Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 June 15

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.

June 15

College

Can anyone give what they think is the single most invaluable tip reguarding searching for and applying for colleges and univeristies? --hello, i'm a member | talk to me! 06:13, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

I don't know if this question is appropriate for the Reference Desk, but this high school teacher has watched hundreds of students march off to college, and my best advice is this: Look for the kind of school that's right for you and don't try to be the student who's right for some school. Look past the familiar names of schools, and instead look at yourself. What kind of student are you? What environments have you thrived in, and what environments have you struggled in? The first question I'd ask myself about any school is whether or not the school is looking for someone like you. Mitchell k dwyer (talk) 07:47, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

That blows away my answer of looking for colleges where the student population is 90% the opposite sex. :-) StuRat (talk) 13:49, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Well, the thing is I don't know really which envioronments I've thrived or struggled in mostly because I've thirved and struggled in all of them, if you know what I mean. --hello, i'm a member | talk to me! 16:48, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Good evening. All though Mitchel K's advice is wonderful advice. As a high school student myself I have to look into college. I understand where you come from hello I'm a User. A lot of my environments that I go to I struggle because I am not a group person. I work independently and I don't get along with other people. What I would have to do when looking at a college is not only the environment, but what kind of person and what kind of work would I want to do. Because I am not a group person I would look for a program or course that I know won't have group projects. So not only do you have to look into environment, what kind of people, what environment you survive, and what environment you struggle, but you also have to look into what you want to do, what the school is going to provide you as person, and what are your goals. Certain schools will not help you complete the goals you want to complete. I hope I have helped. Have a positively wonderful evening.Rem Nightfall (talk) 20:57, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Money. My third child is starting college in the fall. As with the other two, we told her to apply to any public colleges in our state (Virginia) or schools that cost less than 1.5 times as much, or to any other schools if she had a compelling reason to spend more money, but she would need to apply for student loans for them. You can get a really great education and a really great college experience and most big colleges. If you can graduate debt-free, your life after college will be a lot easier. (Incidentally, she is going to McGill.) To lower your stress levels, apply to at least two "safety" schools that are certain to accept you. Apply to about four schools that you would really like to go to and that you have a good chance for acceptance. Apply to as many "stretch" schools as you want, but don't get your hopes up. Your best bet is to talk with current students at your candidate schools to get a feeling for the culture. Guidance counselors can tell you about your chances of getting accepted, but only current or recent students can tell you how it feels. -Arch dude (talk) 02:17, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

You can check out the culture at open days if that's convenient for you. You might prefer research-based subjects to a coursework style for example, or the reverse if you like a lot of structure – it depends on the field you want to go into. And though some people say just get in anywhere, you can transfer later, here in Oz, it's easier to transfer down than up (e.g. metropolitan college to provincial than the reverse) though there are exceptions. Best, Julia Rossi (talk) 06:49, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Single most important fact: In the real world, employers don't care much where you went to school or what your GPA was. They care about experience above all. So find a school that has good internship, co-op or work placement programs in your field, either directly connected with the school or in the surrounding area. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:48, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Give Me The Facts of the Yellow Summer Squeeze

Good evening. I was drinking some lemonade and then it came to me. A question and a thought. Why is lemonade considered a summer drink? What makes lemonade a summer drink? Why does everyone drink lemonade when it's hot outside? I drink lemonade summer and winter because I love lemonade. I love lemons. I am a lemon head. But back to the topic. Where in history has it made lemonade a summer drink? Thank you for answering my question. I really appreciate it.Rem Nightfall (talk) 07:13, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Who says it's a summer drink? It's just a drink. And not everyone drinks it. But people in countries with hot summers are more likely to consume cold drinks at that time to help them cool down and replace lost fluid.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:17, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

