Choose a reference desk

February 2

Vocal Vibrato Lessons

What is a good website with online free vocal vibrato lessons? Thx. Jamesino 02:33, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This Google search yields a plethora of sites that are right on the money. Most of them are promotional, so they'll give you some free "tips" before inviting you to send them money for the full Monty. All in all, I'd say that most of the sites have fairly good tips. V-Man737 03:52, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

ZORK- V.1

How do I create an account on zork? Яussiaп F 02:55, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you mean the first version of Zork, you wouldn't create an account the way you would with an MMORPG; rather, you can simply type "save" and it will save your status on the computer. To access your save point, type "reload." V-Man737 04:00, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

So you can only save one file a time? Would you be able to copy old save files into other folders if you wouldn't want them to be overwritten? 惑乱分からん 11:16, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Although the game was designed to have only one save file at a time,^{[citation needed]} I'm sure a person could manipulate computer files around to allow for different save files. V-Man737 11:19, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

alternative words for ocean

i am looking for alternative words for ocean or other languages words for ocean

If you go to the ocean article, and have a look down the left hand side of the page, there will be links to non-English language versions of the ocean article. So you can have a look at those to see what oceans are called in other languages. - Akamad 03:44, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thesaurus entry for ocean --Tagishsimon (talk)

How do I delete a note of a change I have made to a page?

I want to clear a note in a page's edit history of a change I made before I created an account on Wikipedia. I want to do this to conceal my IP address. So can I do it? If so, how? Yoshiroshin 04:37, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

AFAIK, no, can't be done. (Well, okay it could probably be done by a developer, but I think you'd have an uphill battle trying to convince one of the need, and I doubt there's a standard procedure for doing it.) --Tagishsimon (talk)

An administrator could clear an edit history, but only in certain circumstances (like slander or information that could put an editor at risk). If you have a genuine concern that it could put you at risk, you should speak to an admin about it. Rockpocket 06:42, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure that'll clear the IP addy, just the comment. --Tagishsimon (talk)

It would remove the edit and the record of the editor/IP making the comment. How it works is the whole article gets deleted then only selected versions get re-instated. If the selected comment doesn't get reinstated its record - and that if the contributor - remains invisible to everyone except other admins. Rockpocket 06:56, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you don't say what edit it is, no will know the IP belongs to you. Concealing it for fears other than it being linked to you are useless, because anyone with bad intentions will know the IP exists already whether it is displayed or not. - Mgm|^(talk) 10:48, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Of course the best way to conceal your IP address in the future is to create a proper user account. Once you do that, only admins can find out what your real IP address is. SteveBaker 22:27, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Webpage Font

Is there any way I can alter the font you are using on your website pages. I find it very tiring. I am 83 years old and I prefer a more conventional font like times new roman. Thanks.

Yes, there is. Your browser should have an option that allows you to over-rule the Wikipedia default font. On Mozilla Firefox, you should choose Tools > Options > Content > Advanced. Then de-select the tickbox that says "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above". Then simply change the the fonts in the section above to one of your choosing. When you click "OK" Wikipedia should reload using the font of your choosing. I'm sure there is a similar function in Internet Explorer, though I don't know for sure how to access it. Rockpocket 07:26, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Further, from Internet Explorer help: If you want to have the fonts and colors you specify in Internet Explorer to be used for all websites, regardless of the fonts that have been set by the website designer, follow these steps:

In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Accessibility.
Select the Ignore colors specified on webpages, Ignore font styles specified on webpages, and Ignore font sizes specified on webpages check boxes, and then click OK twice.
Then go back to the General tab, click Fonts, and select the Fonts you wish to use.

Rockpocket 07:33, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Quick trick: If your mouse has a wheel, you can instantly increase the font size in IE (but not the font) by holding down the ctrl key and rolling the mouse wheel one click backwards.--Shantavira 09:32, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I remember seeing a bug on IE where the user cannot change the font size if it is defined in px in CSS. Not sure about IE7 though... --antilived^{T | C | G} 23:41, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cinq vins pour moi

On a TV commercial tonight, I heard again a song I sort of like, in French, that I've never been able to figure out the lyrics to. To me it sounds something like

Cinq vins pour moi

Cinq vins pour moi moi moi moi moi

Cinq vins pour moi

and continues in the same vein. Google turns up nothing. Does anyone know what song this might be? --Trovatore 07:48, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh! That famous song! It is French, and it means "Five Wines For Me." It goes like this:

Five Wines For Me

Five Wines For Me Me Me Me Me

Five Wines For Me

I think it's a drinking song, though I can't remember how I figure... V-Man737 08:20, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm fairly certain it would be "Ça plane pour moi" by Plastic Bertrand--or perhaps a parody of that song Melburnian 08:37, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Plastic Bertrand... Nice! 惑乱分からん 11:21, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Gingivitus help.

Okay, I got braces two years ago (note: non-vandalizing 15-year-old Wikipedian). I've brushed my teeth, flossed, and gargled. Yet, today, I had a sensitive tooth, and upon further examination, I had Stage 1 Gingivitis. I have chronic halitosis and I often have to scrape plaque off my teeth, even after brushing for two minutes, yet I have gingivitis. How? The velociraptor 08:08, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Do you still have braces, or are they off now? You should call or visit your dentist. If you hadn't said that bit about brushing for two minutes and flossing and gargling (sardines?), I would have told you to do all that. There could be a different problem that you aren't aware of yet. It occurs to me that if you are able to scrape dental plaque (and you're sure it's not algebra) off your teeth immediately after brushing, you may be brushing your teeth incorrectly. V-Man737 08:29, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Chronic halitosis is often a sign of tooth decay. See your dentist! When you do, ask her/him about your trouble with plaque - s/he may suggest an electric toothbrush. My dentist told me that brushing with even a very cheap electric toothbrush (the kind that costs $9.99 at Zellers) generally gets teeth cleaner than brushing with a regular brush. Edited because my grammar is horrible today. --Charlene 12:54, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

European Union

Hello,

I would like to know:

Based on what agreement are specified the actual rules of the European Union? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Akrepja (talk • contribs)

Nothing in the EU is simple ! The constitutional rules of the European Union are defined in a complex set of interlocking and overlapping treaties - see Treaties of the European Union. An attempt to replace these with a single, simpler and more streamlined European Constitution received a major set-back when referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005 failed to approve the draft constitution - see our article Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Gandalf61 10:20, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Citizens of honour of Trier

Hello, I have been trying to find a list of the citizens of honour of Trier,in Germany but didn't suceed. Can anyone help me

Trier, Germany#Miscellaneous says "Trier is also the birthplace of the influential philosopher and revolutionary Karl Marx," among other things. V-Man737 09:54, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Or do you perhaps mean "people who have been made honorary citizens of Trier"? In that case, you'll find a list here (the descriptions are in German, but you can look up the names if necessary). — QuantumEleven 10:49, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sport quotes

Who made the confused statement: ‘Brazil aren’t as good as they used to be, or as they are now’?217.35.119.229 09:39, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds like one of Private Eye magazine's Colemanballs, although it's not listed in the article. Could have been one of any number of (probably British) football commentators. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 10:43, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Heh. What a silly thing to say. The Brazil team is just as good as they are now. V-Man737 11:28, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Strange problem.

I think I am strange and normal human laws dont apply to me.Sometimes I think I am a scientist but the next minute I think I am a fool.I am wasting a lot of my precious time because of my strange thinking.My problem is actually that I am very hypocritical.I think Icant change my habit.I think I dont deserve to study.I even lost a preciousopportunity to get into an IIT due to this habit.I wanted to take animation after this disaster but I didn't want to waste my assumed scientific brain.I am actually a fantasy type and never look into reality.But I can say with surity that I am very creative.Iwant forgive myself and start thinking like a normal person.My problem may seem a joke to others but for me it will always be a problem.Please help me.Shittingstar 10:30, 14 February 2007 (UTC)shittingstar[reply]

You sound like me, four years ago. ^_^ Could you put your concern into the form of a question that we could probably answer? V-Man737 10:34, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Only those who acknowledge how very little they know become truly creative scientists.--Shantavira 12:22, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Certainly agree with that. For instance I know sweet FA! (or so it seems)

--Light current 14:48, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Used to happen to me a lot, now not as much as before. When I was trying to learn something from an unintelligible book I thought I was an idiot, when I played trivial with fools and "owned" them I felt like a genius. Maybe that's your case :D --Taraborn 12:37, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'd love to help but you'll need to go into more detail about what sort of 'strange thoughts' you're having. Don't be shy. :) Vranak

I feel the same way most of the time too:( Could it be some sort of mood swings:( And my strange thoughts are stranger:]Hidden secret 7 20:31, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is nobody gettting that this man sounds kinda screwed up and needs some serious help? Like psych help?

