Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 May 31

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 31

Thoughts

How do we "hear" ourselfs think? That is kinda creepy... Thanks, 86.148.184.99 (talk) 00:14, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

The same way you can imagine what something looks like without actually seeing it through your eyes: your brain can activate the visual and auditory parts of it without stimulus, but it is not as vivid or "real" as actual stimulus. Hence the blind can usually visualize things in their head just as well as a sighted person, so I have heard. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 00:52, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

You can hear you inner voice, but that isn't the actual process of thinking. You don't hear the neurones firing for example. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Clingfilm clive (talk • contribs) 15:09, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Beef Prices

Where can I find the price of beef for highland cattle? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.119.61.7 (talk) 00:15, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

You could try Google or get in touch with your national Highland Cattle Association. Looks like it's considered high grade beef, Julia Rossi (talk) 07:41, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Blood type

Generally, what blood type to africans have? Also, asians? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.227.103.202 (talk) 01:54, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

This page has some figures. I'm not sure where the data are from or how reliable they are. -- Flyguy649 ^talk 04:29, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Jaw exercise (please don't delete)

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. If you don't believe this is such a request, please explain what you meant to ask, either here or on the Reference Desk's talk page.

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis or prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. If you don't believe this is such a request, please explain what you meant to ask, either here or on the Reference Desk's talk page. --~~~~

I've moved the OP's reply to the talk page.

Belatedly signing, seeing that SineBot has gone AWOL. --Milkbreath (talk) 17:53, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Yahoo

I am trying to use yahoo email but I am finding it difficult. Is there any manul or online guide I could read? Many thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cosmickly (talk • contribs) 10:23, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Here is the Yahoo email help page. Is there anything in particular that you are having trouble with? - Akamad (talk) 10:58, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

This is a FAQ page that looks like its a relic from the good old' days http://docs.yahoo.com/docs/info/help.html In fact its dated 1994-98, I think yahoo might have forgotten about this one :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Clingfilm clive (talk • contribs) 15:11, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I use yahoo email on occasions. Is there something you are having particular difficulty with? Astronaut (talk) 13:05, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

The Human Brain

My Question:

Is the human brain a muscle or an organ? My husband and i are in a discussion about this and we would like to know the answer? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.209.20.51 (talk) 14:35, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

The brain is not a muscle. It is an organ. Algebraist 14:44, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Someone should add this to the brain article, as it doesn't say this anywhere. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Clingfilm clive (talk • contribs) 15:13, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I have —Preceding unsigned comment added by Clingfilm clive (talk • contribs) 15:14, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Maybe someone should also say that it that it is not a bone either!!! Do we really have to cover all such options? Richard Avery (talk) 17:36, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

It could be cover in the definition. BTW, my penis is organ or a bone?

You might have a boner, but that doesn't mean your penis is a bone or contains any bones. It's made entirely of flesh, tissue and blood. Whales, on the other hand, are different. They and many other mammals have a penile bone called a baculum, surrounded by flesh, tissue and blood. -- JackofOz (talk) 11:58, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

It's not uncommon to hear people say that "the brain is a muscle", but I think this is almost never intended literally. It's one of those "higher truth" thingies. It is certainly true that cognitive performance can be improved through mental exercise, and that it will tend to degrade without it, and it may even be true that in some cases it's possible to "overtrain" (I seem to recall a study that suggested that some neural pathways could "burn out"), so it's a fairly good rough analogy. --Trovatore (talk) 18:58, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

If it's not made of muscle tissue, doesn't act like muscle, isn't listed in the muscle article, then it isn't a muscle. Btw, "muscle-head" gives a clue: being not-intelligent in the way of physical strength/intellect opposition. Julia Rossi (talk) 08:23, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Two same website sources in a row

I've got two websites in my footnotes in my report, though both websites are the same. How do I reference the second instance? I'm using the MLA style. Would I just use "ibid"?--Richard (Talk - Contribs) 17:56, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Ibid. means, "the source is exactly the same as the previous". If that's the case, yes, use it. Not that it is Ibid. with a period (it is an abbreviation). --98.217.8.46 (talk) 20:20, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Just to clarify: did you mean "Note that it is Ibid. with a period" rather than "Not that it is..."? Cherry Red Toenails (talk) 05:32, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

This is a trick question, right? If you are "using the MLA style", you must at least have access to a copy of the MLA, and they absolutely hate ibid. Appendix A9 says to use a shortened form in subsequent references. --Milkbreath (talk) 11:57, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Post-OP TS refractory period

This is a genuine question and I am not a TROLL, NPOV or VANDAL.