And, historically (before refrigeration and dehydration), fruit juices and drinks would only be consumed when that fruit was ripe. I'm guessing that lemons were ripe in the summer, versus apples in the fall. Now we can get any fruit juice year round, due to technology and importing them from the southern Hemisphere, where they have summer during our winter. StuRat (talk) 13:46, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Companies say it's a summer drink. I mean when I look for the powdered lemonade like Country Time or some other powdered lemonade I can only find it during the summer. Just like I only find powdered tea in the summer time as well. And if I do find powdered lemonade during the winter it's more expensive then what it would be in the summer same thing with powdered tea. I guess my question is more related to the powdered lemonade.Rem Nightfall (talk) 20:04, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

The main reason companies market "Seasonal" itams like that is to earn more money. It gives them an excuse to up the prices in the summer, since everyone wants it, and in the winter, since they can claim that it's less likely to be bought, and therefore should cost more. Same with other products, like diamonds. Who planted the idea that diamonds are highly romantic Valentine's Day presents? The diamond companies! --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 20:13, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

I have learned two new things about companies at this very moment. Companies like money and companies like to lie for money. I am not sure that is true, but it's what I infer. Would that mean that powdered lemonade is over priced?Rem Nightfall (talk) 21:02, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Dude, anything that you pay for that you could have made for free with a lemon tree and a juicer is overpriced. But if you mean in comparison to other consumer porducts, no, I'd say that companies charge the same rates for lemonade (proportionally) as they do for everything else. Lemonade is probably not high on their money-making radar, and therefore relatively safe from artificially inflated prices. (For an example of artificially inflated prices, see gasoline.) --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 00:05, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

The cost of the packaging exceeds the cost of the ingredients, I can guarantee that! --Danh, 70.59.115.72 (talk) 00:00, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

As a fruit of warm climates, it figures, but it's also used in hot drinks with honey for a sore throat, though it's not called lemonade then. Julia Rossi (talk) 02:55, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

The First Peoples Millionaire

I am a over 50s British born and bred gent. If a million people (or more) send me 1 English pound (or more) will it make me the first ever 'Peoples Millionaire'? Has this been done before? In return I would lavish in a wee bit of luxury which sadly has been lacking since birth. How many people do you think would participate in this unique venture? Tonic Love (talk) 13:26, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

It's not that original of an idea. See chain letter. Dismas|^(talk) 14:30, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, but it is only unusual in that it has been updated. My mother (died last year at 94) used to say if everyone in England gave her a penny...~~DT —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.9.214.164 (talk) 14:50, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

The lottery has been doing this for hundreds of years. Well, almost this. At least, people pay a pound and then a lot of money gets given to someone. Although it wasn't with anywhere near as much money until very recently.HS7 (talk) 18:45, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Have a read of The Million Dollar Homepage. Which was a clever idea, but pretty much a one off. Rockpocket 05:26, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

I used to work for a guy who besides a legitimate business did this sort of scam as well.He ended up in jail.hotclaws 03:17, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

Mr Mugabe

Is it just me or do Zimbabwe's President Mugabe's eyes look blue/grey? --124.254.77.148 (talk) 14:47, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

I...guess so. With the pic on Wikipedia it's kinda hard to make out. (But oh boy can you zoom in with it!) --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 20:17, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

His eye color can be whatever you imagine them to be. Eye color, hair color, skin pigment, it is all really what we perceive it to be. It is the color that we see through the prism of light. Anyway, yes you can super zoom into that picture. You can see every living wrinkle on his face, but he looks a little sad. Then again that is what I perceive from the picture. Hope I have helped or started a fight. Have a positively wonderful evening.Rem Nightfall (talk) 21:11, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Mugabe is a man of years. And people generally lose about 15% of their eye pigmentation over their lives. Though for brown eyed people (all sub-saharan africans), this reduction is nowhere near enough to change the colour of the eyes. You may have spotted a case of uveitis that was undiagnosed. Maybe his optician was afraid to tell him (lest he "dissappear") :-) Fribbler (talk) 23:03, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Maybe no-one mentioned cataracts for the same reason. Or they did! X-\ Julia Rossi (talk) 02:50, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Rail Interoperation

