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

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

Another possibility is that the questioner is considered to have defaulted on a student loan, is having tax refunds withheld by the government to pay down his or her loan balance, and wants to know what to do to receive tax refunds again. In this case, I think that the only option is to contact your loan servicer (most likely the Department of Education or a contractor for the department) and arrange a repayment plan. Marco polo (talk) 19:22, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, that sounds like a more likely interpretation than mine. --Trovatore (talk) 19:30, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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

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

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

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

"Tweeker" (two e's)in urban dictionary[1] will give you the behaviour picture ++ Julia Rossi (talk) 21:21, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

looks like the jurys in then (on 'tweeker'..

the thing did say 'tweeky' though http://www.enjoythemusic.com/Magazine/equipment/1201/roksancaspian.htm http://www.cybersportbike.com/2/breviews/honda/hondaRC51.htm http://audiophiliac.tribe.net/thread/849d102b-367d-4947-9093-61de0733fd7c http://www.psaudio.com/articles/featured_recordings_archive.asp looks like a lot of guy / hobby stuff - synonym I suggest would be 'fiddly'87.102.9.73 (talk) 21:31, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The question's about tweeky, but let's look at the range of words here, "tweeter" is a high frequency loudspeaker, "tweak" is fine adjustments, "tweeker" is as above and at Urban dictionary, "tweeky" can be as per meth life (or a female body part). Personally, I still vote for the behaviour thing though. Julia Rossi (talk) 01:09, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And also men fiddling with knobs/spanners etc describe the experience as tweeky.(as shown in the hifi/car/bike links given above)87.102.114.245 (talk) 13:14, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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

I would guess about 1.3 *10¹¹ square feet of residential roof area, at 1000 square feet per residence roof, 300 million inhabitants and 2.3 persons per residence. Ballpark estimate only. Not including commercial, governmental, institutional, etc. Note that estimates of real estate may be usable square feet of floor space, and buildings are likely to be multistory, making the roof area les than the floor space. Perhaps [2] or [3] can furnish you with some source data, but I expect assumptions will be required to relate square feet of commercial space to roof area. Edison (talk) 06:03, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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

Not really. There's very little actual mathematics here. — Lomn 15:48, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe Simple English Wikipedia has an Arithmetic desk. Clarityfiend (talk) 17:18, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps my comment was poorly phrased. The question's core is one of finding data sources and making rough estimations and extrapolations. Yes, this is mathematical. However, it's not the sort of rigorous question that is the usual realm of RD/MA. It's the sort of question that calls for a back-of-the-envelope guess. As a result, I conclude that no, it wouldn't go better under Mathematics. — Lomn 19:17, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

1,000 square feet per house? You must live in Santa Monica. The average home size in 2001 was 2,066 square feet ([4]). -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:24, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Still, because many housing units are in multistory (or at least 2-story) buildings, the roof square footage will be smaller (perhaps by half or more) than the floor square footage. Marco polo (talk) 01:54, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, good point. Considering the predominance of ranch houses in much of the country (and the fact that basements don't count in square footage as far as I know), we're probably looking at an average of 1,500 sqft. or so of roof space per single-family residence. That's an average of perhaps 1.7 stories per home. I guess if you consider the much higher average height in stories of apartment buildings, 1,000 sqft. per residence might not be a bad conservative estimate after all. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 02:37, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The back of my envelope definitely factored in the 4000 sq ft McMansions (but at 2 or more stories) with tenements and other high density housing. Commercial space is what I could not begin to make a guess for, because there is lots of single story commercial space, including a large part of a "big box" store, along with skyscrapers, which may be 80 stories or higher. Warehouses and farm buildings have roofs too. I would expect a national roofing association would pay people to estimate the installed base of roofs by shingles, metal, built-up, etc, along with construction and maintenance trends. They could have done this based on a sampling of building permits over the years. Edison (talk) 15:12, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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

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

Lotsofissues 09:16, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

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

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

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

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

Another possibility is that there is disagreement within the government over Middle Eastern policy. There are probably those who think that the decision to invade Iraq harmed U.S. interests, and that the mounting pressure for a military attack on Iran (by either the United States or Israel) posed grave threats to U.S. security or welfare. If intelligence indicated that such an attack is not warranted and if intelligence officials feared that such an attack might be imminent and harmful to U.S. interests, then they might decide to release the intelligence undermining the rationale for an attack. Marco polo (talk) 19:16, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You misinterpret the NIE. It did not say the Iranians were not enriching uranium. It says that the explicitly military part of their program was cancelled in 2003. They are still enriching uranium, for "peaceful" purposes. But one could easily argue that they should not be doing that, at least not without significant safeguards, since the same processes, once learned, can be used for military programs in the future. What the NIE did is defuse the Bush administration's claims that Iran was actively working towards military goals at the moment, which they are not. They probably do have a long-term military goal, but it is not the "they could have a bomb in a year or two" sort of thing that the Bush administration made it out to be.

As for different branches of the government being out of step, different organizations within the government have their own priorities, responsibilities, agendas. It is common for the Dept. of State and the Dept. of Defense to be often completely in disagreement with one another—one favors diplomatic solutions, one favors military ones, with differences based in part on the steps one takes in life to get in power in such places. It can be much more complex than that though. The intelligence agencies, for example, took a lot of blame for the failures of the Iraq War intelligence estimate, and the current executive administration (the Bush White House) is running out of time. To appear politically impartial right now would be, so to speak, a smart political move for any agency not looking to get gutted after the next election. This is just speculation on my part though—in reality such inter-governmental issues are usually much more complex than that, and often much more personal.

One of the guarantees of freedom (or attempts at such a guarantees) put in place in the US Constitution is the idea of split powers, checks-and-balances; different agencies (based upon whether they answer to the Executive Branch, or to Congress, or the Judiciary) can be completely out of step with one another. It's a good thing on the whole; it allows dissenting opinions to be aired, more impartial judgments to be made, and oversight to be in place. --140.247.11.3 (talk) 00:57, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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

Pardon my French, but that ain't a question. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 13:51, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It does effectively ask, "Does anyone know any cheat codes for Nokia games other than Bounce?" 81.174.226.229 (talk) 14:07, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This sort of question is always best answered by referring to google. --Tagishsimon (talk) 15:11, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

So today the Ref Desk works like the game Jeopardy? Edison (talk) 15:06, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What is a rhetorical question? --LarryMac | Talk 15:09, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Who knows? --Tagishsimon (talk) 01:05, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sigh. Okay here's what I did. I lost my car keys and have no spares. Yes, I know, "how could I not have a spare?" Well suffice it to say, lesson learned (and how) but that's the situation I'm in. Making matters worse, the car is in a public pay garage and I am being charged something like $30 a day to keep it there (parked it there yesterday). Who do I call and what do I do? I know I can hire a locksmith to open the car for me but that alone is not going to help very much when I can't start the car. I'm not sure if it's relevant but I'll mention that it is a 1999 Toyota Celica with an alarm system. This means that as soon as someone opens the door the very loud alarm will go off with no way to shut it off. Anyone have any ideas? As boneheaded as this is, I can't be the first person to find themselves in this situation. --71.247.16.31 (talk) 15:36, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Have you contacted Toyota? As you say, you're surely not the first person to do this and I wouldn't be surprised if they have a (probably expensive) method for helping you. --Dweller (talk) 15:40, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The police can probably help with this too, but don't call the emergancy number, but rather the non-emergancy number. I've seen friends call the police for lesser things, so it's worth a shot. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 16:09, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Or your local Toyota dealer. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 16:43, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Using your VIN, you should be able to get a new set of keys cut, along with any magic electronic device your car needs to start. You may need some adequate proof of ownership of that VIN and it probably won't be cheap. But real experience always does cost something :-(.

Atlant (talk) 17:49, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If it was a Saturn, I'd recommend trying the keys of a similar car. My friend always keeps a "spare" for me (which are actually the keys to his Saturn), and once used them to inexplicibly make my car able to be started with a screwdriver in the keyhole. However, I have seen this work with other cars, even newer ones with alarms like yours. The alarm still goes off, of course. This is even recommended in certain books, one being Worst Case Scenario. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 17:51, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are some shady guys in the bad part of the nearest large city who could pop the door, pop the hood and silence the alarm, remove the old ignition lock and install a new one, and drive away in under a minute. Thirty seconds is the goal. The trick is getting them on your side. Contact the dealer and they can work with a locksmith to fix the situation. Don't labor under the delusion that a car has an invulnerable security system. Edison (talk) 15:04, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

My old Toyota key became unreliable, so I presented my title at the nearest Toyota dealership and had a new one cut; about $15 if memory serves. —Tamfang (talk) 18:19, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

first indian to win an olympic medal in individual events? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.195.161.110 (talk) 16:24, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Presuming that you're referring to people representing India, there are a few possible answers. The International Olympic Committee considers Norman Pritchard to have represented India at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he won two silver medals. The first "Indians" (as distinct from white settlers like Pritchard) to win medals were members of the men's field hockey team at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam who won a gold medal. The first medals won by "Indians" competing for an independent India were members of the men's field hockey team competing at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, who also won a gold medal. Carom (talk) 16:32, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, I see you asked specifically about individual events. In that case, the answer is either Pritchard or Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, who won a bronze medal in wrestling (freestyle bantamweight) at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Carom (talk) 22:01, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I meant to add this yesterday: If you want the Indigenous peoples of the Americas connotation of "Indian," then the obvious answer is Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest athletes of all time -- Olympic gold in Pentathlon and Decathlon in 1912, professional baseball, football, and basketball. He made Chuck Norris look like a scrub. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 14:14, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

why doesnt this address work —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.122.129 (talk) 17:59, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Becuase it isnt a real website?????????? BonesBrigade 18:09, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Because it's not a valid URL. Computers don't work by lookalikes and don't usually speak leet. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:10, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And specifically because there is no Top-level domain of C0/\/\. --Tagishsimon (talk) 18:15, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Because those are stitches, and only work on fabric?87.102.9.73 (talk) 21:24, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Executor Tassadar decided to rudely delete my post here for no reason. I wondered if some sewing machines can connect to the internet, and the answer is "yes", some do connect to the internet to download patterns and such. Most don't do it directly, however. Please don't delete comments willy-nilly, even if they are silly. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:31, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Huh? --hydnjo talk 03:34, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, if one does not wish to wade through the page history, the deleted post was something like, "Aren't there some sewing machines that connect to the internet?". 206.252.74.48 (talk) 16:57, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

is it fact or myth taht tyeping exactly two hundred "w" in address bar and enter will crash firefox —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.122.129 (talk) 18:02, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Only one way to find out, let us know if its a myth, if you dont, well asume its fact, good luck —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 18:05, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Myth, unless you don't count copy-paste. But don't take my word for it. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:07, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

PS:[5]

In my experience, putting nearly anything into the address bar of Internet Explorer and pressing enter will make it crash. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:39, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I hope it's true, anyone who tries it deserves a well predicted outcome! Richard Avery (talk) 07:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't that the whole point? You tell someone they need to type it, not copy and past or anything. They spend the next 5 minutes doing so. It fails. You tell them they didn't count properly and try again. They keep trying until finally they give up having wasted the last hour or so trying out this myth Nil Einne (talk) 16:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No luck on Firefox 2.0.0.12 on Windows (Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.12) Gecko/20080201 Firefox/2.0.0.12).--droptone (talk) 12:39, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, I am seeking the rights to the musical Your Arms are too Short to Box with god" by vinnette carrol. I have tried contacting most of the licensing agents with no success. Can you answer this question: what is the name and contact information of the licensing agent for the musical?Thanks.les ford 20:59, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

This says that the sheet music was published by 'Alfred Publishing': they probably won't hold the performing rights, but they may be able to tell you who to ask. --ColinFine (talk) 00:16, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I played around with this site without finding Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, by Vinnette Carroll, but there are some helpful hints there about tracking down hard-to-find musicals. You were a little off on the title/author's name; I checked the spelling in the show's ibdb entry. Good luck! Catrionak (talk) 16:56, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There is a new herbal female enhancement supplement on the market called "Femaxium". My questions are: Who devoloped it, Where was it developed, What supplements does it contain, and What are to potential side effects? In other words... is this supplement for real? 74.93.188.183 (talk) 22:28, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Have you checked their website of the same name? I had a quick look... I'm not going there again. Scarian^{Call me Pat} 22:51, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Why not? Cryo921 (talk) 03:52, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Am I just a suspicious old so-and-so, or does this question strike anybody else as thinly disguised self-publicising? --ColinFine (talk) 00:17, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Aye aye, cap'n. Brand ho! Julia Rossi (talk) 00:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think self-publicising would mention side-effects and ask if it was "for real". (To the original poster, sorry, never heard of it. Have you tried an internet search engine such as Google?) AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 08:50, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

i saw videos on youtube of a guy killing some chickens. where can i find some of a guy killin a horse. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.122.129 (talk) 23:28, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

.I suspect you could search some slightly less mainstream video sites (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Video_on_demand_services) maybe one might have a video that satisfies your, somewhat alien to me, desires. ny156uk (talk) 23:40, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Try looking for the '50s French documentary on a horse slaughterhouse "Le Sang des Bêtes", by Georges Franju-------Rhinoracer (talk) 12:39, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There's even an article on that film! Remarkable. --Ouro (blah blah) 12:57, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You could try looking for slaughterhouse footage, assuming the interest is purely academic. Otherwise, please seek professional help..

ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 14:42, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Are there any differences between " Vitreous China " or "Porcelain"?Mfroess (talk) 01:09, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see an obvious answer to your question, but have you read our articles on porcelain and vitreous? ~~ —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bovlb (talk • contribs) 09:37, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In short, from the googling I've been doing, I think that:

• Porcelain is a type of vitreous china
• Porcelain is not well a defined label, as noted in our article.
• Vitreous china is well defined, not least by standards bodies concerned with sanitary ware, such as the British Standards Institute, which publishes BS 3402: 1969 High grade ceramic ware used for sanitary appliances. That defines VC as being made from a mixture of white burning clays and finely ground minerals which after firing at high temperature, and when unglazed, does not have a mean value of water absorption greater than 0.5% of the dry weight.
• Given that VC definition, and the fuzzyness of the Porcelain definition, I tend to think that VC could be described as Porcelain (giving rise to the saying, "pointing percy at the porcelain".)
• in the main, the term porcelain appears to be used when describing crockery and electrical insulators, and VC when describing sanitary ware. However some sanitary ware vendors use the term porcelain, perhaps seeking some sort of competitive advantage arising out of the word's association with highly priced crockery.

I hope that's enough... --Tagishsimon (talk) 11:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can anyone present to me the national debt (not deficit) graph for recent years, I can't seem to find it. I am mostly interested in the debt from about 1999-2002, but I would prefer a graph. also, PLEASE POST YOUR ANSWER BOTH HERE AND ON MY TALK PAGE. Thanks PwnerELITE (talk) 03:09, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

• National debt: [6]
• As percentage of GDP: [7]
• Corrected for inflation: [8] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.171.56.13 (talk) 14:26, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is it legal to hack into a site for the purpose of helping its owners develop better security? Is it legal to stage a bank robbery for the purpose of helping the bank's owners develop better security? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 13:18, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No. Your intentions when committing an illegal act might serve as mitigation once you;ve been convicted, but will not prevent convictions. I vaguely remember some instances of this, where people prosecuted for hacking offered a defence of "helping its owners develop better security" by revealing security weaknesses but were nevertheless convicted. --Tagishsimon (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 14:17, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Depends. I've read news articles about hackers getting permission beforehand from site owners to test the security. Clarityfiend (talk) 14:27, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That an intresting question for the bank one. Im courious to find out. I dont see any reason whynot if the police and owners knew. And of course the employes notified or signed a waiver. BonesBrigade 14:33, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What about the customers? This can be a traumatic experience and shouldn't be done on their expense. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 18:35, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You might want to reconsider your use of the term 'hack'. I am assuming you mean 'cracking' as opposed to 'hacking'.

Firstly, a disclaimer. Wikipedia does NOT and cannot give legal advice, On legal matters please seek appropriate professional advice.

That said there are numerous way in which organisation test the security of their systems, right through the life-cycle of such systems. Some of these methods may involve 'white-hat' tactics which IMPORTANTLY are done with the full knowledge of the bank and regulatory authorities concerned. Some organisation also use 'plants' of people or evidence to test procedures and systems, However again this takes place with the knowledge and informed consent of senior management and under strict controls.

ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 14:40, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Die Hard 4 has a similar premise to the OP's question. --Ouro (blah blah) 16:26, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sneakers (film) is another film based on hacking with permission in order to test security, but the permission is the key point. I doubt that claiming security testing will make people any better disposed to you as breaking into a bank and leaving a note saying "haha, your alarm doesn't work" will. Steewi (talk) 23:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

y r dey poor —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 13:23, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Because if they weren't they would be called developed countries. --Sean 14:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Developing country is probably the more relevant link. The reasons for a country's status are complex, debated, and distinct from any other country. Any encompassing answer is by nature a rough generalization. However, as our developing country article notes, theories of decolonization, liberation theology, Marxism, anti-imperialism, and political economy all attempt to explain the origin and nature of developing countries. — Lomn 14:49, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

People critical of Globalisation explain it here [9]. It's a fat article so just go to this section, scroll down to "Critics argue that: " where it explains how poorer countries are further disadvantaged. Another cause is World Trade. An example is Bob Geldorf's Africa series where he asks why the coffee producers are still living in huts and not on yachts in the Riviera, because their prices are fixed and they cannot sell in their own country or to each other to make extra, only to their (international) contract buyer etc. These are World Trade rules that need reforming [10]. I was sleepy at the time, so no more details, sorry. Julia Rossi (talk) 22:39, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can i get a more details on "Gotra: Brahmdaswa" of 'More' surname-96 main clans???????? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Santosh moore (talk • contribs) 13:32, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See Maratha clan system and Gotra. Xn4 20:25, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I was reading the Pet Store article and was wondering if anyone had a good source about the history of the phonemena to help improve the article.

Would I be right in thinking that they are largely a twentieth Century phonemena now in decline?

ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 14:12, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I would find "now in decline" to be highly controversial, unless you're making a distinction between small independently-owned shops and the present growth of pet megastores. — Lomn 14:51, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

'Traditional' pet store is what I meant, I'd stil like more info on the history though ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 15:25, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Definitely not a C20th phenomenon. People have kept animals as pets for hundreds of years, though they would originally have been sold in the marketplace.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 09:40, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have 3 questions: A, how and why did the Uk get ibvolved in the Napoleonic Wars? B, please direct me to an article concerning Israeli German relations, and C, please direct me to an article on german Palastinian relations. Thanks guys and girls, we all do a wonderful job here, especially Clio the Muse who answers most questions indepth. Keep up the good work. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 15:26, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A. see Napoleonic Wars and First Coalition, and more particularly William Pitt the Younger#French Revolution. France was threatening to export revolution. various monarchies were not happy. France got more uppity, and forced Pitt's hand. --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:28, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

B. Germany-Israel relations --Tagishsimon (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 16:01, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, but I still do not understand, if England had already had a revolution, and was run in a democratic style, why did they not support the French ideal of spreading revolution in Europe to promote the freedoms of people there. The English were free, the French were free, and the French wanted others to be free, why fight this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 16:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

England got its revolution out of the way very early, and was a happy monarchical semi-democracy. Power in England still rested with the aristocracy, not with the working people. There was considerable fear in England and Europe that revolution on the uncivilised (i.e. anti-aristocracy) French model would be exported - even to England. England's parliament was, if you like, a bastion of the power elite, not a place of the people. --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:03, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I would add that this was not just an issue of aristocracy versus democracy. After all, by the time the Napoleonic Wars were in full swing, France was a dictatorship rather than a democracy. The big issue here was one of power. France and England had been contesting each other for dominance of Europe and of global sea trade since the decline of Spain in the 17th century. (Of course the traditional enmity between France and England goes back even further to the Hundred Years War.) England, in the form of Great Britain, had gained the upper hand in the Seven Years War. With his continental conquests, Napoleon threatened British power. Because of the importance of continental Europe to British trade and the British economy, Napoleon's actions especially threatened the economic basis of British power. There was also a fear that if Napoleon consolidated his power on the continent, he might try to invade Britain itself, perhaps by way of Ireland. So the British took the offensive against France as much to protect their power and sovereignty as to defend their social and political order. Marco polo (talk) 17:45, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

if a person has been caught on an international airport (IN USA), who is not the national of that country (if drugs are found in his/her luggage which the person doesnt know where it came from) what would be the investigation procedure the person would have to go through, what rights would the person be given (such as arranging a lawyer, contacting parents so they can do something in this regard, would the embassy of the country be informed>) and would the police of that area (airport) be willing to talk to lawyers( if they call for first hand info) of what happened and who CAN BE CONTACTED (ANY INTERNATIONAL LAW BODY) which can try to lawfully RESCUE the person

PLEASE DONT GIVE ABSURD COMMENTS THAT THIS QUESTION SHOULD NOT BE POSTED HERE OR SORT OF....THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.128.4.231 (talk) 16:12, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Here's a link that might help - Tips for Traveling Abroad. --Onorem♠Dil 16:27, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If you are arrested in a country which is not your own, your first point of call should be your embassy. In most countries, they are legally required either to notify or to allow you to contact your embassy if you make such a request. The US is one of the countries where they are required to notify your embassy if they arrested you. See [11] and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. However as the US pulled out of the optional protocol, you have no standing in the International Court of Justice if they deny you your rights. Note that in any case while International Court of Justice decisions are generally binding, the only way they can be enforced is via the UN. As the US has veto power in the UN security council, even if the US had not pulled out of the optional protocol you would still basically have little protection. To put it a different way, if the US decided to fuck you around and their courts agree, you're fucked. No one is going to be able to rescue you... Nil Einne (talk) 16:29, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

NB I don't however want to sound too pessimistic. The US does seem to have, as with a number of developed countries, good legal protections for everyone arrested in that country. You would generally be entilted to most of the legal protections any citizen of the US would get. Perhaps the biggest problem in the US, is that your fate seems to rest way to much on the competecy of your lawyer so if you can't afford a good one, you may find yourself with major problems. All this is provided of course the US doesn't decide to you are a terrorist or similar undesirable and send you to Guantanamo Bay or other black site. Nil Einne (talk) 16:57, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Even if not a US citizen, a person is still subject to US law when in the country, including entering it. They can notify an embassy and they might give legal aid, but a person committing a crime on US soil can be put in jail in the US. For similar cases not related to the US, see Schappelle Corby and [[12]]. Steewi (talk) 23:51, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can a snake keep themselves warm by wraping around something? If they can, can someone give me a sorce that says that?--76.176.130.141 (talk) 16:13, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sure, that's just basic heat transfer. Snakes and other reptiles often sun on warm rocks and such, and this is no different in principle. Whether or not a snake will opt to warm in such fashion is another matter, though. — Lomn 16:31, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

how warm is a cock —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 16:17, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The body temperature of chickens, and so presumably cocks, is between 39.8 °C and 43.6 °C. --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:31, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I can hear the sniggering from here. But hang on in there, you might learn something. The temperature of a penis will be slightly less than 36.8 °C if exposed (low volume to surface ratio) and probably a snug 36.8 °C whilst in the trousers. --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:31, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I managed to refrain from posting those same values. Just. I think you're being overly precise and a little optimistic. The warmth of the trousers will have an effect, as will whether or not it is flaccid. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 16:35, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Surely too if the penis has just been subjected to rigiorous movement it would be hotter? Especially inside a cavity warmer then 36.8 °C? Nil Einne (talk) 16:47, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I didn't see any merit in covering all cases to satisfy a presumed Beavis or Butthead. Friction will do it, yes, however I doubt - friction aside - that the vaginal canal is warmer then 36.8 °C. But what do I know. Recalling the memorable phrase from The Virgin Suicides (film), I was never an elevn year-old girl (nor a doctor, come to that). --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:40, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I suppose if you want a cavity warmer than human body temperature, it would need to be a non-human cavity. Dogs' body temperature is warmer than humans'. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 01:30, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps, but inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. --Trovatore (talk) 01:39, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, the temperature seems a bit odd to me, I suspect it may be wrong, wouldn't most internal cavities be warmer then the exterior of the body? The surface of the body is usually lower then the body temperature, clothes or not... Of course some human body temperatures are naturally higher then 36.8 anyway Nil Einne (talk) 19:02, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Are you sure the poster was referring to live cocks? Maybe he/she wanted to know what's the temperature you should cook cocks to? Nil Einne (talk) 16:45, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Oh. In that case, 165F or 74C. See Critical Control Point or Temperature (meat). AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 16:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And if it's one of these cocks or one of these cocks, the temperature might vary from time to time through a range of 60°C or more. --Anonymous, 00:12 UTC, February 14, 2008.

