Miscellaneous desk
< May 6	<< Apr \| May \| Jun >>	May 8 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 7

Depreciation Recovery Tax

When was the Depreciation Recovery Tax Authorized? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.228.84.144 (talk) 01:54, 7 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Do you mean the Economic Recovery Tax Act possibly? In which case it's 1981. Or do you mean "Since when do you have to pay income tax on recovered depreciation?", in which case the answer is probably "since whenever they invented depreciation". I can't find a "Depreciation Recovery Tax" anywhere, can you be any more specific (geographically, exact name of the tax, etc)? FiggyBee 06:50, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Canada passes Bigfoot Law, Sean Hannity says its bullshit

Canada has passed a law that will protect BIGFOOT. Sean Hannity got wind of it and indicated that they're "full of it" on his show, which aired at 9pm EDT today on FOX News. Can this be placed in the bigfoot article ? I'd do it myself, but my ISP has royally *bleeped* up. 205.240.146.147 02:07, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That(Sean Hannity's) comment aired at the end of the show. 205.240.146.147 02:09, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'd make sure that Hannity isn't full of it himself before adding that. I can find no evidence that a law has been passed in Canada to protect Bigfoot. There was a petition presented in the House of Commons in late March, asking to have Bigfoot designated a protected species, but that isn't nearly the same as passing a law. - Eron ^Talk 04:05, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Fox News got something wrong? You're kidding me... FiggyBee 06:20, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

One other thing, he claimed Al Gore said that the Loch Ness Monster had died of "Global Warming". 205.240.146.147 06:40, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think Sean Hannity could be considered a reliable source for the colour of his own underwear, nevermind issues of Canadian legislature. Rockpocket 21:15, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sean said that the Canadians are idiots in passing legislation regarding mythological creatures. 205.240.146.147 23:05, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

At least it's not likely to get anyone killed. —Tamfang 00:40, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And Canadians care. Really we do. Even the polar bears are weeping. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 00:55, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It was mentioned on NPR too - something about using the endangered species act to protect Big Foot. It makes it illegal to shoot or trap them...a pretty harmless restriction for a mythical animal - and if by any remote chance they do exist - a very important piece of legislation. Meh. SteveBaker 01:10, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

By law, any petition carrying a certain number of names received by a Member of Parliament **MUST** be brought up in the House of Commons. The only exceptions are petitions asking for illegal acts to be undertaken (ie pro-pedophilia, etc.). The MP who received the petition had NO choice but to bring it up in the House. On most days there are between 10 and 20 petitions read into the record. This is no big deal. --Charlene 01:24, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Charlene is right of course. It's funny that so many supposedly reputable media sources[1][2][3] ran with the story that this politician himself (Mike Lake) was advocating species-at-risk protection for Bigfoot. I don't know if it was intended like this, but it does seem like an effective (albeit unethical) way to make your MP look really stupid: give him or her a crazy petition to present, and then alert the media. It's interesting that in the House of Commons Journals for the day in question it shows that Lake did not rise and say a few words to present the petition (as is usual), but simply filed it with the Clerk of the House, making no statement. --Mathew5000 08:50, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

After doing a bit more research I am going to reverse myself. It turns out there is no law requiring MPs to present petitions in the House of Commons. See the House of Commons publication Petitions: Practical Guide at page 3: "Nothing in the rules or practices of the House requires a Member to present a petition he or she has received." Also note that under Standing Order 36(4), the MP must endorse each petition he or she presents. However, House of Commons Procedure and Practice by Marleau and Montpetit states that despite not being required to do so, "many Members consider it a duty to present to the House petitions brought forward by citizens" and the MP "is not required to be in agreement with the content of any petition he or she may choose to present, and no such inference is to be drawn". --Mathew5000 09:25, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

On 2007-05-10 the Canadian government tabled its response to the Bigfoot petition (link to HoC Journals). The response is filed as Sessional Paper No. 8545-391-98-01 but as far as I can tell it is not available on the Internet. --Mathew5000 02:45, 12 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Dazzle camouflage

