Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 November 26

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November 26

China and Taiwan

Officially, is China and Taiwan 1 country or 2 countries? 24.58.65.183 02:08, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Short answer: Yes.

For the longer answer, see: One-China policy. -- Jim Douglas ^(talk) _(contribs) 02:16, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

One country; two systems! After 1949 both countries considered themselves as part of the unitary state of China, but disagreed over who had the right to be considered as the official government. Even after Chang Kai-shek left for Taiwan, following the Communist victory on the mainland, he continued to insist that he was the rightful head of all of China. Officially, Taiwan is still known as the Republic of China, in contrast to the mainland People's Republic of China. Taiwan lost its seat in the UN some years ago, and today is recognized by very few as the legal government of all of China. There have been moves recently to have Taiwan reconstituted as an independent state, though the mainland government have made it clear that they would take a very serious view of any such development. Clio the Muse 02:24, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Though despite the One China policy, it's worth noting that in the Asian qualification process for the 2006 Rugby Union World Cup, the People's Republic did play Chinese Taipei, as Taiwan is often referred to international sporting events, in a match at Kunming. The People's Republic won by 22 points to 19. -- Arwel (talk) 14:22, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

They both pretend it's one nation (China pretends because they hope to conquer Taiwan some day, and Taiwan pretends so they don't anger China and bring that day forward). However, there is almost no objective measure by which they can be considered one nation; they have different governments, militaries, etc. StuRat 07:50, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Locate a fellow Vietnam Veteran

Hello,

My husband James E. Bowers has been trying to locate a buddie he was in Vietnam with in 1967-1968. He was in the Co. D 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th INF Division.

He can't remember his friend Brian's last name but if he could some how get a copy of a list of men in his Division. He feels he'd remember if he were to see it.

If you are unable to help please point us in the right direction. We appreciate any help you can provide.

Thanks,

Kathy Bowers Kelso, Washington 36--577-1766

Contact the Army. They should have records of who was in what where. Wikipedia does not. Good luck. -THB 05:28, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Democrat and Republican

I was wondering since the page about the Democratic party did not say anything on the Immigration Issue, what are their view on the Immigration and BAMN (By any mean necessary) THank you Dragonfire 734 03:56, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Which Democratic Party? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 11:36, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Current Democratic party 151.200.238.33 21:34, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I think CambridgeBayWeather meant, which of the 84 democratic parties listed on Democratic Party are you referring to? (Admittedly, only 38 of them are listed as simply 'Democratic Party'). --ColinFine 23:18, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I think it is pretty clear from the heading of "Democrat and Republican" and the fact that he/she is referencing a group only active in the United States in the post that he/she was referring to the Democratic Party (United States). I understand that people should try to be specific in their questions but if it can be reasonably inferred what country someone is talking about — especially when most of the people on this site at from the United States — I don't see any reason to give people shit about it. --24.147.86.187 01:28, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

To answer the question... this page has some of the central party responses to the issue of immigration, though there are many different opinions held by individual politicians (immigration is a volatile enough issue that it isn't easy to assume there is a standard "party line" on it, whether Democratic or Republican). I am pretty sure that BAMN would be a little too out-there for the Democrats, and that BAMN would consider the Democrats to be a little too centrist for their tastes, but this is just extrapolation of mine. --24.147.86.187 01:28, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Why is it clear that they were referring to the US parties? I had not heard of BAMN as an entity until you provided the link. I looked at the Democratic Party article and Republican Party party article and realized that they could be from any country that had both, such as Albania. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 12:23, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

stock market

is stock market addictive? If so, why? 04:25, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

For some people, playing the stock market is just like any other form of problem gambling. It's the white collar version of off track betting. -THB 05:20, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

In short, the more you lose, the more you think your luck will change and when you win, that is an incentive to go on. So you never stop. Until your money runs out, that is. That said, there are two people on the stock market, those who know what they are doing and those who don't. The latter lose money and that is how the former make money. Take away the latter and stock markets might just collapse. DirkvdM 08:07, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Royal Victorian Order Medal

My dad has a MVO medal with the number 39 stamped on the back he inherited it in a box with other canadian medals, can you help us figure out who in our past family received this medal. thankyou

cherie Nickel, Address Removed

E-mail removed

See the article on Royal Victorian Medal. If they are sequentially ordered, there must be a record somewhere, it being bestowed by the Queen. -THB

"MVO" suggests that the medal belonged to a Member of the Royal Victorian Order. This award is different from the Royal Victorian Medal (which entitles the user to the postnominal "RVM"), although both are part of the Royal Victorian Order. JackofOz 00:11, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Broken Amplifier