I would strongly remind everyone that we are not allowed to dispense medical advice here. SteveBaker 06:08, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What is to "strongly remind"? A.Z. 13:40, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

hola

what is it that 45 percent of brazillians claim to. i have bin told if i carefully google it al solve it in exactly two days... that was 6 days ago so help anyone

Probably cell phones. Pretty much half the population owns one by now. — Kieff | Talk 15:45, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also, I found a few references to 45%. 45% of Brazilians are of African ancestry. Something about 45% of their energy is from renewable resources. --Justanother 16:02, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I heard 40-50% of Brazilian couples regularly participate in anal sex. That might be it, or it just might be how my brain is tuned... =S 惑乱分からん 16:23, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I like this "statistic" from that article:

"For example, in ancient Peruvian cultures, at least half of all married couples indulged in anal intercourse in their lovemaking experiences."

The writers were lucky - it is really hard to find survey data from ancient civilizations (removes tongue from cheek). --Justanother 16:29, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, they did have recording devices in ancient Peru... ---Sluzzelin 17:30, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I hold my tongue. --Justanother 17:36, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's not your tongue I'm worried about, it's the cheek. V-Man737 20:46, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I believe the "statistical data" is a bunch of old pots... Second, I notice the AskMen article I linked fails to cite a source for their Brazilian survey... 惑乱分からん 18:50, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, I wouldn't doubt it. I live in Brazil and I can confirm that most Brazilians are obsessed with anal sex and asses. I honestly can't see why all the noise about it. By the way, the "hola" in the section header is probably a mistake by the OP, since here in Brazil we speak Portuguese, not Spanish... — Kieff | Talk 21:29, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And how do brazzies greet each other, then? For instance when they try to pick up some babe with a hot ass? (Btw, what is that in portuguese?) 惑乱分からん 22:05, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(I see 惑乱分からん is also concerned with cheek.) ;-) V-Man737 02:35, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hmmm, I start to realize the difference between "tongue in cheek" and "tongue between cheeks"... =S 惑乱分からん 08:40, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Uk Tax Question

I understand self-employed people can write-off specific purchases as tax-deductable/not pay VAT on them. I know that if you have a formal dress-code at work you can approach your employer about claiming tax back for the outfits you have to buy. Can you contact the Inland Revenue/tax authority directly and claim VAT back on items you purchase specifically for work? ny156uk 19:09, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can only claim VAT back if you are VAT registered, so I think the short answer to your last question is No. You may be able to reduce your income tax liability (or not, I don't know). VAT != income tax. --Tagishsimon (talk)

VAT is not Income Tax. As Tagishsimon says, you can only reclaim VAT paid if you yourself are registered for VAT. Self-employed people can claim income tax allowances for equipment, particular clothes (safety equipment, for example), brought in pursuance of their work, but ordinary employees can not. Contact HM Revenue and Customs directly for information, as none of us are tax experts. -- Arwel (talk) 01:31, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

dsl

Which is the cheapest dsl service that you can get in Sanford, Florida? (NOT BELLSOUTH, THEY RAISED THE PRICE! THEY SUCK!)— Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.230.100.86 (talk • contribs)

Your best bet is to look in your yellow pages and comparison-shop by phone. You might also compare cable access through your local cable provider. Marco polo 02:09, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

James Bond Ultimate Edition DVD cases

Which brand of double-disc slim DVD cases was used for the James Bond Ultimate Edition box sets? I need to get replacements for two of them (not due to wear and tear but the fact that two of the movies were stored in really cheapo cases with brittle plastic). Tony Myers 23:38, 2 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 3

another computer question

I pressed ctrl+alt+delete and pressed end process for something. Now my speakers wont work for watching videos on the internet. The speakers do work, but when i try to go to the control panel, it won't let me change any options.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.230.100.86 (talk • contribs)

Perhaps a computer restart will resolve the issue? Or you may have terminated the Windows Audio service. Splintercellguy 02:30, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

i think it was the second one. any way to fix it?

Here's how you turn on Windows Audio Service:
1)Click on the START button on the taskbar
2)CLick on RUN
3)Type MsConfig into the box and click OK
4)Go into SERVICES and find "Windows Audio" and make sure the box next to it is checked. If it isn't, then check it.
5)Click APPLY and OK.
6)Restart your computer.
--Codell^«T» 03:29, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Never mind, i rebooted it and it worked again. "The ghetto way is the only way" ha ha ha

This would have been an excellent question for the Computer Ref Desk. StuRat 03:33, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah Yeah Yeah

I remember an old french song that went something like this:

Yeah Yeah Yeah, Je besoin de ma musique, Je besoin de vivre sur terre, de soleil et du pluie....

It's by a male artist and is not related to the band Yeah Yeah Yeah

Does anyone know the title/author of this song? Thx. Jamesino 02:54, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

These lines are from Céline Dion's "Autor de moi" (Thérèse Dion / Pierre Tremblay ).

"Moi, j'ai besoin de terre et de soleil' / d'un peu de pluie comme une fleur. / Toutes les saisons pour moi sont pareilles. / Ma vie s'écoule tout en douceur.

Not sure about the yeah yeah yeah, and musique doesn't appear in the lyrics (though chanson does). ---Sluzzelin 04:06, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's "Besoin pour Vivre" by Claude Dubois lyrics ici--Melburnian 08:47, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes! Thank you Melburnian, that it. Jamesino 17:30, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Muscle Cramps

I sometimes get spontaneous muscle cramps in my calves. I have found that I can give myself muscle cramps at will in my calves and bicepts. What effect do these cramps have on the muscles in which they occur? Do they offer some kind of work-out in the muscles, or are they somehow detrimental? Thanks.

See muscle cramp for a start. According to the article, cramps aren't inherently damaging in themselves, but may be indicative of other problems: "There are two basic causes of cramping. One is inadequate oxygenation of muscle, and the other is lack of water or salt." V-Man737 06:55, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't an accumulation of lactic acid after heavy exercise another source of cramps ? StuRat 03:28, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Lactic acid is a by-product of muscles trying to work anerobically (ie without enough oxygen) - so "inadequate oxygenation of muscle" (per V-Man737) is the cause of the Lactic acid build-up (per StuRat) and the lactic acid is what cramps the muscle as the body's way of stopping you from further exercise until you've gotten enough oxygen back into it to metabolise away the Lactic Acid and work aerobically again. This is all tied up in the metabolic paths of ATP/ADP which provide the raw energy from which all muscular activity comes. SteveBaker 21:02, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

--muscle cramps usually mean you are lacking magnesium you can buy it in powder form at the health food shop or in tablet form. MrsV

eating healthy are canned foods bad?

i look at alot of lables on everything in canned food i see contains(calcium carbonate)or some other type of preservative and in juice i see alot of (high fructose corn syrup) i just assumed it wasnt good for you just judging by the name ive also watched a documentary about fast food its called "super size me" and it relates to the topics of fast food being unhealthy and how its addictive my dad is having problems with his health and i am sure its because of his diet i would just like to know about things that are natural and good for you VoLtADrUmMeRVoltadrummer 05:04, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"Natural" doesn't mean good for you. Calcium carbonate, for example, is simply a calcium additive for foods that don't have any. High fructose corn syrup is probably best to stay away from, though, it's simply "empty calories" and is even worse than sugar. Of course, simply trying not to eat these foods isn't always the best solution. Everything in moderation. A balanced diet, with grains, meat, and the occasional Big Mac is the best way to go. If you eat a Big Mac meal every day, you could end up with artery plaques and general unwellness, but once in a while won't hurt (this isn't medical advice, have to say that :P). Canned foods are no more dangerous than any other kind of food, but you have to watch the salt content, easily found on the side of the can under sodium. If it's big (over, say, 15%), you're taking in a lot of salt and that might raise blood pressure. Just use common sense, realize that just because it has a chemical-ish name doesn't mean it's bad, and make sure you or your father is getting what you need nutrition wise and still enjoying foods you like in moderation. EDIT: if someone feels this is medical advice, feel free to remove part of all of it. I'm just trying to answer the original question, but don't want to start any conflict. Poster: lf your father has medical problems, he should be seeing a physician if he isn't already, because we can't answer specific medical questions here. --Wo o ty Woot? contribs 06:20, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"Natural" food enthusiasts often err because of paranoid assumptions about the process that food often goes through, using intensely long chemical names for things like "salt." Take, for example, the evils of dihydrogen monoxide. V-Man737 06:55, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Canned foods aren't as nutritious as fresh or frozen. The reason is not additives but the very high heat which the food is subjected to for a long period of time. That kind of processing can destroy certain vitamins (most notably Vitamin C). Calcium carbonate, on the other hand, is not bad for you at all. The biggest mistake the "natural" industry has made is to brand anything dangerous as a chemical. Water is a chemical. Baking soda is a chemical. Everything on Earth is a chemical, or a combination of them. Just because something has a chemical name doesn't mean it's bad for you - vitamins all have chemical names.