But have you considered that this may be a matter of emotional rather than physical warmth? The cocks I have met (feathered type) tend to be warm not in the sense of friendliness, but in the sense of aggression. On the other hand the emotional state of the penis is generally closely related to that of its owner. SaundersW (talk) 22:18, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

in movies sometimes the guys break peoples necks with their cheeks. what is the maximum force that can be applied with ones cheeks and can a man break someones neck with his cheeks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 16:49, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not by any muscle action, but presumably by jumping from a height and landing arse (or ass) first onto someone's head. These are rather juvenile questions. Without wishing to call you out or anything, don't you think a certain amount of growing up is in order? --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:55, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This begs the question of exactly what kind of movies he/she is watching. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:14, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No, actually it doesn't beg the question at all. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.122.19.82 (talk) 21:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Agreed, it merely asks the question. --hydnjo talk 02:56, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Excuse me if I didn't know that actually meant something. You learn something every day. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 13:51, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pay no heed to these weirdos. In insisting on a particular meaning for "beg the question", they fatally undermine their own position by not applying the same logic to the word "beg" itself, which clearly doesn't mean anything like what they claim it to mean. If they can arbitrarily redefine the word "beg" to suit their purposes, then we can certainly redefine the phrase "beg the question" to suit ours, and be far more justified in doing so, too.- 88.110.41.7 (talk) 15:27, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Which begets the question, should we go to war with these phrase pedants? --Tagishsimon (talk) 15:40, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Never trust a movie, it's a lot harder to break someone's neck then usually shown in the movies (but don't try it!) Nil Einne (talk) 19:03, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I need to find out about the Maori (Australasian Tribe) Belief Mana for a project. So fas all I have managed to find out about it is the name ? Can anybody tell me where I can find information including what it means who/what posses it , what it means , that sort of thing. Or can somebody tell me about it. Thanks

Emily

90.196.15.58 (talk) 16:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Have you read mana? Algebraist 17:02, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It might help too if you read the Māori article since if you are going to write/talk about Mana in Māori culture, you should know more about them then 'Australasian tribe'. There are a lot of good websites out there to help you learn about the Māori, try [www.maori.org.nz] for starters Nil Einne (talk) 17:32, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is that notion really primary over the mana of Vishnu? Vishnu's mana is not even mentioned at mana (disambiguation) -- this seems wrong to me. I don't know enough about it to write the article myself. --Trovatore (talk) 01:44, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Definitely it should be mentioned in the disambig. But as for primary, I would suggest yes since it doesn't seem that important a concept when it comes to Vishnu (based on the lack of coverage in wikipedia, e.g. the only article I found which mentions it is Samudra manthan and on the web) but you can't hope to talk about or understand traditional Māori culture or people without understanding mana Nil Einne (talk) 07:20, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to the fork etiquette article American style usage is "The knife is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. Holding food to the plate with the fork tines-down, a single bite-sized piece is cut with the knife. The knife is then placed on the right edge of the plate (always with the blade facing inward) and the fork transferred to the right hand, with the left hand falling to the lap"...

Seriously? I mean really is this just some silly thing that nobody actually does or is it common practice? The bit i'm struggling to comprehend is why you would put down the knife, switch hands, lower the hand you previously had the fork in and then eat. That, to me, sounds neither sensible nor really of any benefit to anybody - either in terms of aesthetics, efficiency, tidyness, control etc. I just wondered whether this is just one of those silly 'rules' that society claims to have but which is no longer followed by any meaningful amount of the population...Similarly under 'table manners' there is stuff listed as manners in English which in my 25-odd years of life (across various standards of society) I have never seen...among others "If you’re eating a dessert, your fork (if you have one) should be held in the left hand and the spoon in the right.", "Your napkin should never be screwed up. Nor should it be folded neatly as that would suggest that your host might plan to use it again without washing it - just leave is neatly but loosely." and "Salt & pepper should be passed together." All of these appear to be just made up on the spot. There may be examples of people considering these 'manners' but they are by no means widespread. I guess it's where we draw the line but having read the other cultures ones I would have no idea which are 'real' manners and which are just the overly-fussy stuff that virtually no-one in reality actually knows about/cares about/follows. ny156uk (talk) 18:19, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As an american of a certain age, I can say that this ridiculous practice of switching the fork from the left to the right hand for a single bite was the "proper" etiquette used when I was growing up in the 1950s. The much more logical European system of keeping the fork in the left hand was seen as impolite and common. I switched to the later in the 1960s, deeming the method I was taught as silly. However, the American practice is still being used--you can see it occasionally in restaurants.--Eriastrum (talk) 18:24, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

When I grew up in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, I was trained to do exactly as is described above. I still do it that way, mainly as a matter of habit. However, as a right-handed person, I think that it might be difficult for me to keep the fork in my left hand. It is definitely easier for me to keep the fork in my right hand, except when I am using a knife, which then becomes the implement that needs my right-handed attention. That said, I tend to eat foods that do not require a knife (e.g. pasta, Asian dishes), so I need to switch back and forth only when I am served a traditional meal with a big slab of meat or fish. Marco polo (talk) 18:29, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yet another one of those American things my parents were ignorant of, and thus never thought me (thank God). If someone tries to make me do that the knife is going from the right hand into their left eye socket. However, despite my vehement opposition to this piece of "etiquette", I can see some scant logic to it. One is for control, as Marco Polo stated, the other is the historical idea of the left hand being unsuitable to be used for certain things. But why is this only etiquette in the United States? Everyone I know from Europe laughs at its silliness, but Europe is where a lot of American etiquette comes from. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 18:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe Europeans are more ambidextrous. The left hand of a right-handed person is less able to convey a fork full of food, to the mouth without spillage. If it is a piece of meat, then the left hand should have no problem. If it is a load of peas, then the right hand has an advantage. Small dogs lurking under the table are said to like old people and small children, because they spill the most food. Perhaps to that category could be added those right handed people who use the left hand all the time for maneuvering the fully laden fork. As for usefulness of cutlery as weapons, there is much to be said for jabbing with a fork as opposed to a table knife, which tends to be dull at the end. The Manson family used both knives and forks in their killings. Edison (talk) 19:32, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps the left hand of a person who is right handed and has been brought up to convey a forkful of food only in their right hand is less able to convey a fork full of food. Personally I'm right handed, and I find it harder to bring a laden fork to my mouth with my right hand than my left because my left hand is used to it and my right is not. Anyway, if you're loading the fork (rather than conveying a piece of speared meat), surely switching hands is terribly inconvenient because you no longer have the knife in the right hand to appropriately load the fork? And if you load the fork before switching, you would surely increase spillage compared to keeping the fork in the left hand. No, I think this is just like eating with the tines pointing down. I can argue that I do it because I don't have to lift my wrist so high, or that it looks better, but really it's just because I was brought up that way. Skittle (talk) 20:32, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well in Islam, people are generally supposed to eat with the right hands, but that's generally believed to be primarily because they don't (or didn't) use utensils so they are literally eating with their right hand and the left hand is used for Islamic toilet etiquette. Also, according to the fork etiquette article, forks only became widespread in Europe long after the US had been established. Therefore it isn't really that surprising that the etiquette developed differently and as most etiquette is some degree of madness, I guess it's understandable each came to a different degree of madness in different areas. Nil Einne (talk) 19:46, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(Original research/opinion follows): the primary purpose of most rules of etiquette (in which I include spelling, punctuation, and prescriptive grammar, by the way) is to distinguish those who follow them from those who don't, whatever the purported rationalisation reason might be. In the light of this, it is clearly desirable for said rules to be difficult to acquire or to carry out, otherwise everybody could follow them easily and they would lose that function. --ColinFine (talk) 00:36, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(Opinion follows) The primary purpose of etiquette is to refrain from making other people uncomfortable. There are unfortunately those who absolutely revel in making other people as uncomfortable as possible: they usually are the ones who claim that etiquette is all about being picky and "fitting in" and that anyone with brains doesn't bother with it. It's an obvious excuse made by people who care more about their own "rights" (including the right to gross people out) than other people's comfort. It's also very shortsighted because people do judge you on your manners and etiquette; someone who ignores it may get hired, but he won't be promoted to a position where interacting with others is necessary.

Of course, the vast, overwhelming bulk of etiquette rules don't address which fork to use but things like putting your elbows on the table, not closing your mouth while chewing, barging through doors in front of older persons, etc. The people I know who think etiquette is for suckers universally do these things, and think that those who don't are suckers who have been co-opted by evil, evil society not to be "honest". --NellieBly (talk) 16:16, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

One story, which I can't find a source on right now, says that transferring the fork to the right hand was used as a secret signal during the American Revolution. If everyone at the table was doing it, then they were all on the side of the revolution and could talk freely about it. Anyone cramming food into his mouth left-handed was not to be trusted. --tcsetattr (talk / contribs) 04:59, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This doesn't agree with the claim made in the fork etiquette article that forks did not become widespread in the US until the 19th century Nil Einne (talk) 07:12, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That's just a myth. The fact that the fork wan't introduced into america until the 19th century has something to do with it actually. I'll explain in a sec, it's lunchtime. Cryo921 (talk) 18:09, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

So I don't agree with the commentators that seem to think this practice is passé in the states. Speaking as an American, yes, we really do do it, in all but the most utterly casual situations. If you don't do it, I'm afraid it looks like you're in too much of a hurry to eat. It wouldn't, of course, if the practice weren't entrenched, but it is, so there you are. The only part that might be a little overstated is the bit about the knife -- it sort of sounds as though we lay it down delicately, which is not really accurate.

I can see that from the outside it looks as silly as, say, the European idea of leaving a token morsel of food on your plate at a restaurant looks to us. --Trovatore (talk) 07:52, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Where in Europe? I've never heard of that except in an HSBC advert mentioning it as Chinese etiquette. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 10:38, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Here's some more original research: I'm right-handed and European, and I always eat with the fork in the right hand and the knife in the left. It just came more naturally to me that way. No other right-handed person I know does it. Because the standard place setting has the fork on the left and the knife on the right, I always have to do a quick swapover before I tuck in. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 10:45, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, meet someone else who does :-) 81.187.153.190 (talk) 20:26, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe we should start a club? ;) --Candy-Panda (talk) 14:28, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

• Hey! A really dumb question, maybe. But: In those cultures in which it is highly improper to eat with the left hand, is food always served chopped up in small pieces (and/or communally) so that one need not use a knife? And are cooks also expected to only use one hand, or is the rule only when dining? --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 06:17, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I find it quite easy to eat most things only using a fork in my right hand and nothing else. Except duck. HS7 (talk) 12:49, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What are the laws governing marajuana in south africa? how many years in prison? what size fine? for possetion, dealing ect thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 18:09, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Our article on Legality of cannabis unfortunately doesn't presently contain a section on South Africa. However, this website for travellers who use cannabis suggests that you are likely to be fined, but not imprisoned for possession. It doesn't say how much the fine might be. It also mentions that the authorities deal more harshly with dealers. (No comment on the reliability of this possibly user-generated content.) There is an interesting article here which suggests that South Africa produces the largest amount on cannabis in the world, most consumed domestically. However, Wikipedia doesn't give legal advice, so if you're considering possessing or dealing dagga based on answers you receive here - please don't. --Kateshortforbob 20:35, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

LOL not legal advise, was just curious as when I lived there, i and everyone i knew and met smoked it all the time, i repeat ALL THE TIME. and never had any problem finding it or anything so was just curious, thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 21:24, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And so you quit-quit? --hydnjo talk 02:50, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not really, its just getting harder to find, but one does seem to grow out of it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 18:00, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You know those tables that they have hooked up to beds in patients rooms were they place food on them. What are they called? Thank you for anyone who answer this. (I'm sorry if my description is a little bad.)71.142.214.138 (talk) 18:35, 13 February 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven[reply]