I don't know which category this fits into, but I was using a 4-channel 1980's Realistic amplifier in my home theater system. All 4 audio channels were bridged into a subwoofer, but when I adjusted the balance control the fuse in the unit blew. A replacement fuse also blew immediately after I inserted it, meaning something must be broken. Does anyone know what the problem would be and how I would be able to fix it? Mix Lord 06:00, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Um How do you bridge 4 ch into 1 subwoofer? Can you draw a simple wiring diagram?--Light current 06:33, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

+       +       +       +
\       |       \       |
 \      |        \      |
  \     |         \     |
   \    |          \    |
    \   |           \   |
     \  |            \  |
      \ |             \ |
       \|              \|
        \               |
         \              |
          \             |
           \            |
            \           |
             \          |
              \         |
               \        |
                \       |
                 \      |
                  \     |
                   \    |
                    \   |
                     \  |
                      \ |
                       \|
                        |
                        |
                        |
                        |
                        +

It's basically like this, with the same process for the negative. The important thing is to make sure it's a mono signal and not adjust the balance. Also, I had to split the preamp signal.

Well, each channel expects a certain amount of resistance (ohms) per speaker. If you're plugging them all into a single subwoofer, no doubt it uses too much current. Just use one of the channels, not all four. - Rainwarrior 06:49, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It was about a 500W speaker and each channel was only 120W, so it was the only way I could get sufficient volume. Even though I was told not to do it it all worked perfectly until the balance was adjusted. Mix Lord 03:25, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

The 4 channels may have slightly differing levels of amplification, due to drift in component values, so if channel 1 is trying to produce say a 100 hz signal at 120 watts in a 4 ohm load, it might produce 21 volts. Channel 2 might have slightly lower amplification and be trying to produce 18 volts in response to the same input. This can result in high current as the two channels each try to maintain different output levels at the same time with their outputs solidly in parallel. Result? blown fuse. Differing degrees of distortion can also produce high current. Paralleling power amplifiers is a chancy practice unless the gains are carefully balanced. Edison 05:56, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Youre going to need some sharing resistors to stop the amp o/p looking into a short circuit of the other amp o/ps. This will of course mean you losing some power in these resistors. BTW what you have shown is not a bridged connection but a paralleled connection of all 4 o/ps.(very inadvisable as unlimited circulating currents will flow)--Light current 22:36, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

But the amplification wasn't parrallel, as it was using a preamp signal, which is default for a subwoofer outlet. Because the signal was split into left and right and I assumed the output for for each channel would be exactly the same. Also, has anyone got ideas for cooling amplifiers?

Mix Lord 00:42, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Online visual of community

Hi

A while ago I was sent a link that enabled me to see in my own backyard etc. It was a satelite view I think.

I have since got a new computer as the old one died and I can not find the same link to allow me to see that site.

I would appreciate the link if you have it.

Many thanks

I believe you're looking for Google Maps at http://maps.google.com/ ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 07:24, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Although you'd still have to know the exact latitude and longitude to find your backyard again. 惑乱 分からん 07:40, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

(Unless you start from a nearby city and know where to go. –mysid☎ 07:50, 26 November 2006 (UTC))

You can punch in your street adress in Google Maps and it pinpoints your house. Sp0ng 13:45, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

What do calls from 000-000-0000 mean?

I've gotten them like three of them. I answered one. Someone asked for Tyrell something rather. That was it.

If I recall correctly it means somebody has called you from a computer, mostly its just spam or advertisement, I wouldnt give it to much thought if I were you. If you keep getting them you can get on the DNC list and they will block it for you. Joneleth 08:52, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Found some additional information on it. "What is happening is telemarketers have found a way to NULL out the caller-id field on placed calls, so instead of using standard Caller Line Identity Restriction which will set outbound caller-id to anonymous they just make regular phone calls with a NULL from field. This was meant as a way of getting past people who have Anonymous Call Rejection. " Joneleth 08:56, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I get a number of calls at work from "123456789" or "3456789". Most of them are "free magazines". I did get one call from a newspaper reporter which showed "382" as the caller ID — he must have had a caller-ID spoofer. — Arthur Rubin | (talk) 14:03, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Anyway to sum it up, phonenumbers that dont seem like real phonenumbers are most likely just spoofs from telemarketers that want to get past your anynoumous call rejection. Joneleth 10:53, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Caller ID information is often generated by the PBX and this information must be correctly programmed within the PBX or errorneous information will be transmitted. I learned this years ago when I was getting telemarketing calls that appeared to be coming from a CLEC that claimed to not have implemented the exchange code that was showing up on my Caller ID box. I finally actually got to answer one of the calls and with the help of the calling party, we tracked the problem back to exactly such a misprogramming of their in-house PBX.