As for natural foods - you have to read your labels. Many "natural" foods contain less salt, less sugar, and (most importantly) fewer cheap fillers such as TVP or soy protein isolate and contain more real food than major supermarket brands. The best way to eat, however, is to consume as few pre-processed foods as possible. Cut out the Hamburger Helper, the Sidekicks, the gravy mixes, the canned spaghetti, the onion soup mix in the pot roast, the canned and dry soups, the frozen entrees, the TV dinners, the cookies and pop, the processed foods full of ultra-cheap fillers (but not sold at ultra-cheap prices) and above all cheap restaurant/drive-in food. Buy meat (if you eat it), fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and whole grains. Learn how to cook, and especially learn how to use herbs and spices. Not only will you eat better, you'll also save huge amounts of money and you'll likely lose weight. After a few months if you try fast food you may find it inedibly greasy and salty. --Charlene 07:29, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

All this said you might want to look more into edible salt and search around google - the debate over how much is an acceptable amount of salt is still raging on. There are many who argue the limits have been set arbitrarily and that the effects of too-low a salt intake are not explained. Additionally recently scientists did the 'super size me' experiment (http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=IG2533398B&rss=true) and found, from the preliminery findings, very different results to this film. There is an obsessions in the modern age with 'natural' food and the 'ill effects' of processed-food but very little is proven about these having any actual damaging effect on your body. A healthy diet is not simply one that misses out processed-food and only eats natural not is it one that does the opposite. Be weary of people who deny processed-food nutriotional/health worth, it can be easily consumed as part of a healthy diet with no ill-effects. There is no definitive diet, we are fortunate enough to choose what we eat - base your decisions on a selection of things, not just 'health' - such as your enjoyment of the product, personal preference, ease of making, cost - because in the real world these things are also part of your food regime and diets do not cover them. ny156uk 10:29, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In the real world, hundreds of millions of people don't touch processed food and have no problems whatsoever. The real barrier to eating healthier is refusing to change your food regime. In reality it's much easier to stick some fresh food in a crock pot in the morning and come home to a freshly home-cooked dinner than it is to drive every single day to McDonald's, but people don't figure in the time it takes to actually go get drive-in food. --Charlene 12:36, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with the majority of responders that canned foods are worse than frozen, and fresh foods are the best yet. If you do eat canned or frozen foods, try to get "raw ingredients" as much as possible. That is, get plain, low-salt canned potatoes, not frozen tater tots or boxed potatoes au graten, given the choice. Fresh potatoes would, of course, be the best choice, but not everyone likes to take the time to prepare those. StuRat 03:24, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, you've boggled me. They make canned potatoes? Really? When you can just wash off a potato, put a hole in it with a fork, stick it in the microwave, hit "Potato", and in a few minutes you have a freshly cooked potato? --Charlene 12:38, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Clearly a tinned-potato has benefits over a non-tinned one...longevity being the biggest factor of purchasing tinned produce over fresh produce. :"According to the British Nutrition Foundation, broadly speaking, the vitamin and mineral content of frozen and canned fruit and vegetables is equivalent to that of fresh products." For instance vitamin C and folic acid are sensitive and their levels can be lower in vegetables that have been stored a few days before consumption compared to that which is kept frozen prior up until consumption. Losses occur during the canning process but they are then remain constant for the shelf-life of that product. Benefitis of both frozen/fresh produce exist, we should not look to call this a 'good food'/'bad food' issue - the case is not that simple. ny156uk 17:45, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Another benefit of tinned potatoes is the reduced production of the poison solanine because they are both entirely protected from light and they are thoroughly cooked. Rmhermen 21:48, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Vegetable Oil Expeller Press

Do you know where I can purchase or find instructions on how to make pure cold pressed vegetable oil (expeller pressed)? An example would be if I would like to make home made cold pressed olive oil or sesame oil? There must be a home device that would allow me to make the oil? (SpamBot Starvation Enforced) Ken→KenKeeve 05:51, 3 February 2007 (UTC)Ken Mardian[reply]

Google "olive oil press". They are available, but they're four-figure machines. The ancient presses took up half a room and quite literally weighed a ton - they were made of solid stone. Also look here - according to this article, expeller-pressed oils are not cold-pressed. --Charlene 07:13, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

TV

was the Queens wedding in 1947 televised?

I'd guess more likely shown at cinemas... 惑乱分からん 12:48, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I found examples of the radio broadcast and also this (http://www.birth-of-tv.org/birth/assetView.do?asset=BIRTHOFTELEV19001___1113215017890) which seems to suggest the event had at least some filming. She was not Queen at the time so searching by 'Princess Elizabeth' instead may help you track down more information. From my quick search I cannot see anything that suggest it was broadcast, and the page bbc 1 makes me think it was unlikely because of the coverage area of the channel - though it could have been recorded and shown in cinemas/town halls etc. ny156uk 12:53, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Being around at the time I can say that it was not televised. What was television in UK 1947? But her Coronation was televised. (We soldiers were given the day of... but then marched to the camp cinema and compelled to watch.)86.216.123.47 16:12, 3 February 2007 (UTC)petitmichel[reply]

There was television in the UK in 1937. Parts of the Coronation of George VI were televised to the 20,000 London homes that had television. The service was shut down on September 1, 1939, and started up again on June 7, 1946. Unfortunately, the reference I'm getting all this from here hasn't got past September 1947 yet (the Princess having married in November of that year). I suspect that newsreels of the wedding would have shown up on the news in many countries, but I strongly doubt there were live cameras in the Cathedral. That's a very modern invention.

Then again, public royal weddings are a relatively modern phenomenon - most of Queen Victoria's children were married privately. Now that I think of it, most of the public traditions of the British Royal Family are innovations. --Charlene 12:28, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I would venture "no". Several sources, including some official ones, make a big deal about her coronation in 1953 being televised at her request; one would think that the same articles would have mentioned it if her wedding had been televised. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 14:59, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

cost of a coke at McD's

Someone told me that when I buy a coke at a fast food place, most of the cost goes towards the cup itself as opposed to the liquid in it. Is this true? any internet sources? Someone also said the same goes for cereal and cereal boxes.

I think most of the money goes to the company's profit. But you may be right about paper cups costing more than the liquid in them; it's just carbonated water and very cheap syrup --⁪froth^T 20:09, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I guess that is true since they'll always fill 3/4 of the cup with a bunch of ice.

I think you'll find that the greatest cost of common soft drinks is for labor, no matter whether it comes from a fountain at a fast food place or already bottled or canned. That explains why larger sizes typically cost only slightly more than smaller sizes: the labor to handle them is practically identical. --Anonymous, February 3, 2007, 22:24 (UTC).

