Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 December 11

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December 11

Hedging by buying Stock 1 long and (in the same industry) Stock 2 short

I understand that this means that either way, you are guaranteed not to lose all of your money because whichever way the market goes, one of your instruments has gains that approximately outweigh the losses of the other. However, I don't understand how this is a way to assure yourself long-term positive gain. My logic is thus: Because of random market activity/noise, half of the time you will make money because your "in-the-money" instrument has a greater gain than your "out of the money" instrument, but the other half of the time, the loss will slightly outweigh the gain. This has been bugging me for a while because it does not make intuitive sense; after factoring in transaction costs and spreads and such it doesn't seem to make sense! Why and how can so many firms and hedge funds use this strategy? Thanks so much! ChowderInopa 00:05, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

1. First of all, it's not guaranteed. Period. The stock you're long can go down while the stock you're short goes up. Quickly. Or they could both go up or down which could create a gain *or* loss.
2. It doesn't work if you pick random stocks. You're looking to pick a strong stock to go long in and a weak one to short. Stock picking, by whatever means, "overcomes" randomness.
3. Transaction costs are nothing like they were thirty years ago. For practical purposes they are almost insignificant.
4. See the section "Against the box" at Short selling. You can think of this technique as if it were shorting against the box but instead of the same stock, the same industry. Being short against the box eliminates risk completely but also eliminates the possibility of further profit. (If you figure in transaction costs, including the spread, as you pointed out, it's guaranteed to be a slight loss from the starting position.) By picking different stocks in the same industry, the risk of loss is lessened compared to a naked short or long position, and the odds of gain are increased over a neutral position. The market is all about controlling risk. -THB 00:46, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

You can also write covered calls which is similiar to against the box but involves holding the stock long and sell the long derivative call of the stock (instead of shorting the stock outright). An example would be XYZ company sotck is currently selling for $100 and the June XYZ $100 call is selling for $10. By 100 shares and sell the call for $10 and your break even position $90 (hedges against a $10 loss). The cost of this is your maximum profit per share is $10. You get the $10 per share immediately and your entire position is liquidated if the price of the stock is over $100 in June. --Tbeatty 01:05, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Cruiser Craft Boats

I need information about "Cruiser Craft Boats". Please do not confuse these with "Chris Craft Boats" ! Cruiser Craft boats were built in Dallas Texas back in the mid 1950's. Thanks

See this and let us know if that is the one. --Justanother 01:03, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

YOU STOLE MY INVENTION! BANG! BANG! BANG!

• http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/167356,CST-NWS-main10.article

'I believe he just snapped': High-rise gunman became convinced attorney had stolen his idea, family says

December 10, 2006

BY ANNIE SWEENEY, STEFANO ESPOSITO AND ABDON PALLASCH Staff Reporters

... Jackson began shooting Friday at the group of West Loop attorneys he believed had stolen his dream invention -- a special port-a-potty for truckers.

... [Jackson] killed three people ... one was Michael R. McKenna -- a patent, trademark and copyright attorney who rented space there and was the man Jackson believed stole his idea.

... Jackson told his family that after not hearing from his attorney, he did research on the Internet and found what he believed was evidence the lawyer had patented the idea.

... If Jackson did see the name "McKenna" on a toilet-related patent, it may be from the Boston-based Cesari and McKenna firm that has no relation to Michael McKenna. The Boston firm has served as attorney/agent on 18 toilet-related patents, though none that appear too similar to Jackson's idea.

A search of the U.S. Patent office Web database finds 84 patents for Michael McKenna, only two related to toilets: a decorative toilet handle and a toilet-paper dispenser that activates a music box and fragrance dispenser when used.

Contributing: Felicia Dechter

I went to the USPTO (http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html) and searched the issued patent and published application databases and I did not see the potty patent either. What went wrong? -- Toytoy 00:44, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Likely no patent has yet been granted. -THB 01:10, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

People kill for the weirdest reasons. bibliomaniac15 01:32, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Logically Defending Beliefs (cont.)

Another question, to do with my last question, that I want to ask you to is this: Are there any books, Internet websites, or articles that contain or are about their (any of the people I've mentioned up there) statements and arguments to logically defend their faith and their responses to the criticisms of their beliefs?The Anonymous One 00:50, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

You might want to put on your thinking cap and read some of the stuff by Hume and Kant. Kantian philosophy is very good for people of faith and Hume's philosophy is great for pure scientists- and both sides of the argument do a great job of kicking the snot out of the other side, so it's good feelings all round. It's not exactly the most accessable reading material though, so grab some cliff notes or something before you try to tackle them --froth^{T C} 21:06, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

headless chicken lifespan ?

