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Revision as of 09:00, 1 January 2018
of the Wikipedia reference desk.
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December 24
Abandoned combine
Can anyone ascertain any details about the deteriorating combine? It's at the abandoned Rich Neck Farm in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Nyttend (talk) 00:31, 24 December 2017 (UTC)
- Maybe combine demolition derby. It looks smashed as well as rusted. 00:45, 24 December 2017 (UTC)
- Maybe it just rolled several times down a slope. Akld guy (talk) 00:24, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- You wouldn't say that if you visited the area; it's the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with not much relief aside from streams, and nowhere to roll a combine :-)
- The green paint still visible in places suggests John Deere. Edison (talk) 00:36, 26 December 2017 (UTC)=
- You wouldn't say that if you visited the area; it's the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with not much relief aside from streams, and nowhere to roll a combine :-)
Clarification
The answers above responded well to my question, but I asked the wrong question. Is there any way to identify the combine's make and model? I was trying to learn about the combine's original condition. Nyttend (talk) 18:32, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Just go there and look for markings of maker/model. 2606:A000:4C0C:E200:B8D8:3FE9:323E:5312 (talk) 19:17, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Nyttend took that picture. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 05:54, 26 December 2017 (UTC)
- Most combines where painted green in the past so that is no way of identifying. You can simply compare photos of this sample - you will of course need some that show more detail - with historic photos of combines that show or refer a model and/or brand. Given the state i would guess that this combine was working 30-40 years ago so its maybe a model from 1950-1980. Also very likely a combine build in USA since the target time period was befor the globalization, which narrows your search to a few brands. --Kharon (talk) 06:03, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
- I commented above that green suggested Deere. Do you hav a ref to support the notion that most brands of combines were painted green in the past?Edison (talk) 18:41, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- Most combines where painted green in the past so that is no way of identifying. You can simply compare photos of this sample - you will of course need some that show more detail - with historic photos of combines that show or refer a model and/or brand. Given the state i would guess that this combine was working 30-40 years ago so its maybe a model from 1950-1980. Also very likely a combine build in USA since the target time period was befor the globalization, which narrows your search to a few brands. --Kharon (talk) 06:03, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
- Nyttend took that picture. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 05:54, 26 December 2017 (UTC)
Parliaments and Legislatures that use WikiMedia to Present Laws and Legislation
Are there examples of national parliaments or state legislatures that use WikiMedia software on websites that present law and pending legislation?
Asgardia (nation) is in the process of electing a 150-member parliament. It will soon become necessary to keep records of the acts of the Asgardia Parliament and to make those acts publicly available. Is WikiMedia the right software for that purpose?
Scott Gregory Beach (talk) 22:49, 24 December 2017 (UTC)
- I would recommend archive.org. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 23:57, 24 December 2017 (UTC)
December 25
Fax system
How important is a fax system nowadays?
Which is used as alternatives?
123.108.246.98 (talk) 18:52, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- People usually send pdfs or scanned images by e-mail these days, though occasionally you will find fax machines still in use. See Fax#Fax in the 21st century. Dbfirs 20:55, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Someone (with probably a COI ) has given some reasons why some old fossils still use FAX The Top 10 Reasons Companies Continue to Fax in 2017 . Oh Gosh! I might be an old fossil too, as the last time I used my fountain pen was just this month to write some Christmas cards to be delivered by snail-mail !!! Note to self. I must buy a modern ball point pen for next year as to not get too far behind modern times.. Aspro (talk) 22:44, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Simply get or look up your local Yellow pages and check out how many businesses still offer a fax number as connection option. I think most still do but its slowly vanishing since the smartphones are as capable for sending documents today as any PC and according Kaiser Family Foundation even 31% of the children age 8-10 own a smartphones now. There is also a mass of "Apps" for Android and iOS (smartphone operating systems) that make your smartphone work like a fax system. So it seems its still widely used. --Kharon (talk) 05:47, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
- For a personal anecdote, in the U.S. my experience is that medical providers almost universally still use fax to transfer patient information between each other. From my limited knowledge this is for a few reasons: they already have faxing set up, so why change it; issues with HIPPA compliance; and incompatibility between providers' electronic systems. Things have been changing a little with the adoption of electronic medical records: many offices now issue "electronic prescriptions" which are sent via Internet, not fax. (One of my medical providers gave me an overview of how their system works when setting up one of my prescriptions for a mail order pharmacy.) --47.157.122.192 (talk) 07:19, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
