a method to remove the rust? Quinn ☂THUNDER 15:42, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- If it were mine, I would hesitate to use over-the-counter materials if I thought the item might have some value. That's why I suggested (below) that he consult an expert. Like, for example, if the ball has a manufacturer's name on it somewhere, rust remover might damage it. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:28, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- If this was something worth thousands of dollars, then it might be worth taking to a conservator to have have it properly restored. However, in this case, I suspect they would spend far more than it's worth. So, "quick and dirty" may be the best way to do it cheaply enough that they could still make a few dollars profit. StuRat (talk) 02:31, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- A phone call shouldn't cost anything. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:09, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Are there any historical museums in your vicinity? It's possible they have or know people that are experts in the restoration of antique items such as this. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 15:49, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Nothing really Civil War related. There's an Agricultural Museum that I know has a lot of antique plows and other old farming equipment that they've restored. I'll swing over there (once this damn tornado warning has passed), and let them have a look-see. Thanks everyone! Quinn ☂THUNDER 16:23, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Surely there's a Civil War museum in Vicksburg? That can't be that far away, hm? Corvus cornixtalk 18:54, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yeh, I can dig it. Anyone living in tornado alley is a potential victim. The Minnesota Twins should be safe, though, as they are already in the cellar. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:50, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Out of interest, here's a similar item for sale on the UK eBay. There's no provenance and the seller has got his cms and mms muddled - 3" isn't 7mm! Alansplodge (talk) 20:59, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Me again. There's a table of bore and projectile weights in the WP article Field artillery in the American Civil War. A 3" bore suggests it was either a 10-pounder Parrott rifle or a 3-inch Ordnance Rifle both having a projectile weight of 9lb 8oz. Note that rust is lighter than iron, so it may weigh a bit less now. Alansplodge (talk) 21:07, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- "Note that rust is lighter than iron, so it may weigh a bit less now". Erm, I'd ask about that at the science desk. Rust may well be less dense than iron, but oxidisation should have increased the mass - unless the phlogiston theory was correct. ;) (though some of the rust may have fallen off, which complicates things). AndyTheGrump (talk) 03:12, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Now you mention it, it does seem a rather bold statement. I'll ask at the Science Desk. Alansplodge (talk) 08:10, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- "Note that rust is lighter than iron, so it may weigh a bit less now". Erm, I'd ask about that at the science desk. Rust may well be less dense than iron, but oxidisation should have increased the mass - unless the phlogiston theory was correct. ;) (though some of the rust may have fallen off, which complicates things). AndyTheGrump (talk) 03:12, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Me again. There's a table of bore and projectile weights in the WP article Field artillery in the American Civil War. A 3" bore suggests it was either a 10-pounder Parrott rifle or a 3-inch Ordnance Rifle both having a projectile weight of 9lb 8oz. Note that rust is lighter than iron, so it may weigh a bit less now. Alansplodge (talk) 21:07, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Out of interest, here's a similar item for sale on the UK eBay. There's no provenance and the seller has got his cms and mms muddled - 3" isn't 7mm! Alansplodge (talk) 20:59, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
Solid Shot Essentials: A Guide to the Authentic and Non-Authentic is written by a "Civil War artillery expert" Peter George (a quick Google shows that he has written several books on the subject). Alansplodge (talk) 11:57, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- When anyone "shines up" an antique, they usually destroy the value for a collector. In 2008 a collector trying to grind the rust off a Civil War cannon ball detonated the gunpowder still inside it, with fatal results, [13]. If a shell had gunpowder in it from 150 years ago, there could still be an explosive core of gunpowder inside.[14], [15], [16], [17], [18]. You could measure the diameter, calculate the volume and compare the weight to the weight of that volume of iron (folks on this board could help if desired with the calcs.) I would expect a shell to weight far less than solid shot. Even decades of submersion in water cannot be relied on to make a shell inert: [19]. Edison (talk) 20:20, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
