Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 January 10

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January 10

Source and cause of my stuckupness and possible remedies

I am stuckup. I think I'm better (in terms of intelligence, dignitiy and significance) than any of my peers or classmates I meet or come across at school. One exception is I don't feel this way toward people who are clearly better than I am. So it hurts my pride to try to befriend, approach, or just say "Hi (name)" to people. I want others to always do that to me first. Others mistaken me as being shy, but I'm more stuckup than shy, if I'm shy at all. I'm trying to figure out why I feel this way. What are some sources and causes of being stuckup. Additionally, what are some methods that can eliminate this aspect of personality? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ysk1 (talk • contribs) 05:17, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

The book Difficult Personalities : A practical guide to managing the hurtful behaviour of others (and maybe your own!) has a chapter on Superiority which may help. Friends - A practical guide to understanding relationships might help. You should also consider seeking professional counselling. Mitch Ames (talk) 06:06, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I have the same attitude. I like to try to look past my obvious superiority to others and concentrate on how I can take advantage of, or get something from, the other person, whom I term as my "mark," and people (mostly) are more easily manipulated by a friendly attitude. Well, aside from chicks, who seem more to respond to meanness. Rasputin72 (talk) 06:09, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Note to the OP: The world does not rotate around you. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 09:51, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Of course it doesn't. Impossible, when it rotates around ME! But seriously, if this is a serious(?) question. I think you have proved that you are not superior to "my peers or classmates" as to really think so is surely a major flaw? Self-confidence is one thing, but “Self praise is no recommendation” (anon). Are you sure you're not just shy and trying to cover it up with a 'snooty' attitude? How to eliminate this attitude?, at least you recognise it, that's a good start! --220.101.28.25 (talk) 11:19, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

An early girl friend that that not only was I 'stuck-up' but so was my dog. Was quite pleased by that!--85.210.170.108 (talk) 12:16, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Profit from the sad example of Godolphin Horne ;-) Dmcq (talk) 14:14, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

"I believe in equality. Equality for everyone. No matter how stupid they are, or how much better I am than they are." -- Steve Martin, "What I Believe." It occurs to me that one possible cure for this ailment would be to join the Marines. His leaders during basic training will make it clear what his level of superiority is. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:14, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

You should read Mesillat Yesharim by Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. My father-in-law recommended it after getting to know me. DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 02:01, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Why should you say "hi" to people? I mean, if they say "hi" to you, then it is out of politeness that you say "hi" back.

There is such a thing as a healthy ego. In silence you can have a healthy ego. If it interrupts your silence to say "hi" first to people — then don't do it.

Forget about all the other reasoning going into your calculations and your motivations and the possibility of changing your behavior. You can be among people without "saying" anything to them. If they say "hi" first, that is another thing. Then it would constitute "snubbing" them to not say "hi" back.

But what I think you are experiencing is simply the comfort of your own silence. That, I contend, is a healthy thing. Bus stop (talk) 02:44, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Articles for deletion

On average, how many articles are nominated for AFD each day (24 hour period)? Rasputin72 (talk) 06:04, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Is there something stopping you from counting? ~ Amory (u • t • c) 22:53, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

We tracked it at one point, and it seemed to hover near 100 per day in various categories. But that was over 2 years ago. UltraExactZZ ^Said ~ Did 13:26, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Successive Article for Deletion nominations

What are the pages with the most nominations for AFD? I notice some pages have been nominated four or five times. Rasputin72 (talk) 06:05, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

GNAA got to eighteen[1][2]... 88.112.56.9 (talk) 06:27, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

See also Wikipedia talk:Lamest edit wars#Lamest deletion wars for an old list. Nanonic (talk) 12:34, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Light.................the most wonderful thing in the world................................

i learnt that light can be bent??? is this possible??? i read in a book that, if my twin bother {initially r of 15 years} stays on earth n i go to roam in outer space through a spacecraft but the only thing i do is i go inside a wormhole , then when i would return after 50 years i would b only 15 years old but my brother's age would be 65 years old???can anybody make me understand??? what r the required conditions for this??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.197.241.176 (talk) 09:32, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

