Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 June 8

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June 8

I've found the e-mail address...

On Shueisha's e-mail address, I've finally found an e-mail address,[e-mail address removed] So, the question is, would Shueisha receive an e-mail at Manga Capsule?

im not sure, but fairly sure Shueisha would not like spam :) Perry-mankster 09:40, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Chinese visa services in London

<a href="http://www.orientalvisas.co.uk/china-visa.html">China Visa</a> <a href="http://www.orientalvisas.co.uk/china-visa.html">Visa to China</a>

I have several times used a visa service in London for American visas and they were first class. Quick, no effort on my part.86.197.170.130 15:08, 9 June 2007 (UTC)DT

Why?

Why does a chicken bone bend when you place it in coca cola for a few days? What ingredient causes it?

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a combination of the acidity eating away at the bone and gravity bending it -- Phoeba Wright^OBJECTION! 12:11, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

That's most likely correct. If I remember correctly, coca-cola will eat away at a human tooth if you leave it in a a decent time, don't see why it couldn't do the same to a bone.--GTPoompt 12:43, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

See here for endless Cokelore (yes, there's even a word for it). What I want to know is why so may people stick various items in glasses of Coke and leave them lying around the house.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 13:11, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm sure that there's an equal amount of lore obtainable about every other substance on Earth, just people seem to concentrate their investigative abilities on coke. 213.48.15.234 13:20, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

That's because us coca-cola is drank around the world widely. I'm sure if people started drinking Perchloric acid it would have negative views towards it too just like coke does ;).--GTPoompt 13:46, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I think this question would have been better suited for the Science desk but oh well... Dismas|^(talk) 15:19, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

It is indeed the acidity. Simply putting the bone in acetic acid (vinegar) will do the same thing. You can also put an egg in vinegar and the shell will get strange and rubbery. In both cases, the change is due to the acid dissolving the calcium (and, to a lesser extent, phosphate) from the material. --TotoBaggins 16:32, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

The calcium on the bone is dissolved by the vinegar. After the soak, all that is left is collagen, which gives the bone flexibility. This is what allows you to bend the bone. bibliomaniac15 An age old question... 17:54, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Let me pile on by saying, if you soak a chicken bone in Heinz vinegar for three days, it will bend like rubber.[1] -- Jreferee ^(Talk) 23:43, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Contact details for online retailer

I have been totally screwed over by an online retailer called Caiman.com [2]. Firstly, I would urge everybody to avoid this retailer like the plague. Secondly, can someone help me to find a postal address, phone number or an email address for a real live person, perhaps in their press/PR office, that I can use to contact this shambles of an outfit? Many thanks. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 13:58, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

We can't endorse your personal opinion or help you here. Sleazy people, or retailers (not that I'm saying there are any around here!) tend to sue anybody who might limit their ability to rake in money without delivering (See Conrad Black). If you are a big target, or actually use your own name, you are at risk. --Zeizmic 15:20, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

See this page for contact details. It only offers an email address as far as I can tell but it's something. Dismas|^(talk) 15:22, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, Dismas. Zeizmic, I'm afraid I don't quite follow your argument. Are you saying that my question about contact details is unsuitable for answering here because I framed it within a rant about the company? If I had just written "Does anyone know a postal address for Caiman.com?", and nothing else, would that have made it a suitable question for answering? --Richardrj ^{talk email} 15:37, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

The company's full name, appearing at the very bottom of its web page, suggests it is registered in the British Virgin Islands, but I could find nothing for it in the Caribbean Yellow Pages. According to the "Jobs" section in the Caiman [3] website, the company has offices in Miami and Montreal. There are two listings under "Caiman" in the Miami Yellow Pages. (I've lost the link, but you can google "Miami Yellow Pages" and then just type "Caiman" in the "search" box.) Both are labelled as publishing companies -one seems to specialize in music publishing- but a phone call might give you more information. I could find no listing using the name "Caiman" in either the White or Yellow Pages directories for Montreal or for Montreal and surrounding area. The company is also affiliated with Amazon in some way, as its web site references payments made, and orders directed, to Amazon. Perhaps you can access Caiman through Amazon. A list of Amazon’s Officers and Directors can be accessed here [[4]] and its corporate address is listed in its Restated Articles of Incorporation, Article 2 here [[5]]. Bielle 16:27, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

According to whois, the domain is owned by

	Registrant:  	
  	Caiman Holding BVI 
  	Wickhams Cay
  	P.O. Box 662
  	Road Town, Tortola 33126
  	VG
 	 
  	Domain Name: CAIMAN.COM

  	Administrative Contact : 	 
  	Pilon, Yannick
  	atupia@yahoo.com
  	640 Saint Paul West
  	Suite 204
  	Montreal, QC H3C1L9
  	CA
  	Phone: 514-223-4811
 	 
  	Technical Contact : 	 
  	Network Solutions, LLC. 
  	customerservice@networksolutions.com
  	13861 Sunrise Valley Drive
  	Herndon, VA 20171
  	US
  	Phone: 1-888-642-9675
  	Fax: 571-434-4620

Sorry, I focussed on the rant, but this information gives a good contact. Still looks very sleazy..., so I'm with you on the rant.. --Zeizmic 14:54, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Does this guy have any relation with TOWER.COM? I was trying to figure out if the site had anything to do with the real company that bankurrupted last year...