Try taking it to the Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Vicksburg or to the Vicksburg National Military Park right off the interstate, on staff historians, might be worth a try. Heiro 06:17, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
Locomotive question
In a full-width body locomotive (cab unit or boxcab), does the engineer have access to the rest of the train, or is it blocked by machinery? Are there pictures or diagrams showing what the inside of a modern locomotive looks like? Not just the cab, but the full locomotive. 67.169.5.125 (talk) 06:09, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- I think the answer to your question depends very much on what sort of locomotive you are talking about. If you 'google image' "inside locomotive cab" you will get a wide range of pictures reflecting the broad variation of models used in different countries. If you are looking for information or images of a particular country or type of locomotive then it would be helpful if you said which. Richard Avery (talk) 06:30, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- I don't know much about trains, so I'll go with what I see locally, Amtrak California. And following some links to other articles I found that "The F59PHI has a fully enclosed carbody which provides protected walkways for easy access to the engine room and trailing units." That answers my question about these locomotives, but I'm still curious to see the interior of any sort of modern diesel locomotive (besides the cab). 67.169.5.125 (talk) 06:47, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
The locomotive engineer can look at what's ahead. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:45, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- For the days of steam, see Corridor_tender#Locomotives_.28corridor_tenders.29. --rossb (talk) 08:04, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
Voice box
If a person were to have motor neuron disease and needed a computerised voice synthesiser, would it be possible for him to choose Richard Burton's voice? Kittybrewster ☎ 14:49, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Synthesized voices are usually created by recording a live speaker who carefully pronounces the hundreds of possible syllables in the target language, as well as hundreds of different syllable-to-syllable transitions, then using software to combine the syllables and transitions into recognizable words. If you wanted Richard Burton's voice, you'd need to get him in a recording studio and record him speaking all those syllables. It would appear you're about 27 years too late for that to happen. The article Speech synthesis covers all of this. I should note that there are methods being researched to produce human sounds electronicly from first principles (that is, generating them without using prerecorded snipets of actual speech) but the results have been less than satisfying, so most commercial applications still rely on the prerecorded voice, where a "human sounding" voice is desired. Fully synthesized speech has existed since the 1980s (Speak and Spell used such technology) but, even to this day, such technology doesn't produce an output which is as close to "the real thing" as do the ones that use prerecorded voices. --Jayron32 15:09, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Of course, the recording process doesn't have to be intentional, but it does have to be completely free of background noises. When Roger Ebert lost his voice, they were able to create a synthesized version of his own voice from the 'clean' audio files he recorded for commentary tracks on movies. here's one of many articles on the topic. APL (talk) 15:19, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- It must be pointed out that Ebert's new voice synthesizer definitely reminds you of Ebert talking, but it also definitely sounds synthesized. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:29, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Was he previously using a British-accented synthesized voice? (i.e. nothing like his own) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:33, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- It must be pointed out that Ebert's new voice synthesizer definitely reminds you of Ebert talking, but it also definitely sounds synthesized. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:29, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- In a couple of YouTube video clips, it appeared he was typing on a Mac and having it output some variety of PlainTalk speech. Not British-accented, and also nothing like his own (or like any human's). Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:36, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- He did use a British voice for a bit. This video popped up in my YouTube subscription, and is very relevant to the conversation: Roger Ebert: Remaking my voice, from a recent TedTalk. Avicennasis @ 06:07, 13 Nisan 5771 / 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- for a while British Telecom used the actor Tom Baker voice to 'speak' out texts sent from a mobile (cell) phone to a landline phone Perry-mankster (talk) 20:24, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
How could I work up my new Facebook sports group?