NatGeo TV stated today that decapitated chickens can live for 18 months !!! Is this true or false ?

See Mike the Headless Chicken. He lived "happily" for 18 months and would probably have lived longer if not for an error on the part of the owner. He had sufficient brain stem to survive after a botched "beheading" --Justanother 03:27, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

That is ridiculous! That someone on television can claim a chicken can live without a head for 18 months based on one single anomalous chicken that did happen to live 18 months after a botched beheading. According to the article, the chicken could have lived more then 18 moths, it only died because the owners didn't have the apparatus they normally use to save the chicken from choking. Pun not intended. They may as well have said that a chicken can live a healthy and normal life without a head. Vespine 23:17, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

It's not ridiculous. It's poppycock. I'd say it was asinine, but that's a whole other animal right there. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:15, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

But in all seriousness. It's fairly common for television shows to claim things like "can" and "could" when the average happenings of such a thing...uh...happening are much, much less. I wouldn't go so far as to get all flustered, but... Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:15, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

the sexpistols

hi. whats the go with nancy being jewish??? Sir Sagman 03:25, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Could you rephrase that question please? I have no idea what you are asking. --Justanother 03:29, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

I imagine this question to be apropos of Nancy Spungen, the girlfriend of Sid Vicious, the bassist for the Sex Pistols. The Spungen article provides that she was from a middle class Jewish family in the Huntingdon Valley area of Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania, and, whilst such assertion doesn't appear to have a particular source, her tombstone—situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—would seem to suggest her to have been of Jewish heritage. If the question is as to (a) how others construed Spungen's Jewishness or how she identified herself or (b) why Sid might have dated someone of Jewish heritage (I suppose one might mean to suggest that Vicious wasn't particularly religious, about the veracity of which suggestion I'm not altogether sure), I don't know that one could offer any good answer. Joe 04:48, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Keir Dullea and Brave New World?

I see in his credits and various places on the web that Keir Dullea(bowman from 2001 a space odyssey) was in a film version of the novel "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. I used to have a paperback copy of the novel with pics of the film inside. Yet i can find no information about it and I have never seen it. Did it actually get released ever? If it did...what happened to it and if it didn't why not? Any info helpful

He played Thomas Grambell in a 1980 TV version of the movie according to this IMDB entry. JackofOz 04:10, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Jump Scenes?

I was curious to see if there was a uniform phrase used to describe 'jump scenes' in feature films. I suppose the best way to define them is that they a quick moments in a scary film that make the audience 'jump.' Things seem very quiet (the music even cutting out sometimes) and then something scary happens. An Example might include the dead facehugger falling onto Ripley in Alien. This would be different from scenes which are inherently scary (.e.g., the raptor in the kitchen scene in Jurassic Park), in that the audience usually doesn't expect the scary to happen.

I've seen the scene called 'jump scenes' on various websites marketed towards parents wanting to check up on movies before their children see them. I have also seen them refered to as 'cat in the 'fridge' scenes due to that stchick. Hope you can help, and thanks in advance...

--Teh Janitor 05:31, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

I always thought of them as "Make the audience yell and throw their popcorn/drink in the air" scenes. (SPOILER WARNING!)In Jaws one was where the dead guy's face plopped down through the hole in the bottom of his boat. In Wait Until Dark a bad guy who is supposed to be dead jumps out of the darkness. People in the theater actually did as I described. These scenes seemed carefully crafted and great fun except for the flying popcorn and drinks. They could also had the effect of a girl throwing her arms around a guy for protection. Edison 16:20, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

It's not just horror movies. For example, I recently saw The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2), and there's a scene where Max casually opens the door of a recently crashed big truck and a corpse falls out. But I can't think of a general name for this sort of scene. zafiroblue05 | Talk 20:56, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

I've never heard a definitive name for the effect either, but it's quite widespread. I nearly wore my popcorn in one scene of Happy Feet, to be honest... Tony Fox (arf!) 16:58, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

In Spiderman there was a bit where there was a flashback that flashed across the screen so fast that people didn't even have time to scream. Everyone just kinda flinched and gasped. Ilikefood 21:19, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

how to find my question again

Hi, I'm new to this and asked a question last week, only to find that I can't locate it again. I look in contents but the list is only for about 6 days of questions and answers and I guess my question was prior to the first day listed in contents. Your advice is to wait for answers and check back for at least 30 days, but I don't know how to locate it after the contents page no longer displays my question?? Thank you all. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Graceyjo (talk • contribs)