When a post-OP transsexual from male to female has an orgasm, is the refractory period the same as when they were a guy or can they experience multiple orgasms as women sometimes do? Is the orgasm the same except for not ejaculating? 79.75.195.226 (talk) 17:57, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Theres a lot of info here (not for those who are squeamish) but I couldn't find anything specifically mentioning the refractory period. Then again I didn't bother reading it all! Fribbler (talk) 21:58, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Capitalism 3.0?

I've been reading Capitalism 3.0 - A guide to reclaiming the commons by Peter Barnes and came to the authority that answers all my questions, Wikipedia. Only I can't find anything here. Any suggestions on what to search for are very much appreciated! -- Dale E. Moore —Preceding comment was added at 18:02, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Could you give us an idea of what type of questions you want answered? Zain Ebrahim (talk) 18:09, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Does building trusts work? Are there any examples of failures and successes? What reasons are there to avoid building commons trusts? Are there better solutions to protecting the environment, future generations and non-human life? —Preceding unsigned comment added by DaleEMoore (talk • contribs) 18:42, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I am now not eligible for the bright futures scholarhip, what do I do?

I got a notice that I am not eligible for the renewal of my bright futures scholarship because my GPA is too low (it is right below the limit of 2.75). I still need a year to finish by degree. What is the best course of action in this situation? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.171.42.135 (talk) 18:26, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Take out a student loan? Work part-time? Both? (That's what I did.) 24.91.137.158 (talk) 19:11, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, pretty much. You've gotten yourself into a fix, better buck up, take out some loans, start earning some money. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 20:19, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm surprised that nobody has suggested that you talk to your lawyer doctor advisor yet. Your advisor should be able to give you information on scholarships that you may still qualify for. They may also be able to give you information on businesses that would hire you on a part time basis until you finish your degree and then bump you up to full time once your degree is finished. In short, talk to your advisor, dean, counselor, or whatever your school refers to them as. Dismas|^(talk) 22:02, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

That's true. I was assuming that with that low a GPA and this late in the game (most deadlines have probably passed) he/she would be out of luck (not to mention that the advisors have probably gone home for the summer), but if you can get in touch with them, give it a go. But coming at this in the beginning of June strikes me as a little too little time to secure serious funding by the fall. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 01:09, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

not sugary

Is there a legal difference between "sugarless" and "sugar-free"? I don't hear the first one much anymore. —Tamfang (talk) 20:49, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Per [1], "the label 'sugarless' food sometimes means that no sugar was added during processing, but these foods may not be sugar free. They may contain natural sweeteners, such as honey, molasses, evaporated cane sugar". It appears that the USFDA does regulate the use of 'sugarless' (as well as sugar-free, which is more straightforward). — Lomn 21:02, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Interesting. So my five-pound bag of sugar is sugarless. And they wonder why I don't believe anything anymore. --Milkbreath (talk) 12:01, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Names of Guns

I know a lot of names of guns, from the M40A3 sniper rifle, to the M16A4 assault rifle. i would like to know what the "m" in front of the name of the gun means. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.101.1.186 (talk) 23:26, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

According to these sources [2][3][4] it stands for "Model" though all but the first is just people making an educated guess. Dismas|^(talk) 23:56, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I don't know if it stands for anything, but it's simply the US military designation system. In the UK, the letter 'L' is used for the same purpose (L85, L98). Daniel (‽) 17:04, 2 June 2008 (UTC)