Overbed tables. --Sean 19:01, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you so much. 71.142.214.138 (talk) 21:49, 13 February 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven[reply]

|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------12---x-12---x-12--|-x-12---x-12--x-----12---x-12-x-x-12---x-|
|-----------12---x-12---x-12--|-x-12---x-12--x-----12---x-12-x-x-12---x-|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|-12s14-----------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|

How do I play the X's? Bellum et Pax (talk) 19:23, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Mute the strings by just pulling your fingers off the 12th fret a little. (damping the strings) 139.142.1.140 (talk) 19:28, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

what is this tab to? which song, and by whom? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 22:06, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's a guitar tab and it's difficult to tell who it's by etc. with only a short excerpt. Why don't you ask User:Bellum et Pax on his/her talk page? :-) Scarian^{Call me Pat} 00:45, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Have a Cigar |Bellum et Pax (talk) 03:46, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Often muted strings like that are used for their percussive effects. If you have amp effects with it (distortion or wah wah) such sounds can be very interesting (e.g. the beginning of Voodoo Chile is pretty much all muted strings, with a wah wah). --140.247.11.3 (talk) 00:50, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

what is the alt-code for this character —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 19:57, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The character appears to be a "9", which doesn't require any special codes. In any case instead of clarifying the question here, I suggest asking on the Computing Desk and explaining clearly what character you mean. --Anonymous, 20:07 UTC, February 13.

my nine key is broken —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 20:18, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

On a Windows system, open the Character Map application (Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools). — Lomn 20:09, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

On mine, it seems to be alt-57. Imagine how frustrating it would have been if it had been alt-59, though :) Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 21:23, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Bear in mind that 57 is represented in hexadecimal as 0x39. It is no coincidence that the second digit of the character address matches the character. Similarly, the letter "A" (both upper- and lower-case) is mapped to 0xn1 with the rest of the alphabet proceeding from there. — Lomn 22:14, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Here's a solution (sorry, the previous edit was slightly wrong):

1. download and install autohotkey (35-60 seconds)
2. right-click desktop and select "new autohotkey script" give it a name such as "eight plus one" (10 seconds)
3. right-click ont he new script file and select "edit" (3 seconds)
4. Paste the following line into the end of the script (5 seconds): ^8::Send, 9
5. Save (1 second)
6. Double-click the new script. (2 seconds)

Done!

Now, whenever the script is running, pressing CTRL-8 will be like pressing 9. To type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ctrl-8 0

Have fun! 79.122.19.82 (talk) 21:39, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

ps. if you know of a single character you don't need, like `, you can just have a line

`::9

and pressing ` will be like pressing 9. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.122.19.82 (talk) 21:53, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

AutoHotkey is a great program, but if the physical key is broken (so not just the number 9 but also Shift-9 and Alt-9 and so on) then it might be a better idea to remap the keyboard so that a key you don't use (e.g. Scroll Lock) behaves like the 9 key. You can do that with KeyTweak. -- BenRG (talk) 19:05, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do terrorists hate us for our freedoms, for our religion, or because of political reasons like America's idiotic foreign policy in the middle east? I mean Islam makes the actual attacks happen because the terrorists think they're gaining something, but there's presumably some legitimate ill-will behind them.. what causes it? :D\=< (talk) 21:30, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

i think it's just something to do. get out of the house. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.122.19.82 (talk) 21:42, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't necessarily all of them have a particularly good reason. An alarming number of people will do exactly what they're told. Angus Lepper^{(T, C, D)} 21:54, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The cause of terrorism is different in each instance. It could be political situations, it could be social-policy, it could be propaganda, it could be religion, it could be generational change. It is often that they don't 'hate' individuals they 'hate' groups. On a one-to-one basis yourself and a terrorist may find each other pleasant company (if it makes it easier to envisage, consider terrorism in Northern Ireland - terrorists formed part of 'normal' society too and will have interacted with their 'enemy' daily, perhaps even been friends with those in a group they despise). I think it was Stalin who said 'one death is a tragedy, one million is a statistic' - the terrorists aren't looking to kill specific individuals (apart from obvious political figureheads etc. for symbolic/tactical reasons) they are looking to kill an ideology, a theory, to bring about some change that they, ultimately, feel is positive to the world. It's difficult to comprehend because where does dissent end and terrorism start. Is it with breaking the law? Is it with breaking serious laws? The answer depends on your idea of how far dissent can go in society. Few believe terrorism is acceptable, but sometimes things are labelled terrorism that people would merely consider civil-disobedience. ny156uk (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 22:11, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The point about what is terrorism is succint. For example, nearly everything Imad Mugniyah was involved in is labelled 'terrorism' by various parties, as is for example the USS Cole bombing. However some of Mugniyah's targets were undoutedly military targets, often without putting civilians in direct danger (unlike the Pentagon in September 11th which involved a plane full of civilians). All of these involved guerilla tactics but does that automatically make them terrorist acts? Some people argue that only state actors are legitimate allowed to use force, anyone who is not deemed state and uses force is a terrorist. But then who determines what is a state? Of course, most of these actions, even when against military targest are to some extent meant to cause 'terror' but the same could be said about nearly every military attack. The US nuclear bombings of Japan in WW2 were obviously partially intended to cause 'terror', and wasn't the 'shock and awe' campaign of the Iraq war also meant to cause 'terror' (isn't shock and awe equivalent to terror?). The killing of Imad Mugniyah was via a bombing and I believe some of the Munich terrorists as well. And isn't the intention of these not just to get revenge on these people and to prevent them from contiunoing with their actions but also to spread fear (i.e. 'terror') among those who would follow them? Are these are not considered terrorist attacks, why? Is it only because of the people who were killed and the people doing the killings? If so, who decides who can legitimately be killed this way and who can be legitimately entilted to kill this way? Note that many of the actions of the ANC and Nelson Mandela were deemed terrorist acts and indeed they did plan (before Mandela was arrested) and in fact carry out attacks on civilian targets (although Mandela was in jail by the time). They felt, as do many other people involved in actions deemed terrorism that they had a legitimate cause and their only hope to achieve their cause was via what many would deem 'terrorism'. Nil Einne (talk) 13:25, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Terrorism is a tactic, rather than an ideology, so the question doesn't make sense. It's like asking what motivates people who use Apache helicopter gunships. --Sean 22:59, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According to Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism (which is one of the very few good books on the subject that I have found) suicide terrorism is undertaken for specific social and political objectives NOT because of religious fanaticism. Religion is sometimes used as a recruiting tool but that’s about it. Suicide terrorism is also almost always undertaken as part of a highly organized and disciplined resistance movement. Non suicide terrorism is undertaken for a larger variety of reasons, reasons as simple as simply wanting attention, or as complex as psychological warfare. --S.dedalus (talk) 00:27, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Also, "they" (I assume you mean Middle Eastern terrorists) don't hate America for its "freedoms"; that's what American politicians say in order to get themselves elected. From what I've been told by people who live in the Middle East, the insurgents there see America as the cruel, vicious bully who won't shut up talking about how wonderful and perfect and marvelous he is even as he beats up weaker kids, takes their things (and gives them to his girlfriend, Israel), and laughs over their broken bodies. They see America as a nation that cheats other countries for its own benefit (and Israel's) while claiming to be better than any other country. They see America as a country that bribes corrupt pro-American officials with billions of dollars ostensibly marked as "foreign aid", none of which actually goes to foreign aid (and America knows that, and does it deliberately).

Please understand that I personally strongly disagree with these beliefs; I'm only passing on what I've been told. --68.144.68.238 (talk) 05:34, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I was wondering if anyone knows how long it takes a saving bond to mature in value? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.228.194.122 (talk) 22:57, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Savings Bonds can be taken out for a variety of number of years, there is no one set timescale they mature over. For instance Barclays do one that is 1, 2 or 3 years (http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?site=pfs&task=homefreegroup&value=12252) and National Savings & Investments do them at 1, 3 and 5 year terms (http://www.nsandi.com/products/frsb/index.jsp?section=apply). So the time it takes to mature in value is dependent on how long a term you choose for the product (well actually in reality it is dependent on the products available in the marketplace rather than your own choice since you choice is limited to the products available). ny156uk (talk) 23:05, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Since the questioner's IP geolocates to Racine, Wisconsin, I'll address this from the United States Savings Bond point of view. There are (and have been) many bond series issued over the last century, which have all had different terms and interest rates. The best resource I've found is the US Treasury website. They have an online calculator that can tell you the value of a bond based on the series, serial number and issue date. --LarryMac | Talk 14:07, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A question Wikipedia seems not to have the answer but should: Who coined the name Nupedia and what is its etymology? 16@r (talk) 00:43, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I would guess nu comes from new, and pedia from encyclopaedia. And they probably just didn't think newpedia looked right. HS7 (talk) 20:11, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ok, I asked Larry Sanger and he confirmed me this etymology but he stated he didn't coin the name. Jimmy Wales may have the answer, I'm gonna ask him on his talk page. 16@r (talk) 16:56, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I’ve heard that Christianity claims that God is all-powerful, almighty, and omnipotent, that is, there is nothing that God cannot or is unable to do. I don’t understand. According to Christianity, does that mean that God can not only do anything that is physically impossible, but he can also do anything that is logically impossible, for example making one plus one equal three? According to Christianity, can God make one plus one not equal two, but equal three? Bowei Huang (talk) 02:11, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

From the Reference Desk header at the top of this page:

• Do not start debates or post diatribes. The reference desk is not a soapbox.

Thank you for your understanding about this. --hydnjo talk 02:40, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

However, you might like to read the article on omnipotence and look at the references and external links that it gives. --Anon, 02:57 UTC, February 14, 2008.

God can only declare "one plus one equals three" in Indiana.

Atlant (talk) 15:50, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, and particularly this take about that. --hydnjo talk 03:31, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

To the original poster: Religion makes no sense, it's just absurd. Don't try to understand it because it can't be understood, it's just faith. --Taraborn (talk) 09:08, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That's a rather harsh response to a good faith question. Tell that to all those who publish on religious philosophy each year... and when you've finished, go tell it to the millions who buy the books. Maybe some of them are, but not all of those people are absurd. --Dweller (talk) 13:19, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting that you asked about Christianity and one plus one. Christianity includes the concept that God can make one plus one plus one equal... one. --Dweller (talk) 13:19, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes of course god can do logically impossible things - such as making a world/universe out of nothing.. So the asnwer is yes87.102.115.36 (talk) 13:45, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If you believe that god created the universe, then you believe that god created logic. Therefore, the only reason something seems logically impossible is because god made it seem to you that it would be logically impossible. QED. I prefer the Spaghedeity Mad031683 (talk) 17:09, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

But surely, since we created numbers and definitions and stuff like this, he can't change them, because that would be breaking our rules, not his. 3 is specifically defined as being 1+1+1, if it was anything other than this, it wouldn't be 3. HS7 (talk) 18:17, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Again you're applying logic, in this discussion we presuppose that god created logic and could have made it however he wanted. This means he could have made a universe where it seems as logically ridiculous that 1+1=2 as 1+1=3 is to us. This might possibly be my most airtight argument ever, if anyone disagrees with me, I just point out that their logic is made up. Mad031683 (talk) 19:01, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

He may have created logic, but we created maths and language. HS7 (talk) 20:08, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

But math is based on logic, and according to the Tower of Babel god created language. Mad031683 (talk) 21:18, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Didn't he only create the languages that existed at the time? And one language must have existed before then. HS7 (talk) 21:49, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

One language did exist, the one that Adam spoke on the day he was created so that was also created by god (assuming a literal interpretation of the Bible). Its not really language we're talking about anyway, it's the abstract concept of 3. Even if 3 was called "two" it doesn't change what 3 is in this universe. I'm saying omnipotence implies the ability to create a universe where 1+1 is equal to what our concept of three is. Mad031683 (talk) 22:01, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Just riffing here, but if you can only be logical as far as the information you have (the givens), then the subject who's meant to have invented the tricky "rules" must have a sleeve up which some or many unknowns s/he/it has put, wouldn't you say? Julia Rossi (talk) 00:41, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Making the universe out of nothing is indeed logically impossible, but it's an impossibility only matched by the impossibility of there having always been matter. It's just a question of which one is the less-impossible impossibility (to use a Rumsfordism). -- JackofOz (talk) 00:57, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I tried to understand this question and i want to present my interpretations. I think that question has been made complex by the use of mathematical numbers. We know that numbers 1, 2, 3 ............... themselves do not exist in their physical form. But they are used to tell us the presence of other things or phenomenon. Suppose you are given one apple from your father and one from your mother and, your father says that you have 2 apples, but suppose, you have the ability to create apples by yourself, without any material, without any help, and you create another apple, and now you have 3 apples, even when your father, calculating by the rules of mathematics, says that you can have at maximum 1+1=2 apples. You can say that for you 1+1 can be equal to 2, 3, 4,…. or even 0=n, provided that you are able to create things from nothing. If you agree with me that numbers themselves do not exist but are used to tell us the existence of other things, then you will agree with me that for a divine creator, 1+1= n or even 0=n

To clarify my point, I will suggest you to write your equation in the following form

1 man (whatever) + 1 man (whatever) = 2 men (whatever)

 Here note some points…..

