Miscellaneous desk
< October 15	<< Sep \| October \| Nov >>	October 17 >

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.

October 16

Rocky Shores vs.Sandy Shores

Why are some shores rocky while others are covered in fine sand? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.55.72.254 (talk) 00:17, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Rocky shorelines are formed by weathering and erosion, while sandy shorelines are formed by deposition. Not all shorelines formed by erosion are necessarily rocky. Rocky shorelines occur only where bedrock is exposed at the surface. Typically, along rocky shorelines, soil and weathered rock are carried away by the action of currents and waves above low tide. This leaves only the underlying rock. Sea currents running along shorelines transport sediment, such as sand, from rocky shorelines and the mouths of rivers to shorelines where the sediment is deposited to form beaches. Shorelines where beaches form are typically bays enclosed by headlands or barrier islands that develop from shoals offshore of long, linear coastlines. In both cases, sand and other sediments are deposited in places where the rapidly moving water that has swept sediment from the mouths of rivers and coastal headlands slows down. When the movement of the water slows, for example along a shoal or a recessed shoreline, the sediment falls out. It is then washed up by waves and becomes part of a sandy beach. Marco polo 01:54, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Official name for sequential manual

There are a lot of pages in Wikipedia that deals with various semi-automatic/sequential manual transmissions and I am somewhat confused by them. What is the official/technical name for a sequential manual gearbox (one with a clutch and paddle shifter) such as those found on modern Ferraris? Acceptable 00:32, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It seems like Sequential manual transmission is the correct name. However, sequential, manual, clutch, and paddles don't always go together. I think some paddles are actually connected to what I'd call an automatic transmission -- the paddles are just used to manually select gears, but there's still the usual torque converter. Others actually have a clutch, but might not have a clutch pedal, since the clutch is computer controlled.

I see your problem, though. The Sequential manual transmission article says that they are used in Ferraris. However, the Enzo Ferrari (car) article says it uses a Semi-automatic transmission. Maybe we can coax Steve Baker out of the woodwork. He seems to be the resident car expert. --Mdwyer 02:31, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Anime Movie Name

I was watching a anime film but i dont know the name,its about some guy who's like a space adventurer,at the start of the film,he shown as a baby,boy.teenager and adult,he has a female robot who falls in love with him,and then some unicorn or whatever,and finally the adventurer becomes a baby again and he is taken by the female robot now a human woman,i would like to know the name of that anime film,thank you!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lord Lutz (talk • contribs) 02:19, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No idea but it sounds pretty trippy! 212.240.35.42 10:19, 19 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I´ve been searching for that movie for years. Could be "Phoenix 2772 - Space Firebird", but I´m not sure and cannot find a video of that anywhere. If you have further information PLEASE contact me under soulrippa666[at]web.de THANKS! Soulrippa

Worked solutions to past O Level A Maths papers.

My A Maths ten year series doesn't have worked solutions. I can practise, but I don't know whether my working is correct. Where can I get worked solutions to past year O Level A Maths papers? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 166.121.36.10 (talk) 02:25, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

ESPN Bottom Line

ESPN Used to have a Bottom Line sports update at the 28th and 58th minute of every hour. What is the reasoning for changing that to the 18th minute instead of the 28th minute?

Deportation as a means of getting a free flight?

Could this work? An American overstays his 3 month tourist visa in France, hoping to get deported and out of the country for free. 63.199.241.243 08:38, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It could work, but bear in mind that once you've been deported from a country, that will stay on your record and they may never let you back in (in the case of France, that may apply to the entire EU). You might also find you have trouble getting into the country in the first place if you don't have a return ticket. But WP:IANAL. FiggyBee 08:58, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