See the article Twins paradox. This has nothing to do with travel in a wormhole the possibility of which is no more than a far-fetched speculation. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 09:41, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

(edit conflict) :If you return after fifty of your years, then you would be 65, and the age of your twin brother would depend on how many years had passed on earth. Wormholes ( read our article) are very much theoretical, and it is doubted whether they can be used for time travel. It has been shown that the twins paradox is genuine, so, yes, it is possible that you could return to Earth younger than your twin, but, with current technology and without wormholes, the effect would be small. You can observe light bending round the sun during a solar eclipse. See Bending_of_starlight#Deflection_of_light_by_the_Sun Dbfirs 09:53, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Every time you look through a lens, or even your eye, you are bending light.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 10:54, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Rainbows are another example, any time light enters a medium of different density, say water or glass at an angle, it will be bent(refraction) and come out at another angle. This is also why fish appear at a different point than they really are if you are standing in water spearfishing. See also Prism (optics).--220.101.28.25 (talk) 11:32, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

• This is probably more in line with your initial question,Gravitational lens --220.101.28.25 (talk) 12:55, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Light can be bent by gravity - the way that Einsteins' special relativity was first demonstrated was by the way starlight was seen to be bent by the sun's gravity during a total solar eclipse. It can also be abruptly bent as it crosses the boundary between two substances with different refractive indices - which is how lenses work. The lenses in our eyes - and the glass in fiberoptic cables have gradually varying refractive indices, which bend the light more gradually in a curve rather than abruptly as a simple glass or plastic lens does.

Wormholes are not "real" - we've never found one, ideas on how to make one are at best wildly impractical and more likely completely impossible. Science fiction fans are speculating wildly in assuming that they might even exist. Forget wormholes - they not in any way important.

However, if you were to travel a good fraction of the speed of light, then Einstien's special theory of relativity says that time becomes distorted for you relative to your brother who stays here on earth (this is the "twins paradox" that Cuddliable mentioned. That's a very real, experimentally proven, effect. The astronauts who flew to the moon and back experienced time flowing at a different rate than for those of us who stayed here on the ground...although they weren't travelling all that fast - so the effect was really small! It's a little bit complicated because while their sustained high speed caused time to slow down for them, the lack of the earth's gravity caused it to speed up...in the end, they actually aged by about a third of a millisecond more compared to the rest of humanity rather than less as you'd expect from their rate of speed alone. Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman is said to have actually demanded 400 microseconds of overtime pay from NASA because of that. SteveBaker (talk) 15:35, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Who are these people called Cuddliable and Einstien ? Cuddlyable3 (talk) 13:22, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

If wormholes have anything to do with backwards time travel, the odds are good that they don't exist. I think there was a Twilight Zone episode that was a twist on the Twins Paradox, though really more like an O. Henry story. Half of a couple was supposed to go on a long space flight that for some reason would cause aging to slow dramatically. That meant when the astronaut got back, his girlfriend would be old. So the space traveler decided to tough it out and not go through hibernation. When the astronaut got back, he was old - but his partner was still young, because she had separately decided to go through hibernation to stay young for him. Yeh, not exactly light-speed related, I know. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:15, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

So what's the problem? He just goes into hybernation until she catches up and they live out their retirement happily ever after. (Except she finds his aged body repulsive and finds a younger guy while he's asleep...but that's a different story). SteveBaker (talk) 05:12, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

She was willing to stick with him as his young companion, but he told her to go find someone her own age and have a happy life. That episode was called "The Long Morrow". Not to be confused with Vic Morrow. I had forgotten that it featured Mariette Hartley, who was Spock's love interest in a time-related episode of Star Trek called "All Our Yesterdays". And the show's other featured player, Robert Lansing, appeared in another Trek episode, an intended spinoff called Assignment: Earth". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:24, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

With Teri Garr! Who was on Friends with Jennifer Aniston who was in Picture Perfect with Kevin Bacon! Adam Bishop (talk) 08:04, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

European winter storms of 2009–2010

Have the European winter storms of 2009–2010 created any change in the sales of SUVs? Also, judging from past winter storms, do such events affect those who are relativly young when they occur to later be more likely to drive 4x4 vehicles? Thanks. 81.157.54.253 (talk) 11:57, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