1. Numbers 1, 1, 2 have been used to represent the existence of man that have physical existence 2. If man does not exist, figures 1, 2 do not exist, and you can not write them to calculate an equation or FIND SOME RESULT. 3. The product 2 just depends upon the PROCESS OF COMBINATION of factors 1 and 1 (in the left side of equation). and here consider that no other factor from NO EXISTENCE comes and combines with product 2. 4. Now consider GOD as omnipotent, as is mentioned, OMNIPOTENT means some one WHO CAN CREATE SOMETHING FROM NON EXISTENCE. This OMNIPOTENT GOD creats a man from NO EXISTENCE. This man is represented by another factor 1. 5. And now add this factor created by OMNIPOTENT GOD and add to the product 2. Your result will be more than 2 i.e. 1 man + 1 man= 2 man +1 man( here the figure 1(right side) is representing the existence of one man that was created by OMNIPOTENT GOD and here the existence of figure 1 does not depend upon the combination of factors 1 and 1 (in the left side of equation) as it is for the factor 2 (present in right side of equation) rewriting the equation 1 man+ 1 man= 3 men FACTOR man IS COMMON IN BOTH SIDES. SO taking it common, and then dividing both sides by word -man- , and then simplifying the equation by mathematical rules 1+1=3 or even 1+1= 3, 4, 5 ,………….n (If there is someone who can create factors from non existence ,and these factors are included in products) Shortly, I will suggest you not to talk about figures but talk about those entities for those who are using figures, then it will be easy for you to understand 1+1=3 for OMNIPOTENT GOD. thanks

      MUHAMMAD  ASIF  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.220.222.140 (talk) 04:19, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply] 

NWA to Compton, Snoop Dogg to Long Beach, California, Ludacris to Atlanta is like Tupac to what city? 99.240.177.206 (talk) 04:16, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Did you read the article? He lived in Harlem in New York City from birth (1971) until 1984, then Baltimore until 1988, then Marin City, California. So it depends on what age range you think of as "growing up". --Anon, 05:32 UTC, February 14, 2008.

It's in California where his career grew and Death Row Records was in Beverly Hills, (he was creating around Suge Knight etc) so maybe what he's known for is not where he grew up, but where his art was made so maybe, Los Angeles? The title of the 2002 documentary Tha Westside indicates identity of his style. Funny though, I always felt he's kind of New York, but can't find anything on that [add: except for the 13 years as Anon says (1971-84).] Julia Rossi (talk) 06:13, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

fire + thunder..clue its an animal —Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.202.195.74 (talk) 11:33, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

We are not here just for you to test us.

Is it a dragon? HS7 (talk) 11:47, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

musical guess: bird (Gibson Firebird and Gibson Thunderbird) ---Sluzzelin talk 12:18, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Pokemon? xxx User:Hyper Girl 13:51, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I was thinking this too, but there is no fire/electric type. HYENASTE 03:32, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sluzzelin's guess is the best one yet. There is also Mozilla's internet suite consisting of Firefox and Thunderbird. But I'm thinking the question is asking about a specific animal. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:55, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

cat? (cat steven's firecat | thundercat motorbike) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.194.74.154 (talk) 15:05, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Cat seconded. Schrödinger's cat can be in a superposition between being a firecat, a thundercat and a thundercat. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 13:49, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm going to go with human. I'm assuming there are several, but here's one specific example. --Onorem♠Dil 14:03, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm assuming this a clue for a cryptic crossword, something I'm surprisingly hopeless at. I can generally see how the clue relates to the answer when I see it next day, but often it still remains cryptic. Still, I'll have a stab at "lightning" (associated with thunder; often causes fire). -- JackofOz (talk) 21:51, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lightning isn't an animal, is it? Although I do have a cat called lightning. Maybe that's it. HS7 (talk) 12:43, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I recently read a century old collection of notes by a master of the New York Irish machine. He gave simple advice for any machine aspirant: get a following of votes. He began his career by first asking his uninvolved cousin whether he could count on him to follow his vote. His cousin agreed so he marched down to the ward office and announced he represented two votes. A machineman bought him a drink and shook his hand. He asked more family members and gained a following of five. Now a party functionary would light his cigar if he ever swung by. He was able to eventually organize an "association" of local young men in his neighborhood. With a following of 60, the local politicians came to him, offering him jobs for votes.

Machines have largely disappeared in America, but allegedly some still exist. Out of curiosity, is this method still legal and feasible? Could say a street gang or high school clique dress up and pay a visit to whatever the palace of ward patronage is and declare an interest in becoming first time voters and ask their community leaders to pique their interest? Would it work?

Lotsofissues 12:53, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

No clue about legality. About feasibility, though, it would depend on how many people we're talking about. And I get the feeling that today, in a world of mass media, money matters more than numbers alone. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 19:33, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

<note: this is not medical advice - its a "what if" scenario> If the blood flow away from a guys penis was restricted but the blood flow in wasn't, and they were sufficiently stimulated (either mentally or physically), would the pressure cause the penis to, for lack of a better word, burst?

Not unless you're postulating a high-pressure pump feeding directly in with nowhere else for the pressure to go. On the surface, all you've done is describe an erection. — Lomn 15:26, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A cock ring allegedly works this way. And, no, explosions have not been widely reported. Friday (talk) 15:47, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

But what might happen is that the blood would go stagnant and it would turn a funny colour and fall off.

I doubt a normal human heart could create anything like the pressure you would need for that though, and if it could, I would expect it to burst through the blockage first. HS7 (talk) 17:19, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

See priapism, a serious medical condition requiring rapid treatment. Gangrene is indeed one possible complication. Gandalf61 (talk) 17:53, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Possibly relevant: some men amuse themselves by inflating their scrota to questionable degrees with saline. NSFW link. --Sean 20:27, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, dear me. This image gives new life to the expression "he put all his eggs in the one basket". -- JackofOz (talk) 00:52, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

WP:BEANS Please for the sake of all that is good,DO NOT try this at home... Lemon martini (talk) 12:49, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Having read the article Lute I was wondering why they fell out of use, surely the guitar would be developed alongside the lute, and that there would still have been luthiers making them as well as people playing them, why then did they disapear, with modern luthiers having to relearn how they were made? Lets say in 1750, every one stoped playing them and then in 1901 there was a revival. There mus have been peiople playing them and making them between this time even if they were not overly popular. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 16:11, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

More expensive to construct and more difficult to play, in comparison to guitars? AllenHansen (talk) 00:25, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And, simply, fashion. Lutes have continued to be played since the Renaissance, but only in very small numbers. There are many instruments that went completely out of fashion and have had to be reconstructed from pictures and descriptions. One that was just superceded was simply called a serpent (serpent (instrument) may work). Steewi (talk) 00:43, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Among many factors, some indeterminable, no doubt, one possible explanation for the lute's waning popularity among early 16th century Spanish luthiers might be found in the Spanish people's acquired rejection of all things "Arabic" after the Reconquista's successful conclusion in 1492. The instrument was to bear no resemblance to its Moorish mother, the oud. "Historians believe that in order to ease their feelings towards the lute, the Spanish luthiers decided to dispense with the vaulted body, the hard angle of the headstock, and create a new shape for the body. This alteration also simplified construction considerably and one cannot overlook the economics of the move. The instrument could no longer be considered a true lute, although its repertoire and playing technique remained virtually unchanged. The resulting instrument, the Vihuela de mano, probably sounded very much like a lute, as they are both tuned the same and both carry double courses. However, the Vihuela, with its flat back and indented waist, visually resembles the guitar." So lute players would have had no trouble switching instruments, and old compositions could be played on the new "European" vihuelas.

Despite this Iberian trend, luthiers in other parts of Europe continued to fabricate and even enhance the lute. Gradually adding strings and courses to the instrument, eventually making the fingerboard too wide to be spanned by the player's hand. As pointed out by AllenHansen, these sometimes monstrous archlutes became increasingly expensive to buy, cumbersome to carry and hold, and difficult to play in comparison with the vihuela and, later, the guitar. (From The History of the Guitar, George Pellegrin's website) ---Sluzzelin talk 07:25, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do private military contractors (for instance Blackwater) use the same ranks as national militaries? And if not, what do they use?

Thanks! -- Avocado (talk) 17:07, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've got a $10 credit to Amazon.com that I can't use, seeing as I no longer reside in the U.S. of A. (more like the Disunited Provinces of Eh). It expires tomorrow, so who wants it? First come, first served. Contact me on my talk page. Clarityfiend (talk) 17:28, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm going to say that exchange of goods is not allowed via Wikipedia. Also, if it expires tomorrow, how can one be sure they will get it in time to use it. Lastly, U.S.A. is a silly and dull name, what happened to Columbia? 206.252.74.48 (talk) 17:43, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(A) What exchange of goods? Did you see any price mentioned? (B) I would have emailed the gift certificate code. Clarityfiend (talk) 07:52, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Nothing happened to it, it's still there, in south america, where it has been for a long time.HS7 (talk) 18:13, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Tsk, tsk. I knew someone would do this. I'm talking about Columbia, not Colombia. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 18:19, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Noone cares about Columbus, he just got lost in the middle of the carribbean. Lots of other people did a much better job of discovering america, both before and after him. HS7 (talk) 20:06, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, Leif Ericson, hardly anyone remembers you. My point is that the "U.S.A" needs a real name, not one that is just a description of the country. Imagine if, say, France was called "The United Regions of Europe" or some boring title like ours. Basically every country has a real name, why not us? 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:23, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

At least it's shorter than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Algebraist 21:30, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I thought they were going to call it Atlantis. And what about the united states of Mexico? And probably a few other countries like that. Anyway, this is off topic. HS7 (talk) 21:47, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, the United Mexican States are named after the city of Mexico. We take the name of a continent with other countries on it. What is Canada? The "United Provinces of America"? No, it has a name: Canada. But yes, let's drop it, it is just another one of my silly gripes. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:50, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I like Ericsonia. Y'all should consider renaming your country to that. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 23:46, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You do realize that Amazon.com ships to Canada? They're even advertising to Canadians for them to take advantage of the weak U.S. dollar. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 03:55, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Man, I can't even give it away! Well, it's too late now. I decided to take Mwalcoff's advice and try to use it myself. True, you can ship to Canada, but the shipping charges are $4.99+$3.99 for a book, and then there would probably be duty to pay, so it's not really worth it. Clarityfiend (talk) 07:52, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comment:You can't really discover a country after it's already been discovered surely?? And hey before you start moaning about our great country's lengthy name,be glad you're not a resident of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (now with extendable passport) Lemon martini (talk) 12:52, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not complaining about the long name, pay attention. I'm complaining because we HAVE no name. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 13:39, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

my mother will be 100 on 30 mar 08. is there a procedure to receive this letter ? ie, do you request or does the govt pick up by public records ? rex dunivent —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.139.16.14 (talk) 17:53, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If your mother is a citizen of the United States of America, you want this. I don't know about other countries. Algebraist 19:59, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I am in my 20's. Do you think I would get a negative reaction if I wore the following t-shirts? Or are some acceptable and others not? These sample shirts are in various sizes, the ones I have fit (some are a tight fit, though), I just want you to be able to see the shirts and guess if I will be laughed right out of the room. Oh, and I'm a guy.