Here in the USA, most restaurants and fast-food places offer free refills. This strongly suggests that the liquid is almost zero cost and the cups are the bigger part of the cost. I'm always amused to see people buying large sized drinks when the refills of small-sized drinks are also free! But pricing in these places doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the actual costs. They might sell drinks for less than they cost to make in order to sell more high-profit burgers...or maybe the other way around. It's a subtle marketting dance. SteveBaker 22:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

One reaon you might still buy the bigger drink is that you're planning on taking the last refill out of the store with you, perhaps on that nine-hour car ride that still looms ahead of you. And often, the price delta between the small and the large is trivial anyway. Atlant 12:53, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And the really small sizes (like the mcdonalds happy meal size) are only good for one or two gulps! --⁪froth^T 17:36, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The only place where a fountain pop is cheap is in a foreign country. I was under the impression that corn production is so heavily subsidized (and thus the sugar that is the main ingredient in the syrup) that most people have bought the drink thousands of times in taxes over the span of their lives. Lowerarchy 14:13, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ink Cartridge recycling

Is there any charity recycling Epson ink cartridges in the UK. Most seem not to want Epsom; I wonder why this should be so? --88.111.50.88 16:35, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Don't know about the first question, but the answer to the second one is that compatible Epson cartridges are so cheap that nobody would buy recycled originals. This is because most other makes of cartridge contain part of the printing mechanism, but Epson cartridges are just simple tubs of ink. See Inkjet printer. --Heron 21:41, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have found now that the Mission to Seafarers will take any cartridge or mobile phone for recycling. Thanks for the input above.--88.110.44.198 07:55, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

family tree

86.41.86.150 19:44, 3 February 2007 (UTC)hi there, I'm trying to find a good free site where i can trace back some family. born here in cork, ireland. person i need to find our about is deceased and have little info only name and address. i think i have relations by way of this old man somewhere in ireland but don't know where to start. please help. Trish[reply]

I don't know of any completely free sites. However, many sites, such as this one will permit access to their records (or some portion of their records) for free for a limited "trial" period. With a little ingenuity, you can find out a great deal of information, although you won't necessarily be able to access all their records. However, there is an alternative: if you have fairly accurate information about the name and residence of your ancestors, you may be able to conduct your research by calling or emailing geneological societies, etc. in the relevant area. In the United States, many societies will assist you with research (look up birth certificates, etc.) free of charge, although there would certainly be fees to obtain copies of any documents. I don't know if geneological societies in Ireland are as accommodating. Carom 21:54, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The LDS church would probably be willing to do it for you; I couldn't find their genealogy website though... The rest of that article has useful information. V-Man737 03:05, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The LDS genealogy search site is here [1] 198.152.70.2 15:04, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

PS3 + Xbox 360 + Wii = $$$

Greetings,

I am wondering why the new consoles are costing so much. They have said "We want to spread gaming to everyone" but I can't go shelling out $600 for a game system, and $100 for a contoller, and $60 for a game. Then you have to get an HDTV and an HD-DVD. I want to know why the prices are what they are and when the prices might be lowered.

Fare thee well, Alexander the Great AlexanderTG 21:03, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A Xbox 360 system is $250. Buy one and rent games. --Wo o ty Woot? contribs 21:22, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A wii is 250. An Xbox 360 is 300. I want to know why they're expensive AlexanderTG 21:27, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The consoles are currently all pretty new, and they all contain cutting edge technology. Moore's law states that the rate of technological advance in microchip technology is very rapid, so what seems state of the art now will be common place in a years time, and hence components will be cheaper to source. Plus, specialised components such the accellerometers in the Wiimote will gain from economies of scale as the Wii takes off; more companies will be willing to produce these components now that their success is almost certain, and so they will begin to compete to offer the cheapest quote. The Gamecube and Xbox both dropped by $50 after 6 months, and a further $50 after another 18 months-2 years, while the PS2 took almost 2 years to drop in price, but then dropped by $100. This generation will likely follow suit; I can see the PS3 falling in price dramatically, but not for another couple of years, when the currently state of the art technology becomes much more common and hence cheaper. If you want cheap, I'd buy a Wii; as the console isn't quite as hi-def, the games are cheaper (no Wii game should cost over $50, apparently), and wireless controllers are included as standard, unlike the 360. If you're willing to wait a little while, though, the 360 should drop soon. Laïka 21:33, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Because a team of accountants and marketers decided that those were the most appropriate unit cost/profit margin/marketability price points for the units. The market will force their hand if the price points are unsustainably high. I usually buy consoles a generation behind, it's a great money saver. Then again, I really don't care much about video games. Anyway, considering inflation, this generation of consoles isn't any more expensive than the last with the exception of Sony's offering. For some explanation of the reasoning for this latter console's price, you can easily dig up tons of articles analyzing the cost of the unit itself and some of Sony's explanations as to why they think the price is sustainable. P.S. - That's a misapplication of Moore's law. Moore's law isn't a predictor of technological advancement or even microprocessor capability, only transistor density (and by extension, IC feature size). -- mattb @ 2007-02-03T21:39Z

if your looking for a ps3 that is lower than 500 bucks, then i suggest waiting a couple of months. Sony has been losing a lot of money and they are likely to lower the price soon. The wii is already as cheap as it can get, so don't wait for the price to go down any time soon. The xbox 360 is getting older, so it should get a little cheaper by the end of this year.

I don't think your statement about the Wii is correct. Some of the specialized components will drop in price (as Smurrayinchester pointed out), and this will give Nintendo some room to drop the price. Additionally, as Nintendo recoups some of the cost of developing the Wii, the price will probably drop (I'm not an economist; this is is simply based on my observations from the last generation of consoles). I would be extremely surprise if the price of the Wii did not drop within the next 18 months. Carom 22:20, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The critical thing you need to know about the console business is that most consoles are sold for less than they cost to manufacture. The manufacturers make their money by taking a percentage of the price of games for that console. This makes for an odd state of affairs. You'll notice that games for the Xbox and PS3 are costing around $60 while Wii games cost around $45. This is because Nintendo made a cheaper console (no fancy hi-def stuff for example) - and were able to sell it for about what it costs to make (some sources claim they make a small profit on the console - others claim they make a small loss - but it's close). That means that Nintendo can sell games for less because they have less to recoup for losses on console sales. The PS3 - despite it's outrageous price tag is still being sold at an enormous loss. This is the reason for the horrible shortage of game consoles when they first come out around Xmas. If the manufacturer is making a loss on every console, the more they sell, the worse off they are - since game sales don't roll in to make up for this loss immediately, the manufacturer has a serious cash flow problem. The general idea is to sell just enough consoles to make sure that the people who publish games for it will be interested in writing for this console - but not so many that you sink yourself in horrifying losses. As the game income starts to ramp up, they can afford to sell more consoles - then more games - then more consoles. Gradually, the price of components falls and economies of scale kick into a higher gear and they are able to fulfill the demands of their customers for console hardware.

Nintendo's strategy of making a cheap - not so capable - console at close to break-even prices has enabled them to sell vastly more machines than Sony in the short term.

It's a bizarre situation where a company doesn't want to sell too many of its products. But if you are losing $100 on every machine you sell - and you sell a million of them - then you may need to sell 10 million games just to break even! This strange situation explains why the Nintendo DS has been so much more successful than the vastly more capable Sony PSP. The average DS owner has 12 games in his/her collection. The average PSP owner has one point five games! This is a disaster for Sony - they'll never recoup the loss they made on the console on the basis of one and a half games sold!

SteveBaker 02:19, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

*applause* excellent answer! --⁪froth^T 17:34, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I still don't buy this 'console manufacturers lose money on console sales alone' - maybe that's what they want you to believe - so you think you're gettng a good deal - look at the PS2 now - £99 approx - for something that's worth (using a comparision to DVD players) approx £40. Overall I think they make a profit just on the console sales (provided of course they sell 100million of them...)87.102.8.103 17:55, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There is no question that they generally lose money on console sales. This is a very well known thing in the business. But you shouldn't be surprised, it's not entirely unusual in the high tech world. For example, computer printers are sold at a loss in order to make big bucks on the ink cartridges (they can make an entire printer INCLUDING a half-full ink cartridge for $65 - but they charge you $60 for an ink cartridge!) - cell phones are sold cheap (or given away for free) in order to get you to subscribe to their phone service. The world is full of similar examples. But as consoles get older and technology marches on, there is scope for re-engineering them to use fewer chips, cheaper chips and so on. There are also non-recurring costs that are amortized over longer production runs - so the cost of making the moulds for the case, writing the firmware, designing the manuals...those kinds of things gradually drop out of the equation after the console has been out there for a few years. Now the manufacturer has to choose between dropping the price so as to sell more (and hence sell more highly profitable games) - or to try to actually make a profit on the console itself. But it is rare indeed for a console to sell for more than it costs to make. Nintendo claimed to have made a small profit on the Game-Cube - but that is widely disputed. Certainly the Xbox and PS-3 are selling at a loss right now. SteveBaker 20:49, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ya, dat is true SteveBaker. I own 10 DS games, and if I had a PSP probably only one or two. But here's my question; Why make games that cost more than the price? Why spend millions on graphics when you could be using it to improve game quality and controller sensitivity? It's redundant. AlexanderTG 17:32, 18 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

romeo vs tybalt

can one of you guys give me a link that gets me to the fight of romeo and tybalt from the 1960's movie? i tried to find it on youtube but all i got was a bunch of highschool plays.