Does anyone know where I could download a fairly hi-res, good quality colour image of a ship using dazzle camouflage (preferably a plan, rather than a photograph (like here)). Thanks.--Rambutan (talk) 06:52, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

program

i downloaded a program a while ago that allowed be to download 'feeds' from myspace and youtube, which saved videos i watched on youtube and music i listented to on myspace to my hard drive, but i forgot what was it is. can anyone tlel me what it was? thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 125.238.188.11 (talk) 07:22, 7 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

If no-one here knows, you might get more joy at the computing desk. Algebraist 09:37, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nicotine Chemicals

Which chemicals speifically in nicotine cause the brain to release dopamine and other stimulating chemicals in the brain and cause the brain to have nicotine receptors? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.121.104.121 (talk) 07:27, 7 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

What do you mean, which chemicals in nicotine? Nicotine is a chemical. Anyway, you probably want our article on nicotine. If what you want isn't there, try the science desk. Algebraist 09:35, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Portugal

Why does Portugal have so poor literacy compared to all other europian countries? Joneleth 10:25, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Joneleth. Portugal's relatively low literacy rate compared to other W. European nations can probably be traced to a variety of social, political, and economic factors, so bear in mind that my answer will undoubtably be incomplete at best. I'd also refer you to the article Education in Portugal as a helpful resource. The high rate of drop-outs the country's educational system suffers, as well as the fairly short nine compulsory years of general education, do occur as fairly obvious factors that might affect literacy rates. Another possible cause, especially of high illiteracy in the adult population, might be the effects of 4 decades of dictatorship, wherein a strong emphasis on educational values and practices was notably absent. Finally, you might find it interesting that Portugal also ranks fairly low in GDP per capita compared to other W. European countries. Hope that helps some. -- Azi Like a Fox 11:54, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But is the low GDP a cause or effect of bad education? Or some kind of vicious cycle. Always tricky to pin these ones down.137.138.46.155 15:34, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In other European economies, for several generations, a strong economy has provided opportunities to maintain or improve one's status through education leading to jobs in the professions or in industry. However, in Portugal until the late 1970s, professional job opportunities were limited, and the best avenues to social advancement were religious and military careers. Beyond that, most people's best hope was small-scale entrepreneurship (e.g. buying one's own small fishing boat or piece of land). None of these career paths required much education, and it may be that, due to this cultural legacy, families in Portugal are less likely than in other European countries to stress education. The continuing slow development of Portugal's economy may have made this a vicious cycle, in that job opportunities for educated people are still limited, and the lack of skills in the workforce limits economic development. Marco polo 18:44, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yea but I mean even Croatia beats them and they have a far worse economy and history. Joneleth 02:04, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Croatia has a worse history in some respects, but, as part of Yugoslavia, there was some opportunity for advancement through education, which could bring a government or managerial post. Because of its low labor costs (lower than Portugal's, for example), Croatia has also attracted foreign investment in recent years. There may be other factors involved about which I am not knowledgeable, such as the pay and status of teachers. If these are low in Portugal, that could also explain poor educational results. Marco polo 14:09, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Why are there so many places ending in "kill" in New York?

Hi,

I am new to the tri-state area, and I can't get over how many towns, roads, rivers etc there are that end in "kill". Is it as easy as it appears at first glance: these are places where people, animals and inanimate objects meet their untimely demise, or is there something else that contributes to this grisly convention?

Thanks!

167.206.240.133 19:11, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

See Kill (body of water). Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme 19:15, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

My favorite (though not in New York) is Kilkenny. V-Man - ^T/_C 01:00, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, that would be a good alternate name for South Park. StuRat 05:44, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

places called "Kil-" something are very common in Ireland, It comes from the Irish "Cill" meaning church of, therefore Kilkenny would mean "church of Canice" from the Irish "Cill Chainnigh". I can think of at least a dozen others of the top of my head,Killarney, Kildare, Kilbeggan, Killoe, and so on Ken 09:53, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, as Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme pointed out, "Kill" is a term from the original Dutch settlers.