• Fits fine
• Tight fit
• Tight fit
• Fits fine
• Tight fit
• Fits fine

Thanks for your opinions. 76.8.208.59 (talk) 18:24, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Tight fit or normal isn't something I can comment on.. They are all ok to wear except possibly the 'cars' one (first link)- that might get you lynched. Maybe pokemon is not ok.87.102.114.215 (talk) 18:32, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, I'd laugh at you. They're pretty loud. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:54, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

They are a bit loud - but what's wrong with loud? Surely you can't laugh at everyone in a loud shirt?87.102.114.215 (talk) 19:02, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I suspect it depends on what part of the world you're in. For instance, New Yorkers generally pretend not to notice anything unusual they see on the street, but many would certainly judge you for wearing loud t-shirts; in some places, the shirts themselves might not draw comment, but the fact that you're wearing them tight might lead to assumptions about your sexuality. -- Avocado (talk) 19:12, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Go ahead and wear them, rebel against conformity and all that jazz. Then again, I usually don't judge people by what they wear, so I'm a little biased. (Side question: anyone know where I can get a t-shirt that says "You can't help but read this t-shirt" on the back?). 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:39, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

i'd laugh at you. it's ridiculous, you're not a child! sell that shit.

Are you a hipster? If so, you can wear these shirts with a black leather jacket, pearl necklace, and golf pants. --Masamage ♫ 21:05, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If you wear one of those for the job interview you've got tomorrow I might just take you on. (provided there are no other candidates of equal calibre)87.102.114.215 (talk) 21:51, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's a matter of what you wear them with and your attitude about wearing them. If you have a carefree attitude and wear it with otherwise fashionable clothing, you might be able to start a trend. If (like me) you're a bit more withdrawn and shy, people are more likely to pick up on your worry and make fun of you. Being fashionable and starting new trends needs the right personality. My guess is that if you're worried about it, you won't wear them well, but in the end it's up to you. If you have a friend who might wear something similar at the same time, it could take some of the heat off. Steewi (talk) 00:49, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Mario, Sonic and Pikachu you could pull off as cool. The rest, no way. --Candy-Panda (talk) 14:21, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for your help. 76.8.208.59 (talk) 21:06, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If one gets a tattoo and undergoes physical dermal changes such as gaining or losing a lot of weight, will the tattoo get stretched? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Acceptable (talk • contribs) 02:05, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yep. Like drawing something on a balloon and blowing it up. :P FiggyBee (talk) 02:09, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Which is why a tatoo on the stomach is a very bad idea. Especially for girls. Useight (talk) 04:20, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Haha! Acceptable (talk) 00:01, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Unless they got one of a map of the world. Then they could be used as an illustrative model of continental drift! Poechalkdust (talk) 17:15, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is my virginity an asset or a liability? How much is it worth? On what schedule is it depreciating? NeonMerlin 03:29, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That depends on whether your objective is to lose your virginity before or after marriage. If you want to wait, then it is appreciating, otherwise it may be depreciating. If you're under 20, it's definitely an asset, but if you're over 30, it's a liability. There are a lot of factors. However, I recommend waiting until you're married (and hopefully your spouse does the same) to avoid catching anything. Useight (talk) 04:19, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Useight, in your world nobody gets raped? --68.144.68.238 (talk) 05:13, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, one shouldn't base their life on the hypothetical situation of them being raped. Hence, I didn't take it into consideration. And no, nobody in my world has been raped. Useight (talk) 05:17, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I suppose there are no prostitutes in your world either, Useight? bibliomaniac15 05:22, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not that I'm aware of. I'm sure there are some, somewhere, and I'm sure someone got raped, too, unfortunately, but now we're far from the original question, which only I tried to answer. Useight (talk) 06:17, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It also depends (a lot) on which sex you are. The going rate for a reasonably good looking 18-year-old woman in the UK seems to be £8,400. See Rosie Reid.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:03, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'd like mine back and would pay a nearly expired amazon voucher for £10 for it. hotclaws 08:13, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The closest thing to buying it back would be Hymenorrhaphy. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 09:09, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Or become a movie star with a squeaky clean reputation. Lots of men "knew" Doris Day and Grace Kelly before they became virgins. -- JackofOz (talk) 09:31, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That wouldn't work if hotclaws is male Nil Einne (talk) 17:47, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As the self-appointed spokesperson for the minority perspective, I'm not so sure about that, NE.  :) -- JackofOz (talk) 20:56, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hey! Clarityfiend (talk) 04:40, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As a fan of American Pie,just look below at the next post ;) Lemon martini (talk) 12:55, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, can someone tell me average sizes for flutes and clarinets, please?

I know they can vary, but rough figures in centimeters will be very helpful. Thank you. --Kjoonlee 07:23, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

don't feel bad if yours isn't as many centimeters as other people's Flutes. It's not how long it is that matters, it's how you use it. I'd just stop worrying about it if I were you. It doesn't help you play any better. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.122.23.221 (talk) 10:05, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The soprano clarinet tuned in B♭, the most common type of clarinet, measures about 60 cm (23.6 in) according to hyperphysics. The western concert flute tuned in C, the most common type of traverse flute, measures about 66 cm (26 in) according to hyperphysics again. Of course there are all sorts of other types of clarinets and flutes, longer and shorter, but I found no comprehensive list including measurements. ---Sluzzelin talk 10:18, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well I did find A guide to the lengths of flutes (lengths given in mm) and:

1. E-flat clarinet (high) (length 19 inches or 48.3 cm) (really could be "soprano" member of the family)
2. B-flat clarinet (standard) (length 26.25 inches or 66.7 cm) (really could be "alto" member of the family)
3. E-flat alto clarinet (length 38 inches or 96.5 cm) (really could be "tenor" member of the family)
4. B-flat bass clarinet (length 55 inches or 139.7 cm) (really could be "bass" member of the family)"

(copied from Antandrus's answer over a year ago). ---Sluzzelin talk 10:26, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a brief summary that explains the conflicts of the peoples of the Balkans? I seem to go blind on all the articles and Balkans itself, but it doesn't provide a very clear overview. Ie, what states sympathize with others, who hold grudges, who don't, et cetera? I know Russia is now supporting Serbia's claim to hold on to Kosovo (as I remember the Russian people was very disgruntled when Russia's government didn't side with Serbia under the NATO offensives), but I am interested in knowing about the relationships that Croatia, Slovenia, Serba, FYROM, Montenegro and, maybe Albania share with each other. Of course one can easily pull in Hungary and Bulgaria, but the westernmost countries of the Balkans are of my most immediate concern. Help will be appreciated like you don't know. 81.93.102.185 (talk) 15:01, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I certainly can't explain it succinctly, not to mention from a neutral point of view, but I would point out the article on Yugoslav Wars, from which you can zoom in the articles on War in Slovenia (1991), Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995), Bosnian War (1992-1995), Kosovo War (1996-1999), Southern Serbia conflict (2000-2001), and Macedonia conflict (2001). And also check out History of the Balkans for more context. ---Sluzzelin talk 15:09, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As for foreign relations, see Foreign relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foreign relations of Croatia, Foreign relations of the Republic of Macedonia, Foreign relations of Montenegro, Foreign relations of Serbia, Foreign relations of Slovenia, Foreign relations of Albania and so forth. ---Sluzzelin talk 15:42, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Remember to pay attention to ethnicities and religion. (Excuse the generalisations) Albania is Muslim and there are a lot of Muslim in Bosnia and Kosovo. Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia are mostly Catholic, rest are mostly Orthodox. FYROM has its own problems with every country surrounding it wanting a piece of it, claiming centuries old right to it. Parts of Greece and Bulgaria are named "Macedonia". In Vojvodina (Serbia north of Belgrade) there are people of all ethnicities and religions, with sizeable comunities of Hungarians, Montenegrans, Croatians, Serbians from Kosovo and Bosnia and so on. — Shinhan < talk > 16:53, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Bosnia-Herzegovina is not mostly Catholic. It is (according to the CIA) 40% Muslim, 31% Orthodox and 15% Catholic. Algebraist 18:40, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

[edit conflict] Bosnia is not mostly Catholic. No religious group forms a majority in Bosnia. Muslim Bosniaks are the largest group (but less than half the population) in Bosnia, followed by Orthodox Serbs and Catholic Croats. What especially complicates matters is that within the boundaries of each of these countries (except Slovenia), there are sizeable minority groups. In Croatia, there is a large Serb minority, though not as large as it was before the ethnic cleansing or parts of the Serbian Krajina. In Bosnia, there are the three large minorities mentioned above, and no majority group. In both Serbia and Montenegro, there are sizeable Bosniak populations in the Sandžak region and large Albanian populations in Kosovo and neighboring districts. Serbia also has a significant ethnic Hungarian population in the Vojvodina region. Finally, Macedonia has a large Albanian minority. In the context of this kaleidoscope of ethnic minorities, which was largely dispersed and not clustered in homogeneous territories before the Yugoslav wars, the politics of ethnic exclusivism that developed on all sides after 1989 brought deadly consequences. The dominant group in each region engaged in some degree of ethnic cleansing, though the Serbs and Croats did this on an especially massive scale. Because the ethnic minority subject to ethnic cleansing was often the dominant group with a military force somewhere else in the region, these forces often retaliated on behalf of their "cleansed" brethren or made the ethnic group that had engaged in "cleansing" victims of the same where they formed a minority. Marco polo (talk) 19:06, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for your answers so far. I've been trying to better understand all the different ethnicities and religions that are key to the conflicts. I'm just now starting to research Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). I understand that the major source of aggression came from Serbia, since Yugoslavia-wide, high up officers were traditionally Serbian. Correct me if wrong. I would like to know about Neum, which has a clear majority of Croats in its population. Still it belongs to BiH, and it doesn't say that it was attacked during the wars '91-'95 (belonging to the Croatian republic of BiH). Am I to understand no attacks were carried out in this region? How come Croatia didn't use the time of unrest to secure the port? Indeed, the entire Croatian republic of BiH? 81.93.102.185 (talk) 18:50, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The brief answer to this question is that the international community would not have allowed such an annexation. NATO and the EU considered the republics' existing boundaries sacrosanct, partly because they feared that any annexation could unleash wars of conquest that might further destabilize the whole region, for example by involving Greece or Turkey. NATO used the stick of the threat of a military response to discourage pan-Croatian and pan-Serbian schemes, while EU offered the carrot of development assistance and access to the EU market to encourage compliance. See my comment above, written while you wrote your last post. You might also look at the Dayton Accords. Marco polo (talk) 19:03, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

On your first point, I think it is fair to say that Serbian nationalism was the spark that set the Yugoslav Wars ablaze, but the other parties were far from innocent victims. Each group at a minimum violated the rights of minorities within its area of control, and most committed atrocities or war crimes. The Croats treated their Serb minority especially brutally. Marco polo (talk) 19:18, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

[edit conflict]Thank you Marco Polo, your comments and answers went far in regards of helping me understand the conflict, and/or assemble an overview. Particularly that of retribution happening elsewhere. I had also mistakenly believed a Bosniak to be just any Bosnian (thinking the noun a bit odd). I am aware that all parties were more or less guilty of warcrimes, none particularly innocent, so it was never the intention to make it seem as if I thought the blame lay on anyone special. Excuse also the mistake in saying Croatian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, when it is in truth Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia. A final question begs itself: What sets the Croats of BiH apart from the Croats of Croatia? 81.93.102.185 (talk) 19:28, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I suppose that the main difference between the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina and those of Croatia is which side of the border they inhabit. However, there are some historic commonalities between the Croats and Bosniaks of Bosnia in that they are probably descended from the same pre-Turkish population. Like the Bosniaks, the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina lived for much longer under Ottoman Turkish rule than did the Croats of Croatia, who before World War I were under Hungarian rule. Also, the Croats and Bosniaks (and for that matter, the Serbs) of Bosnia and Herzegovina share similar spoken dialects of Serbo-Croatian per this map. The spoken dialects of Bosnia and Herzegovina are distinct from those in most parts of Serbia and Croatia, even though the different Bosnian communities espouse different written standards (i.e. Bosnian language, Croatian language, and Serbian language). Marco polo (talk) 21:45, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Who knows where this place is? (Image should moved to Commons with a corect name.) --GeorgHH (talk) 21:01, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Looks like Crater Lake, Oregon. --Milkbreath (talk) 21:09, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