Of late, the illegal Republican Party telemarketing calls that were made in New Hampshire originated from a variety of fake Caller IDs including 000-000-0000. It must have been an innocent mistake, of course. ;-). After all, it was only last year that various officials in the state party were convicted of telephone hijinks relative to the 2000 election cycle.

Atlant 18:14, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Overenthusiastic article

What kind of tag can I apply to an article (Bawa Muhaiyaddeen) I consider way over the top and biassed? Clarityfiend 08:29, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

{{neutrality}}, I believe. Also, next time, put these Wikipedia-related questions on the Help Desk. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 08:32, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I thought I did. Must have pressed the wrong link. Clarityfiend 00:47, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Scientology

How come the Scientology page doesnt say that it was banned in Germany for being a dangerous cult? Joneleth 08:47, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Because that would be inaccurate. As the article says: "In Germany Scientology is not considered a religion by the government, but a commercial business." That means it doesn't get the privileges religious organisations have under German law. But it's hardly the same thing as being "banned". It is still legal to restore the free will of one's body thetans. Skarioffszky 10:07, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Did you read the section Scientology#Scientology_as_a_cult? If you feel further information would enhance the article, be bold! Natgoo 10:00, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Germany's "government and societal discrimination against minority religious groups" shows up as a Human Rights problem in the US State Department's Report on Human Rights Practice for 2005.

The government does not recognize several belief systems, such as Scientology, as religions; however, it does not prevent them from engaging in public and private religious activities. Federal and state authorities classified Scientology as a potential threat to democratic order, a status that led to employment and commercial discrimination against Scientologists in both the public and private sectors.

Thanks for the reminder, I really need to do some editing there. --Justanother 17:30, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Heroin and cocaine

Are there any countries in the world where it's 100% legal to purchase, possess and 'consume' Heroin and/or cocaine? Not planning my next holiday or anything, just curious... ;) --Kurt Shaped Box 08:48, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Netherlands? Joneleth 08:53, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Nevermind just checked only "Soft" drugs are allowed in Netherlands, but I think you could reasonably assume drugs were allowed in most african countries, if nothing else then because of lack of restriction. Joneleth 09:00, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I don't think it's reasonable to assume anything when the consequence could be death! African nations are cracking down, particularly on trafficking - Nigeria is recognised as a major transit point for trafficking from Asia to Europe [1], and South African heroin use is on the increase [2]. Heroin is legal in the UK and Switzerland if you have a precription, possession of 1g of either heroin or cocaine is legal in Colombia, and possession of unprocessed coca is legal in Peru and Bolivia. Both are also legal, pretty much anywhere in the world, if you happen to be a research chemist, surgeon or anaesthetist, or producer of legal heroin or cocaine. Natgoo 09:54, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Note that, without a prescription, drugs that are illegal in most countries are usually also illegal in the Netherlands, including weed. It's just that in the case of weed the police can't be bothered, unless it's sold to minors or in bars (combining drugs is always a bit iffy). See also Cannabis coffee shops. DirkvdM 19:08, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Crazy Sunglasses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:RD/M

Most of us have seen this commercial on TV already, but what I want to know is what kind of sunglasses are those? I have been told those are Aviator glasses, but I don't agree because Aviators aren't perfectly circular like this pair. I've seen Ozzy and John Lennon wear similar (or identical) pairs of sunglasses, but I can't find out the name or brand. Anybody with any info would be a lot of help.

72.197.40.54 09:42, 26 November 2006 (UTC)Mouseman

That link you have there doesn't go anywhere useful but you seem to be describing what I would call "round hippie glasses" like these or these. --Justanother 18:55, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

How to Rescue a Friend from a Ponzi Scheme

I have a friend who has gotten entraped by a ponzi scheme called 13dailypro<dot>net. I've tried explaining the general principle of a ponzi scheme, but they have been unmoved. Is there any reliable source I could point this person to that mentions this site in particular as a problem? In general-- how do I talk them into getting out while they still can-- or at least not putting any more money in!?--Alecmconroy 11:53, 26 November 2006 (UTC)Z

• One of the external links in our article should help. Especially the US Gov site. - Mgm|^(talk) 12:38, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

  My concern would be that just telling the "mark" about ponzi schemes in general wouldn't be enough to convince him to quit. I wonder if there's anything about that site in particular. --Alecmconroy 14:43, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

There is an interesting interview (and analysis) with the head of the site at this link. --24.147.86.187 15:42, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

This link gives a "blueprint" of an autosurf program operating as a Ponzi scheme.  --Lambiam^Talk 18:41, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

If the Ponzi scheme gets shut down, that'd stop anyone putting more money in. My inclination is to talk to the police, although of course Internet-based frauds may pose jurisdictional problems. It's also possible that the fraudster's ISP may be persuaded to shut them down, although that would likely be temporary. --Anonymous, 06:45, November 27.

