Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 December 18

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December 18

Garlic Salt/Powder

What is the major difference between Garlic Salt and Garlic Powder?

Garlic powder is powdered garlic; garlic salt is garlic-flavored salt. Rmhermen 02:42, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

How did you manage to remove two questions at once? Accidently, or deliberately? At least one of them was serious! I feel slighted and rejected! Vitriol 02:46, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, these got erased. ...I'll shut up now. Vitriol 03:01, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Powered Garlic and Garlic Flavored Salt still doesn't make sense. What's the difference between the Salt and the Powder? Is it just the sixe of the granules?

Salt - the regular table spice. Rmhermen 03:25, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes, garlic powder doesn't have any table salt in it, but garlic salt does. StuRat 03:59, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

To be as clear as possible: I believe garlic powder is made by drying garlic and grinding it into a powder. Garlic salt is made by taking ordinary salt, as in 'salt and pepper', and flavouring it to taste like garlic. The simplest way would be by leaving a few peeled cloves in a tub of salt, but I don't know how it is done industrially. Skittle 12:58, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Often it is done simply by mixing garlic powder and table salt. FreplySpang 14:29, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

DVD Thin Pack

Is this a stripped down version, without the extras/outtakes/documentaries? The set I'm considering buying comes in two versions, with the Thin Pack half the price of the other. Clarityfiend 03:01, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

A Thin Pack is just an extra-thin DVD case, so it doesn't really seem to tell anything about the content per se (looks like two DVD's can also fit in a thin pack). –mysid☎ 07:08, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

With some shows such as red dwarf they have released episode-only verisons of the DVDs that are much cheaper than the extra scenes/commentary/bonus material features they originally released. Potentially a thin-pack could be much the same. I wouldn't expect the type of box the dvd comes in to hugely change the price (unless it was a special edition - but then that would normally cost more to buy). I would check from the people you are buying from, they'll normally be pretty forthcoming about the features included on the disc. Alternatively name the show/film/dvd and people might be able to say from experience. ny156uk 17:23, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Genuine CDs ?

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have ordered music albums for a very cheap price from an Ebay seller and have received them in a less than two weeks. Considering they were from Moscow, Russia; this was quite amazing. I have noticed that the CDs come with their respective boxes and booklets. The problem is that I doubt their genuineness considering the very cheap price. (8.10C$ (6.99$) / each + shipping) I don't know if I am being paranoid or not, but the CDs even have their "music label graved signature" in the inner CD circle) and barcodes. I have noticed the "For sale in Russia / CIS only" but that is not my current concern. Is there anything to check if a music album is genuine or not ? TAU Analyser says that the audio files are uncompressed CD quality files at least. Matt714 00:56, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

See grey market or bootleg. They could be either. It is really not your job to worry. eBay has a program called VeRO that rights owners are supposed to use to prevent sale of counterfeit items. If they are not obvious copies, i.e. they look legit to you, and they sound fine to you then you can probably be happy with your purchase. If they were obviously copies I would report the seller to eBay and to the rights owner but grey market is just that, a grey (gray) area. --Justanother 01:06, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Well the CDs look certainly legal, they have: 1) jewel case and actual cd with all the usual art of a music album 2) complete booklet 3) barcodes + laser signature on inner circle of CD

If they are copies, people are getting bloody good. :/

That is the actual seller if that helps: http://myworld.ebay.com/nitro_music/

Their fournisor is supposedly www.nuclearhell.com

Matt714 02:37, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I suspect that they are themselves legit, but are only intended for the Russian market, and are sold at a reduced rate (since people there wouldn't buy them at full price). So, it's not legit for the seller to sell them outside Russia, and he could possibly get in trouble if he is selling them in sufficient quantity. There is a similar situation with meds sold for much less in Canada than in the US, which, of course, leads to Americans buying their meds from Canada, legally or not. StuRat 03:53, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Of course they could also be legit but stolen. –mysid☎ 07:03, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Percent of vandalism edits by IPs and by Userids