So, earlier this week, I had started a new sports group on Facebook in which aspiring athletes, coaches, scouts, and other people involved in any sport from all over the country and the world can join. The group is called Alcerance. I was aiming the group to become a big sports organization with many leagues and be collaborating with numerous partners. Right now, there are only three members in Alcerance: me, a Brazilian volleyball player, and a French volleyball coach. I've been going to various sites on the Internet looking for up-and-coming athletes as well as coaches and stuff, even on Facebook, but there was little luck. So, I was saying if there are any people out there who know about sports and about proper group advertisement or the like, how can I get my sports group to be popular and well-known, and what efficient sites on the Internet should I go to to look for athletes and chat and get in touch with them in discussing if they could join the group or be sponsored? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sirdrink13309622 (talk • contribs) 19:22, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- "Big sports organisations" don't start with Facebook groups. Statistical fact. ╟─TreasuryTag►constablewick─╢ 19:28, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- A variant of this question comes up here every couple of months in which a querent asks how they can make their blog more popular. The answer is to make it a great resource. What incentive is there for athletes to take time out of their day to join your group or check in, on a daily basis? If you can answer that question with a very strong answer, then people may decide to join the group because they are in search of that incentive, too. Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:34, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- By the way, how did you come up with the name "Alcerance"? What does it mean? Is it a club for also-rans? —Tamfang (talk) 05:44, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
"Alcerance" is just a name I created myself while thinking for a cool name for my group. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.238.140.148 (talk) 17:05, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
Need help with translations
Hi. I have a list of articles in es:Wp without interwikies and I ask myself If someone speake both languages and can check the list to see they´re in en:WP. I already do the Google translation but the result was 0. For example, "demanda insatisfecha". Thanks. --Andreateletrabajo (talk) 22:54, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- How many are there in total? Also, "unmet demand"? What is the article about? Can you provide a link? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:02, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
mumbai university solved fe paper
on which website can i find mumbai university fe engineering solved paper free — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ali142143 (talk • contribs) 23:12, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
- Best thing would be to ask your tutor.--Shantavira|feed me 08:36, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
April 16
Those authoring topics on Wikipedia for the knowledge of the readers
The undersigned is a 70+ ; retired and actively doing non-stop research since 1969 on the topic of Indian Cine Music. Bharatiya Cine Sangeet Parampara (BCSP) is my brain child. I have dedicated everything for it - tan, mun, dhan. The objective: To nurture the rich,colorful heritage of Indian cine music in promoting the Eternal values of LOVE, TRUTH-n-TIME in the MINDSETS of the present generation..free of cost to the reader/listener/viewer at my personal expense on YOU TUBE via MP32Tube.com ( as a Premium User) as well as my regular postings / feeds into the IBs of Rmimers on Google groups: rec.music.indian.misc.
I receive plenty of criticisms but that doesn't bother me. I am always on the stress of 'enlightening' IGNORANCE that is rampant in the rmimers-mindsets that have been imbibed from internet resources that do not disclose their identities...for whatever reasons.
My principle in life:
Everything is a 2-way process in this human world - never one-way.
Your authors never DISCLOSE their identity on the topics authored ! Why? How can one know whether it is authentic or fiction.
No one in this world is perfect, however clever, intelligent or powerful he may be. Whatever you put in print of your matter on any topic, the same has to be substantiated in the form of 'instant evidence & listening facility if its music' .
Currently, a cold war is going on , on the forum.