Removing sticker residue from car window

Okay, a very off-beat question for the wizards of the reference desk: A few months ago, someone stuck a large sticker on the window of my car (advertising something or other, I can't remember). It was a very persistent little blighter, and took me several minutes of scraping and peeling to get off. Now the sticker is off, but I can still see its outline whenever it rains on said window (the drops form a different pattern where the sticker once was, I imagine that residue is interacting with the water to change the droplet size). Despite numerous car washes, scraping and yelling obscenities, I can't seem to get the remaining residue off. Now, it's not amazingly critical that I do (it's on a side window and pretty much transparent), however, I was hoping that maybe someone here might have a suggestion as to something else I could try to get the stuff off....? :) — QuantumEleven 12:41, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I would try a solvent such as white spirit, meths, or isopropyl alcohol. Make sure it doesn't run onto the seal or the paintwork though.--Shantavira 13:01, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

There is a product called, I kid you not, "Sticky Stuff Remover". I guarantee it works everytime. I always keep two bottles in the shed and I buy it from one of those catalogues a local guy delivers to your door. It is always filled with everything you never knew you needed but you always buy something anyway. But on this occasion, Sticky Stuff Remover was a surefire winner. I recently sprayed my decking with weather protective wax sealant and it blew in the wind onto my house windows. Nothing would shift it until - you guessed it. And now they are sparkling again.

There are a few products like this on the market which work well. Goo Gone is another well-known one. --24.147.86.187 01:32, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Remember WD40 - thats usually good for removing sticky glue when water and detergent has failed.

I have cleaned a lot of stickers off plastic, not glass, and used 91% isopropyl alcohol (as already mentioned) but have also found Goo Gone to work well. You can find it easily on eBay if your local hardware store doesn't carry it. --Justanother 16:06, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Goof Off is another product that should work, but WD40 would be my first resource.

Atlant 18:17, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

If even yelling obscenities doesn't work, there's only one thing left - turpentine. I once had to remove some glue, tried everything, nothing worked, until I tried turpentine, which worked instantly. Of course there are loads of types of glue, but so far it has always worked for me. That is, if it's glue. If it isn't visible normally it migh be something else, but I can't think what. Maybe you removed some protective layer? Just a wild guess. DirkvdM 19:16, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Thank you very much everyone for your suggestions, I will go ahead and try some of them! Cheers muchly! :) — QuantumEleven 05:58, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Another possibility is to try sticking and then quickly removing another sticker of similar type or some thick heavy duty tape like parcel tape or gaffer tape. The peeling off of that tape will often take a lot of the original tape's sticky off with it. Another thing which is just about guaranteed to work is a wonderful lubricating oil from CRC Industries called CRC 5.56 (not sure whether or not it is known by that name worldwide, or just in Australia & New Zealand). Spraying some of that on and then rubbing it off will remove just about any stickiness from sticky labels. Grutness...wha? 12:56, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Lighter fluid, that goes in Zippos. -THB 10:00, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

wy?

why have all the articles on wikipedia been cut short? I typed in wii and the article is only a fifth of the size as it was before. Is this something wikipedia does every year?

Can you provide us with a link or screenshot? Is it still loading up like that? Have you tried another browser, or is your internet connection timing out too early? Sp0ng 13:41, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

All the articles have not been cut short. wii looks fine to me. Try rebooting your computer.--Shantavira 14:40, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Could be the Firefox bug? 24.89.197.136 16:09, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Me too - articles are sometimes truncated - usually after a space

like this. I'm not using firefox - any clues?87.102.12.129 16:14, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

on some internet connections dont pages cut off after 30kb or something? Philc _T^E_C^I 16:23, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

The 30 - 50kb limit bit on Wikipedia:Article size has more to do with "attention span" but there is mention of former problems editing long pages (not reading them). --Justanother 17:17, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It could be a bug in your browser - try reloading the page (click the "refresh" or "reload" button in your browser's toolbar). It sometimes happens to me when I'm using an old version of Internet Explorer, the connection cuts out (for whatever reason) and the browser assumes the page has been fully loaded. A refresh always fixes it. — QuantumEleven 05:57, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Palm reading - left or right hand?