- I set up a small business in 2004. My business cards, web page, yellow pages listing, etc. all had my fax number, because I wanted to make my business look professional. My fax number went to a service that received the fax into a disk file and then sent it to me via e-mail. No actual fax machine was involved. This service cost much less than a separate fax line, and was much more convenient. I could also send outgoing faxes by sending an e-mail attachment to this same service. So, did I use fax, or not? I think many companies, large and small, use some equivalent of this. -Arch dude (talk) 04:09, 30 December 2017 (UTC)
Business Travel
A curiosity. Just wish to accumulate a basic knowledge i.e.: Is it possible to travel to U.S.A with a business idea? My family and friends are their to support it with expenditures, from traveling to publishing... 123.108.246.98 (talk) 18:52, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Ideas have no value. Implementation of ideas has value. 71.85.51.150 (talk) 20:40, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Once the trolls are done, we can get back to the topic. Your question requires more information: can you easily get a visa? If yes, then travel is open to you, and how you spend your time is only lightly regulated. For instance, if you have a tourist visa, you may not take up employment, but you are free to discuss business ideas. On the issue of publishing, you would not be allowed to act as a journalist without the appropriate visa, but you could (for example) research a book. DOR (HK) (talk) 17:54, 26 December 2017 (UTC)
- Visa policy of the United States is what you want; note the links to official U.S. government sources in the bottom sections. I'm afraid we can't give legal advice, so if those resources don't answer your question, your best bet is to contact the U.S. embassy in your country, if there is one. Family/friends of yours in the U.S. may also be able to get assistance from the U.S. State Department or an immigration lawyer. --47.157.122.192 (talk) 07:10, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
- Speaking of trolls, the endless drip of "how do I travel to/do business in/go to school in the US?" questions from Bangladeshi IP addresses on half-a-dozen or more spam blacklists is fascinating in and of itself. One wonders why a person whose family in the US will pay to get his work published even needs a travel visa when he's got access to both the internet and knows what a fax is. μηδείς (talk) 03:38, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- Embassy or consulate. —Tamfang (talk) 08:42, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
FM Station Names
I drive a Toyota Prius with its standard VHF/FM radio labelled "Toyota P3808" in Europe. Since the radio selector buttons were tuned to national FM broadcasters that have closed down, I re-tune them to whatever local stations I can find. (These recently included Amnesty International who ran a short-lived pirate broadcast.) In almost every case the name of the station appears on the screen a few seconds after its frequency is selected, suggesting that there is a slow data connection, perhaps on a subcarrier? The article Station_identification#Europe does not mention what kind of coding or subcarrier frequency these stations use to identify themselves. Can someone please tell me or provide a reference? SdrawkcaB99 (talk) 23:57, 25 December 2017 (UTC)
- Yes, exactly. This text is probably delivered through the Radio Data System, which is a low-speed subcarrier in the FM signal. Really anything can be written here, but it will often contain the radio station's identification or the current song/artist. Freedomlinux (talk) 04:31, 26 December 2017 (UTC)
- Yes, here in Southern California the experience with FM radio is identical, including the delay in the RDS data showing up. As well, the RDS data gets garbled occasionally, presumably due to the error correction being overwhelmed by reception problems. --47.157.122.192 (talk) 07:23, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
December 26
I don't know how it works but I'm sure that it depends on the pages you wish to publish together with the cost of book making/binding. Is there any information available that you could display to acquire a basic understanding knowledge please. 119.30.47.147 (talk) 16:08, 26 December 2017 (UTC)
- Click on the title for more information. DOR (HK) (talk) 17:59, 26 December 2017 (UTC)
- I just need to print a bunch of books with lots of pages in each. The article displayed doesn't give me the rough understanding of:
- How many pages in a book will cost me how much in order to make/bind with a cover.
- And how many book of the same will cost me how much.
- if you know what I mean...
- 119.30.47.151 (talk) 16:27, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- We have an article on List of self-publishing companies that has some useful links to companies who will print for you. The cost will vary widely by country, company, and the quality of the finished product. I haven't found any in Bangladesh, though I'm sure there must be some. Here is an example of UK prices. No recommendation is intended. Dbfirs 19:22, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- I (a former professional bookseller and publisher's editor) urge the OP to be cautious before parting with any money. Some Self-publishing companies will carry out copy-editing, typesetting, book design, printing and binding if and as required, will explain in advance all their charges in detail, and will provide you with the number of finished volumes that you have contracted them for. What they will probably not do is market (advertise) your book, actively solicit orders from bricks-and-mortar booksellers, or sell the books to booksellers or directly to the public on your behalf as a "normal" publisher does.
- There are also companies called Vanity presses (though not by themselves) who may promise all of these things and more, will charge (over-)high prices for them, but may well not bother or not be able to carry some of them out. You could for example find yourself paying them a monthly charge to store unbound pages for you (which may not yet actually have been printed at all – see Print on demand), to be bound one by one if any order is received for the book. Reputable book distributors and stores never have dealings with such companies, and several of the most notorious operators have a habit of failing to provide what they have been paid for, failing to pay the Royalties owed to their authors, and declaring bankruptcy only to spring up under different names.