He he - "Shot myself August 2005"; I hope the injury was only a flesh wound and that you recovered quickly.  :) PS. Sorry, but I don't recognise the scene. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:10, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I can confirm that it is Crater Lake. (I've hiked to the top of Wizard Island, shown in the photo.) Marco polo (talk) 21:19, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yet another thing to put on my (really long) list of places to visit. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:50, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That's Crater Lake, specifically Wizard Island as viewed from the southwest rim of the volcano. At a guess, I'd say the photograph was taken from the Watchman Peak viewpoint. --Carnildo (talk) 22:45, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you all for your help! Image is now available on Commons as Image:Wizard Island, Crater Lake National Park 0001.jpg. --GeorgHH (talk) 00:01, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thinking only of people (of any nationality) who are killed in the USA illegally by any kind of gun whether held illegally or legally by their users/owners; versus the number of American Military Personnel who are killed by any means in foreign conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan (though not exclusively), both statistics to be in the same calendar year or 12 month period; which category claims the most victims? Any responses not to include survivors of gun or other attacks please - only the numbers of mortalities resulting directly from them. Thanks. 81.145.240.145 (talk) 21:55, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

About 1 thousand US military are killed each year in Iraq, which is by far the most dangerous theatre. The FBI statistics page says about 8 or 9 thousand people are killed illegally with guns each year. Sources: Iraq deaths, US deaths (see table 2.9). --Sean 22:57, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, Iraq Coalition Casualties lists 901 US Military fatalities for the 2007 calendar year in Iraq, and 117 for Afghanistan. According to this page, 80 people in the USA die from guns every day, which means 29,000 fatalities per year, give or take. -mattbuck (Talk) 23:00, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Bear in mind of course you're still much more likely to die from a gun as a US military personnel overseas then you are as a person in the US. There are 300 million or so people in the US + all the tourists etc versus 300k? military personnel overseas Nil Einne (talk) 17:45, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yesterday I received a text message. The "phone number" it was sent from is "36245". So that confused me from the start since it isn't a phone number. The message reads:

Woody@andelini.com(WEG)like to c.hat see my pf @:*(Rosetta.somegrooves within.com)

What is this??? Does spam now come in text messages too? Is it a virus or what? Any help to what this is or how they got my phone number would be appreciated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.7.130.43 (talk) 01:19, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, spam comes in texts, too, sadly. Some unscrupulous companies will sell your details, including phone numbers, on to third parties for 'marketing purposes'. You may or may not be able to opt-out, depending on laws and just how devoid of scruples any given organisation is. Angus Lepper^{(T, C, D)} 01:59, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Note Short code, an article revealing that with the magic of cell phones, phone numbers aren't nearly as limited in size as they used to be (although I think these are only usable for SMS/text msgs). Five- and six-digit short codes are increasingly common in the US. Be aware that messages sent to them can cost more than messages to normal phone numbers. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 03:49, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Also be aware that replying to spam texts can sometimes be taken as you "choosing to subscribe" to a service where you pay to receive texts. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 10:44, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

what sixletter word do these letters rearrange to form —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 01:24, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

GINGER; so, what's the prize? ៛ Bielle (talk) 01:29, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(triple edit conflict) It can spell "Ginger". Use this. Useight (talk) 01:30, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Something tells me that's not the sixletter word he wanted us to find... Lemon martini (talk) 23:55, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, in fact he wanted us to find the verb erging (exercising or simulating a race stretch on the erg machine) or the adjective gering, meaning "little", or Greing, a little island near Unst, or gringe for grunge so bad, it makes you cringe and some expectable definitions in Urban Dictionary. Next puzzle, what five-letter English word can be formed out of the letters lolrt? ---Sluzzelin talk 00:57, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Harsh, but still funny, Sluzzelin. Steewi (talk) 01:12, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

i searched for "corn" and got some goddamn mexican named article. please fix this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 01:41, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do you mean maize? If so, this is unlikely to change (although corn is a redirect there) because maize is the more specific term (and so avoids ambiguities). Angus Lepper^{(T, C, D)} 01:56, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

To explain a little further, the word corn refers clearly and specifically in American English (and probably Canadian English) to the grain crop with a tall stalk that produces kernels on a cob. However, in all other varieties of English, the word corn refers to any kind of grain. In England, it typically refers to wheat, but it can also refer to rye, oats, and so on. The word maize is a perfectly good word in American English, although it is mainly used by scientists in the United States. In other parts of the English-speaking world, maize is the only word that clearly refers to the plant Americans know as corn. Since the English-language Wikipedia is meant to be accessible to all English speakers, the main entry is under maize, which is understood throughout the English-speaking world. Marco polo (talk) 02:24, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

where i come from maize is what the mexicans call corn in spanish but its not an english word. its just confusing is all —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.125.54 (talk) 19:36, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm afraid that maize is an English wordhotclaws 11:53, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And where I come from (New Jersey), maize is those pretty multi-colored dried ears of corn you use for autumn decorations. --Milkbreath (talk) 21:28, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It is likely that more corn is produced in countries where it is called corn than in countries where it is called maize. Edison (talk) 03:49, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately, Image:2005maize.PNG shows most of the maize/corn in the United States as apparently being grown in New York state, which is pretty obviously not the case. Corvus cornix_talk 05:27, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I live in England and I've never known anyone to call anything maize. Corn we call corn and wheat we call wheat. HS7 (talk) 12:28, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think it is true that 'corn' for grain in general is less common in the UK than it used to be - both because few of us are familiar with farming, and because 'sweet corn' is a familiar vegetable, sometimes referred to as 'corn'. But if I see a field of growing grain I may be unsure whether it is wheat or barley or some other grain, and will quite happily refer to it as 'corn'. (It's unlikely to be maize). --ColinFine (talk) 13:29, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

• Did you know that:

1. There is a lunar eclipse on or near Feb. 20,2008, but 1/2 to 3/4th of the US will have problems with foul weather, so could someone get some pixes ?
2. That the US will shoot down a disabled spy satellite this week ? 65.163.112.114 (talk) 02:42, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I know that US will shoot down a disabled spy satellite but I don't know the time. Most probably it will be this week. Visit me at Ftbhrygvn (Talk|Contribs|Log|Userboxes) 04:00, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Why are they sterilized? Bellum et Pax (talk) 04:15, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The article on lethal injection goes over this point. Dismas|^(talk) 06:18, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lethal injection#Procedure in US executions to be precise. Clarityfiend (talk) 21:17, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You don't think Bellum has a "find" function in their browser? :-) Dismas|^(talk) 21:34, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The show is on Spike TV, but can't find the article. 65.163.112.114 (talk) 04:16, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's possible it just hasnt been created. BonesBrigade 04:18, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Its on Spike TV Right NOW. 65.163.112.114 (talk) 04:23, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I didnt mean it doesnt exist but no one has created an article on wikipedia yet about the show. You could consider registering an account and creating the article yourself or request it be made. (Someone show him were to go with wikilinks cuz i hve no idea what the shortcuts are called) BonesBrigade 04:27, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's also not a show, but a theme day of shows like Most Amazing Videos and whatnot. 63.165 needs to go outside and get some fresh air. Adam Bishop (talk) 08:01, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Tsk, Adam, we don't give medical advice on the Ref Desk. SaundersW (talk) 12:03, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What does it mean when a woman dreams that she has a penis? --124.254.77.148 (talk) 07:58, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Try (http://www.dreammoods.com/) there is no 'true' meaning of dreams but plenty of sites exist that speculate on the meaning of things that appear in dreams. ny156uk (talk) 10:21, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ambition?--Mrs Wibble-Wobble (talk) 10:22, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

More likely lack of ambition.  :) Corvus cornix_talk 05:28, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You could consider penis envy... Julia Rossi (talk) 13:04, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

From my limited OR into these matters I have deducted that some 50% of humans do, indeed, suffer from penis envy. However, my late countryman Freud did ascribe it to the wrong gender :) --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 00:20, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You seem to have revealed a hithertto overlooked classical case of projection, herr doctor. Julia Rossi (talk) 11:33, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As you seem to have diagnosed my shortcomings from the distance of a Southern penile colony, may I congratulate on your visual acuity which may prove the phallacy of said projection. Regards to Down Under (I lived there for 20odd years). --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 16:17, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Down Under salutes you for those odd years Cookatoo, regards Julia Rossi (talk) 10:06, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The above reminded me of a scene from Seinfeld regarding the male kangaroo having pouch-envy. I've had a quick scan around on google but I can't find anything to confirm whether or not this really exists (or is just a funny idea). I found some stuff about the pouch and its role for Joeys but not about whether male kangaroo exhibit jealously over the pouch. Does anybody know anything more about this? ny156uk (talk) 13:13, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, you know, Seinfeld was probably using it as a metaphor for what males could be envious of without offending anyone. IMO male kangaroos would know there's no spare room in the house once they've grown up and left home. Julia Rossi (talk) 13:45, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No real evidence, but I'm prrrettty darn sure that real kangaroos do not suffer pouch envy!--Eriastrum (talk) 23:53, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

can some body tell me what is this site ? it looks like wikipedia refdesk but a whole site for it only?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.51.82 (talk) 13:21, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are tons of forums on the internet where people ask questions and other people (try) to answer them. That one just looks like a plain old forum. In any case, what differentiates any given set of sites of this nature are the people who answer the questions, and how many active people there are at once (which determines who long before you get a generally good answer). I doubt you'd find as many knowledgeable people on so many different topics too many other places than the Wikipedia ref desk. In my opinion it's one of the better "generalist" sorts of places you can go to ask questions, and has real strengths in the humanities and sciences in particular. (With computing there are fewer points of view represented than you would find in a more specifically dedicated computing forum, in my opinion.) --98.217.18.109 (talk) 16:37, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Does the cutting of human hair increase the rate of its growth? Ray Schwartz Memphis, TN. 74.170.83.241 (talk) 16:55, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There's an article here that touches on this, mostly, although obliquely. The thrust of the matter is that hair has no idea when it has been cut, and it doesn't much care, since it's dead tissue, so it doesn't grow differently. Hair does -look- like it's growing faster after it has been shaved (if you shave your legs or face, for instance, it will seem to grow back quickly) but that's largely because a day's growth is more visible against bare skin than it is on top of several days' growth. Hope this helps. PS- I advise removing your e-mail and name and address and such all; things are set up so that we don't need them to answer here, and you will probably be spammed mercilessly. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 17:00, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with Deltopia. The hair does not grow back faster, thicker or somewhat more in quantity. The reasons above sufficiently explain the matter, yet I must add that new hair looks darker and thicker because the sun has not had a chance to bleach it yet. Λua∫Wise ^{(Operibus anteire)} 17:48, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm moving this one over to the Language reference desk. --Anon, 08:20, February 17, 2008.