A 1960's movie will be under copyright still so any clips from it are liable to be illegal copyright violations. Best to go rent it yourself. Rmhermen 22:11, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Pain

If you are very tierd and in pain. can that make you more irratable then normal?--DarkFuture 23:27, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. See irritability. — Kieff | Talk 23:33, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For most people, it would be very difficult to not be at least somewhat irritable when in pain and tired. --Charlene 02:21, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You should have asked that question two days ago. |-( (For some reason, I was only irritable when I wasn't editing Wikipedia.) V-Man737 03:13, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Load Bearing wall

Is there any advice/precautions I could take when drilling into a supporting wall to attach some cabinets which will be taking a relatively large amount of weight (i.e. up to 100kg)? Howso-Mchowsoson 23:47, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You should be fine provided that the diameter of your fastener is not more than, say, 25% of the width of the load-bearing members (studs). I would also not space them close together vertically, not within, say, 100mm of each other vertically (assuming about a 10-12mm drill). Make sure you use sufficient fasteners! This is a "guestimate" by someone with qualification to make such but govern yourself accordingly. --Justanother 23:57, 3 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The reasoning is that when you drill a hole in a compressive member you are reducing the cross sectional area and increasing the stress. Bearing walls are built with more than ample factor of safety (on the nature of 2 - 3x or more) so the reduction from one bollt hole going 1/2-way in is on the order of 10%. And if you have a bolt in there then there is no net loss. The guess comes in in guessing that you can afford that 10%. I know the bolts will be in but what about when they are not? --Justanother 00:12, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You did not mention it, and it was assumed by the previous responders, but instructions with cabinets I have hiung said be sure to locate the stude and get at least 1 vertical pair of screws into the stud. It would be an obvious mistake to attach heavy cabinets only to plaster or drywall. In a kitchen I remodeled, I installed hanger studs horizontally between the normal vertical studs, before putting up the drywall, so the full width of the cabinet was structurally supported. The screws must be large enough and deep enough into the studs to not shear off or pull out. Washers inside the cabinet help avoid the screwheads goung through the cabinet back. If multiple cabinets are attached firmley to one another, and each is atached to at least one stud, ithe whole assembly will be more stable than is just 1 cabinet is attached to 1 stud. Edison 00:21, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nuffield Guppy

I'm working on getting the Mini Moke article through WP:FAC and one of the reviewers asked that I try to get a redlink to Nuffield Guppy at least up to stub status.

All I know is that the Nuffield Guppy was a military vehicle designed in the 1940s or '50s by Sir Alec Issigonis for the Nuffield Organisation. Issigonis also designed a lot of influential cars such as the Morris Minor, the Mini and the Mini Moke. The only Google hits for the Guppy point back to my Mini Moke article here on Wikipedia so it could very well be that there is no information on the Internet about this vehicle! His biography "Issigonis and the Mini" mentions nothing about it - all it says about his time working with Nuffield is that he designed two military vehicles:

A weird vehicle that could best be described as a 'parachute-droppable motorized amphibious four-wheeled wheelbarrow' (with a photograph of this bizarre vehicle which looks pretty much exactly like what you currently have in your head right now!)
Some sort of Jeep-like vehicle.

But the book fails to give any names for either them. The odds are good that one of these is the Nuffield Guppy - but which one? Various books on the Mini Moke suggest that the Guppy was in some sense a predecessor of the Moke - so I certainly need to mention it in my article - and it should be linked too.

From the context, I might suspect the Jeep-like thing is the Guppy because the Mini Moke is also Jeep-like - but then a Guppy is a small fish - which would be a good name for an amphibious motorized wheelbarrow and the Mini Moke was also designed to be parachute droppable.

I seem to have hit a dead end. I don't really have enough information for even a stub. SteveBaker 01:58, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Those two may not be as far apart as you think. While Jeep-like vehicles are not truly amphibious vehicles (which can propel themselves while floating on water) they are "water resistant", in that their higher ground clearance and other modifications made them more likely to be able to drive across a shallow stream without stalling than their predecessors. Also, what is the caption on the pic of the weird vehicle ? StuRat 02:37, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It says "Issigonis in 1944, testing the amphibious motorised wheelbarrow developed for the armed forces." SteveBaker 21:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Great on your working on that article. I had a friend that was very into Mini Mokes. I'm afraid I can't add anything of substance to your question. I tried a bit of GooFu but no better luck than you. But I was curious if you saw this "Sport Moke" that came up?[2] --Justanother 02:53, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And again [3] --Justanother 02:59, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Weird! I'll look into it. The article is a little on the short side for a FA - anything more I can find to write about is a good thing. Thanks. SteveBaker 21:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If none of us can find any references to the Nuffield Guppy online or elsewhere, perhaps you remembered the name wrong ? Could it be the tadpole or some other name ? StuRat 03:01, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No - I didn't "remember" it - it's in a couple of reference books that I quote in the article. The name is definitely right. SteveBaker 21:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

While the internet is likely not the best source of obscure auto trivia from the post-war years, I did find a bit more on the work Issigonis was doing at Morris Motors and those strange vehicles which may or may not have been the Guppy. The Nuffield throws me as that is after "Lord Nuffield" AKA William Morris of Morris Motors so why would the Guppy have not been a Morris? What is the source for the Guppy piece? Anyway, from here:

During World War II, Morris Motors undertook military work, notably the development of the Morris lightweight reconnaissance vehicle for the war department. As a member of a reserved occupation Issigonis was excused service in the armed forces and remained at the company’s Cowley plant near Oxford. There he worked on military vehicles of various types, including a motorised wheelbarrow intended for use by the air force in jungle conditions together with an amphibious version designed for use by the Royal Navy.

--Justanother 03:20, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes - that's pretty much the information I have. The 'Nuffield'/'Morris' connection (See Template:British Leyland) comes about because the 'Morris' and 'Riley' companies were merged in the early 1940's under Lord Nuffield to form the 'Nuffield Organisation' - which later joined with the Austin Motor Company to form British Motor Corporation (who went on to make the Mini and the Mini Moke). I suppose that if this 'Guppy' was in development before the merger between Morris and Riley, we might find reference to it as Morris Guppy or Riley Guppy - but I don't get any hits for either of those either. SteveBaker 21:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It is interesting that these days motorised wheelbarrows are quite common; see google images. Or as we say in the States, motorized. --Justanother 16:46, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes - this thing looks more like a miniature landing craft - with an outboard motor on the back and four balloon tyres for use on land. The photo has Sir Alec Issigonis sitting in this thing - it looks like it's maybe six feet long and three feet wide. But I'm not sure that this is the 'Nuffield Guppy'. According to the Issigonis biography, he also designed a "lightweight reconnaissance vehicle (a kind of Jeep)...for the Ministry of Defence". If I could connect "Guppy" to "Wheelbarrow" then I'd have enough information to write a decent stub article but everything I read either talks about the Guppy without saying what it was - or talks about the Jeep-like thing or the Wheelbarrow thing without giving either a name. I guess I may have to try to track down email addresses for some of these book authors and see if they can tell me anything more. It's very frustrating! SteveBaker 21:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, just going on my gut (but I have a very good gut), I would say that the amphibious craft would have to be the Guppy. And a craft that someone sits in is quite different from a wheelbarrow, no? Forget the jeep-like vehicle, IMO, that is another project. Forget the wheelbarrow. The Guppy is the amphibian. (Puts crystal ball away). --Justanother 23:04, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's my guess too - but this is an encylopedia. It would be bad enough to have an unreferenced stub - but to have an unreferenced stub that's a guess would be unforgivable. SteveBaker 03:32, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, totally. I was not suggesting you guess in the article, just giving my guess as to the fruitful line of investigation and my guess as to probable outcome. Sorry if it did not come across that way! --Justanother 03:45, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 4

99 cents

Why is it that in many western countries (Canada, US, Britain, there might be more but I am not sure) prices in stores are generally pegged at x dollar and 99 or 98 cents? Usually for high-priced goods, the dollar amount will also end in 9. Is it not much simpler if prices are whole numbers? This query was originally posted 02:08, February 4, 2007 by User:74.101.39.152

It's about first impressions, which always count. $19 and some cents sounds a lot less than $20. People will be more attracted to an item that sounds cheaper, even if the actual difference is only 1 cent. JackofOz 02:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Our article on psychological pricing discusses this in a fair bit of detail. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 02:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(woops, after e.c.) Wikipedia also has articles on psychological pricing and price ending. This is a popular question, and to read some more information, have a look at the answers last August and the answers last December. ---Sluzzelin 02:23, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try INSISTING on paying the full dollar, ie 20.00 not 19.99. It totally throws their accounting procedures!--88.109.5.77 09:37, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

To make you think it's cheaper. Your mind seems to focus on the 19 dollars and ignores the 98 cents making you think it's a lot cheaper than 20 dollars. It's very annoying. They even do it here in Australia even though they got rid of the 1 and 2 cent coins in 1992... --Candy-Panda 06:09, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's only an issue if you pay by cash. A single item marked $19.99 will actually cost you $20.00 if you pay cash, but if you pay by eftpos or credit card it'll only cost you $19.99. And also the cents are only rounded up or down to the nearest 5c for the total of the bill, not for every individual item. JackofOz 01:46, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Apparently the original reason was to force the shop assistant to register the purchase by having to give change, otherwise they might simply pocket the banknote for their own benefit... -- Arwel (talk) 01:23, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Shelf life of "Reddi-wip" ?