Are there any stats for what percent of the edits to Wikipedia by IP addresses are vandalism, and the percent of edits by Userids? It seems like a full time task to revert vandalism by IP address users to one's watchlist of articles. Edison 04:34, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm not aware of any stats compiled, but I started to do it once. I noticed, however, that there is considerable variation by time of day and week. During hours when kids are in school in North America, vandalism by IPs spikes. We need a lot of RC patrol during this time. We get more user ID vandalism during local evening hours than during local weekday daytime hours (and the vandalism itself tends to be worse, i.e. more trolling and troublemaking). Once when I did a couple of large samples during the evening, one out of 9 IP edits was clear vandalism. I'm going to hazard a guess that when kids are in school in North America it may be one out of three. Then again--this was about a year ago, and I have a feeling it may have gotten a bit worse since then. Antandrus (talk) 06:13, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Stats like that would also be a lot easier to keep track of if edits, as Antandrus said, were "clear vandalism." Sometimes articles are reverted to more easily replace erroneous information, or in closer cases are inappropriately labeled "vandalism" (see my talk page for an example of that). First we'd need to find all of the edits that qualify as vandalism, then determine whether they are IP users or registered. I'm sure someone could write a program that could do that. Strangely enough, there seems to be a discrepancy between WP:VAND and what people subjectively interpret to be vandalism; hopefully this will be reconciled in the future. 64.90.198.6 23:37, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

toothpicks

How are toothpicks made? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.207.138.233 (talk) 04:42, 18 December 2006 (UTC).

I know that when people cut down Giant Sequoias in California a couple centuries ago, it turned out that the wood wasn't useful for making anything much bigger than a toothpick. Vranak 06:04, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Not true. Redwood decking and fencing still remains popular. We even have a section on uses of redwood. Rmhermen 14:42, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Presumably, it was the old-growth sequoias that made little more than toothpicks. Or, when the old-growth sequioas were cut down, mankind lacked the ability to turn the wood into anything useful, larger than a toothpick that is. Which are very useful if you ask me. Vranak 16:18, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Reminds me of some cartoon I've seen as a kid. They had these massive logs coming in a factory, and each one was used to make a single coffee stirrer. I'm pretty sure it was a Toxic Revenger bit in Tiny Toon Adventures ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 14:00, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Go to www.google.com and type in something like how are toothpicks made. Here is a video: [1]. Weregerbil 11:46, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Oh no. I saw that on TV a while ago, but I can't remember. :-( | AndonicO ^{Talk | Sign Here} 11:09, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Diane Sawyer "total fag"?

There's a sound file available on the internet at various places (xttp://fruitymcgaygay.ytmnd.com is an example -- change x to h, because wikipedia has ytmnd blacklisted) of Diane Sawyer saying the phrases "total fag", "queer bitch", and "fruity mcgaygay". I have looked on google, Encyclopedia Dramatica, and even on Wikipedia itself for the source of this sound clip, and I can't find a thing. Does anyone know where this is from? A link to the original video (i assume its from some newscast) would be great, but any comment on the context would be welcome TastemyHouse Breathe, Breathe in the air 05:36, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Maybe a synthesizer was used. --Proficient 06:46, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

If you listen to the sound file, it is obviously genuine. 192.136.22.4 08:31, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

It was used in a report about gay/lesbian harassment. --Wooty Woot? contribs 08:39, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I figured as much. Any knowledge as to the date of airing or the name of the report or anything like that? Thanks! TastemyHouse Breathe, Breathe in the air 15:51, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

According to the site profile for that ytmnd (also accessible by clicking on the ytmnd logo in the upper left corner), it was on Primetime Live on 9/15/2006. --Lph 21:40, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Crawling through a thin tunnel

What is the most efficient method of crawling through a tunnel that is not much wider than the diameter of a human body? Obviously you will have to lie flat and "worm" your way along, but what is the best way to do it? I am assuming a cave tunnel with an uneven, rough and muddy floor. In the interest of safety and sanitation I would like to avoid cutting myself up. Specifically

1. How do you position your arms so that you maximize speed and traction?
2. How do you orient your body? Face down? Sideways? On your back?