It's too early to answer your first question, most of the trade bodies - including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders won't release their full figures for December/January until February or March as it takes some time to collate that data. Nanonic (talk) 12:32, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Interesting question though. I was thinking of buying a new car when the UK 2010 Registration Plate appears in March but because of the horrendous snow and ice we have experienced in Scotland over the past 3 weeks, in addition to minus 9 degrees temperatures, added to our stingy central and local governments not gritting and salting our roads in order to save money (official policy by the way), I went to my local dealer and asked about a 4x4, only to be told that there were none available for at least a couple of months. So maybe that gives an indication as to their sudden demand.92.30.55.253 (talk) 13:11, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Shouldn't think so. It is standard practice to require 2 months delivery since each vehicle has to be optionalised. If they had said 4 or 6 months I might begin to believe there is a sales surge. But who has money for new 4 x 4s in the UK at the present time with high road tax and a high-tax-on-guzzlers budget looming plus a General Election within weeks!!??Froggie34 (talk) 14:49, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks all. I'll wait for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders stats. 2 months for the paperwork to be done and delivery may be standard, but it is 2 months until one is availabe as far as I understand it. 81.157.54.253 (talk) 15:40, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

There has perpaps been a higher demand in used SUV's? Used cars can usually be bought right away. The Great Cucumber (talk) 19:37, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I would like to set the record straight - I do not think there have been any storms, at least in England, just a lot of snow. 89.242.112.19 (talk) 18:15, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

cf snowstorm 131.111.248.99 (talk) 18:36, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I quote from that article: "Snowstorms are storms where large amounts of snow fall." We havnt had any storms. We havnt had much snow by North American standards, it is just a lot more than what we normally get in England, which is very little. 78.151.110.26 (talk) 23:01, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Was she, or was she Not ?

In the 2009 movie Amelia, Hilary Swank, who is left handed, portrays Amelia Earhart the same way. Is this a mistake, or was Mrs Putnam ( Amelia ) really a southpaw ? I note that in both Erin Brockovitch and Ocean's Twelve ( I think ), the left handed Julia Roberts portrays her characters as righties. I suspect the real Erin Brockovitch is right handed, so that is why, while in the latter film, she was playing right handed Tess Ocean, pretending to be Julia Roberts, until another left hander,Bruce Willis, turns up and wrecks her cunning ruse. Some also say that Ronald Reagan was a lefty, but I recall seeing film of him vetoing a bill to fund roadworks for Boston, and he appeared to be a right hander. So, what is the truth behind these questions ? Was Amelia Earhart Putnam left or right handed, and what about dear old Ronny, the Errol Flynn of B movies ? The Russian. C.B.Lilly 14:24, 10 January 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Christopher1968 (talk • contribs)

There is a tendency for left-handers to be more ambidexterous than right-handers...so perhaps this isn't so surprising. SteveBaker (talk) 15:17, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I put [amelia earhart left handed] into google and about all that turned up was a vandalistic comment on answers.com and a similar question to the above but with no answer.