What is the shelf life of a can of Reddi-wip once the seal is broken and some of the product has been dispensed? 71.112.12.68 03:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wouldn't it approximate the shelf life of the unopened can? Unless the spout is somehow contaminated. In practice it seems half of it is used when it is opened and the rest disappears mysteriously over the next day. Edison 05:24, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No new password received

Tried to log in and told password not valid. Clicked on send new password and advised it would be sent by e-mail to me. No sign of it within 24 hours. Tried this several times and still no e-mailed password. Please help..........Gerard222.152.200.231 04:18, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The folks over at Wikipedia:Help desk ought to help ya out... I'll copy your question over there. V-Man737 04:36, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

movie

i remember that i watched this movie a long time ago. the only scene that i can remember was a boy running into a HUGE library and then the library started to flood with paint and he was sent to this animated world. thats all i remember, so sorry for the little info. thanx to anyone that can find out which one it is!

I believe the movie you are recalling is The Pagemaster. I hope you have a most wonderful day! Kyra_~(talk) 06:02, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Royale with Cheese

I'm not exactly sure if this belongs in Humanities, Language, or Entertainment...but here goes: Is there actually such a thing as a "Royale with Cheese" in SI countries, or did Quentin Tarantino make it up? --Lazar Taxon 06:09, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

He didnt make it up McDonald's products--ChesterMarcol 06:40, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In localizing the name by which this menu item would be known in metric-system countries, apparently "~~Mac~~McRoyale" was considered a better choice than the literal but ungainly "113.5-grammer". But what's "SI"? -- Deborahjay 09:08, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

See SI. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 09:11, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, thanks for the heads-up! I'd supposed those initials to be some unfamiliar geographic designation and didn't think to search on the letter pair itself. -- Deborahjay 19:48, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

help100

i have a series of questions and answers some arent right some are.plese help me get all right..coz 1 or two are wrong 1.every minute 47 of these are sold or distributed throughout the world-bible 2.more humans have bin killed attributed to this creature than all wars fought-mosquito 3.what can hard boiled eggs do that soft boiled egsscant-spin 4.blueberry jelly was created forthis especially for this well known american-ronald reagean 5.which word means unclothed-nude 6.all hospitals in singapore uses this item on babies-pampered diapers 7.this english football club was formed coz their rivals cudntpay their rent-liverpool

This sounds like one of those awful trivia lists which are largely unverifiable or at least highly apocraphal. -- mattb @ 2007-02-04T20:41Z

Isn't that blueberry jellybeans? Clarityfiend 21:50, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The hard boiled egg thing isn't quite right. The difference is that if you spin a hard-boiled egg, it stands up on one end - where a raw egg will spin on it's side - something to do with how the liquid inside resists being spun. It's a good way to tell whether an egg is cooked or raw without cracking it open. I don't think there would be much difference between soft-boiled and hard-boiled though. SteveBaker 21:52, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Homework - Where did the torch relay of Sydney 2000 start?

Anybody know Anybody know where did the torch relay of Sydney 2000 start?

Thanks.

The torch relay for the Sydney 2000 Olympic games began in Olympia, Greece. I hope you have a most wonderful day. Kyra_~(talk) 10:38, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

All Olympic torch relays begin in Olympia. Have a look at this article for more info: Olympic Flame. - Akamad 13:04, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Geez? Did we just help out a guy with his homework? 惑乱分からん 23:18, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oops, I actually didn't see the word homework in the big heading :-) Akamad 05:15, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

So someone swam across the ocean with it

Possibly on a boat... =S 惑乱分からん 22:45, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nah, held in between the teeth while swimming. That's why only Olympic swimmers got to carry it across the Indian ocean. V-Man737 05:39, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What a disaster if it'd rain... 惑乱分からん 11:29, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In fact, the 2000 Olympic Torch did pass underwater! It visited the Great Barrier Reef, with a special chemical concocction based on those used in marine distress flares. Laïka 15:40, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow! :o Do you have a source for that?-Malkinann 00:16, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"The Sum of All Human Knowledge"

I was flipping through some information on Wikipedia, and I came across the statement that's in the title of this post.[[4]]. I've seen it in reference to Wikipedia's goal plenty of times before, though. I was wondering, what's the rationale for this statement? It seems contradictory that Wikipedia can be the sum of all human knowledge when certain things are excluded (How-to guides, very niche subjects, many lists, etc.) It should probably read the sum of all notable human knowledge. :P .V. _[_Talk|Email] 14:45, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, I would say that wikipedia is the encyclopedia component of a greater project, wikimedia or wikiwhatever, that could, and does, include those classes you say are excluded. Certainly "human knowledge" has to have some (assumed) qualifier on it or wikiwhat would list what I had for breakfast yesterday (Sausage McMuffin). I think that such a qualifier can remain inferred and assumed and Wales can continue to state his goal as he did if that is his goal. --Justanother 15:08, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia is, in actuality, the sum of all pop culture, recent news event, fictional universe, and esoteric programming language knowledge. -- mattb @ 2007-02-04T20:43Z

I thought it was the sum of all vandalism. Clarityfiend 21:54, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Certainly this can't be literally true because new human knowledge (like where that pencil is on my desk right now) changes insanely fast and it utterly non-notable. However, the goal to contain all notable facts seems - amazingly - to be within our grasp. The lack of things like 'How To' documents doesn't necessarily preclude us reaching that goal because most How To guides are just convenient presentations of already-known facts. SteveBaker 21:56, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also, it is not "all human knowledge" but "the sum of all human knowledge". It is possible to know the sum of all of the prime numbers between one and a million without knowing what all of those numbers are. This usage of "sum" is akin to "summary". If you read "the summary of all human knowledge" then perhaps this would be more close to a practical goal. SteveBaker 22:05, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is more of a Wikimedia Foundation goal, than a specific Wikipedia one. - Mgm|^(talk) 10:44, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Where does non human knowledge go then

If the non-humans have anything that we don't alread know - they are doing a poor job of adding it. My dog is hopeless at providing verifiable references for ANY of his writings and if you accuse him of WP:OR, he bites you in the leg. SteveBaker 20:35, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Notice also that "human knowledge" is something of a more specific term than "all information known to humans." Trivial and unconnected facts are generally not considered to be knowledge. --140.247.250.175 21:07, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately, it's the so-called "trivial" and "non-notable" facts that I most need a reference source for. I can already look up the so-called "notable" stuff - in fact, with its emphasis on citation and verifiability, Wikipedia may possibly represent the most enormous and most pointless duplication of effort ever carried out. --80.0.108.101 15:15, 17 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Google remembering what you've searched for.