I would hate to get stuck! Sifaka ^talk 06:53, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

May I have the contact information for your local newspaper and television news departments? I've always wanted to get credited as the first submitter of a story at the Darwin Awards. Durova^Charge! 07:37, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

roffle! — Deon555^talk_desk 08:27, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Commando crawl. I did this with a mate of mine a few years ago, crawling up a rainwater pipe just for the hell of it. If the cave floor is rough then I'd advise wearing thick clothing to protect your arms and legs. The best thing you could do to try and maximise speed and traction is just try it out on your living room floor and see what works. Battle Ape 09:08, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

1) Don't do this, it sounds dangerous.

2) Make sure a friend is on hand, outside the tunnel, to call the paramedics when you ignore 1 and get stuck.

3) When you ignore 1, be sure to back into the tunnel, with arms up over your head, so you have some possibility of getting out on your own, and can easily talk with the rescue crew, in any case. Also, having your hands free will prevent the rats from eating your face, and they will instead need to concentrate on eating your legs and genitals. StuRat 14:14, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

When you say 'not much wider' than the body? How much wider do you mean? Is it a horizontal tunnel? If it was only an inch wider than your hips, then you are going to need your arms up and push yourself along with your feet. I think it may be slightly more comfortable on your back. But we need a potholer or caver to answer this Q properly.--Light current 14:24, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Ey, I can't find anything on Wikipedia OR the web about how to properly execute the "commando crawl." What the heck! 64.90.198.6 00:01, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Just get down on your stomach and propel yourself with your arms. Jeez, it's not that hard. And ignore the various mothers of the Reference Desk who'll instruct you to not do this, and suggest that you instead sit inside a small room, wrapped in cotton wool, with a loaded shotgun pointed at the door. Battle Ape 04:28, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

See "Leopard crawl" in article Gait (human), and this picture. The crawler's head can be flat on the ground. --Seejyb 07:19, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Battle Ape, if I'm one of the people you refer to as mothers of the Reference Desk then be aware that I'm a war veteran. I've stared down wild bears, gone canoeing in alligator infested waters, captured live rattlesnakes, and survived being struck by lightning. Two Hells Angels once mistook me for a man (moments later the three of us had a good laugh over that). I have, singlehandedly, saved three different people's lives. Call it chance or the luck of the draw, but aside from pledging to serve my country I didn't actually look for that much excitement. And unless there's some higher purpose to be served by the act of shimmying through a small space in the wilderness where a person might get stuck and hurt, I don't advocate that risk. Durova^Charge! 08:08, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

It's called the Leopard crawl?? I've never heard of that... I say someone should start the Army crawl article. The picture was very useful, too! ^_^ 64.90.198.6 21:25, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

I was only kidding Durova, sorry if I caused offence. But seriously, if people were discouraged from doing stupid things then we never would have clibmed Mt. Everest or landed on the moon or built the Eiffel Tower. Battle Ape 04:58, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

NP. I just hope this OP editor checks in to let us know he's all right. (Why do I presume this type of question comes from a male)? Durova^Charge! 07:32, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

As a cautionary note, read how Floyd Collins became an international celebrity in 1925, by getting stuck while crawling in in a small passage in a cave, and spent weeks trapped, getting interviewed on the radio and being on the front page of national newspapers until he died, still stuck. A forerunner of people who get stuck on a mountain while mountain climbing. Edison 20:32, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like maybe Sifaka is already in the tunnel, or maybe nearby and on the wrong side of it. If that's the case, maybe we should get a checkuser and an IP trace so we know where to send help. NeonMerlin 16:26, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a plan — Deon555^talk_desk^{sign here!} 03:45, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Age limit to register a business in Victoria, Australia?