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=tower.com 2007-08-18 11:34:30 AM PCT

  Tower.com Inc   
  2500 Del Monte St 
  West Sacramento, CA 95691  
  US  
    
  Domain Name: TOWER.COM  
 
  Administrative Contact , Technical Contact :    
  Tower.com Inc   
  ypilon@caiman.com  
  2500 Del Monte St 
  West Sacramento, CA 95691  
  US  
  Phone: (916) 373-2500  
  Fax: (916) 373-2915  
    
  Record expires on 30-Dec-2008   
  Record created on 31-Dec-1992  
  Database last updated on 04-Oct-2006  
 
  Domain servers in listed order: Manage DNS  
 
  PDNS1.ULTRADNS.NET     204.74.108.1    
  PDNS2.ULTRADNS.NET     204.74.109.1    
  PDNS3.ULTRADNS.ORG     199.7.68.1    
  PDNS4.ULTRADNS.ORG     199.7.69.1    
  PDNS5.ULTRADNS.INFO     204.74.114.1    
  PDNS6.ULTRADNS.CO.UK        
    
     Show underlying registry data for this record  
    

Current Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
IP Address: 205.166.37.4 (ARIN & RIPE IP search)
IP Location: US(UNITED STATES)-CALIFORNIA-SACRAMENTO
Record Type: Domain Name
Server Type: Zeus 4
Lock Status: clientTransferProhibited
Web Site Status: Active
DMOZ 1 listings
Y! Directory: see listings
Secure: No
E-commerce: Yes
Traffic Ranking: 2
Data as of: 05-Nov-2006

How do I find stats on the total amount of mortgages offered in the Ukraine for 2002-2007

I need to find out how the total volume of mortgages offered by Ukranian banks to Ukranian citizens has progresse over the past 5 years. It can be in any currency. I looked at:

- The Stattistical Committee of Ukraine - The State Bank of Ukraine - The Ukranian Ministry of Finance

websites, but was unable to find any information where would I find such figures

thanks

Teo

where do i buy a disposable mobile phone in london

where is a good place to get a cheap disposable pay as you go mobile phone in london? (not one where you have to wait 8 days before you can use it... one you can use right awya) thanxxxx

Get a second hand phone and a Pay as You Go SIM card from a shop on your nearest high road. I don't know where in London you are, otherwise I'd recommend an actual shop. JoshHolloway 16:36, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

There are thousands of places to buy a cheap phone in London. Railway stations, newsagents, supermarkets.... If you really want to be spoilt for choice, start in Tottenham Court Road.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 18:01, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Mare sure you pay with cash and don't use your real name with the sales clerk -- that's how they catch the bad guys with disposable phones in Law & Order :).--Cody.Pope 07:51, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

National Diet Library Pictures

Here we go...

I desperately need detailed interior pictures of the National Diet Library.

I have googled and wikipedia-ed the heck out of it, but my (once-thought-mighty)google kung-fu was defeated.

I've only found pictures of the exterior, of people meeting in conference rooms, or people sitting at some desk tucked away in a back room. I have a floor plan, I just need detailed pictures of each floor, including the main desk, book stacks, reading rooms, etc.

While I have the inclination and linguistic aptitude, I do not pressess the finances to travel to Japan. If anyone knows how I can travel and board there cheaply (under $600), I'm listening.

I would rather just work with good pictures, though.

Thanks in advance, --67.177.170.96 15:52, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Have you tried emailing someone who works there (especially since you have "linguistic aptitude")? Maybe you could get them to take some photos and send them to you? There is a 'Contact' page on their web site that contains the email address of their tour guide - a person like that ought to be very happy to help you. In future tours, the guide will be able to tell visitors "The library was featured in a book by User:67.177.170.96 in 2007." SteveBaker 15:59, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Excellent idea. Thank you. --67.177.170.96 01:44, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

I've often suspected that all the fad diet books out there could easily fill a library. :-) StuRat 03:04, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Try Wikipedia:Requested pictures. -- Jreferee ^(Talk) 23:36, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Voting

Is it irresponsable to vote?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.128.134 (talk • contribs)

Doesn't the answer rather depend for whom (or for what) you are voting?--Shantavira|^{feed me} 18:04, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