I've just had a bad infection of viruses and spyware on the ol'puter and in the process of cleaning it up, all my Internet settings were lost. I used to have the feature where Google remembers what you've previously searched for disabled so that it didn't pop up that annoying box everytime I typed into a search box. I can't for the life of me remember how I disabled it! Any thoughts? Thanks :) Farosdaughter 15:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That is not Google, that is IE autocomplete. You can disable it in IE settings. --Justanother 15:23, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thankyou! I use FireFox but I googled autocomplete and found how to disable it. Thankyou very much for your help. --Farosdaughter 15:28, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You are welcome! --Justanother 15:40, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Mathbot's Tool

Hi, I was wondering what Mathbot's tool measures? For me it says 29% and 28% but for another user e.g. MER-C (which I got from RFA nominations) it says 100% and 100%. What does this mean? Why isn't mine 100% and 100% or theirs less? Please explain why this is, because I don't really understand it! Asics talk 16:28, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

it simply measures how often you write anything in the edit summary and apparently you usually don't. Not a huge deal but considered an important nicety. --Justanother 16:37, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I see, I'll do it more often now! Asics talk 17:27, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I recently discovered that there is an entry in your Preferences that makes the system remind you if you try to commit a change without entering an edit summary. That'll fix your scores up in no time! SteveBaker 22:01, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Checking-in

I'm flying from Heathrow to Sydney soon. Virgin Atlantic encourages me to check-in on-line up to 24 hours in advance, but as I will still need to have my baggage checked, show my passport and ticket, and collect a boarding pass at the desk (so they tell me), what is the point of doing anything on-line? They say it will save queuing at the airport, but I'll have several hours to kill (and the check-in queue is quite an easy place to chat to people) and there's nothing else to do anyway. Incidentally, the check-in article doesn't allow for checking in on-line, although I know that several airlines offer it. I'm also wondering why "kiosk check-in" is specifically excluded for flights to Sydney.[5] --Shantavira 18:17, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There is no point. The only reason they are trying to make you do it is to speed up the queues, which it presumably will, even if only marginally (check-in staff having slightly less to do per transaction). Ultimately, it's a cost-saving measure. They want to be able to lay off staff, and they figure this is the way to do it. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 20:23, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You're more likely to get your choice of seats. Anchoress 20:26, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For all the airlines that I've traveled on (domestic U.S.), when you check-in online, you print out a boarding pass (and don't have to pick it up at the desk). It's especially useful for people who don't have checked baggage; they don't have to go to the desk at all; and can go straight to the gate. I don't know about your airline though; it does seem silly to have to pick up the boarding pass. --Spoon! 23:05, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Contacting

What are the band members from AC/DC's address? How could I possibly contact them?

Some record publishers will forward mail addressed to the band - failing that, you'd probably need to find a fan club that has (maybe) a forum that the band read. You won't find their home addresses though. SteveBaker 21:58, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could maybe send an e-mail or C/O snail mail to their record label. 惑乱分からん 23:20, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Forgotten alien movie

I saw an alien movie many years ago and I've forgotten its name. I believe they were green aliens who used ray guns that caused a target person to die and the only remains were colored bones. It took place in Washington, DC, I think. A few were brought to a large room to interview, but they just shot everybody. What was this movie? Thanks! Reywas92^Talk_Sigs 22:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It was probably Mars Attacks! Anchoress 22:19, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The hilarious Mars Attacks! by Tim Burton. 22:19, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Ack ack, ack ck ack ack. Ack ack! Ack ack ack... Atlant 12:55, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Have no fear! We come in peace! 惑乱分からん 17:23, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

BZZZT! :-) · AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 20:56, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Shhhhh! If George Bush hears about this, he'll want to invade. Clarityfiend 23:47, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Invade where, Mars? I'm afraid they have more colorful weapons than we do, so it's out of the question. :-) · AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 15:28, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What a preposterous notion. We already own Mars! (Did anyone else expect the War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise to be a lot like Mars Attacks?) V-Man737 03:27, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wholesale prices and newsstands

Do newsstands usually pay the same price for magazines as home subscribers, do they get a further discount for buying more than one copy per month, or do they pay a premium for the faster shipping? Neon Merlin 22:31, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's most likely cheaper than for private consumers, though I don't know the exact details. 惑乱分からん 23:21, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This question was already asked probably not more than a month ago. See the archives for the answers. Dismas|^(talk) 00:50, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Here's the link to the archived question. ---Sluzzelin 01:01, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cleaning the really fine stuff

There are two things I'd like to have info on cleaning, and I don't know what material they are. First is the case of a fifth-generation (video) iPod. I work hard preserving my iPod's cleanliness, but some dirt or something inside the case undoes this. The second is the case of an American Silver Eagle. It's still quite clean, but I just want to have the info ready. What are these materials, and how should I clean them?--the ninth bright shiner ^talk 23:54, 4 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In general, coins are not cleaned. I don't know if it would matter with bullion coins though. Rmhermen 00:00, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not talking about the coin itself; the coin is sealed inside a plastic case, which is placed in a rectangular case with the U.S. Mint emblem on the front in silver, and the rest some sort of fuzzy material.--the ninth bright shiner ^talk 00:13, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 5

What Is the Source of This Quote?

"What is a man that you have regard for and what is a human that you have consideration for? Man is like a mist. His days are like a passing shadow. In the morning he shines and then he is gone; by the evening he fades and withers. You cause man to revert to dust. Were we wise we would understand his destiny. In his passing he does not take everything; his honor will not follow after him. Mark the innocent and behold the righteous for they shall have peace."

I think you may have the wording a little off (or maybe you are quoting a different translation of the original): http://ogreatmystery.com/newskete/psalter/kathisma20.html SteveBaker 03:28, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

i.e. the first three sentences are Psalm 144v3-4, but after that they are different. I am not sure where they are from. They are certainly not a "different translation" of the original Hebrew text since it is completely different. Darkhorse06 19:59, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

My inttiution said Star Trek or something like that... =S 惑乱分からん 22:48, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Israel = Isis, Ra, El? — Etymology of the word "Israel"?

In the (undated) documentary The Naked Truth, Jordan Maxwell contends that the etymology of the word Israel was such that Israel was essentially an acronym derived from the names of three deities (Isis, Ra and El). Can anyone disprove or substantiate that claim? Does anyone know the actual etymology of the word "Israel"? I have looked at Israel, but as of this writing it doesn't contain a detailed etymology. The claim is made by Maxwell at 1:18:07 into this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6410112404402873027

Many thanks in advance for any help. 86.56.48.12 04:21, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The Online Etymology Dictionary says it means "the Jewish people, from L. Israel, from Gk., from Heb. yisra'el "he that striveth with God" (Gen. xxxii.28), symbolic proper name conferred on Jacob and extended to his descendants, from sara "he fought, contended" + El "God." [[6]]. Not sure if that's correct, but it looks like it's right. .V. _[_Talk|Email] 05:23, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The above is correct. It is clear from the bible that Israel is derived Gensis 32, 28 "And he said: 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed". Maxwell's theory, like most theories in Biblical criticism it can be neither proven or disproven. Jon513 14:58, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have long since believed that the name for the modern state of Israel was partly due to the English PM Disraeli, a zionist. but this may be erronious. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk • contribs) 15:22, 5 February 2007

Benjamin Disraeli's name is derived from Israel, not the other way round. In Hebrew, Israel is spelt ישראל, where the final portion, אל, represents El. The spelling of the first part, ישר, leaves no room for interpretation as Isis-Ra, which, in Egyptian is ỉs.t-rȝ. Even with the feminine ending on Isis removed, the Hebrew lacks the final consonant of Ra, and the equivalence between Egyptian ỉ and Hebrew י is quite uncertain. This looks more like someone trying to be clever (without knowing any Hebrew or Egyptian), and it is not a sound hypothesis. — Gareth Hughes 15:40, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, I thought the same without knowing the languages involved. It struck me a weird that the logic was based on English words. Not to say that the film is not interesting, it is. But I wonder how much of it is accurate. For instance it makes many analogies between Christ/Buddha/Krishna as being recurrent. One that sticks with me is that it says that both Christ and Buddha are described as appearing as a flower in a crystal womb. Literally. While I can see that as Buddhist imagery, I have never seen any claim in Christianity that Mary's womb became crystal clear when Jesus entered her womb and that he appeared as flower there. Has anyone ever heard such? --Justanother 16:44, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, I doubt it's true. The History Channel (or History International) often messes religious things up. · AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 21:00, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I doubt it is any of those. More like the "Fringe Channel". --Justanother 21:03, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, I saw the program on History International, but not this episode. They might have it elsewhere too though. · AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 15:29, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Although it's probably worth nothing that many of the Bible name meanings are folk etymologies. Corvus cornix 18:46, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cleaning a down comforter

In a commercial drier how long do you think it would take to dry a giant, thick down comforter that just came out of the wash? --⁪froth^T 05:21, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I usually set it to 60 min and check up on 10 minute intervals to see if it was okay. If you find it hard to keep track of this, use a timer and set the alarm for 10 minutes, check on it, then set the timer again.--JDitto 05:41, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

So you'd worry that it would burst into flame or something? Or do you mean check on it just to see if it's done. It's my only blanket and my parents are out of the country right now; it would be very bad if it caught fire o_o --⁪froth^T 05:46, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Jesus - you need to check the material - if it's synthetic at all you need to be really careful - if it's cotton then there should be no problem.87.102.8.103 12:01, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The safest thing would be to dry it without heat, or with only slight heat, not much more than room temperature, on the "delicate" setting, or whatever fits this description. It will take a long time, probably hours, to dry, but it will not be risky. Marco polo 14:53, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Assuming it's cotton with down inside - and it's still quite wet - if you put it in a drier (dustbin sized ?) it still takes ages - the inside stays damp for ages (like an hour) - the best way for these things without using much electricity is to hang them outside on a line and let wind do the work (overnight maybe) - or all day.87.102.8.103 15:49, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hah, it would freeze solid! All's well though; I took JDitto's advice and checked on it every once in awhile and it was fine. It's all natural, no worries. It was still kind of damp in places but I was too tired to stay up any later so I just lived with it; it kind of reeks of wet bird now though --⁪froth^T 17:31, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

My apologies. It should've been in there for more than an hour if it was still a little damp and smelled like wet bird.--JDitto 07:17, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Accounting Practice

Sir,

Please let me know in my e mail address (redacted to prevent spam) the answer for the following.