They might choose to lock you in jail for three months while the legal nicities are taken care of prior to your deportation. I don't think you'd like that. It's definitely not going to be a matter of you showing up at a police station, giving yourself up and walking out 10 minutes later with a plane ticket and taxi ride to the airport! SteveBaker 12:48, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And there'd be nothing to stop them from suing you for the cost of the flight in the US courts. --Tagishsimon (talk) 12:53, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you get a chance to read Catch Me if You Can, the book (but not the movie) has a truly terrifying account of the protagonist's stay in a French prison. IIRC, he was sentenced to six months, wound up staying around four, and was positive that six months would have either killed him or driven him insane. Locked stone cells with no light, no sensory input, no toilets, sporadic food, filth, and vermin. While taking the autobiographical word of Frank Abagnale literally is often a bad idea, if the account in the book is even one percent true, you will want to avoid it at all costs. Deltopia 14:38, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try it in the UK.There are ads on buses offering you flights home. Being American they will reckon you can pay so you need to destroy your passport etc. Currently there are no leaving checks so if you go through passport control with an OD visa they just wave you on. French prisons serve beer with the food so thats not too bad. UK prisons are full of drugs so six months in Wandsworth will pass in a haze. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 17:43, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If it were not already obvious, DO NOT TAKE LEGAL ADVICE FROM RANDOM PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. They could be poorly informed, have an axe to grind, or just think it's funny to make stuff up. Skittle 23:34, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know about France in particular but in most countries you are expected to pay for your deportation. Of course, they deport you first then give you the bill and they rarely persue ut that greatly AFAIK but legally just because you've been deported doesn't mean you got a free flight. As someone mentioned, an American (or someone else who's obviously relatively well off) is more likely to be persued for the cost. However destroying your passport is probably a very bad idea. If you don't have a passport or any evidence of being an American then there is no way in hell you're getting back into the US I suspect. The French can't deport you to a country you aren't allowed into. You may be locked up in France while they figure out what to do with you. It could be worse of course. It isn't something you'd want to try in the US, you never know where you'd end up... Also, if you're flying there in the first place you're not likely to get in unless you have a return ticket. Nil Einne 15:19, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Do not take any advice from people called Skittle. You know it makes sense. Paul —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 20:05, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well obviously! This could all be some evil scheme to prevent people from getting the many free things that come their way if they would only surrender all proof that they are a citizen of their country. Foiled again! Skittle 23:57, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

French and Spanish recommended booze allowances

In the UK we are subjected to various health groups telling us how much to drink and when and in what way. It tends to be contradictory as one day we should drink red wine the next day it should be white wine.

What are the recommendations or weekly allowances recommended by the health police of these two countries ?

Thanks.

Paul —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 10:07, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't take much notice.At one time,doctor's recomended smoking as relief for asthma .It changes so often and some studies are not really bias free.hotclaws 10:27, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Don't do anything to excess and you should be OK. 87.112.85.54 12:06, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think I have ever encountered a reputable group claiming that white wine is better for you than red... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.88.140.121 (talk) 12:30, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Its the cultural bias I am after. Would two wine and spirit making nations accept that what was good for their fathers is now bad for their sons ? There is an independence in their national mindsets that makes me wonder if a governemnet warning would be accepted. In the UK everybody pays lip service to these oracular statements and carries on as usual. The downside is wimp doctors will use these guides to decide if you are to have treatment or not. Paul

Wimp doctors? Reputable groups? Come on guys, give a proper answer instead of personal opinion and ditribe. If you are worried about your own personal alcohol consumption, consult a medical professional. Consult Alcoholic_beverage#Alcohol_consumption_and_health and the related links and Alcoholic_beverage#Alcohol_and_religion - although I am not aware of any 'cultural bias' regarding alcohol. It is a fact that alcohol is bad for you if you over indulge, however in moderation it is believed to be beneficial, however deciding exactly which types or amounts are beneficial is more difficult. You also have to take into account that people have different tolerances to alcohol or other maladies that may be worsed or agrivated by alcohol. It is a less than exact science.