You never know. Brooks Robinson threw and batted righthanded, but signed autographs lefthanded. Shoeless Joe Jackson batted left and threw right, which is not unusual. Ray Liotta, who played Jackson in Field of Dreams, batted right and threw left. Gary Cooper, a righthander, played the lefthanded Lou Gehrig in The Pride of the Yankees. When Cooper had to appear to be lefthanded, they had him wear a uniform with a backwards "NY" on his right side, and flipped the film. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:49, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Going off that, the more used terms when classifying are actually "Right-handed" and "Non-right handed." That's because while righties tend to use their right hand dominantly for everything (throwing, writing, etc.) so-called "lefties" are usually more fluid, and many use their left for some things and their right for others. Handedness says it all, so I'm with the above editors in that... I don't know. ~ Amory (u • t • c) 22:52, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Thank You. That clarifies a lot. I knew a kid in my class when I was nine who was ambidextrous, but I can't remember which hand was dominant. Is this ambidextrous nature forced on left handers because of this mercilessly right handed world ? My left handed mother explains how they tried to force her to be a righty, but she resisted. Because their brains are wired different, such a thing is not good. All credit to Mother. I am right handed, but I do some things differently to other right handers. I know people who write left handed but bat at cricket and use pool cubes right handed - like my youngest sister, Joyce. Yet our middle sister Michelle is right handed, but uses a pool cue in her left hand. If I use sellotape™, I hold it in my right, and pull it out with my left, but when I was working in my aunt and uncle's bakery, and holding a roll of stickers to be put on muffins in the same way, one of their right handed workers said I was doing the wrong way. Cheeky girl. I do it the way I see fit, but are there psychological or anthropolgical studies on handedness ? I can think of many things people can do with their hands that could be done either way. When I shuffle cards I hold the deck in my right hand, and shuffle with my left. Also, I understand left handers use the right brain, which is more artistic, but what explains the existence of right handed artists ? How do their brains work ? I am not very artistic, but my right handed brother in law and some of his right handed boys are. Also, what determines which hand you wear a watch on ? The same brother said he was told it had to do with gender, such that girls were to wear them on the right wrist, while I was told that you put it on the opposite hand to what you are. Yet his own son, my nephew, right handed, has his on his right wrist, and we may joke about him being a bit of a girl, but based on this, I see that although there is a convention about it, wearing one's watch on any wrist is up to the individual. The Russian Christopher Lilly 04:31, 11 January 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Christopher1968 (talk • contribs)

I recommend reading Lateralization of brain function. In short: everyone who has not had half their brain removed uses both the left and right sides of their brain. You use both the left and right sides of your brain. There are some things which are mostly done in one side of the brain, although brains are surprisingly flexible and can often use other areas if necessary. The divide is not as straightforward as "right brain is artistic, left brain is logical". Your handedness may correlate with how and where your brain handles some things, but it isn't a straightforward "every left-handed person is like this, and every right-handed person is like this". Plenty of artists are right-handed, and plenty of mathematicians are left-handed.

As to watches: wear them where you want. It's more convenient to put them on the hand you use less, as you're less likely to have a hilarious accident by looking at the time while holding a mug of tea or long, sharp knife. 86.178.229.168 (talk) 01:24, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Thank You. I understand that now. That makes sense.The Russian Christopher Lilly 11:20, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Name Change

I'm in the UK and would like to change my name. Is there an official govenment department I can do this with? Search engines provide many unoficial sites that can do it for as cheap as £2.99 - http://www.twominutedeedpoll.co.uk/index.htm - but I want to do it with a trustworthy official organisation, whether online or not, so it can be changed on my passport, driving license, etc. Are there forms I can collect from the council or post office or something? Thanks. 81.157.54.253 (talk) 14:45, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

UK Deed Poll Service. 92.30.55.253 (talk) 14:54, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

(e/c) Her Majesty's Courts Service: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/9805.htm#deed_polls. There's a Word-document guide that includes all relevant forms and instructions. It costs exactly £64.43. Most of that (£52.88) is an advertisement in the London Gazette; the official "enrollment fee" is only £10 out of the total. There is a phone number at the back of the guide that you can call with any questions. Xenon54 / talk / 14:59, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. I read the document and it says the London Gazette advert is mandatory, what about for those who are changing thier names for security reasons, an advert of it would be counter productive? And so would asking others to sign it. 81.157.54.253 (talk) 15:37, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

In your case, I'd call them (the number is on page 15, not at the back as I said earlier) and explain the situation, and perhaps they can accommodate you. Best of luck. Xenon54 / talk / 16:07, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Births, marriages, deaths, divorces, the roll of electors, wills, estates, and changes of name are public records, and are available from the relevant records office to anyone, bar exceptional circumstances. It is possible to have a court temporarily seal a public record if a compelling reason can be shown, such as a clear and imminent fear of crime. That would happen as part of a larger legal proceeding (such as a divorce or a criminal trial) and if that's the case it's a matter you should discuss with a lawyer. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 16:06, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Deed polls can't be used to change your name for deceptive purposes, which I think what you describe would count as (you are trying to deceive whoever you feel threatened by). If you think you are in danger, you need to talk to the police. --Tango (talk) 17:03, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