Which hand should be used in palm reading? No info on the palm reading page in Wikipedia about it. I'm left handed and this is my dominant hand in writing, sports etc. So should my left palm be read because it is my dominant hand? Sp0ng 13:41, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Just found out that it's the dominant hand that is read if you're curious Sp0ng 14:23, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

According to our palmistry article, In some traditions of palmistry, the other hand is believed to carry past-life or karmic information, as well as hereditary traits.--Shantavira 14:38, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I'd go for the one with the longest life line. DirkvdM 19:18, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Creation of Wikipedia

Does anyone know the exact time Wikipedia was founded, I.e., the moment it went online? Sam 15:47, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

History of Wikipedia#Beginnings of a new project doesn't have what you're looking for? —Keenan Pepper 00:14, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

That article has information on what day it was founded but I'm interested in the time as well. Sam 01:03, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Otter - Sea or River?

I can't seem to truly determine whether this otter is a Northern River Otter or a Sea Otter. I took this photo on the Pacific coast of Washington, In Olympic National Park. Thanks! Reywas92^Talk 16:46, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Wow, nice close-up shot! I'd love to get that close to one in the wild. (I should upload a closeup I got at the aquarium recently.) I'm going to have to say river otter, as its tail appears to be longer, thicker at the base and more tapered than the sea otter, and the face is different from the sea otters I've seen. Here's a good closeup to compare to for a sea otter, and here's a river otter (a rather cold river otter, I'd say). Tony Fox (arf!) 00:11, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

I'd say it is a river otter as well. --Proficient 05:16, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

hotwiring

How do you hotwire a car? what wires do you cross and so on? thanks for the help

If the car is yours, you are best getting a locksmith to make you a key for it as you will do significant damage to the car hot-wiring it. If not yours, then I ain't tellin' ya. --Justanother 17:59, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I think it's the blue and the red, but don't trust me on it. Reywas92^Talk 18:11, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Cut the BLUE wire. No, wait; cut the RED wire. --Justanother 18:32, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Hotwiring isn't very easy anymore because too many cars used to get stolen that way. If you happen to find a classic 60s-era Mustang and don't mind a few years in the penitentiary then go ahead and try whatever methods you uncover, but it's cheaper and easier and less (you know the jokes) to just buy the durn car. Durova^Charge! 18:59, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Why does everyone assume intentions of theft? I'm curious too, although I believe Durova is right in that it's no longer that easy. DirkvdM 19:21, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Of course we are all curious as to the answers to these questions; I have decided that I am a "knowledge buff". Just that this one looks suspicious to me; but that is just me and my "spidey-sense". --Justanother 19:26, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Hotwiring --Tagishsimon (talk)

Electrical engineering - Hahaha. I think that needs a bit of something! --Justanother 23:33, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Maida-A type of flour

Can anybody please let me know what is Maida-a type of flour used in India,made of?????????

We have Maida flour; says wheat there (and possibly Tapioca). --Justanother 18:01, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Organizational Theory

What are some of the relationships between organizational theory and management practice? How do you think a knowledge of organizational theory would help managers work more effectively and efficiently on the job? Would this information be of greatest benefit to lower, middle, or upper managers? What is the value of studying organizational theory?ARAMCOFD 18:32, 26 November 2006 (UTC)Steve De Chellis

At the risk of being wrong; this sounds like "Do your own homework"; see above "How to ask a question". --Justanother 18:35, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

In very simple terms a knowledge of organizational theory would hopefully benefit managers at all levels, but one would expect the 'upper' manager to be able to bring about the most improvements as they could cascade their learnings down the chain. Not know exactly what organizational theory is (unless it is very much a self explanatory term) understanding how your sector fits into an overall organisational strategy would, again, be beneficial to all managers. The pitfalls will be that theories can often be taken literally and few (if any) theories will simplistically work in a real-life situation. Management must balance the desire to find new ways of working and the reality of the way in which their staff work best: Sometimes the management technique that works for team X won't work for team Y. Treat each as individual and you will be making a good start. ny156uk 19:47, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Organizations as Open or Closed Systems

Why should organizations strive to function as an open system?