Hi. I was wondering if someone could tell me (and hopefully link me to) the age limit to register a business in Victoria, Australia. According to [2] when "Business Name Registration Application" is clicked, there doesn't appear to be any age restrictions. I entered my details (I'm in my mid teens), and it didn't stop me, although I didn't click Process.. just in case. The only limitations I can see are:

“ In making a Business Name application you are certifying that you are: 1.the owner; or 2.an owner authorised in writing by all other owners; or 3.a Director/Secretary of a corporation which is the owner; or 4.a person authorised in writing by all owners; 5.that no owner has convictions that restrict them from being an owner; 6.that the information supplied in the application is true and correct, and 7.that you acknowledge it is an offence to give false or misleading information. ”

Is this right that I can register a business under my name? — Deon555^talk_desk 08:19, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

We can't give legal advice, but I would suspect that simply registering a name carries with it no legal responsibilities which is why they let anyone do it. The other stuff, such as owning or managing the business, hiring employees, paying tax and insurance, opening a business bank account etc, is rather different and you will invariably be spat out once they see your date of birth.--Shantavira 13:15, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

There's no age limit to register a business name - there is even a box to tick on the form to indicate you are under 18. There is also no age limit to register an ABN. There is also no age limit to work in a family business, and far fewer restrictions if you're over 15 - see here. If you want to start a company, however, you must be 18 to be named as director. Natgoo 21:55, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm trying to apply for something that (it's all legal.. don't worry :)) is only available to businesses. By registering the name and obtaining an ABN, I can safely sign up as a business yes? — Deon555^talk_desk 23:28, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Origin Of A Saying

I would like to know where the saying 'keep you're friends close and you're enemies even closer' came from -who said it -when -where and any other details you feel are relevant. i have heard it in the x-files and the simpsons already thats why i asked.60.240.157.126 13:36, 18 December 2006 (UTC)M.D.Morton

Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 13:52, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Or perhaps Machievelli ? StuRat 14:09, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Hmm dont think so [[3]]. Sorry! 8-(--Light current 14:42, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Here is one link confirming Sun Tzu - google for more. --Justanother 14:47, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Is it just me, or is all of Sun's wisdom of a rather weak and ineffectual kind? He seems to make great quotes, yes, but I don't think many of them can be put to good use. Could just be beause the age of swords and spears is over, of course. Vranak 16:21, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes, the Art of War is a great dissapointment - I've often wondered if in the original chinese it has a more poetical quality - maybe it just isn't translated very well.83.100.250.252 17:52, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

It's a sort of silly criticism to complain that Sun Tzu's words can't be put to good use. Why should you expect the battle-specific advice of a Chinese general centuries ago to have any real meaningful correlation to your role in your life at this current time on this planet? I hate all those damn business majors who read Sun Tzu to gain some meaningless sort of understanding about how to win in a competitive world. Some of what Sun Tzu says about surprise, stealth, attacking where your enemy's weak etc can possibly be seen as somewhat important (mostly in the military, not business, world), but nowadays, most of that stuff has become so imbued in our culture that it's considered common sense, and the rest of his advice - stuff about weather, and mountains, and when to use fire arrows - is absolutely useless today. But why in god's name should you expect otherwise? Sashafklein 23:29, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, Machiavelli's The Discourses is not entirely inapplicable to today's world, though it was also written in, and concerned with, an antique age of warfare. And of course the wisdom of the samurai is as potent as ever. Vranak 00:15, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Warning I find absolutely no proof that this quote is much older than The Godfather Part II, it may be a one sentence summary of the ideas in Machiavelli but (allowing for translation differences) I can not find anything that looks like this, either his or Sun Tzu's works. I would be happy to be proved wrong. Also "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy" also seems bogus. Sun Tzu and Machiavelli gave both in-depth strategies and practical advice not vague holistic aphorisms that look good on calenders. Quotation collections in the internet are full of misattributions and nonsense and usually no reference at all. People don't like to ascribe the knowledge to a film they saw recently and are much keener on the suggestion that they spend their time poring over ancient strategy manuscripts. Just to prove I researched this and didn't just come to rant, here are some quotes with similar ideas: meltBanana 01:16, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

God defend me from my friends; from my enemies I can defend myself.