You don't have to do anything official - just use the other name! Changing a name by deed poll means you get a notary public (usually a solicitor) to witness the statement that you, (old name) renounce that name and wish to be known as (new name) from this moment, and used to cost £5. That's all you used to have to do, and I don't recall seeing any law being passed to prevent this. --TammyMoet (talk) 16:35, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

That is technically true, but you may have difficulty getting people to use the new name without getting a deed poll and publishing it in the London Gazette. Banks, the passport service, etc. generally want documentary evidence of the change of name, they won't just take your word for it. --Tango (talk) 16:57, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I think I might just use the £2.99 site and use that as proof of name change. The official method seems to invole too many people knowing about it. Thanks 81.157.54.253 (talk) 19:08, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I suggest you ask someone at the Immigration and Passport Service, the DVLA and your bank and find out what they would require in order to use your new name. Deed polls aren't intended to be used to hide from people - that is why it is usually required to put a notice in the London Gazette. --Tango (talk) 23:17, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Indeed as already mentioned by Tango, you aren't allowed to change your name to deceive, or to defraud and the TwoMinute website makes that clear [3]. The website does say they will refund you if someone refuses to accept it [4] and other websites also say you should have no problem [5] but I would caution that even if no one in the UK has problems with your two minute deed poll I would wonder what people in other countries would think of your two minute deed poll so if you ever plan to visit another country you may want to take that into account as well. Bear in mind you do often have to declare if you've ever used a different name when travelling. Do note that you have to get a witness no matter what method you use, the two minute site for example clearly specifies this as those the other one. This shouldn't be surprising. And as is the norm the witness must be [6] "independent of you i.e. not a relative or partner or someone living at the same address. Therefore, a friend, neighbour or work colleague will be a suitable witness." Nil Einne (talk) 04:45, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

If you are a British citizen then you can just change your name, and notify people that it has been done. I did. But then I thought it through and went to a lawyer and paid for the change to be recorded officially. Glad I did because foreign countries do not accept a simple name change, they want documented proof. And they won't accept an officially modified passport. In fact, in France, it is almost impossible to change one's name. So it is hard for them to understand that the British can do it so easily, and as often as they like!Froggie34 (talk) 09:07, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

I changed my name for £1 - I bought the piece of paper from a legal stationers, filled it in, got it witnessed by a friend and cross-signed by a solicitor friend (they are also known as "commissioners of oaths", I think). I then took this document to my bank etc, who made photocopies. Obviously I had to get a new passport, and that costs a lot more, but it was due for renewal anyway. One pound. Hope this helps! almost-instinct 10:39, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

tattoos

hey, why dont people get tattoos on the palms of their hands???76.189.133.235 (talk) 14:52, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps you could be a guinea pig for that experiment and let us know how it works out? :) Most likely it's because the palms, and also the soles of the feet, are much more sensitive to pain than the areas where tattoos are typically done. Also, it would be less visible. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:10, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Who says they don't? --Mr.98 (talk) 15:24, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

People do. --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 15:25, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Ouch! What kind of drugs do they take before getting such tattoos, beyond the stereotypical high-proof alcohol? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:28, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

People get them in all-sorts of sensitive places, Bugs. Google Images will have a whole bunch if you care to peruse. Here's one I made earlier, as they say on Blue Peter. --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 15:53, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I realize that. I just wonder what they use for pain-killers. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:03, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Charles Manson had a pentagram tatooed to the palm of his hand. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 16:00, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Pain killers are not recommended, as they can thin the blood and cause excessive bleeding. Many people consider the pain to be an essential part of the tattoo expereience. But see [7].--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:07, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

According to that site, they can "affect one's mental state adversely". As compared with the mental state that brought them to the tattoo parlor. I guess it helps if you like pain. However, it seems like the original question has been answered. It was a false premise. Tattoos can and are made anywhere you'd care to name and that the tattoo artist is willing/able to do. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:14, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

People who are tattoo junkies go for the pain and the adrenaline, generally. My wife got one a long time ago, in memory of a friend who died (it is very tasteful), and the pain was what really made it something more than just "something on her arm" for her. My understanding is that the pain in part makes the tattoo application a very emotional and enduring experience. Which I think is probably appropriate given their permanency. (It doesn't mean people will make great decisions about them, obviously.) --Mr.98 (talk) 20:33, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