Hi. Does anyone know why it is that rail service interoperation between different rail companies only seems to occur in Japan and not in any other countries. Thanks in advance. Tbo ¹⁵⁷(talk) 16:48, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

The UK has different companies operating on the same network too. Fribbler (talk) 17:42, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Canada too. Adam Bishop (talk) 18:44, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

So its possible to travel on 3 different lines, maintained by different companies, on the same train without chainging in Canada? For example in Japan, a train managed by company A could run through onto tracks managed by company B. At that point all operationswitche to company B and the only thing in common with the 2 services is that they use the same train. In the UK, I think the whole network is managed by network rail and TOCs bid for diagrams. Thanks. Tbo ¹⁵⁷(talk) 19:23, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Operation of the train does not switch over as the train moves between tracks. VIA Rail is the only national train service, and there are some regional ones like AMT. VIA I have seen on CN-owned tracks, and the AMT article explains that that AMT operates exclusively on other company's tracks. While they are still operated by the companies that own the trains, they doubtless work with the company that owns the tracks to ensure everything goes smoothly. 206.126.170.20 (talk) 22:50, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Under that definition, the U.S. Amtrak would qualify as it usually runs on other companies' tracks - sometimes into another country. I think we need to clarify what the question is. Rmhermen (talk) 23:34, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Kirtland Arkansas 1868

An ancestor is said to be buried in Kirtland Arkansas in 1868. I cannot find anyone who knows where or if Kirtland existed. It is supposed to be just over the border of Barry Co. Mo. His name was Pleasant Henry Trower. Was there ever such a community, and where can I find it's history? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.2.145.63 (talk) 17:32, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Good evening. Could this help www.shawhan.com/Trower/RR01/RR01_003.HTML - 16k. Hope I have helped.Rem Nightfall (talk) 21:06, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Could it be Kirkland, Arkansas? There appears to be a Kirkland in Ouachita County. Corvus cornix_talk 21:12, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Paint Fumes

Hey My mom's painting in our house...and there's some paint fumes. The house is pretty small...and if I'm here, will I be okay?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.23.67.226 (talk) 19:27, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Good day. You should be fine if you have a few windows open to let the fumes escape out of the house. I hope I have helped. Have a positively wonderful day.Rem Nightfall (talk) 20:01, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Unless you die of paint fumes. Just kidding. --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 20:18, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

If it's just ordinary household paint, I wouldn't worry - especially since it's presumably a one-off. Except with seriously nasty stuff, it's only if you're using it day in, day out (ie for work) that you need to worry. The smell can be annoying, though - I have heard (though not tried it myself) that cutting an onion in half and putting it in the room will reduce it. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 21:15, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Do leave the windows open overnight and if you get a headache go out and breathe some fresh air. Next time there is painting to be done, try and get your mother to choose a paint with a lower level of volatile organic compounds, for example a mineral paint rather than emulsion. It is better for the wider environment as well as the environment in the house. Itsmejudith (talk) 22:24, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Now what was that policy about "no medical advice" again? I'd say telling someone that "you should be fine if you have a few windows open to let the fumes escape" pretty clearly violates the spirit, if not the letter of that rule. Especially since we have no way of telling what kind of fumes they are (since the original poster didn't even specify the type of paint) or how much of them there might be. Personally, I'd say the only safe advice we can give is that if you know there are fumes, and especially if you can smell them, you shouldn't stay there any longer than you have to. It's possible that the fumes might not be harmful — but it's also possible that they could be, and there's no way anyone on the Internet can tell you for sure. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 22:35, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

So...are you saying to assume the worst? That if there is any type of paint that could concivably be fatal in this situation, then we should assume it is applicable and prepare the poster for the worst? --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 23:56, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Look, paint fumes probably won't kill you, but they're not pleasant and they'll give you a nasty headache. At the very least keep the windows open. If you can, find somewhere else to spend the day. Just don't spend any more time around the fumes than you have to, okay? And if you have any pets, make sure they're outside. That includes mini aquariums or anything that shares the same air supply you do (even if it's an animal that breathes underwater). Your critters may be more susceptible than you are. -Aletheia —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.139.75 (talk) 04:09, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