Check Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives --h2g2bob 07:52, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Also, I think 30 days is optimistic. Once the question is archived, you're unlikely to get any additional responses. I'd check back every day while it's here, both for answers and, in case we don't understand the question, to offer clarifications. StuRat 09:37, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

You might also click on "my contributions". The Cheverolet headrest question got no answers but the itchy ear question had several. You might try reposting the Chevrolet question again. -THB 10:32, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

The Chevrolet question is here: Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006_December_4#design_standards_for_1991_chevrolet_head_rests. (The itchy ear posting was an answer, not a question.) Wareh 03:15, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Hemi

How much does it usually cost to put a HEMI engine in a muscle car? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.115.14.36 (talk • contribs)

That would depend on several factors:

1. Are you doing it or a shop?
2. Which HEMI engine are you putting in?
3. How many modifications to the car will you have to make to get the engine to fit?
4. Where are you getting the engine from? Crate engine or from a junkyard?

There may be more things to consider but that's just off the top of my head. Dismas|^(talk) 08:14, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

So, based on the above, maybe $500 if you find a decent or rebuildable junk engine, and can do all the fabrication work yourself, to perhap $15,000 or more to have a shop do it all for you with a fairly mildly tweaked engine. If you give us more details on your idea we can help you more. --Justanother 16:45, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

This may be the kind of question that's better answered by asking for quotes from garages than by asking at the reference desk. Assuming you're referring to one of Chrysler's famous line of hemi engines, you can find an encyclopedia article about them at Chrysler_Hemi_engine. A discussion of the general idea of hemispherical combustion chambers can be found at Hemi engine. Friday (talk) 18:17, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Facility Management & Employee Services

Dear All,

I wish to find out best practices and trends in Facility Mgt and Employee related services across BPO's & IT companies in India.

Regards A M

Facility management might be a good place to start. I see there's an International Facility Management Association; their website might be helpful. Dave6 08:45, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

hiv test

is getting a hiv test while poor and unable to afford treatment paramount to asking "will i die in the next decade?"? Thankjs -DON

No, because there are various ways to get free treatment. StuRat 09:39, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

If you tell us where you live we might be able to point you in the right direction. Remember, taking the test does not affect your HIV status, it just tells you your existing status. You may find that you are negative. It is possible to be exposed many times without being infected. -THB 10:24, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

There is a more general issue here, as well, that doctors frequently have trouble persuading people to take a test for a condition if they have no treatment for it. In the case of AIDS, there may be a treatment, and it's also important to know your status to avoid infecting others. However, diseases do exist (like some genetic diseases), which are neither infectious nor in any way treatable. In those cases, I tend to agree, the cost of the test, however low, would seem to outweigh the benefit, which is none. StuRat 10:38, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Pragmatic question on CDS (accounting question)

Hi all,

I got some CDS ( on single names and on index ) and I've to calculate everyday the MtM and the accruals. My question is the following one : If I calculate my fund in D-1, at which date should I calculate the accruals and the MtM ? I heard that I've to use a curve in D-1 but that the interest and MtM should be calculated at D !!! ( Markets convention ?? ) Is there a written convention which define such rules ?

Many thanks

David

Please expand your acronyms, and then maybe we can help you. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 17:03, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

medicine

Frequent refrence desk responders may wish to review hidden comments below What user alleged these things?

where do i get the tablet APHRODISIAC, please give me the address, i need it urgently, you can send me a mail to the following email id. <email removed> its very urgent please. waiting for your reply —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.92.164.125 (talk • contribs)

The reference desk cannot help you acquire narcotics. However, we have excellent articles on MDMA and Aphrodisiac. I had previously deleted this question in the interest of the encyclopedia. It was restored by User:Gandalf61 Hipocrite - «Talk» 15:52, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Aphrodisiacs are not tablets – instead, it is a general term for agents causing the arousal of the mood of sexual desire. Try chocolate or oysters, for example. The only known synthetic aphrodisiac is a nasal spray called bremelanotide. The drug is currently in the testing phase. –mysid☎ 15:57, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

There are foods and natural herbal substances (see Herbalism) that are considered by many to act as aphrodisiacs. See the article on Aphrodisiac already mentioned for some ideas and you should be able to purchase them at your local health foods store or at online health food vendors. --Justanother 15:59, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm fairly certain that if you were only to have waited ten minutes or so, an advert for such products would have been sure to appear in your E-Mail box. And in a few more moments, a fine upstanding gentleman from Nigeria would probably have offered you a way to raise the money to buy the product.