15th Century proverb Everyman dictionary of quotations and proverbs

[Of his enemies] I am going to destroy them. I am going to make them my friends.

Attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Unverified Respectfully Quoted

We read that we ought to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends.

Cosimo de Medici, quoted by Francis Bacon Apophthegms (1625) no. 206

Stand in for Mary Pickford

Family member Helen Larsen (Norwegian)moved early 1900 from Boston to Hollywood (1910 -1920)and became an film actress under the artistname of June Caprere. I`m told that she was a stand in for Mary Pickford. She later married a Hollywood director Harry Millard. I`m searching for my roots and would apreciate information about where to go to get information about her carier, her life, picture and descendants.217.208.67.246 17:57, 18 December 2006 (UTC)jaco217.208.67.246 17:57, 18 December 2006 (UTC)≈§≈±§≠≈

Found her on IMDB! Here's her filmography under the name June Caprice. Also, here's her bio that lists her birth name as Helen Elizabeth Lawson and says she married Harry F. Millarde and had a daughter. So although the names aren't quite what you're looking for, this certainly looks to be your person. --Maelwys 18:06, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Better yet, I also just found her bio right here on Wikipedia, with a lot more information than the IMDB one. --Maelwys 18:07, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

English-to-English Translation, please

I'm an American student applying to British schools through ucas.com. I've gotten to the essay, and, not knowing what to write, clicked on the "help" link. They gave a very long outline, which I'll paste below. The trouble is, I'm unsure as to what certain words - "course", "subject" etc mean. I thought course was the English equivalent of the American "major", but then what might "subject" mean? At any rate, I'm going to paste some of that outline here in the hope that someone British who knows the American equivalents or the other way around could help by translating the words that might be different from what they'd mean in the US into American English. I'm posting all this because I think that in some of these cases context determines meaning:

•Why you have chosen the courses you have listed. Remember that, although each university or college that you have applied to cannot see your other choices, they will all see the personal statement.

•What interests you about your chosen subject. Include details of what you have read about the subject.

•What career plans you have for when you complete your course.

•Any job, work experience, placement or voluntary work you have done, particularly if it is relevant to your subject. You may want to give the skills and experience you have from these activities.

Thanks so much. Sashafklein 18:11, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

The following answer is based partly on the answerer's personal experience. It is a direct and relevant answer to the question, but it may not meet Wikipedia's usual standards of verifiability. Our UCAS article describes the UK university application process, although it does not say much about the personal statement. For more help on writing a personal statement, try here, or Google "UCAS personal statement" - I get nearly 20,000 hits. To answer your specific questions:

• "Subject" is the area that you want to study - your subject could be "engineering" or "medicine" or "modern languages", for example.
• "Course" (or "degree course") is a set of lectures, tutorials, exams etc. offered by a particular university or college in a particular subject, with a degree awarded for successful completion of the course. A course usually lasts three or four years. For example, Brunel University offers a 3 year full-time degree course in Computer Science, which has course code G402.

So when you submit a UCAS application you are applying to multiple courses (up to 6) at different universities, but usually all in the same subject (or at least in closely related subjects). Gandalf61 18:46, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Or, if you like, the coures is the exact subject. For example, commercial law is a different course to just law. If a degree has 2 subjects, and one is 2/3, the 2/3 part is the major, the 1/3 is the minor. Both of us appear to have experience in this. Drop me a message on my talk if I can help any more.martianlostinspace 19:57, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