More of the same. --Justanother 18:47, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

At the risk of doing your work for you I shall note this is a very unspecific question. What defines an 'open' system? Are we to believe an open system is one that has no secrets from shop floor to boadroom, and a closed one has many secrets? Is the system open in that Joe Public know what is going on in every aspect of you business, or that everything is made public no matter how good/bad? As always in business (as in life) there are no definites. Sometimes information needs to be kept secret from the boardroom, others from the shopfloor. Sometimes Joe Public should be invited to find out more about how wonderful you are as a business, other times it can harm your business model if too many competitors can see how you work. ny156uk 19:51, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Resource Dependency Theory

This has many applications in organizations. According to resource dependency theory, what motivates organizations to form interorganizational linkage? What is the advantage of strategic alliances as a way of exchanging resources?

Is this ALL due on Monday?? --Justanother 18:48, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Don't know the academic business name, but it all boils down to Symbiotic Survival.

OMG PS3!

1)When will sony be releasing a new batch of PS3's without bugs? 2)If I don't have a high-def TV, will all the games look like crap? Яussiaп F 18:49, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

2) Even if you do not have High-definition TV, as long as you have a decent digital TV, the graphics should still look better than 6th generation console graphics. Jamesino 22:05, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I think it will look better than PS2 on any TV. WP 09:41, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Film in Jane Austen style.

Help. I have been watching a load of Jane Austen type re-runs (the acting, the diction, the style, the settings) - they are all so impeccable, and the storylines are not too difficult to follow. But there is one, and it may not actually be a Jane Austen, that is eluding me. It's not Pride and Prejudice, and I don't think it is Sense and Sensibility or Mansfield Park. The one scene I can clearly recall is where one of the females is introduced to a young dark-haired and darkly handsome Duke of ?????. But he has an obsession with dismantling and fixing period clocks and I think instead of bedding the girl, he climbs into the sack with one of his servants. Any ideas please? Thanks CasualWikiUser 19:08, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It's definitely not Austen. That's all I can say. Clarityfiend 23:06, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Bedding the girl? In the sack with the servant? These things simply do not happen in the world of Jane Austen! The Austen milieu, moreover, is largely that of the landed gentry, rather than great aristocracy, like dukes and earls. The scenario you describe is not one that is familiar to me from any of her novels. It may of course be something 'in the style' of Jane Austen, though, I do have to stress, displaying very modern standards of behaviour. Unfortunately, I cannot be any more specific than that. Sorry. Clio the Muse 23:17, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks Clio (for nothing). I suppose your analysis of Austen leaves us serene in the confident knowledge that Mr. Wickham's relationship with the young Miss Bennett was entirely non-sexual and purely platonic?????????????? CasualWikiUser 01:05, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

That is all in your mind. Pride and Prejudice is full of latent sexual tension, but all feeling is expressed in purely conventional terms; in terms that would have been understood, and accepted, by Austen and the world of Regency England. Your interpretation is absurdly out of place and time, and I seriously doubt that you have actually read any Austen. If you have, you most certainly have not understood. No need for thanks. I will not be responding to any more questions from you. Clio the Muse 01:14, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks anyway. Your non-response is an anticipated relief. BTW, if you come across anything resembling the answer to the question I actually posed, I would not consider that a response in the context you set out above, and would be grateful for it. CasualWikiUser 01:21, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

CasualWikiUser, please remember to be civil and to assume the good faith of your fellow editors in your pursuit of an answer. None of us are obligated to go out of our way to respond to questions, please keep that in mind. On another note, your description reminds me vaguely of a period drama that I was sure starred Juliet Stevenson, but looking at her IMDB profile, I guess not. It was a little bit different though, it was about an impoverished gentleman whose lands were all entailed (so he couldn't sell them), but whose income was insufficient to support them. A youngish housekeeper (Stevenson) with one or two children came to care for him, and expected him to engage in an affair with her (he seemed to want to), but he preferred the bottle. The story was kind of a Great Expectations type story, showing how exposing the housekeeper's children to a refined life (via the surrogate fatherhood of the drunken lord) made their lives challenging in ways we (in our age) wouldn't expect. Doubt it's your story, but anyways...

The 70s-90s were thick with original BBC period dramas (not based on books), and those based on pulp romance novels, like The Black Candle, The Mallens, and others. They would have featured more relaxed sexuality. Anchoress 01:46, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

• Gormenghast by Peake? hotclaws**== 12:28, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

HP

Where can I find more information on the 7th book in the HArry Potter series? :-)

Have you already looked at Harry Potter 7 (book)? –mysid☎ 19:25, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Try here. http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/redir?urn=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jkrowling.com%2Fen%2Fthankyou.cfm&source=ttf&searchType=TTF&query=J%20K%20Rowling&area=UKW_10540

The Yoruba and how they adapt

How do the Yoruba of Africa adapt to their environment? 72.145.113.79 19:29, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure that is a good question. There are about 40,000,000 Yoruba, they live throughout West-Africa, some in villages, others in cities, many in a megalopolis (Lagos). Presumably these groups all adapt to their environments in different ways. Skarioffszky 19:51, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

General Theory of Jobs, Property and Money

If an updated approach to reform inspired by Maynard Keynes to reflect the information revolution we have experienced since his death were to be attempted, which texts already written would be appropriate beginnings for a colaborative or sole author effort?