I think it sad that the OP did not appear to have any concern for his mother's safety, nor, more pertinently, had he seemed to bother to read the paint tin label which would have informed him of the possible risk - or more likely - lack of. Richard Avery (talk) 07:15, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

And how heartwarming to notice that nobody else worries about your mom who keeps her nose in close proximity to a fumingly hot paint brush dipped in Dulux psychedelic maryjane green emulsion. The diligent lady is probably high enough to paint the ceiling without the aid of a ladder, yodelling "Legalise it" and splattering polka dots around whilst you are submerged in the bath tub wearing scuba gear and oxygen tanks to ensure your olfactory survival.

But wait, is your mum the querent below with anosmia who asks a seminal question? --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 07:51, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Don't know what effect the fumes will have on you, but to cut down the smell, place saucers of milk with half a peeled onion in them, at various places in your house 195.188.254.82 (talk) 12:46, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Cats

How are they able to land on their feet after falling from high hights 9/10 times? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.101.1.186 (talk) 21:15, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

I guess they're just agile and have a good sense of balance. There are slow-motion videos and picture-sequences of falling cats in which one can see them actively twisting their bodies into a feet-downwards position. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 21:26, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Good evening. We have a cat article you may like to read. I believe the cats can jump from such height places has to do with their spinal cord and leg bones. But I think you should trust the cat article more then inaccurate guessing. I hope I have helped. Have a wonderful evening.Rem Nightfall (talk) 21:25, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

It may not be entirely true that most cats who jump multiple stories survive. Remember that the non-surviving cats rarely get taken to the vet. My friend the vet tech says she sees cats injured in falls from balconies pretty regularly. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 21:49, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes, though also realize that your friend, the vet tech, doesn't see any of the cats that survive such falls without any injury at all. So, her perception is one sided. Dismas|^(talk) 04:02, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Their tails help them balance. Their bodies are built for jumping, so they know how to land. They weren't designed to fall several stories per se, but their body structure is designed for balance and proper weight distribution. The human body absolutely isn't built for it, and we don't have instinctual knowledge of the "right" way to fall and most of us have never learned (bend your knees if it's a short jump and you're landing on your feet; falling from a height, don't even try to land on your feet, just protect your head and neck). Also, for the cat, some practice enters into it. A year ago my family's little Snowbell was a tiny kitten and she was very clumsy so it was a good thing she never got up very far. Now she climbs everything, but she's done enough falling in the past to have achieved graceful mastery. - Aletheia —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.139.75 (talk) 03:59, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

If a cat always lands on it's feet and toast always lands butter-side down, how would a cat with butter spread on it's back land when I push him off the table ? StuRat (talk) 04:48, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

StuRat, are you just shilling for this article: Buttered cat paradox? WHAAOE!

Atlant (talk) 13:52, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Wow, Wikipedia even has articles on jokes that I pilfer. I see I need to use more original material. (That joke was a bit stale, perhaps even rancid, hardly "the cat's meow".) :-) StuRat (talk) 14:24, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Here is a little slide show that demonstrates how cats do it - it's a trick involving a flexible body, a low terminal velocity, and conservation of angular momentum. Karl Kruszelnicki (Dr Karl) has written about it in one of his books, where he quotes a New York vetinary hospital study that showed that cats falling from 7 floors were highly unlikely to survive, whereas those falling from over 11 got away with mostly minor injuries, thanks to this trick. Confusing Manifestation(Say hi!) 07:10, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Isn't the reason for this IIRC that one cats approach their terminal velocity, they relax more since they don't sense the acceleration hence are more likely to survive? Ergo ~ 7 floors is the worst Nil Einne (talk) 02:34, 17 June 2008 (UTC)