So am i correct in reading into all of this that the UCAS personal statement is much less personality based and more academic than its American counterparts? Would you all suggest I have a nice intro etc but essentially keep it dry of humor, anecdote etc? That's the impression I get. If I'm applying as an English major and consider myself a good writer, should I spend time getting the statement to showcase whatever writing talent I have, or should I just stick to answering the questions simply and in a straightforward fashion? Please don't refreain from answering this for fear of giving bad advice. I just am not really sure what this is supposed to sound like. Thanks, Sashafklein 20:14, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Seriously, google is your friend here. Take a look at some of the many guides and examples for tips. Natgoo 20:57, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Follow the application forms -- and remember that historically, British ogranizations are much less into hype and egoist resumes (CVs) than US ones, which often (to British eyes) seem to require a candidate to inflate their alliegance to near-religious levels in order to justify being considered for the position. British applications aren't that extreme. You don't usually have to put in a "why I really really want this position" section unless actually asked, for example. If you are, then just say why, and what it will enable you to achieve, what its place in your life is, and show you have a genuine reason to care and value it. Be factual but well spoken, don't minimize what you've done or affect false modesty, but don't make it sound like "hot air" unless you can support it that way. Put yourself in the best light you can, make sure anything checkable will stack up well, and as it says above, "google is your friend".

What you might also find useful is to simply phone the admissions department for the places you're interested in, and ask their advice, what they (or UCAS) like. or ask a parent or friend to do it for you, if you want to be anonymous, "I'm asking on behalf of a friend of mine who wants to apply for (whatever) but isn't sure about the approach favored in the UK university system, would it be okay to walk through the forms and double check my understanding?" You can do that several times to more than one college if needed. Most will be a lot more friendly and open to such queries than their US educational counterparts, and allow you more time than the US colleges might, especially when they understand its for an overseas application where cultural differences might cause undue problems otherwise. As for your personal work, your application if well written is usually good. Feel free to either attach samples or state "Samples of my work are available upon reuqest", but check first what if any their requirements or preferences are in this area, before assuming either way. Hope this helps. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 05:09, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Don't dare include any humour - that won't do anything for your application. You are trying to sell yourself to the university. Make them want to give you an (un)conditional offer. Any experience (maybe not necessarily related to the subject), qualifications, skills, etc. Proof is handy as well eg. "I work hard" will only go backwards. You need to prove it. Also try to keep choices vaguely coherent. You can't do an application for both law and marine biology, but law and history would do. Why? The statement for each subject would look impossibly different for law/marine biology. But broadly the same skills are needed for law and history.martianlostinspace 16:17, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

You will also find the Students' Union very helpful90.0.134.8 16:52, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

preferred stock series a, b, c, d

when discussing preferred stock with a venture capitalist, what is ment by series a or series b etc...? What are the series? is it as simple as saying step one and step 2 of negotiaitons? thank you —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.240.129.46 (talk • contribs)

From Preferred stock:

A single company may issue several classes of preferred stock. For example, a company may undergo several rounds of financing, with each round receiving separate rights and having a separate class of preferred stock; such a company might have "Series A Preferred", "Series B Preferred", "Series C Preferred" and common stock.

dpotter 22:06, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Jimmy Dean = James Dean?

Did the creator of the breakfast sausage Jimmy Dean name it after the actor James Dean? (since "Jimmy" is the slang term of "James")

User:Blueflashlight07 11:24, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I would suppose that he named his compnay, Jimmy Dean (brand) after himself, Jimmy Dean. --Justanother 18:50, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

unlike the Jimmy Dean of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.  --Lambiam^Talk 20:41, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Please Help With Media Contact Info in Dallas, TX area (To whom it may concern)

My name is Stella Gonzales and I am sending you this e-mail due to the fact that I am needing to find out where I can send my e-mail to about the trouble I am having I lost my daughter Ashley Nicole Hernandez of 18yrs she was killed in a drive shooting and they still haven't gotten the person who did it they now how he is but, unable to find any one to talk ,that were there the boy's parents are from Mexico and can't speak in english and I am thinking the ohter children mothers are also, I need some air time to speak to them and let them now my brokeness and heart ache the mother of the boy how shoot my daughter will be able to see him but, I will never see her again please, send my e-mail to the right person who would care how has a heart the only person that I've found that has a heart Is Tom Crespo from channel 33 (ed. note: this is in Dallas, TX, USA) THEy give me a few minutes of air time....Thank you very much for your time God Bless Respectfully <removed>—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.47.124.6 (talk) 19:52, 18 December 2006