—BCSP— 16/4
- By examining an article's history you can usually tell who wrote what (even though most of us are pseudonymous). —Tamfang (talk) 00:11, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Also, all of the information in every article is supposed to be corroborated by citations of external published works, written by identifiable authors/authorities - that is how one can know whether or not it is authentic. The identities of those who have incorporated that information into the articles here are not in themselves important, since they are not claiming anything on their own authority. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.66.111 (talk) 01:37, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Expanding a bit on the previous statement: Wikipedia does not allow original thought to be added. So, everything that's added should have already been published in another work, hence the citations to indicate where the information came from. Adding something simply because "I know it is" isn't enough. Further, other editors working that same article will double-check new information as it's added, and if something is potentially controversial (or outright wrong), it's done away with quickly. --McDoobAU93 02:04, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- It is true that authors HARDLY ever disclose their identities in Wikipedia. It can even be argued that they should not do so at all, so that the focus of building the encyclopedia is anonymous collegial editing rather than unsupported statements from authority. The result will be dynamic rather than static information. The OP has a point about articles about the arts, such as cine music. Even though all information in Wikipedia articles is supposed to be verifiable from reputable sources there is no clear direction about which of many published reviews and criticisms may be weighed as noteworthy. Since some people are intensely involved in particular arts. possibly as creators themselves, there is a tendency for fancruft to enter the articles. It is hard for me to translate "Bharatiya Cine Sangeet Parampara". Does it mean something like "The movement to improve concerts of movie music" or have I got that all wrong?. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:15, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Expanding a bit on the previous statement: Wikipedia does not allow original thought to be added. So, everything that's added should have already been published in another work, hence the citations to indicate where the information came from. Adding something simply because "I know it is" isn't enough. Further, other editors working that same article will double-check new information as it's added, and if something is potentially controversial (or outright wrong), it's done away with quickly. --McDoobAU93 02:04, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- If an editor provides references to authoritative sources, it does not matter who he is. If he doesn't do that, then he has edited improperly, and someone else will eventually fix the article. APL (talk) 20:06, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- In addition, given your philosophical approach you may be interested in reading about the fallacy Appeal to authority. Given that wikipedia is intended to do no more than report on other verifiable sources in a balanced way, (in theory) the author should be of little consequence 124.171.217.32 (talk) 12:52, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
Pitt or Rutgers for computer engineering?
I was admmited to Swanson Engineering school in Pitt and ECE in Rutgers-new brunswick. I do not know which is the right choice. I noticed that the engineering ranking of Pitt is far less satisfying than Rutger's. However, I might get resources about engineering from CMU, which strong point is engineering. I get confused. Please help me and give some advice. Thank you! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Geniusgg (talk • contribs) 04:36, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- This is not a good place to ask advice about where to go to college. It is a good place to tell you to use spell check especially if you want to be in a computer oriented field. Deciding where to go to school is an intensely personal decision and is based largely on personal factors in addition to any academic ones. Shadowjams (talk) 07:14, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Not just use spellcheck - learn to spell. The computer spellchecker can only tell you that it has spotted a mistake; relying on it to correct that mistake is foolhardy. BrainyBabe (talk) 08:47, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- To extend that, I'd say that the computer spellchecker can only tell you that it thinks it has spotted a mistake. A few years ago, a colleague of mine in a biochemistry laboratory let a spellchecker loose on one of his manuscripts. It helpfully 'corrected' "we destained the gel" – that is, washed excess stain from the gel – to "we disdained the gel". Bad spell check, or Freudian slip? TenOfAllTrades(talk) 14:54, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Not just use spellcheck - learn to spell. The computer spellchecker can only tell you that it has spotted a mistake; relying on it to correct that mistake is foolhardy. BrainyBabe (talk) 08:47, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Are you able to travel to these schools at short notice? I suggest you contact them mentioning that you have been admitted and asking if you can meet with a computer engineering lecturer before deciding to accept. You may be surprised how easy it is to get such a meeting and you will come away with a much better feeling for the particular school environment than by looking at rankings. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:36, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- I agree. National ratings are a useful starting point, but they may not be what you want to use as a final arbiter. If, for instance, Pitt's ranking is heavily influenced by graduate research, will that benefit you as an undergraduate? Maybe you'll have undergrad research opportunities; that'd be good. Maybe your professors will have grad students doing most of the teaching; that may not be so good. And what of the rest of the college experience? Do you like the campus? Are there interesting non-engineering programs available (as you may conclude that engineering isn't for you, or, failing that, just want an interesting minor)? Does one fit your budget better than another? What's their track record helping students find internship or co-op opportunities? Study abroad programs? Grad school or job market entry? Traditional dorms versus suite-style? Do the shower stalls have, you know, stalls? And so forth. For that matter, go to one of the schools and ask a professor "why should I want to come here instead of <other school option>?" — Lomn 13:16, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