I have 2 lawnmowers and I want to make kind of a motor-wagon out of them. This would constitute taking a regular wagon (or something of that sort, maybe even make something myself) and attaching 2 lawnmower engines to it, a throttle, and just steer with the handle. Can someone give me a website or resource with help as to doing this, or tell me how to rig it up? Thanks. Scutterbotch (talk) 22:05, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Try Popular Mechanics. They're known for all manner of things mechanical. 65.173.104.126 (talk) 00:18, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A lawnmower engine would need quite a gear reduction before it drove the wheels. How about using it to run a generator and making it a hybrid car with a storage battery? Edison (talk) 03:47, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a article yet on this:

• Feb. 16, 2008 Tornado Outbreak

There are tornadoes forming all over the place right now. Two Texas counties are under a tornado warning right now. The tornadoes just started forming. Damage estimates are unknown at this time. 65.173.104.126 (talk) 23:58, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Correction: The weather service just added another TX county to the list. 65.173.104.126 (talk) 00:00, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm monitoring th Weatherband on a "Self powered radio" and now getting all manner of watch info, tornado watch AND warning info. 65.173.104.126 (talk) 00:08, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm in the affected area, and nearly got hit by a tornado producing storm. 65.173.104.126 (talk) 00:19, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia is not a news service. If you want to write first-hand accounts of current events, perhaps you want Wikinews? FiggyBee (talk) 04:01, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

what do people mean by 'hump in your back'??its not an english figure of speech or anythin. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Arya237 (talk • contribs) 11:11, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

They could be referring to Quasimodo or spinal curvature. Is that what you're thinking of? Julia Rossi (talk) 11:37, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Since it's not a figure of speech, you need to supply some context. To give someone the hump means to annoy them. To live off one's hump means to live off your own resources.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 13:06, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've never heard either of those expressions. Corvus cornix_talk 21:30, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

To 'have the hump' means to be disgruntled.86.200.128.246 (talk) 15:37, 17 February 2008 (UTC)petitmichel[reply]

It does? Corvus cornix_talk 21:30, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's off topic, but is that related to "getting your back up"? Julia Rossi (talk) 22:40, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with all those uses, and there's also "to hump [something] around": carry something heavy, and "over the hump" meaning over the worst. As to "putting your back up", I believe that's from cats (and other animals, no doubt) who arch their back when cross. So whether "the hump" refers to this, or rather grouchy camels, I don't know. Gwinva (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 02:36, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is it true that something (a CD? a paper?) was lost by a department of the Canadian government, and it was deemed important enough that all civil servants had to stop work for a day, and go through all the stuff on and around their desks, even moving furniture, to try to find it? BrainyBabe (talk) 12:49, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

• • • Yes, it is true. The documents in question were related to the Somalia Inquiry which was going on at the time (and missing documents). None (to the best of my knowledge) were found. -- Cdn Searcher —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.228.192.163 (talk) 00:29, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This is a classic British silly season story, but it was reported in the broadsheet (serious) newspapers at the time. A group of colleagues was on their way home by train from a day out when two of them, no doubt tired and emotional, decided to "perform a sex act", which is a newspaper euphemism that deliberately leaves one wondering --presumably in this case fellatio. Everyone in the crowded carriage pretended to ignore what was going on, being British, but the final straw was the post-coital-or-whatever cigarette, when the happy couple was upbraided for smoking in a non-smoking carriage. Thus the case came to court, and thus to the newspapers. Does anyone have access to the archives to check this? I seem to recall it being July or August 1991 or 1992. BrainyBabe (talk) 13:02, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it did happen, but I can't find any more info at the moment. I think the story was made into a book and/or tv drama.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 13:17, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Am I missing something? Your CPS link concerns the appointment of three new Assistant Chief Crown Prosecutors. The story is reported reguarly and I'm sure it's an urban myth. The Best Book Of Urban Myths Ever! (ISBN 1858685591) contains on version of the story, on the 6:04 from Brighton; no date is given. This book dates from 1998 but I'm sure I've read the story in an earlier publication, possibly Fortean Times from the late 1980s. It is also mentioned on a large number of internet sites. --80.176.225.249 (talk) 19:38, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Read further down the page:

Among his previous cases are allegations of international cricket corruption; theft of body parts from the Royal College of Surgeons, which were used for sculpture moulds; and prosecution of a couple who had sex on a train in full view of the public but the only complaint was about them smoking afterwards.

— Matt Eason ^{(Talk &#149; Contribs)} 19:52, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The one part that's not true is "nobody complained until they started smoking"; what actually happened was that there was no complaint in the legal-system sense because the train crew ignored the customers' complaints until they started smoking. It happened in the summer of 1992. If you do a Google Groups search on the words sex, train, and Horseferry, you'll find an article where a clerk at the Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court is says something like "it's the sort of case you don't forget". --Anonymous, 00:12 UTC, February 18, 2008.

dodgyhumour If they weren't smoking during the sex act, it can't have been that good. /dodgyhumour Steewi (talk) 01:26, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

On the Washington County, Wisconsin page, the cities section listed states this:

Milwaukee (City in Milwaukee County which annexed a small triangle of land in Washington County, at the request of a restaurant owner who wanted police and fire services.)

I have looked at the official Milwaukee city map and seen the portion on the map that is in Washington County. I am confused about something. In that little triangle, there is no restaurant, it's a recycling Facillity. So I am wondering why Wikipedia says there is a restaurant there? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.230.149.114 (talk) 16:47, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The claim also appears in this source, which implies that the annexation took place in the historical past. It is not hard to imagine that the restaurant went out of business and sold its property and that the recycling facility has since been built on the same site. Marco polo (talk) 20:36, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Whenever I sweat I get really itchy. Can anyone explain this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.119.61.7 (talk) 18:26, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There are many possible causes, and only a doctor would be qualified to diagnose the cause in your case. A similar question was asked here. You can read the responses, all of which seem to involve speculation. Marco polo (talk) 20:42, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I read an editorial in a Finnish newspaper once, critiquing terrorist tactics. It began by showing three instances of heroic acts in war: the Trojan war in ancient Greek times, the American war of independence, and the Finnish Winter War. It then contrasted these with what is happening in Iraq in the 2000s. It gave a graphic example: two school-age girls are at a market, petting the various live animals for sale. Unknown to the girls, they are walking machines of death. When enough people have assembled around them, some terrorist somewhere remotely detonates the rings of explosives they are wearing around their waists, killing both the girls and dozens of people around them. Now at the risk of sounding callous about this tragic incident, and altogether emotionless, I have to ask a technical question: How the heck does one carry enough explosives to kill dozens of people around one's waist without knowing it? JIP | Talk 19:35, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Could they have been drugged perhaps? Or somehow there was C-4 or any other explosive embedded as a thin sheet into their clothing? --Ouro (blah blah) 20:00, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I heard a news report about this incident on the radio. According to the report, the girls were mentally retarded. Marco polo (talk) 20:07, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I can imagine this on the Jeremy Kyle Show - are YOU or someone you know a walking machine of death? Call us and you can be on next week's show. -mattbuck (Talk) 20:11, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This CNN report (e.g.) confirms what Marco Polo wrote. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:41, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

How do you do it? Pretty easily, depending on the explosives. Plastic explosives are very small and pack a lot of wallop, especially if you add some sort of shrapnel agent (e.g. nails). You can mold them into creative shapes, too. So it wouldn't be hard to put a bunch of them into a belt or a vest and not have it be very large at all. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 21:30, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The Tamil Tigers sometimes mold plastic explosives into brassieres of female suicide bombers. If the breasts are strapped down this would effectively hid the explosives. --S.dedalus (talk) 06:55, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It doesn't make sense for something so elaborate to occur if you don't have enough oxygen, so why do people say that? MalwareSmarts (talk) 22:25, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's not that elaborate. A small change of chemicals to the brain causes a lot of haywire things to occur, which we experience as very elaborate sensations but that's because the brain is already wired to produce sensations for us. You might as well wonder whether microgram amounts of certain chemicals could possibly produce elaborate auditory and auditory hallucinations. The brain is an elaborate sensation machine—it doesn't take much at all for it to start producing very odd (yet sensually coherent) results. Lack of oxygen no doubt screws up a number of processes which a brain would be struggling to make sense of and create all sorts of resulting odd feelings (out of body, bright light, etc.) in the person in question. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 22:40, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(I'm not an expert but ...) There are a lot of different symptoms that people report in NDEs, but taken individually most of them are either simple brain malfunctions(Serenity, bright light at end of tunnel, feeling of being out of body and/or flying.), or things that commonly occur in dreams, even normal ones. (Meeting dead relatives, reviewing major moments in your life, feeling of being out of body and/or flying.) The fact that many human brains undergo the same failure modes when faced with a lack of oxygen should not be surprising. (If your car's serpentine belt breaks it will exhibit a large number of symptoms, but they will be very similar to every other car of that make and model that has a broken serpentine belt.)

The fact that NDEs can be induced artificially by reducing blood flow to the brain (pilots in centrifuge training, for example) strongly supports the theory that they are caused (or at least can be caused) entirely by lack of oxygen. Surely God would not be fooled by a centrifuge. [13]

I'm sure all of this is difficult for people who have experienced them to accept rationally. Dreams feel absolutely real when you're having them, and if a dream happened when you were awake then I imagine it would be very hard not to believe in it and rationalize away any inconsistencies. Especially if it told you things that you really wanted to know. (Heaven is real, and all your loved ones made it there with no problem.) It's important to remember this. APL (talk) 01:57, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I also suspect that much of the homogeneity in reported NDEs come from re-telling of the same stories too. Most of the methodology in studies that compare them is in my opinion suspect, e.g. they rarely note how long after the alleged NDE the account was taken and how many people the patient in question discussed it with first. What was initially just "a man" quickly becomes Jesus when you tell and re-tell the story over and over again; the human memory is quite pliable, especially when under that sort of stress and in a dream-like state. I suspect the re-tellings make them more coherent than they really are, as often happens with dreams. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 03:02, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Further reading on this subject: Dying to Live by Susan Blackmore. Don't be put off by it having one of the worst titles ever devised. -88.110.17.187 (talk) 13:11, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

For example, Detroit has a high homicide rate, but the rate is not as high as ones in poor countries such as Kingston. But if Detroit had comparable medical facilities, how much would the rate go up?

132.239.90.162 (talk) 23:56, 17 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know of any studies, but it does make sense that there would be a correlation between a lower level of medical facilities and a higher homicide rate, based on poor or non-existent treatment of wounds leading to death which would have otherwise been treated. Steewi (talk) 01:29, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is there something like GagaLive (clean, minimal Flash chat client) but which speaks IRC? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.51.82 (talk) 00:56, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

"In North America, where about 80 percent of men are circumcised"

WHAT?! This cannot be right, can it? Source: [14] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.51.82 (talk) 02:18, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Why can't it be right? In fact, 80% seems a little low... 70.162.25.53 (talk) 03:06, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

WHAT?! Are you kidding?! Why would over 80% of all men mutilate their own bodies? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.51.82 (talk) 03:16, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

They don't. It's not usually their decision. Circumcision usually is done shortly after birth by parents. Many men probably wouldn't have gone through it had they had the choose. Bellum et Pax (talk) 03:44, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Most men probably wouldn't. Ack, the article doesn't say, but he had a circumcision in Israel at the age of 37. The aftermath was the worst and goriest I've seen. Much blood. 81.93.102.185 (talk) 06:05, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can someone insert this link:

• • Stephenvillelights.com

This is supposed to let people know about what has been going on there in Stephenville, Texas. MY ISP is acting up.65.163.115.237 (talk) 03:58, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, but that doesn't meet our criteria for reliable sources. — Lomn 05:54, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If each house has a unique combination of ZIP+4/delivery point code, then in theory, it would seem that all one would have to put on an envelope is "01001-0110-01" or similar and the mail would get to the destination (assuming there is postage) even without an addressee or an address. Would this work? Better yet, couldn't you just put the POSTNET barcode on the envelope?

I am curious to see if this works. Perhaps I should send a letter to myself. Jared (t)  04:59, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it should work. A similar thing applies in the UK and Canada, where each postcode applies to a few houses on a street - you'd need to add the house number, though. In continental Europe, the system is much less precise for some reason. I asked about this difference ages ago, see here. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 06:19, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Warning: this question includes a link to an image which is highly graphic and may be disturbing to some. Please don't click the link if you think this might apply to you.

Here's the image:[15]. My question is: can this be real? Wouldn't such an injury to the face be life-threatening? --Richardrj ^{talk email} 08:47, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've seen many such images. I doubt that they're all photoshopped, so I would say it's real. Life threatening? Possibly but I'm no doctor. Dismas|^(talk) 09:16, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

A WP project, or some systematic way of ensuring these wonderful talented answers add to the body of the encyclopedia? I have done a couple, sporadically. Please repost this idea elsewhere if this is not the best place. BrainyBabe (talk) 11:17, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, sometimes ideas stemming from here take the shape of articles, there's even a special cutesy template-box-thingy to signify this, but I don't know what is it called :) --Ouro (blah blah) 12:44, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:WikiProject Reference Desk Article Collaboration. Shortcut: WP:RDAC (and those little hats are cutesy! There's also an adorable user box) ---Sluzzelin talk 12:59, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

If one earns £20k per year, how much can one expect to recieve in ones bank account every month. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 11:55, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

an aprox figure of £1200 net per month. (might be closer to £1250 - but I was erring on the side of caution) 83.104.131.135 (talk) 13:37, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]