I think that you aready spoke to Crespo but Here is Tom Crespo's page. You can click the link at the bottom to send him an email. Good luck! --Justanother 20:44, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

The asker seems to be asking if we know of any other reporters or venues in the Dallas area that might publicize her story, especially Spanish-language venues. Any ideas? --Justanother 20:52, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

What a sad story. Here are the Spanish-language stations in Dallas with local news:

KUVN -- (972) 485-2323

KXTX -- (214) 521-3900

You might also want to try Mexican media. Of course, the media are no substitute for law enforcement. -- Mwalcoff 23:42, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children [4] might be able to help you. (They are headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, but have a chapter in Dallas/Ft Worth.) - Nunh-huh 00:50, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Sunglasses worn by Samuel L. Jackson in movie Shaft.....

What brand/style sunglasses did Jackson wear in the movie Shaft (2000)? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bmwkappa98 (talk • contribs) 20:48, 18 December 2006 (UTC).

doordarshan

Name the first and very popular Hindi news caster of Doordarshan? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.173.228.59 (talk) 21:43, 18 December 2006 (UTC).

It was a lady named Salma Sultana sumal 12:24, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

Goldfishes in transit...

I'm planning on buying a comet goldfish for my fish-owning friend, for Christmas, and am assuming it will be coming in a plastic bag with water. The thing is, it won't be making it to my friend's tank for at least four hours after I've bought it, so I'm wondering how long the goldfish is likely to be alright in the closed bag? I could transfer it into some sort of makeshift bowl in my house, but I don't have an actual gold-fish bowl - what would a good substitute be? A...jug? 81.102.34.92 22:25, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

If you are buying it at a pet store, the store may have a small round bowl suitable for transporting, about 15cm in diameter maybe. It would be nice to give the fish to your friend in the small bowl, because the small bowl can later be used for temporary housing of the fish when the main tank gets cleaned. — Michael J 22:28, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, I'll investigate. 81.102.34.92 22:46, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

As one datapoint, I've several times transported individual, smallish (say 2"/5cm) comets in a 2-Litre soda bottle almost full of water. In one case, the transport lasted about 10 hours and in the other, about 3 hours. As I recall, for the longer trip, we opened up the bottle once or twice and blew fresh air into the limited airspace of the bottle, but I think this was probably unnecessary, although it made us feel better about the fish's situation.

Atlant 01:50, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

The first time I bought a fish, we kept him in the bag overnight! It lasted for a few months before dying, so I think it's fine. Of course, it wasn't a goldfish, but you can always ask at the petstore. Also, leave the bag unopened and floating in the water, that way the fish's temperature doesn't have a sharp drop when you put it in the water. | AndonicO ^{Talk | Sign Here} 11:14, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

The pet store would normally flush the plastic bag with oxygen before sealing it. As long as the bag does not leak it would be fine for a day or longer. Protect from overheat or cold and tumbling the creature around in the bag. Nice idea. --Seejyb 18:14, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Why are eating chips so addictive?

Hi all. So I'm eating one dorito chip, and I decide to have another. And then I start eating two at a time, and within a few minutes, I'm cramming my face full of them. I'm not overweight (underweight actually), and I rarely eat chips anymore, but when I do, this always happens. After I put the chips away, this goes down very quickly. So I was wondering if there's anything in particular that causes this? Much help appreciated ! Xhin 22:29, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, Doritos are pretty tasty. You sound like an advertisment for Doritos chips! --Nevhood 23:41, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I agree. I've probably eaten a hundred thousand Doritos in my life. They're OK for a time, but eventually there's two ingredients that will ruin you: hydrogenated vegetable oil, and MSG.