Most recognized academic publishers
Is there a list somewhere of the most highly regarded academic publishers? I'm trying to figure out whether Oxford University Press or Cambridge University Press is the most prestigious, or whether it's a different publisher. Geraldavon (talk) 17:42, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- I thought it was Elsevier, but it's possible that they're highly regarded only in mathematics, not in all areas they publish. – b_jonas 18:53, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Elsevier has been caught doing some extremely slimy things recently. The biggest scandal involves conflicts of interest and deceptive publishing practices in a group of medical journals that tended to print only papers favorable to Merck—see Elsevier#Fake journals. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 19:14, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
It's a good point that this may vary depending on discipline. My area of interest (in particular) is social sciences. I think of Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Palgrave, Routledge and Harvard University Press as the ones making the top list, but I may be wrong. Geraldavon (talk) 20:04, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- In my area (neuroscience), I believe that MIT Press publishes the most important stuff, with Oxford University Press probably second. Looie496 (talk) 20:43, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- I agree on MIT Press being a very major publisher on scientific topics. HUP, OUP etc. built their reputations on literary stuff (IIRC, OUP owns the British copyright on the KJV Bible). With e-books gaining sway, I suspect the era of "real publishers" maybe nearing an end. Collect (talk) 20:50, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Almost: so far as Britain is concerned OUP, CUP and HarperCollins are licensed to print and sell the Authorised Version, but the copyright is still held by the Crown (see Authorized King James Version#Copyright status). OUP and CUP shared the copyright in the Revised Version until it expired, and they still share the New English Bible and the Revised English Bible. --Antiquary (talk) 12:05, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Springer also is a high-volume reputable publisher, and one of the top publishers of conference proceedings in computer science. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 16:23, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- It really, really, really varies by discipline. Some of those listed above as being great for some disciplines are considered crap in my discipline. I'm sure the reverse applies as well. --Mr.98 (talk) 12:00, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- Right. Even limiting to a single discipline doesn't help much: "X is the most prestigious publisher in the field of Y" is a very debatable claim. If we're interested in journals only, we could examine quantifiable things like impact factor, or other metrics such as those published by Thomson_Reuters/ISI. SemanticMantis (talk) 14:35, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
Siphon Pump Metering above the source
A SIPHON is a curved upside down U-shaped pipe that uses atmospheric pressure to draw liquid from one place to a height of around 25 feet and over and back down to a level below the source. Why has the subject of Siphon Pump Metering not been covered under any spelling or transliteration or other name or expression here? A measured amount of liquid can be dispensed at the crown of a siphon through the use of an inline canister, and this metered process is accomplished by cyclically starting and stopping the liquid flow. US Patent # 5358000 was the first to teach water pumping in this process and manner, and this is a renewable energy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.53.194.237 (talk) 19:44, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- If the Siphon article needs to be improved, perhaps you could work on it? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 19:51, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- (ec) Well, you are welcome to add that info to our siphon article. However, it's only a renewable form of energy if the water at the higher level is continuously renewed, such as from rainfall, and if you put a turbine in the line. As such, this sounds like a subset of hydroelectric energy, but the small output from such a system might make it impractical. StuRat (talk) 19:57, 16 April 2011 (UTC)
- Also, you could presumably just drill a hole thru the ground in between and eliminate the need for a siphon. StuRat (talk) 00:18, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Your description is of one particular design of siphon, not of a siphon in general. I don't know what the patent was for, but the principle of the hydraulic ram for pumping water by stopping and starting the flow is as old as the USA! If you have a renewable head of water at low pressure, then a reverse Archimedes' screw is generally considered to be the most efficient method for obtaining energy. Dbfirs 08:41, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
April 17
Form of words for sentencing to death in USA
What is the precise form of wording used by a judge in the USA when handing down a sentence of death? Does it vary from state to state? --Viennese Waltz 10:06, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- I expect it varies from judge to judge. Are you used to the English thing, with the wig and the black hanky? Americans are less traditional about such things, I guess. --Trovatore (talk) 10:10, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yeah I was expecting some kind of formality to the process, given its gravity. --Viennese Waltz 10:12, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- You can find a particularly noted example (albeit from some time ago) by doing a Google search on the phrase "Jose María Martin, stand up!".