Some wines are even named to indicate they have health benefits, e.g., Buckfast Tonic Wine. Lanfear's Bane 15:13, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This was a simple question relating to different cultures appreciation of the risks of alcohol consumption. It seems to have gone astray. You need water to survive but too much and the chemical responses of your body fall part such as Ecstacy takers who get weird. People who drown suffer a surfeit of water. My use of wimp doctor was my own bias. I hold them in contempt. I will not apologise, its my view. Whats the shit on how much you should drink in a society where alcohol is cheap. Not like Russian or Finland or Ireland or Iceland. Spain and France. Just give me the links and I will see for myself. Thanks And kisses. Paul —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.166.234 (talk) 19:30, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with you Lanfear's Bane, well most of it - the "Tonic Wine" wouldn't be a marketing gimmick then? Richard Avery 17:45, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wincarnis had added iron to make it into a tonic--hotclaws 08:41, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

electric arc steel making process

I would like in depth information about the electric arc steel making process.

My primary interest is in:

1-the production flow especially the related to electrical power

2-the usage of electrical it takes to make a ton of steel

3-how the electrical energy is used

Flow charts and diagrams are my main focus

Thank you. timcoughlin1 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Timcoughlin1 (talk • contribs) 13:53, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

We have this article Electric arc furnace which may start to answer your questions, however it doesn't currently have any flow charts (I like flow charts). DuncanHill 13:56, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And this external link [1] looks like it could be helpful. DuncanHill 13:58, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Question 1 The electricity goes literally - in through the top - there's not much more to it unless you are interested in power control

Question 2 per tonne http://www.energysolutionscenter.org/HeatTreat/MetalsAdvisor/iron_and_steel/process_descriptions/raw_metals_preparation/steelmaking/electric_arc_furnace/electric_arc_furnace_energy_consumption.htm

here's one sort of diagram http://www.uksteel.org.uk/diag1.htm

Electric arc is probably of interest. Question 3 the electricity is used to make an arc Electric arc is probably of interest. 87.102.12.235 15:06, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Diagram http://www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/docs/cp/1mm8/en/images/f2_1.jpg from http://www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/docs/cp/1mm8/en/c2.cfm

You can find many more diagrams (and pictures) using an image search like this http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=electric%20arc%20furnace&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi 87.102.12.235 15:10, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Playstation3

Can anyone tell me any good games that are out on the ps3 i already have resistance:fall of man and Heavnly sword but i am not 2 sure which game 2 buy nxt as i can only afford 1 untill i get paid.......i am a big gta fan and like games such as medal of honour and need 4 speed but i was hopeing people would have sum suggestions of games that are not such big titles but are still good thanx —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 15:20, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Do not request regulated professional advice. No but seriously, have a look at Ps3#Games, it really depends what you like. Everyones opinion as to what is good varies. I mean I bet there are people out there who liked Star Wars: Force Commander living untaged and unmonitored amidst the general population. They could be living next door to you, or just around the corner. And that's just wrong. Lanfear's Bane 15:41, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

ninja gaiden sigma —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dlo2012 (talk • contribs) 16:23, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I imagine Genji: Days of the Blade is ok-or maybe not have a look at some reviews anyway, oblivion is enjoyable87.102.12.235 17:37, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There's the tom clancy games - which are a safe bet eg Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter.. some good ones in the pipeline as always87.102.12.235 17:41, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sodas