For the bozos in [insert country of your choice], it sure is. Clarityfiend 18:07, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I suspect it is never irresponsible to vote for what you believe in, though someone will often disagree whole-heartedly with what you agree (indeed this appears to be the point of voting - to try to make a decision based on what is the dominant desire). ny156uk 18:17, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I think it can be irresponsible to vote - perhaps if you are conscious of the fact that you have not been following the debate and you don't know the candidates and their policies as well as you should - then the responsible thing would be to let others (who...one presumes...have been following events more closely) make an informed decision. However, in general one's responsibility is to be cognisant of the candidates - and therefore the responsible thing would generally be to vote. SteveBaker 20:36, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Funny there was just a New York Times article about how irrational voters really are. Op-ed more or less, but worth a read . --Cody.Pope 07:49, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Winston Churchill had it about right: "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." - But certainly the results can be bizarre. In the USA, there are probably 200 million people who could legally become president on any given election year. An ideal electorial process would produce the best person out of those 200 million and elect them president. What are the odds that the son (or wife) of an ex-President would turn out to be that person? The statistical odds of that being the best decision are almost negligable! We could argue similarly for a movie star as president or governator of California - or for a WWF Wrestler to make governor. Is there evidence that media personalities make better policies than the average person in the community? I don't think so - quite the opposite in fact. So why are people from the performing arts so much more likely to make it into high office than would be statistically expected? Clearly, the forces at work here are far from rational. But the problem isn't really with the election itself - it's the process of selecting the candidates in the run up to the election that's the problem - and that has nothing to do with what the majority of voters want. SteveBaker 13:10, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

Earmuffs and their strength

By how much do a standard pair of earmuffs reduce sound? I am looking to photograph very close to an air force base (down to 300-500m from fighterjets) and would love some advice on what kind of ear protection which is the best kind. To my knowledge these fighters average on 150db, more and less during different parts of takeoff/taxi/landing. 81.93.102.185 18:36, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Look for earplugs that can cancel out sound much more (I suspect) than your average earmuff. I guess the air-force have a specific varient they use to save their staff's ears from the noise. I've seen them wear them big headphone shaped ear-protectors (I guess you could call them ear-muffs?). According to the earplug article they are 'rated' by their sound-proofing. ny156uk 18:51, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

We do have an article on earmuffs, which is not very detailed. The information at this website seems to cover a broad range of topics about hearing protection. --LarryMac | Talk 19:09, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I used to have a job where the noise level was so high that we'd wear earmuffs over earplugs, and the noise would still be pretty darn loud. In my opinion, I'd say the earplugs, as ny156uk stated, are more effective. If you want to play it safe, try the plug-muff combo. V-Man - ^T/_C 00:56, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Some of the best passive earmuff-style "hearing protectors" are rated 29 dB of noise reduction, but it varies depending on the frequency PDF. One pair of David Clark Noise-cancelling headphones is rated 50 dB cancellation, but only of repetitive noise.

Atlant 01:25, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Shepard-Risset Glissando Followup

As an extra point of my previously discussed question about creating a Shepard-Risset Glissando, someone said that it would be possible to create one in Audacity. May I ask how? How do you set it up so that it generates a constantly changing tone rather than a fixed pitch, and what would be the correct way of setting up the volume curves? Any help you can give on this matter would be greatly appreciated, as my knowledge of audio and maths is quite limited. --80.229.152.246 20:50, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

If you enjoy coding in lisp, you can write a nyquist plug-in for audacity. There are a number of example audacity plug-ins here. The stand-alone nyquist package has a demo (demos/pmorales/b9.lsp) which i think does exactly what you want, generating a continuous descending Risset scale.—eric 18:47, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks very much for that, it looks very useful. --80.229.152.246 20:28, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

who is this

Hi, this may seem a strange question, but curiosity got the better of me - who is the person in Image:0000.JPG? She appears to have at least some notability to her. Blood Red Sandman ^{(Talk) (Contribs)} 22:04, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm going to guess Nicole Kidman. --Tagishsimon (talk)

I don't know who it is, but it's definitely not Nicole Kidman. Anchoress 22:44, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Tagishsimon, it's way past time to see an optometrist. Nicole Kidman?! Nooooo.Clarityfiend 22:50, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I think it's Beth Ostrosky. --Joelmills 01:50, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Mutual funds

Is it possible to sell a mutual fund short? NeonMerlin 23:13, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Get a list of the holdings of the fund, then sell the individual stocks short. That's the long and the short of it. Clarityfiend 05:23, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

So strictly speaking, no, you can't short shares in the mutual fund itself. But you could achieve equivalent economic benefits by short selling the individual stocks in the fund, if you know how the fund is invested. You would, of course, have to pay the costs of borrowing the stock in order to short sell it. Or you could achieve similar results using CFDs or futures. To replicate the fund performance exactly, you would have to keep re-balancing your portfolio, and the costs of doing this are likely to make your strategy uneconomic. Gandalf61 09:28, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

HP 27 Cartridge

Hello. I can fill more than 10 mL of black ink (the sticker on my cartridge said it can hold 10 mL) into my HP 27 cartridge. For example, if I refilled 15 mL of black ink, when the cartridge is empty, can I print 50% more pages? Thanks. --Mayfare 23:39, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

I would heavily advise against putting more than the rated capacity of ink into a refillable cartidge. This could damage it (and your printer, and any documents in progress). To directly answer your question, if the cartridge can physically contain 15 mL, then I'd say it is possible to print 50% more pages, at least until the cartridge breaks from being overfilled. Inkjet refill kit has some more info. V-Man - ^T/_C 02:45, 9 June 2007 (UTC)