I have one customer who owe me some money, which is a part of my major revenue. To the same customer I owe some money too. Can it be set off against each other by assuming the payments?

What shall be my accounting entry in this case.

Thanks & Regards

Shaji

It's generally good accounting practice not to net off. So you should keep both the debtor and the creditor in your books of account. By the way, I removed your email address as having it up on this page tends to attract spam. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 11:58, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You shouldn't net off the income and expenditure items in your income statement/profit and loss account. As for the balance sheet, it really depends on whether there is a legal right of set off or not. You can only net them off if there is. jguk 12:51, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Great Persons

Please give me some site links for getting the biography of some of the Great Persons who lived or still alive. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 62.150.215.184 (talk • contribs).

This question is too "open-ended" to be meaningful. Can you narrow it down, perhaps giving us some criteria for what you would consider greatness?

Atlant 12:58, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can also look at our page Lists of people, which has links to many lists of people based on various criteria, including (were we to take your question literally) List of people known as The Great. Those lists, in turn, will link to Wikipedia's biographical articles, which will in many case have references to full biographies in their citation sections. -- SCZenz 15:46, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Brett Favre is the obvious solution. Rya Min 16:26, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Voting for Nelson Mandela or Stephen Hawking in the "still alive" category. -- mattb @ 2007-02-05T18:14Z

Does Chuck Norris fit your bill, or are you looking for more, Genghis Khan-like people? · AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 15:31, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

cost of making passport in india

i would like to know the cost of making a passport in india and what is the procedure and where should i go for that?

I will cost Rs 1000 and you will find more information here http://passport.nic.in/ --Trieste 13:24, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

many many thanks i will be very thankful to you

Printing issues

Hello,

I have what I hope is a very simple question. I am trying to print out pages and two things are happening. First problem is the page is not print friendly and the text (etc.) sometimes is cut off in the right side of the page even when i use the print tab on the left. Second problem is when I do print a page out the links on the page print out with the address next to them.

Thanks Douglas

Regarding the margin problem, let me give you three alternatives to just hitting "print". 1) Print in Landscape. 2) Print only the main frame. You can usually right-click on the frame and select "print" or "print frame". 3)Highlight the part you actually want to print (including images) and then right click and "print selected". --Justanother 16:37, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I would suggest that the "Printable Version" link at left is the optimal solution. — Lomn 18:19, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I did not assume that they were referring to wikipedia since they say the page is not print friendly but you are right if they were. Wikipedia, like many sites, offers "printer-friendly" versions. --Justanother 18:45, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Feminine hygiene

What did women use before the modern age of packaged products to manage their monthly periods? trabitt.

Ever hear the term "on the rag"? Quite literal. See Sanitary napkin. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 14:46, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately "packaged products" of this modern age are still above the means of much of the population of a lot of poor countries. Keria 01:11, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, the first tampons were invented by the Egyptians and were made of papyrus. --Candy-Panda 06:37, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Internet Marketing

How much is Internet Marketing worth in the UK in £'s according to latest figures.

How do I create a Political Party.

If you're interested in setting up a political party, I'd look at these pages on the Electoral Commission website. Skittle 22:14, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

help (77000)

hi am ian and sd lyke to thank the guy who helped me with my question on what do 45 percent of brazillians claim to...contrary to popular belief its not anal sex but it was african ancestry,ad like to thank him or her.wikipeia should expect a small donation from me. anyways i have another question i was handed 77000 from start to finish i suspect its a fact or trivia question.the key i have bin given is google av bin told al get the answer after 3 days.

That was me and you are very welcome! --Justanother 16:46, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Question. It is Monday morning. Is this an assignment given to you by a teacher as a teaching tool in the use of internet search? --Justanother 16:48, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

As an aside, while your questions are very interesting, maybe you should re-read them before you post as your grammar and phrasing are attrocious.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk • contribs)

Please don't BITE the questioner, especially if you can't spell atrocious. Edison 18:06, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Eh, why can't African ancestry and anal sex both be right? Surely they don't contradict each other... (*Refusing stubbornly to admit giving a bad answer...*) =S Well, anyway, I have trouble understanding what your question is, but I guess you're asking what "77000 from start to finish" refers to... 惑乱分からん 17:30, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wakuran, your answer was not wrong. It just was not what the teacher was looking for. Obviously a teacher will be more interested in teaching about ethnic diversity than anal sex. --Justanother 17:33, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Question-asker! Have you tried using Google to find your answer? If you try, you might find it easier to find these things quickly in the future. For example, you could go to www.google.com and type 77000 "start to finish" in the box, including those speech marks, and press "enter" on your keyboard. Then, look at the results and decide which you think your teacher means. Skittle 22:06, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

seventy seven thousand (improved version)

okay am not sure whether am to repost on my earlier question or what but thanks for the advise al be checking on my grammar to make my questions more understandable. the question is seventy seven thousand from start to finish the clue is that its something u know-its a trivia quiz like maybe a famous building used 77000 bricks or something

Wait, so the question is: seventy seven thousand from start to finish the clue is that its something u know? Or is it: seventy seven thousand from start to finish, the clue is that its something? Please explain further. Giving more details helps too. --JDitto 07:31, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Have you used Google, like I suggested? Did any of the results look likely? Skittle 19:49, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Career in photojoirnalism

I am doing a career report for school, and my career is international photojournalism. I have a few questions for you guys at wikipedia. What union or group would I have to belong to? Is there any special licence or certificate needed? Will any further schooling or off-the-job training be needed for raises in pay or promotions? I can't find this info anywhere else. Thanks, 209.81.119.178 18:24, 5 February 2007 (UTC).[reply]

It depends where you live. In the United States*, The National Press Photographers Association is a professional organization of photojournalists, but you don't have to be a member to be a photojournalist. I would recommend taking any courses in photography or journalism (I know it sounds obvious, but these are very important foundations) that you can to obtain a solid background in the field. There is a code of ethics that you have to go by (Invasion of privacy and other issues). There is a lot more information at the Photojournalism article.GhostPirate 19:01, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

*Hawley, Minnesota, right? Don't ask me how I knew that, it's part of the magic of the Internet.

NBC / ABC / FOX / CBS

Someone please sort those four networks in order terms of U.S. viewership, including only the main channel, not all affiliates. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.53.181.77 (talk • contribs)

I'd imagine overall it would be CBS then NBC then ABC then FOX. However, going by individual show, American Idol (a Fox show) is consistently the most popular. You'd have to be more specific. Try Googling the four networks and/or find their Nielson Ratings. →Ed Gl 00:55, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

According to both our CSI article, and their television ads, CBS is "the most-watched network on U.S. television". Rockpocket 08:02, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ventnor Beach

Does anyone know if Ventnor Beach (on the Isle of Wight) has stones which are natural or imported? Thanks, Bioarchie1234 19:18, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

As you can see here, Ventnor has a sandy beach. Why would anyone want to import stones?--Shantavira 08:53, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I went there for a school trip. It was, as you say, mainly sandy, but there were quite a few stones there. We had to measure them with callipers. We looked cool!Bioarchie1234 21:13, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Valentine day concept

How did the concept of Valentines day come up? What is the essence behind it? Why is it a part of American culture?

Whats the exact proportion of individuals who enter the porn industry in the US and Europe? Garb wire 20:30, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

We have encyclopedia articles about Valentine's day and pornography, if you care to have a look. Friday (talk) 20:35, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But the two activities are not connected .... (or are they? Hmm ......) JackofOz 01:38, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't mind if they occasionally were... =S 惑乱分からん 11:31, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, they are, via the Fundamental Interconnectedness of All Things. JackofOz 00:54, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]