Atlant 13:43, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

[4] Online Etymoogy dictionary cites 1639 for the American use to mean "stream" from Dutch "kil" from Middle Dutch "kille" meaning riverbed. After 9/11, the rubble from the World Trade Center, with some human remains mixed in, was taken to the ironically named Fresh Kills Landfill for sorting. Edison 15:02, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

origin of the word and usage of a bedpan?

I have done about as muc research as i cna think of, i ccannot find any connection between the common word "bedpan" and the age old term "chamber pot" so if anyone out ther can find out the who, what,when,why of the origin of the now common usage of the word bedpAN I WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE.

THANK YOU VERY KINDLYU,

DUKE —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.183.249.125 (talk) 20:31, 7 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Bedpan seems fairly basic - a pan used in bed. It is not quite the same as a chamber pot. Why do you think there should be a connection? --LarryMac 20:36, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Are you maybe thinking of those copper pans that people filled with hot coals from the dying fireplace and slid into the bed to get it warm? My grandmother had those - I think she called them "Bedpans" also. SteveBaker 01:31, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I heard of them being called bed warmers. Otherwise, seeing hot coals in a "bed pan" could lead to confusion "just what have been eating, exactly ?". StuRat 05:40, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The questioner seems to be looking for origin of the term bedpan as an excrement receiver, not that the contents wouldn't be steaming warm for a while. Nothing in the Online Etymology Dictionary. OED anyone? Edison 14:56, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Original OED gave etymology as "cf. MDu. beddepanne". Definition #1 was "A pan for warming beds; a warming-pan." with quotations going back to 1585, and definition #2 was "A chamber utensil constructed for use in bed." with one delightful quotation: 1883 Flor. Nightingale in Quain's Dict. Med. "Bed-pans should have Carbolic powder in them lavishly." The 1976 OED Supplement provides three earlier quotations, going back to 1678. --Mathew5000 10:17, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

fastener used in self-assembly furniture

What is the name of the fastener system commonly used in self-assembly furniture to join two pieces of wood at right angles. It consists of two parts, a long basically cylindrical section up to a few inches long with a small screw-thread on one end, a long plain section and a 'head' shaped similarly to the end of a jack plug at the other end, this screws into the first piece of wood. The other part is shaped not dissimilarly to a cable drum (asside: why do we not have an article or a redirect here?) and fits into a circular hole in the second piece of wood. The long part of the fastener is inserted into a pre-drilled hole in the second piece of wood at right angles to the circular hole containing the second part of the fastener. When the two bits of wood are together, the second part of the fastener is rotated (e.g. with a screw driver) which grips the neck of the first part of the fastener, securing the two pieces of wood together. I have tried searching under every description I can think of and have browsed every article in category:fasteners and category:screws and not found it. Without being able to identify it more succinctly than above searching has not been particularly fruitful! Thryduulf 21:55, 7 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Knock-down Fasteners may be one name for them, I am not sure but I think i recall them being called cam-locks in the last piece of furniture i assembled. -- Diletante 00:10, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The term "cam-lock" is actually used in the reference article you provided to help describe knock-down fasteners. Dismas|^(talk) 06:35, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Bribes

In the US, are all bribes illegal, or is just illegal when it comes to government and police? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.111.190.135 (talk) 23:31, 7 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Bribes are generally frowned upon, whether it is parents bribing children to behave well or suppliers bribing employees to purchase their products. In the latter case, your job may be at risk, even if there is no legal penalty. Of course, if the bribe is big enough (Elect me and I will double the minimum wage!), everyone will call it something else, and there is no problem at all. --Bielle 02:08, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Tips could be called bribes ("give me good service and I'll make it worth your while"), and are entirely legal. StuRat 05:34, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Disagree with basic premise of StuRat's observation -- as our article on Tipping makes clear from the start, the social custom of tipping is in many (I daresay most) cultures and situations set up so that people tip a baseline number regardless of service quality, except in very extreme cases. This American Life's show on 24 hours in the same diner demonstrates, anecdotally, that in that setting, at least, better service and attention has little to no effect on tipping amounts in the vast majority of cases.