Have there been attempts at making milk and chocolate milk sodas? :) Thanks! 81.93.102.185 15:27, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The Google indicates - [2] - yes. If you have a SodaStream you can carbonate ~~most liquids~~ (only) water (apparently - I have now learned) - fizzy hot coffee anyone? A nice big mug of fizzy Bovril?. I am not sure fizzy milk would be a commercial success; now blue milk, that's a different story - I can't get enough of it. Lanfear's Bane 15:32, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No no no no no! If you have a Soda Stream, you're only supposed to carbonate water. Anything else is liable to get yucky, as the component that dips into the liquid is basically uncleanable. You can flavour the water, but only water should be carbonated. However, I believe there is something in America called Egg cream or something like that, which involves a fizzy drink and milk and chocolate syrup. In addition, a few years ago in the UK you used to be able to buy "Freekee Soda" which was a sort of fruity fizzy milk drink. My younger brothers loved it, I thought it was a rather unpleasant, nauseating experience. It is no longer available as far as I know. <ec> Skittle 15:39, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I said you 'can', not that you should... According to the Sodasteam article apparently there was a Milkstream as well specifically for milk... however this just frothed the milk according to the article. (I never owned a Sodastream, I didn't realise they were so delicate.) Also don't forget Creamola Foam. Lanfear's Bane 15:46, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I gather a Milkstream was just a milkshake maker really, or so I've been told. Creamola Foam? Intriguing... Skittle 16:52, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yoo-hoo is still around but is uncarbonated. Canfield's Diet Chocolate Fudge is apparently dairy free. Maybe combine the two. Rmhermen 16:15, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I recall Canfield's. Man, that was some naaaasty stuff. There are reports of a carbonated milk product called e-Moo. Everything2 even has a recipe for making it yourself. The product is apparently terribly gross, and the process is somewhat dangerous (exploding bottles, anyone?), but I have to admit that I'm ready to give it a try... --Mdwyer 20:48, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could try adding some carbonated drink to a chocolate flavoured liqueur, on the lines of making a snowball with advocaat and soda. It'll be different from a milkshake, though.SaundersW 21:27, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In Australia there is a popular drink called a "spider", which involves putting a scoop of ice cream into a fizzy drink (such as lemonade) - the Wikipedia article for this beverage may be found at the American name for it: ice cream soda. The popularity of this type of drink here is enough that Coca-cola produced a limited edition "Fanta Spider" a couple of years back, here is a website which reviews the drink. Thylacoleo 01:09, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow, I didn't know that. I haven't heard that term "spider" used for years. Maybe I'm out of the loop. -- JackofOz 07:13, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have heard a spider called a float... ha, we have an article on root beer float. If you change the drink you substitute the drink used for the root beer prefix, e.g., coke float. Article mentions spiders too. Lanfear's Bane 09:22, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could try adding milkpowder to the water after it's been carbonated Nil Einne 15:28, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Series 22 Study Material (SEC)

Help Needed with getting licensed with the SEC, via the Series 22 Study material. There is not enough people taking this type of test as compared to other securities tests so the examination facilities don't put money into the 22 exam because it's not worth their time and effort. This makes it hard to find material to study the 22. I have some material and have already taken the test once and failed. I need more material via CD,DVD...ect. Is there anyone out there who can help me???? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Pittpat1 (talk • contribs) 16:13, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Vincent Clarkson

What prison was Vincent Clarkson in with Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald when the Lopez-Fitzgerald family arrived? Ericthebrainiac 16:56, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"Acme & Co"

Why did this fictitous company name figure so often in American movies, especially in the '50s and 60's?--88.111.37.134 21:05, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

According to Acme Corporation (which is specifically about the Looney Tunes use of the name), the name was fairly common because the "Ac" puts a company at the top of phone listings. The word indicates the best of something, which also makes it a good generic company name. Check out Acme for a bunch of real companies using the name. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 22:06, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What a fantastic resource! Thanks--88.111.37.134 06:52, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It means "climax" in French. --Masamage ♫ 06:58, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'll bet Wile E. Coyote didn't know that. -- JackofOz 07:11, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Given the existence of Pepé Le Pew from the same gang of cartoonists, I'll bet Wile did know about that!

Atlant 12:48, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't recall any evidence that Pepé spoke French, though. :P —Tamfang 21:47, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Read the second sentence of our article, nést pa? He may have spoken French like I speak French, but 'e did!