Hello, anonymous user. Please forgive me for saying so, but I think your question is, perhaps, a little too ambitious, and may not elicit exactly what it is you are looking for. Anyway, have a look over Keynesian economics, New Keynesian economics and Neo-Keynesian Economics and see if this helps to clarify the position. Perhaps then you might consider some more specific questions. Clio the Muse 00:03, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

.

Dear Clio, it has been a long while since I wrote to wikipedia.

I was logged on as Johngelles -- but did not remember how to make that known to a reader.

I do agree with you that "a theory of jobs, private enterprise, and public money", (or near to such categorical terms), to bring Keynesian thought on monetary systems of production up to date -- to reflect the worldwide absence of a gold standard and the power of modern information systems to identity and record for logictics purposes anything and everything that anyone can articulate, such as the universal product code suggests, and the further power to compute a useful cost price with far more accuracy than was imagined in WWI and WWII -- is a bridge too far for quick results.

But I am sure some existing texts have started this project already.

I have read your suggested wikipedia entries. They were new to me. I believe they were created after I first got interested in wikipedia. I will have to read them several more times. They seem to be relatively accurate. But they also seem, at first blush, to avoid any instrumental purpose (beyond saying what some history might reveal).

It is obvious that we do not have full employment or full investment in the promises of the various technological revolutions in progress. The fact that there is not money enough to fully employ our human resources speaks for itself. History is not a prescription for future reform.

.

I am a particular fan of www.wikispaces.com [3], as a tool for wiki collaboration that is little bit easier to use than other wikis I've seen.

I know we need an update of Keynes if we are to finance nationally the things California is attempting to do locally: infrastructure, energy, environment, education, and health.

And, ideally we must finance these projects globally.

Keynes recognized that we were demand constrained (moneywise) as well as supply constrained (thingwise or logictically).

We all know this too. But we are not, as Americans, Nato-allies, or UN members, looking for the match that is missing between our global supply potential and our global demand systems.

Somehow or other I believe we need a dialectical starting point to approach the problems of poverty and war from a jobs, property and money perspective.

Johngelles ... [4]

.

Hello, Johngelles; nice to know you by name. You could open a Wikipedia account, if you wished; it's a fairly simple process.

Anyway, you clearly see the Keynesian model as the solution to domestic and international macro-economic problems. It's certainly a reasonable position to take, though not one, I have to confess, that I share. Taking a libertarian approach to these issues, I still believe that government intervention in the economy creates more problems than it solves; that state expenditure sucks life out of the real economy, leads to unacceptably high levels of taxation, fuels inflation and rarely, if ever, creates the conditions at which it is aimed. As an economic tool Keynsianism was showing real strains by the 1970s, when 'stagflation' was becoming an established condition in many industrial economies, particularly the United Kingdom, the one country most wedded to the paradigm. I believe in more economic freedom, not less; and I believe government should keep the lowest possible profile in these matters. Low taxation, maximum incentive and the free distribution of resources create the conditions for freedom. However, despite our differences, it is a pleasure to be able to exchange views. Clio the Muse 09:18, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

.

Dear Clio,

I agree with all you say. My emphasis is always on Keynes without debt and without taxes (except for anti-hyperinflation taxes -- if necessary).

I do not want government intervention -- only government responsibility for financing needs beyond the reach of the market for private investment -- (as when government as the money monopoly printer, finances procurement for war, but does not operate production facilities unless such operations are for historical reasons better then private operations would be: certain arsenals and shipyards come to mind).

See Keynes without debt[5], an article by Morrison in the Post Autistic Economics Review.

I have long had a wikipedia account -- but have forgotten how to use the system. Did you check out the wikispaces facility [6]? I believe it is offered from the UK.

Thank you for your kind help.

John [7]

.

You are very welcome, John. Clio the Muse 00:29, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

.

Just added keynes-21.wikispaces.com [8]

John

Slave Zero

It will not run on Windows XP. I have an emulator that does not work (DOS box - I don't know how to run games on it).