This is beginning to make a little more sense to me now. It's not just that you've got a picture on your body somewhere, because you could do that with a marking pen. It's also the implied symbolism of what the tattooed one went through to get it. I'm guessing this is directly connected to the growing interest in piercings, as those with one often have the other. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:28, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I've got a tattoo, Bugs. I got it when I was 20 after years of searching for the right one and I never had an intent to get another. However, those 3 hours of brutal pain - oddly enough - left me wanting another one as soon as I walked out the door. It's a weird psychological response, but it's definitely real. There's a very special "high" associated with (personal meaning + tremendous pain). I've managed to hold off on getting another, but the desire remains... 218.25.32.210 (talk) 01:46, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Fascinating. Now that I think of it, I have a vague recollection that Drew Carey, in his book Dirty Jokes and Beer, remarked on this when he talked about getting his nipples pierced. One of them got infected and he had to take the piercing out. But I think he had something like that "high" you're describing. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 02:57, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

In response to the OP, Craig Ferguson recently got a tattoo which extends down his forearm onto the palm of his hand. As of about a month ago, he was telling his guests that "there's a reason tattoos stop right here (pointing to wrist). That (pointing to palm) hurts!" JJohnCooper (talk) 19:35, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

I think the biggest reason that not many people get a tattoo on their palm is due to the amount of things you touch with your palm, blisters as well as general use of the palm causes the tattoo over time to fade and disapear in spots. Also just from the way the palm wrinkles and rubs skin to skin all of the time will cause the same effect. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.218.50.226 (talk) 21:41, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Good luck will rub off when I shakes hands with you. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 13:02, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Sum

How do I sum all possible products from the numbers 1, 2, 3, ..., n? For example, 1x1+1x2+2x1+1x3+3x1+2x3+3x2+3x3+... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.250.215.128 (talk) 15:22, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

This would be better on the Mathematics Desk. --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 15:26, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I just realized that. I'd typed in WP:RD/M, thinking it would redirect there, but it redirected here instead. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.41.186.123 (talk) 16:05, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

WP:RD/MA takes you there. Please do not change either of these redirects without some sort of consensus, or at least mentioning you're going to do so. 131.111.248.99 (talk) 16:38, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

These could be sums of infinite series. You might need to break them up into seperate series, and see if there are any patterns. The Russian Christopher Lilly 12:31, 11 January 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Christopher1968 (talk • contribs)

    n     2
/  ___   \
| \      |
|  \  k  |
|  /     |
| /___   |
\  k=1   /

Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:55, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

How you work it out: use distributive law to convert this to: (1+2+3+4+...+n)*(1+2+3+4+...+n) giving cuddlyable3;s answer. This comes out to $n^{2}(n-1)^{2}/4$

werewolves?

whats your take on them? real, fake? --BoardsofCanadaDawnChorus (talk) 17:16, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

You are asking for an opinion here rather than an actual answer - you'd be better off asking this on a forum or other Q&A site. Read Werewolf to get an overview of people's beliefs and the likely origins of them. Exxolon (talk) 17:20, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Well i'll just say this...I can't see how there's any 'opinion' to have - they're fake, not real, not even slightly. ny156uk (talk) 17:27, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

ohh exxolon didnt kno thanks. --BoardsofCanadaDawnChorus (talk) 17:38, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Assuming the OP's question is on the level (which I'm not 100 percent certain of), the larger topic of persistent belief in critters like werewolves and bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster and such stuff as that, could be interesting to explore, and I wonder if there's a comprehensive article on it. It's like a throwback to pagan religions, which were rife with such superstitions. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:10, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Bugs, the study of dubious and anomalistic subjects in general is often known as Forteana, after Charles Fort, and there are several magazines devoted to it, such as the Fortean Times. Unproven creatures fall under the rubric of Cryptozoology.

Note that those interested in Forteana do not necessarily "believe" in any (let alone every) given instance of it (though they may be more open-minded towards possibilities than the average), but also find interest in studying the phenomena of the beliefs of others in them.