Atlant 17:37, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't think any good end is served by answering this question, for those of us (skeptics) who tend to be incredulous about the efficacy of purported sexual stimulants to do so on a site devoted to scholarly pursuits is really just helping someone throw their money away on chicanery. But since the OP asked specifically for an 'aphrodisiac pill', s/he can feel free to spend their hard-earned dosh on one of these products. Anchoress 16:08, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Anchoress, never discount the placebo effect, especially on something as subjective as libido. --Justanother 16:40, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Chocolate is said to have aphrodiastic properties but I imagine it works best suitably wrapped and presented with flowers. --Justanother 16:49, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

In the immortal words of Ogden Nash, "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker." TenOfAllTrades(talk) 16:58, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Please clarify your question. Are you asking about how to obtain an aphrodisiac or an illegal street drug similar to MDMA? -THB 18:29, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Coke machine keys

Do coke machines all have the same ACE style lock / tumbler key set? Are they interchangable? Ie... if I buy 10 coke machines that all take ACE (round) cylinder keys, will I need to rekey them all to a central key, or will my ACE key automatically work on all of them?

No, ACE keys come in gazillions of combinations. You can get them all different or keyed alike. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method. -THB 18:42, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

They certainly don't work like the locks on computer cabinets. Believe me. I've tried. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:20, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Disturbing movies

I remember being extremely disturbed, back when I was about four years old. I was watching a movie at home on the television, in the early 80s. There was a scene where the passengers aboard an airplane were experiencing turbulence. First, the movie showed actual people in plane seats. Then, it showed dummies in the same plane, being shaken around as a special effect.

In my four-year-old brain, I concluded that being on a plane could turn somebody into a lifeless, blank-expressioned dummy. I was severely creeped out!

Anyone remember what this movie might have been? I'm guessing it's theater release was around 1975-1982. I cannot recall any other details, except there being flight turbulence, and there being dummies. Mathiemood 18:56, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Millennium (film) Hipocrite - «Talk»

No, don't think it's that one. Millennium was released in 1989. Mathiemood

Airplane!? -THB 20:03, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Funny, that was exactly my instinct as well, but it's been so long since I've seen it that I couldn't remember for certain if such a scene was indeed part of the movie (though it certainly sounds like something that they'd do). Really odd to think of Airplane! as a "disturbing movie" though... ;-) --Maelwys 20:09, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

It is indeed Airplane!. Proto::► 12:03, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Hotel management

How can I find any schools that teach people to start a new job in this area?

It's all in the terminology. See hospitality management for a few suggestions. -THB 21:32, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Sigh. Which country are you in? --Tagishsimon (talk)

Nice Scarfs and headdressings

How do people tie their neck scrafs in so many different knots? I also have no idea how middle eastern guys tie those headdressings ether, what do they call them Kaffiahs? Thanks a bunch

Well I googled 'neck and head scarf knots' and got a bunch of results, why not try checking some of the links? Anchoress 21:09, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Post Orgasm problem

After i had an orgasm i felt like i needed to pee really bad. I went pee but the feeling did not go away for about an hour. This has happened to me 3-4 times now. It's really uncomfortable and i have to stand over the toilet for an hour or else i feel like im going to pee my pants. No lubrication used, so it wasn't a reaction. What is this?? Help! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.7.0.44 (talk • contribs) I AM A MALE. AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER I ORGASM. NOT DURING PLEASURE.

Are you male or female? Were you able to void normally? Is it only after coitus? Probably you should talk to a urologist if you're male or your gynecologist if you're female. It's not always a problem but it could be. Do you have the feeling during intercourse as well? When exactly does it start? -THB 21:31, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Medical questions are one area where the reference desk is particularly ill-equipped to give the necessary help. I would suggest asking this question to a doctor, or check a medicine-specific website such as webmd.com. Good luck. Friday (talk) 21:33, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Definitely talk to a doctor, I'm NOT one but it could be a mild thrush or non specific urethritis. In any case, I wouldn't be too worried, most of those things are trivial to clear up but will need to be identified and treated. Vespine 21:56, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the additional info. It's not an unusual feeling but it normally does not last so long. There is no need to panic, but you do need to see a doctor and if your sexual partner has any symptoms or if your doctor diagnoses you with an infection he or she should see a doctor as well. It is not unusual for someone with an asymptomatic infection to reinfect their partner repeatedly. You might try emptying your bladder prior to intercourse as well. It could just be from irritation, there are many possible causes. Let us know how everything turns out. -THB 23:10, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Read sexual intercourse. During sex (or orgasm), urination is prevented to allow ejaculation. This is my speculation, but don't take my word to seriously. bibliomaniac15 01:30, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Heeeeeey...didn't I ask this question a while ago? (As it turns out...yes, on the science desk. At the beginning of the year. Funny how things like this come full circle.) Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:29, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Gambling