- On a more contemporary note, when California switched from cyanide gas to lethal injection, the gurney was placed inside the old gas chamber. I have the notion that this was in part because some inmates had been formally sentenced to die "in the gas chamber at San Quentin", and the authorities didn't want to open up a potential legal challenge by doing it somewhere else. --Trovatore (talk) 10:29, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Yeah I was expecting some kind of formality to the process, given its gravity. --Viennese Waltz 10:12, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- The procedures of each state certainly could be expected to vary, especially as regards the death penalty, which I think in some states is decided initially by the jury and affirmed or declined by the judge (as with California) and in other states might be solely left up to the judge (I can't name any, though). The transcripts of the Scott Peterson trial may provide some insight.[20][21] The jury's statement was simply, "We the jury in the above entitled cause fix the penalty at death." ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:25, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- The jury does not officially sentence the defendant in California. It is still necessary for the judge to pronounce sentence on some later occasion. I believe it is possible for the judge to overrule the jury and sentence the defendant to life without parole instead. (The reverse is definitely not possible; if the jury has rendered a verdict of life without parole, the judge may not impose death.) --Trovatore (talk) 20:29, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Depends on the state - curiously enough, each state has its own laws. Florida is one of only three states to allow a judge to override any jury decision - including the ability to impose a death sentence contrary to the jury verdict (modified by the Tedder case which said the judge should give "great weight" to the jury position). [22] which implies that in each of the other states with capital punishment, the judge does not have that authority. Collect (talk) 20:40, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- That's part of state soveriegnty. The Fed generally doesn't get involved in the states' business unless there are constitutional issues. (I realize that comment severely downplays the reality, but that's another story.) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:54, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- There is a federal constitutional decision, I'm pretty sure, that requires a sentencing trial by jury in death cases. I am surprised to read that Florida still allows the judge to impose death if the jury has not done so; I'd like to know if this is current, because I thought that sort of procedure was struck down by this decision whose name I can't remember. --Trovatore (talk) 21:02, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- As of 2006, anyway, Florida was still doing things that way:[23] ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 23:51, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- There is a federal constitutional decision, I'm pretty sure, that requires a sentencing trial by jury in death cases. I am surprised to read that Florida still allows the judge to impose death if the jury has not done so; I'd like to know if this is current, because I thought that sort of procedure was struck down by this decision whose name I can't remember. --Trovatore (talk) 21:02, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- That's part of state soveriegnty. The Fed generally doesn't get involved in the states' business unless there are constitutional issues. (I realize that comment severely downplays the reality, but that's another story.) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:54, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- As far as I know, there is no state in which the jury actually sentences the defendant. Even if the judge has no discretion at all (don't know if there are any states like that) it is still the judge who must formally impose sentence. Yes, that's a formality, but formalities were what the original poster was asking about. --Trovatore (talk) 20:46, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Right. I should have made that clearer in my own comments. The jury recommends a sentence, in states where it is authorized to do so. In the formal sentencing in the Peterson case a few months later, the judge stated he could not see any evidence that justified overturning the jury's recommendation, so he agreed with it and upheld it. The judge seemed to be talking in a rather low-key, conversational manner in these transcripts, minus the movie-drama kind of stuff like "You shall hang by the neck until you are dead!" and so on. Generally speaking, courtrooms are not nearly as exciting as they're made out to be in the movies and TV. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:51, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Depends on the state - curiously enough, each state has its own laws. Florida is one of only three states to allow a judge to override any jury decision - including the ability to impose a death sentence contrary to the jury verdict (modified by the Tedder case which said the judge should give "great weight" to the jury position). [22] which implies that in each of the other states with capital punishment, the judge does not have that authority. Collect (talk) 20:40, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- The jury does not officially sentence the defendant in California. It is still necessary for the judge to pronounce sentence on some later occasion. I believe it is possible for the judge to overrule the jury and sentence the defendant to life without parole instead. (The reverse is definitely not possible; if the jury has rendered a verdict of life without parole, the judge may not impose death.) --Trovatore (talk) 20:29, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- According to this article, in at least one case in Florida, the words used were "You are hereby sentenced to death." That sounds fairly standard. Marco polo (talk) 00:46, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- Incidentally, please note that there is no death penalty in 14 of the 50 U.S. states. I am proud to live in one of these. Marco polo (talk) 00:50, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
Anti-appetite pill?