- The OP might like to investigate potential problems on the websites Writer Beware (operated by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America organisation, but the advice is generally applicable) or other similar writers' organisations. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.199.208.241 (talk) 15:30, 29 December 2017 (UTC)
- Thank you all. I have a rough idea now, plus I can save up... Regards. Wish you all a happy new year. 119.30.39.140 (talk) 18:41, 30 December 2017 (UTC)
December 28
Battle definitions wikt:battle wikt:skirmish
What is the definition of a "major battle", and how is it different from a "skirmish"? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 06:21, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- Many are both, depending on who's reporting them, and who was victorious. There's no robust, objective difference. In some conflicts, from into the modern media reporting age, one side might claim to have lost a few 'skirmishes', but decisively won every 'major battle' - then lost the war. This was particularly common in Korea, Vietnam, the Iran-Iraq War and then in the US invasion of Iraq. Andy Dingley (talk) 10:23, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
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Name of an angel?
Kind of a strange question here: maybe 6 months back I was clicking around on Wikipedia and ended up at an article about an apocryphal angel. I thought the imagery was very interesting and vivid, so I made a mental note to come back to it later, and then of course I closed the tab and forgot the name of the article. Here is what I remember, but of course the human memory can be pretty fuzzy at the best of times:
- The angel teaches something or other to humans, but is not one of the Grigori.
- The angel reveals its true form to someone, and delivers a warning that something terrible is going to happen, so it's probably got something to do with the non-canonical apocalyptic literature.
- The angel in the vision is quite tall, maybe 90 miles. (The first thing I tried to re-find the article was a search for "miles tall", which led me to Hadraniel, but this guy is definitely not 2.1 million miles tall.)
- The angel faces to the west while he delivers his spiel. Or maybe he came from the west, and faced to the east?
- Pretty sure he's on fire.
Is there any chance anyone has any idea what I'm talking about, and can point me to the right article? -165.234.252.11 (talk) 20:35, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- According to Alcibiades of Apamea there was an angel 96 miles high who brought a new Revelation, but I don't see anything about the east/west thing, nor was the angel on fire. --Antiquary (talk) 21:13, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- Elsewhere I learn that this new Revelation, the Book of Elchasai, prescribes praying towards Jerusalem rather than towards the east, and reckons the washing of water is superior to the fire of sacrifice when it comes to forgiving sins (whatever that means), but Wikipedia doesn't seem to have any of these details, or not that I can find. --Antiquary (talk) 21:34, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
- The fire bit really does not narrow anything down. The teaching part and true form thing sounds like Metatron, Uriel, or Raphael (archangel). The height thing reminds me of Metatron and Hekhalot literature in general. The bit about facing to the west does sound like something that would appear in Hekhalot and Kabbalistic literature, but that detail is usually not something spelled out in articles. Raphael is traditionally the angel of the east (and so faces west), while Gabriel is traditionally the angel of the west.
- A single article with all those details might have been deleted, as we get revisions (and occasional articles) written based on occultist "experiences" instead of published sources. Ian.thomson (talk) 01:02, 29 December 2017 (UTC)
- Maybe List of angels in theology will help? -- SGBailey (talk) 20:06, 31 December 2017 (UTC)
December 30
Number of attendees at Wikimania 2017
Does anybody of you know the total number of attendees at Wikimania 2017? Thanks! --Ruislip Gardens (talk) 07:42, 30 December 2017 (UTC)
- Hello, Ruislip Gardens. According to the Montreal Gazette, it was "about 1000 people". Cullen328 Let's discuss it 08:42, 30 December 2017 (UTC)
December 31
Cell phone issue: Using wi-fi when out of data
I'm very confused. Maybe someone can help me or explain to me what's going on? My mother's cellphone (LG LFL33L) ran out of data on her Tracfone plan, because she didn't realize she was not connected to the wifi (that she has through Verizon for the house). It always worked that when connected to the Wifi, no data was deducted from the Tracfone data plan because the internet connection was not being used through the data plan but through the Wifi. So, as far as I can tell, even though she's out of data now, I don't see why the internet should not work so long as she's connected through Wifi, but I can't get her phone online. I went into settings and connected to the Wifi; put in the password, clicked connect, seemed to work. It says signal strength good; all that. Yet, every time I try to connect through the phone's native browser, it says "out of data", and when I try to connect through the phone's Chrome browser, it says the phone is offline. I am typing this post on the house computer so the same internet connection I am trying to get the wifi through is online. I tried turning off "mobile data"; no effect. I went into the browser settings and dumped as much as I could, cache, cookies and history; no effect. Airplane mode is off. I tried resetting the router and turning the phone off and on; no effect. Am I wrong and you actually have to have data through your plan to connect to the internet though the wifi? Thanks.--100.2.221.147 (talk) 19:23, 31 December 2017 (UTC)
- Sounds like the phone's ability for Wi-Fi wasn't working (so it used network data instead) and then it still isn't working today (so can't connect now). No big change, just one fault and it's the same fault going on. No weird interconnection between Wi-Fi and data plans.
- You need to get the phone's Wi-Fi connection working, and that connection working as far as the internet. Can the phone connect to the router? Does it think it has? Can it connect (use a web browser on the phone) to the router - probably as the IP address http://192.168.1.1 Once it's at the router, can it get beyond that to the internet? Andy Dingley (talk) 19:42, 31 December 2017 (UTC)
January 1
Vandalized articles
The articles for President George H.W. Bush and President Donald Trump have recently vandalized.