Is online gambling legal in California and where are the sites licensed or registered usually?

Online gambling is generally held to be illegal under U.S. federal law. See more deatil in link. Rmhermen 01:58, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

As far as I know, it is legal to play poker (and I assume casino games as well) online in the U.S., except in a few states, e.g. Washington, where it is specifically banned. Bush recently signed the SAFE Port Act in which an earmark made it illegal for banks, credit card companies and Neteller to deposit money for you to a gambling site, but if you already had a balance there, you could still play. You can also deposit money other ways that are not so convenient, but still legal, e.g. money order. Check out Pokerstars, Bodog, etc. for info about where they are registered. Clarityfiend 02:14, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Gambling is illegal, yes, but websites are able to circumvent the laws with non-specific terminology. They're currently pushing for stricter legislation, but as it stands, [Neteller] and [PokerStars.Net] are "not gambling website"s. --Randall00 10:22, 15 December 2006 (UTC)

Fountain Speed

I always hear about "60 gallons per minute" or such numbers for a fountain, or generally any type of water spout like a bathtub, but is this fast or not?

For example, what is the speed of a single small one inch diameter water jet that comes out of a fountain at moderate (normal) speed? I assume that this, multiplied by the number of such water jets, would result in the total output (as above, 60 gpm) of the fountain? Or is there some exponential factor because more fountains dilutes the pressure?

possible answer: from what i have learned, it simply means the amount of water that passes through a system within a given time period. increased pressure increases the amount, as does increased tube diameter. if your talking about a simple home zen fountain, 60gpm is crazy, but the fountain in front of the plaza royale is about that amount.

A water-conserving toilet uses 1.6 gallons per flush. A water conserving shower uses about 2.5 gallons per minute. So 60 gallons per minute would be like flushing an efficient toilet 37.5 times in a minute or 24 efficient shower heads flowing at once. -THB 23:04, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

This is a question in fluid mechanics. If you know the size of the jet and the height you want it to reach, you can calculate the needed pump capacity. --Justanother 23:08, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Two good links for you: a tutorial in fountain design [1] and a cascade nozzle spec sheet that gives flow rates. [2] --Justanother 00:38, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

the definition of triple action.

i am looking for a definition of a "triple action weapon". from what i can tell it means one of two things. 1)a three barreled gun, but i doubt it. that would be too cool 2)a weapon that shoots three rounds with one trigger pull.

Automatic weapons like an M-16 often have selective fire; single shot, full auto, and burst modes with burst being three shots. --Justanother 23:03, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

See Trigger (firearms) for info on "double action" and "single action". I've never heard of anything called "triple action" but maybe it was made up by someone who didn't understand what "double action" and thought it sounded one better. Friday (talk) 23:05, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

There is no such thing. A single action weapon, is one where, to simply put it, pulling the trigger causes the hammer to drop from the cocked position, striking the firing pin against the primer, and shooting the round. A double action weapon is one where pulling the trigger first cocks the trigger, then fires the weapon. The difference is that a single action weapon requires that the hammer be cocked prior to trigger pull, and a double action one does not. Some weapons are Double Action/Single Action, in which the first trigger pull is double action, and subsequent ones are single action (after the first shot, the hammer recocks itself). Others are double action only (DAO), in which the hammer remains in the down position after every shot until the next trigger squeeze. Hope that helps. ⇒ SWATJester ^{On Belay!} 23:26, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Sonic Advance 2&3 Final Zones

Why are the final zones for Sonic Advance 2 and 3 called "True Area 51" and "Nonaggression" respectively?

(This refers to the videogame series Sonic Advance.) 惑乱 分からん 01:18, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Because the game designer is obviously CRAZY. I wouldn't know; I haven't been that far yet. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 16:30, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

I would assume that the first one is a reference to Area 51, if that helps. --Lph 16:54, 14 December 2006 (UTC)