Atlant 12:46, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Growing up, I remember older folks in their dialect pronouncing it as a three-syllable word, as in, "I'm going to go shopping at the 'Ack-a-mee'" — Michael J 00:04, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Acme (Greek: ακμή, the peak, zenith, prime). —Preceding unsigned comment added by SaundersW (talk • contribs) 09:24, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Most toxic toxin

By mass and by volume, what is the most toxic poison/toxin in terms of its ability to kill a person. Thanks. Acceptable 22:17, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

LD50 has a list of a few selected toxicities. Botulinum toxin is the most toxic proteins, and one of the most toxic substances generally. Ricin is in the same neighborhood. Tetrodotoxin ditto. --24.147.86.187 22:43, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The most toxic (life threatening) toxin I know of is lead. It just has to be applied to the interior of the brain: for maximum effect, preferably at high velocity. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.109.65.125 (talk) 23:56, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's not the lead itself so much as the delivery. I think warm butter would kill a person just as fast if you managed to punch it through their brain at high velocity. --Masamage ♫ 00:42, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Lead – even delivered as a bullet to the brain – is small potatoes. Per the discussion on botulinum toxin below, there are potent neurotoxins far more deadly than lead. Other nasties include the tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin), the shiga toxins, conotoxins, nerve agents like VX (nerve agent and ricin...the list goes on. You wouldn't even notice a few micrograms of lead, but the same amount of any of these toxins will kill you immediately. (For reference, a .22 rifle bullet weighs in somewhere between two and four grams—some tens or hundreds of thousands of times the lethal mass of any of the toxins I've listed.) TenOfAllTrades(talk) 13:07, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The page on Botulinum toxin gives the median lethal dosage for it, but what is the fatal dosage for it? How much is needed to kill an average human being? Acceptable 01:42, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The median lethal dosage (LD50) is the average fatal dose. It's the amount that would be enough to kill half the people who took that much. 1 ng/kg means that, for an everage person who weighed, say, 70 kg, 70 ng (nanograms) would be all that would be needed to kill them. However, half of all people weighing 70 kg would survive this dose (although there could be other side-effects). 79.65.86.14 08:19, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Weren't we recently offered an existence proof that Polonium-210 rates right on up there?

Atlant 12:50, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The median is not the same as the average, but you'll have to look for original studies if you want to know the latter more precisely.

FYI, ²¹⁰Po has got a specific activity of 166 kBq/ng, specific radiation power of 144 nW/ng, specific equivalent dose of 2.88*10^-6 kg Sv/s/ng. That means that with 1 ng/kg ²¹⁰Po, you need about 4 days to accumulate even 1 Sv equivalence dose. Since in typical LD₅₀ experiments, the animals have to die within short time (I think usually 24 or 48 hours) to be counted as dead, you would need a higher dose than that, maybe about 50 Sv according to Wikipedia's article on radiation poisoning, within 48 hours. That would mean that the lethal dose, measured the same way as with botulism toxin, is probably about 100 ng/kg. Of course, you'll likely die with lower doses, but it needs a longer time.

Icek 13:55, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"The median is not the same as the average" depends on which country you're in... In Britain, the usual averages taught to students up to GCSE statistics (and the usual ones to be found in statistics) are the (arithmetic) mean, the median and the mode. They are all called averages, and there are others taught later. I gather in America it is usual to call the mean 'the average', but I thought for what Acceptable was asking, median was really what was wanted. Also, I don't know which usage is common in Australia (which is, I gather, where Acceptable is), so maybe further disambiguation should have been given? Ah well. Skittle 14:07, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Australian usage is mean, mode and median are all averages, but in general conversation "average" means mean. --Psud 12:17, 19 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't Plutonium the correct answer? Rhinoracer 10:06, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No. Think again after reading my previous comment and the relevant Wikipedia articles. Icek 12:53, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Amazingly, though, the myth of plutonium as "the most toxic substance on earth" is a persistent one, even among the educated, and as a meme it seems to grip people hard and not let go. It's not good for you, and can be dangerous to handle, but it is not very toxic when compared to a lot of other things, and is comparatively stable (not too radioactive) compared to many, many other elements. It is not a good way to poison someone, which is a good short-hand for thinking about what toxicity means. --24.147.86.187 14:22, 18 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]