Hello, would there be any kind of pill or other supplement that would lower our appetites thus help us lose weight? Where would I find them? Thanks. --98.190.13.3 (talk) 23:00, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- I'm awaiting the "We don't answer medical questions" responses here, but this can be discussed in a general sense I'm sure. There certainly are drugs that claim to do this. Where I am in Australia one has just made the news.... "A jockey who used a slimming spray is suing the company after he was disqualified from a race he won for being too light...the product featured on Channel Seven's Today Tonight program in mid-February...the company said when the product is sprayed onto a person's tongue it fooled the brain into believing they had eaten." So there you are, a drug that claims to do just what you ask, and an unwanted consequence, for both parties! HiLo48 (talk) 23:13, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- See Anorectic. And no, we can't give advice on them, or on where you can get them. AndyTheGrump (talk) 23:16, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Ask your doctor. Any diet program with any integrity will advise you to consult a physician before starting a diet. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 23:40, 17 April 2011 (UTC)
- Read 19th century ads -- they even sold tape-worms to people! The best "appetite suppressant" yet found is a nose clip so all food is fairly tasteless. People who can not smell their food will generally eat less. They also get grouchy. Collect (talk) 01:09, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- I think the problem with appetite suppressants, or just about any other weight loss scheme, is that the body "fights back". That is, when it detects fewer calories coming in than it is used to, it will make you hungry, no matter what it takes. These are evolutionary adaptations which were vital to prevent people (and earlier animals) from starving since the start of life on Earth, so overriding them is not easy. The result is that many diets work, at first, but then backfire and you gain the weight back, and maybe a bit more. StuRat (talk) 01:30, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- @ Collect. What?! I have chronic anosmia and I eat virtually no processed food but my appetite outstrips my bodily need, I would welcome losing a few pounds. I'd be interested in a citation for your claim. Richard Avery (talk) 06:21, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
April 18
Car seats in taxis?
In America, various medical associations recommend that children up to several years of age always use a size-appropriate car seat. America is a personal car culture. But what about countries where few people own cars? or cities I suppose. If I had an infant in New York and wanted to take a taxi, do I just hold the baby in my arms? Seems like I've just lost 60 years of consumer safety development? The Masked Booby (talk) 08:54, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- In the UK it's a legal requirement, not just a recommendation, for children to use suitable seats. However, this site ("Produced with the support of the Department for Transport.") says that children can legally be carried in taxis wearing a normal seatbelt (which is probably unsuitable and perhaps positively dangerous). I suppose it's reasonable not to expect taxis to have to carry a range of child seats just in case, but I agree it's not very satisfactory. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 12:29, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- I imagine that this fuzzing-over of the safety issue happens because the reason people don't own cars is that they live in a place where the public transportation system satisfies most of their transportation needs, and they rarely, if ever, need to take a taxi with their kid. Paul (Stansifer) 14:31, 18 April 2011 (UTC)
- According to this FAQ published by the NYC government...
- --Passengers are encouraged to bring their own car-seats
- --Drivers are required to allow them to be installed.
- --Normal seat-belt and car-seat laws do not apply to taxi-cabs.
- --Children under seven can be held in the parent's lap.
- APL (talk) 15:00, 18 April 2011 (UTC)