Any ideas? Please NOTE: I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REPLY SO DO NOT POST ANY QUESTIONS. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.46.182.142 (talk • contribs)

Slave Zero was made for Windows, not to be run in an emulator. If you are on a windows machine it should work out of the box.

Seejyb 04:49, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

The game doesn't work on Windows XP, only Windows 98. I'd suggest picking up the Dreamcast version off eBay or something, I believe the PC version's a conversion of the DC version to begin with. Luigi30 (Taλk) 13:31, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Nicorette Gum

I have some Nicorette stop-smoking gum at home (2mg Nicotine gum). Some of the warnings on the gum include:

-Do not take if you are a non-smoker -Do not take if you are under 18

However, I am 16, and a non-smoker, and I'm wondering what'll happen if I take the gum anyways. Is it safe? Thankyou.--172.163.120.100 21:08, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

You have a higher risk of nicotine poisoning. Symptoms include [9]:

• • Nausea and vomiting
  • Salivating
  • Diarrhoea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Cold sweats
  • Weakness
  • Disturbed hearing
  • Headache
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Weak, rapid or irregular pulse
  • Loss of consciousness.

Skarioffszky 21:21, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It's a poison. I would not reccomend it (just as I would not reccomend smoking for a non-smoker). If you have never smoked and you take some of this gum it is likely that you would at least vomit, if not something worse. - Rainwarrior 21:31, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It's about as good of an idea as starting smoking. --Wooty Woot? contribs 01:28, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

The gum will taste very bitter and you'll wonder why people would ever want to start smoking in the first place if that's how they have to quit. You'll probably have to go to the bathroom. That's probably about it. I'm assuming you weren't going to try chewing the whole pack at once, of course, which would probably induce those other symptoms. Or you could suffer one of those statistically improbable side-effects, I suppose, but I wouldn't put my money on it. It's basically the equivalent of smoking a cigarette, except not smoking it, and just mainlining the nicotine into your stomach, which will probably make it somewhat upset but I doubt would do much else. I'm not saying you should do it — it's really not the best use of your time — but I doubt any of the scarier things cited above would happen, given my experience with it. --24.147.86.187 01:42, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Read nicotine and cigarette and seriously consider not playing around with such an addictive drug. -THB 12:46, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

I dunno. Nicorette is probably the least fashionable way to be exposed to nicotine. It tastes like crap, the dosage is limited, it is extremely expensive, it will make your stomach upset, and it utterly lacks any "cool" factor. More than can be said for cigarettes. --24.147.86.187 14:11, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

So instead of nicotine without cigarettes, we need cigarettes without nicotine. JIP | Talk 14:40, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Or find something more sensible to be "cool". Or is that an oxymoron? --froth^{T C} 05:30, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Okay, thankyou for telling me this. I am not going to try the gum. (Nor will I ever smoke).--172.150.151.23 23:10, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Your My World

I am looking for an Italian singer who sang Your My World

It's actually titled, 'You're my World' as in 'You are my World', and was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick (US) but her version was beaten to the music stores by Cilla Black (UK) who made a very succesful cover version that was released before Warwick's. No Parliamo Italiano.

"You're My World" was covered by Patrizio Buanne. Skarioffszky 21:29, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Car clanking sound

Why is there a metal clanking sound when large cars such as Pick-up truck, SUV's and vans after they are parked? This usually happens in freshly parked cars and continue for about 30 mins. Is this due to the tension of the parking brakes or something? Thanks. Jamesino 22:04, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I imagine it is the noise made by the fixings of things like radiators & engine parts, as they contract as they cool down. --Tagishsimon (talk)

It is the engine cooling down. When things heat up they expand and the opposite happens when they cool down. The clacking is metal contracting back into shape. You can hear it in many places where metal heats up and cools down fairly rapidly, my radiator does it when the thermostat turns it off, tin roofs can do it when the sun goes down. Vespine 23:29, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

We tend not to get that in the UK, though since the introduction of intermittent thermostatically controlled cooling fans (as opposed to the previously installed permanently driven belt ones), the heat in the engine compartment is often dissipated by the fan operating long after the ignition is switched off, the effects, as alluded to earlier, will be much more distinctly heard in hot environments than in our sub-Arctic climate in the UK. CasualWikiUser 01:12, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Exhaust systems experience radical changes in temperature from off to hot to off again. In particular, the catalytic converter operates very hot. So the exhaust system often clanks as it cools back down again. (It probably clanks warming up too, but there's too much other noise to hear it.)

Atlant 18:22, 27 November 2006 (UTC)