I suppose one could still say that in SOME cases, OVERtipping functions as a kind of bribery, but even there, except in the VERY rare cases where someone actually SAYS that they will give more for better service, there is neither guarantee nor assurance that better service results in more cash. In sum: I don't think it counts as bribery if there is no social contract, even if such contracts are not stated out loud. Jfarber 13:03, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed. I wouldn't call tipping "bribery", because it is paying someone to do something that is their job anyway. You're just showing your gratitude (or, in America, obeying social custom). FiggyBee 18:07, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

However, consider the case of a taxi driver promised a generous tip in exchange for getting the customer to the airport on time for a flight. This may involve an extra effort on the part of the cabbie, quite possibly involving breaking traffic laws, in exchange for money. This sure sounds like a bribe to me. StuRat 04:57, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Bribery, to me, has negative connotations and suggests some violation of ethics at the very least. It would seem to depend on how loosely or strictly you want to use the term; one person's bribery is another person's incentivizing. -- Azi Like a Fox 05:43, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Generally, you have to be bribing a government official for it to be illegal. But Wikipedia doesn't give legal advice. Also, other things that are bribery-esque might be illegal, but not strictly speaking bribery (for example, it is illegal to pay someone to commit a criminal act). FiggyBee 12:25, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I cannot speak for any other editor, but if you want exceptional editing,for a few $$$ this editor will be happy to type whatever you want :) Lemon martini 12:30, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Reward board#Money is the place for you. ^_^ V-Man - ^T/_C 02:29, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow thanks.I had no idea that place existed.Amazing what you can learn round these boards :) Lemon martini 09:58, 9 May 2007 (UTC) *off to get mitts on cash*[reply]

sports

Why baseball, basketball and football are the only sports that is mostly played by African-Americans? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.64.137.191 (talk) 23:47, 7 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Are they? V-Man - ^T/_C 01:02, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not entirely sure I follow the question. Are you asking "Why are most baseball, basketball and football players African-American?" or "Why do African-Americans prefer to play baseball, basketball and football?"

Incidentally, according to this, only 8.5% of major-league baseball players are African-Americans. Carom 01:12, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Baseball, basketball, and football are certainly the most popular U.S. sports, so it is not surprising that they are popular among African Americans. Soccer is still a somewhat exotic sport in the United States, and many players are of immigrant origin. The sport has some popularity among educated Americans (probably of all races), but hasn't caught on very widely. As for hockey, tennis, and golf, these sports all cost money to play frequently. (Unlike parts of Canada, where lakes and ponds may be frozen over for several months a year, most hockey players in the United States have to play in indoor rinks.) African Americans' lower incomes, on average, may explain why these sports are largely, but not exclusively white. (There are after all the notable cases of the Williams sisters and Tiger Woods.) Marco polo 02:12, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Boxing, sprinting? [5] Rockpocket 06:21, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Baseball has recently celebrated Jackie Robinson day but was dismayed to find that recently, the number of African-American men entering the sport has dwindled down to less than the average population.hotclaws 08:24, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Many of those of African descent living in the Caribbean (part of the Americas last I checked) seem to have a great liking for cricket. Algebraist 09:35, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Anson Carter, Grant Fuhr, Jarome Iginla, Willie O'Ree, Gerald Coleman, Cobi Jones, Jamar Beasley, DaMarcus Beasley, Tim Howard, Mamadou Diallo, Freddy Adu. Corvus cornix 21:32, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]