As well as once believed-in but disproven-in-a-literal-sense "creatures" such as werewolves, Cryptozoology covers creatures known to exist but apparently present in places they should not be, creatures thought to be extinct but possibly or sometimes provably not, and creatures whose existence is suspected, often from local anecdotes etc, but not yet proven scientifically; an increasing number of exploratory zoologists are beginning to admit that part of their work amounts to cryptozoology.

Note also that my own interests in such matters have little other than an underlying philosophical attitude (Forteanism) in common with my involvement (such as it is) in a thriving Pagan Religion :-). 87.81.230.195 (talk) 04:11, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Excellent. I hope OP took note of that. Meanwhile, here's a brief mention of the subject in a well-known film:[8] ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:16, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

ohh wow, bugs. cool. pagan religions. --BoardsofCanadaDawnChorus (talk) 18:13, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

So the question was indeed a joke. Any reason we shouldn't just delete this section? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:39, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

There are no evidence as to that they exist or have existed before. It's fun fairy tales which also make great Hollywood movies etc., but noone believes in them for real nowadays. The Great Cucumber (talk) 19:43, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Angua, the werewolf-cum-cop in a popular series of fantasy novels, has a certain charm[9]. PhGustaf (talk) 20:09, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

What's a 'werewolf-cum-cop'? An official from Health & Safety that regulates the quality of bodily fluids from werewolves? --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 05:24, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

There have been some good werewolf movies. An American Werewolf in London was an interesting twist on it, although I kept expecting the wolf to break into the "Be a Pepper" song. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:10, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

On the ref desk talk page, at least one other editor agrees that this question is inappropriate for the ref desk and could be deleted. Any objections? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:11, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

You have my full support if you want to delete it Bugs. I think the OP needs to be sent the message that you should have two brain cells to rub together before troubling the locals with a half-witted question. Vranak (talk) 11:18, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Well, the header does say "Miscellaneous", which makes it hard to call anything off-topic. Even if the OP was just wanking, there's a possibility for an interesting thread on lycanthropy. PhGustaf (talk) 21:20, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Aha, a loophole. Well, the OP asked to be adopted. Maybe we could wait until the adoption papers are signed. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:24, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Surely you meant 'Wabbit-hole'? Eh Eh Eh Eh. Elmer Fudd. --220.101.28.25 (talk) 11:53, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

More like a rabid-hole (This is indeed getting ridiculous). --Saddhiyama (talk) 12:25, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

In the fantasy novels, Angua's more or less human boyfriend has adjusted to her being complicated a few days a month. "She has her own flap in the door, and she buys her own dog biscuits." PhGustaf (talk) 04:27, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

We should at least link to Clinical lycanthropy - it's worth a read. SteveBaker (talk) 05:08, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

I would argue that stories of beastly men are true if properly interpreted. I have, of course, allegorical interpretations in mind. -Pollinosisss (talk) 08:42, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

For those who believe the Warrens' claims of exorcising demons, they once ostensibly removed from a man a demon which caused him to believe he was a wolf. He didn't actually become a wolf though.

Also, 'cum' as used above comes from Latin and means 'as well as' or 'also,' Mr. Smarty-Pants KageTora. :) JJohnCooper (talk) 19:29, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Not really. Latin 'cum' means 'with', 'although', 'by' or 'from' i.e. the ablative case as in magne cum laude. Please refrain from comments on the loin covering of another respondent. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:45, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

That evolved into con in Italian and Spanish, and... avec in French??? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:47, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Etymology of avec: Old French avoec, avuec from Vulgar Latin aboc, abhoc, a Frankish corruption of Latin apud hoc (“‘with this, near this, close to this’”). Used as a replacement of Latin cum "with" in Merovingian and Carolingian documents. Gradually supplanted Old French od (“‘with’”). Involvement of werewolves cannot at this time be ruled out. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:31, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Don't worry, Cuddly, I actually pride myself on the smartness of my pants. I always make sure the well-ironed crease goes straight down the middle on both legs, and wear a suitably sized belt just below the belly-button. --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 22:49, 11 January 2010 (UTC)