The interesting (and insidious) thing is, Frito-Lay removed all hydrogenated oils from Doritos last year, and proudly advertised that fact on the front of the package. But last I checked, they've gone back to hydrogenation.

The skeptic in me says it's because they're evil and want to turn us all into grotesque hogs, but the truth is probably even worse: it's because the majority of us North Americans actually prefer the taste of trans fats. :( Vranak 00:09, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

It's all Darwin's fault. We're all predisposed to want as much fat, sugar and salt as we can get. Between Doritos and donuts, we're all doomed. Clarityfiend 00:31, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

I think it's simply a matter of choosing the most healthy option available. As Doritos are non-perishable, cheap as borscht, and available everywhere, it's a reasonable choice, despite the fact that they are not as healthful as say, fresh sushi. Vranak 02:31, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Is borscht cheap ? I've never checked out the price (because the thought of it just leaves me cold). StuRat 12:56, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Is borscht cheap? Heck, its price can't be beet! Atlant 13:30, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I think you red too much into my reply. :-) StuRat 01:54, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Gerbils

I recently owned two gerbils that came from the same family (they're brothers). They were happy with each other, but last week i found one of them dead! i gave the living one to the pet store cause the family didn't want him back. He's now living with alot more gerbils there, and I'm wondering if he will be okay with unknown gerbils and be happy. Also, do pet stores feed gerbils to snakes? -thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.187.78.108 (talk) 23:21, 18 December 2006 (UTC).

I think he'll be fine, my experience is that gerbils make friends quite easily. And no, I doubt that pet stores feed gerbils to snakes, because mice are so much cheaper and more plentiful. Anchoress 23:25, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I like how your answer goes bounding forward cheerfully, then dives straight down a nihilistic chasm: what about the poor mice? :) Vranak 00:04, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Do they really feed mice to snakes? Apparently there's no Purina Snake Chow. Clarityfiend 00:26, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

OH YEAH BABY!! Since you asked, muahahaha... Anchoress 00:32, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

I think I've read (but don't have a reference handy) that a strange male will be accepted into an existing group better than will a strange female. I can't speak for introducing males, but in our experience, introducing new females to an existing group is difficult or impossible. We once separated out a female (and her pups) after she gave birth and we never succeeded at reintroducing her to her clan.

Atlant 01:54, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

thanks! that makes me feel better. :) although, when I recently went to the pet store to get a hamster, i looked into the cage that they had put him in and he wasn't there! I hope that he found a good home...

MySpace Music Player

Is there a free service to upload your mp3s to play on your myspace profile? Could you sign up as an artist and upload the music that way? --Nevhood 23:45, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Technically, yes; I believe artists are allowed four or five songs on their page; (possibly more with some kind of membership?) legally speaking, however, this implies ownership of the copyright of the songs (essentially stating "I made this!") and I have seen people's accounts deleted because of this. 64.90.198.6 00:10, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't own the copyright of the songs I want to upload. I've seen other myspace profiles with their own 3rd-party players, is there a site that provides a free music player for your page? --Nevhood 00:18, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

A Google search yielded this. 64.90.198.6 00:25, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Total # of College students By Country....

I am trying to use Wikipedia to build a list of the # of college students per country. Is there an easy way using this site to build the following list?

Country -- # of Students USA -- 400,000 UK -- 300,000 Brazil -- 100,000

And so on?

Thanks,

It depends on how you define "student". If you are interested in teriary education, this table from UNESCO might be what you want. They also have plenty of other statistics here. Otherwise your best bet is to Google: "number of students in XXX". A search for the UK, for example, gives 2,480,145 in 2004/05. Rockpocket 02:53, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

It also depends on how you define "college". In much of the world, that's the equivalent of North America's "high school". If you replace "college" with "university" then you'll also effectively include many people that US and Canada residents would call "graduate students" because the distinction between undergraduate and graduate education is peculiar to this region. Durova^Charge! 07:59, 19 December 2006 (UTC)