Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2009 March 23

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March 23

TED talk transcripts

Is there anywhere I can find transcripts for TED Talks? I'm specifically looking for Daniel Dennett's recent "Cute, Sexy, Sweet, Funny" talk. 99.245.16.164 (talk) 14:50, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

intercourse?

Okay, wiki. My question is wierd, and a little inappropriate but whatever; you should be adult enough to answer. My girlfriend's vagina sometimes has a milky white mucous that is sort of a solid at times, and its sort-of gross. And i'm concerned by what it is. Sometimes during her monthly cycle, she doesn't have it at-all... Generally right after her period all is good, and then random times throughout. Any ideas? Wyrmme (talk) 14:57, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Smegma?--Shantavira|^{feed me} 15:15, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

If you are concerned, then you should suggest she sees a doctor. There are all kinds of vaginal discharges that are perfectly normal (and vary from woman to woman) and there are some that are signs of disease. We can't reliably tell between them over the internet. --Tango (talk) 15:56, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Indeed, this is clearly a request for medical advice, which is something we cannot provide. The spectrum of possibilities based on your description is endless, and it would irresponsible of us to provide an opinion as to what it is, and perhaps influence an incorrect course of action based on those opinions. The only recommendation that can responsibly be made is that your girlfriend should see a qualified medical professional if she or you are concerned. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 16:42, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

In this situation I'd be concerned about the possibility of me becoming infected with something. I'm surprised this has not occurred to you, and seems like a pretty good reason for her to get a professional opinion. Yup, I think that response is adult enough. Richard Avery (talk) 17:21, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

I concur that she (and possibly you) will need medical advice, which we cannot provide. She doesn't necessarily need to go to her family doctor, but can instead go to an STD clinic (which, depending on where you live, can go by various names: special clinics, etc.). In preparation for that appointment, you may wish to read vaginal lubrication, sexually transmitted diseases, and vulva. BrainyBabe (talk) 18:42, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

This may be something that occurs during ovulation and is not related to anything mentioned here. The wikipedia page on Cervix#Cervical_mucus has more information on why you would only notice it at certain times, but still should typically be once per month. Still definitely consult a medical professional but don't start panicking about STI's before you discount this possibility (because it is something that happens in most women but goes unnoticed). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.255.228.5 (talk) 04:54, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

silver fish

Today a silver fish was found in my 2yrs. old bed, he has had wing worm on his scalp for about a week, today blood was on his pillow i was wondering if the silver fish is a blood sucker. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.114.84.82 (talk) 16:42, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Silverfish eat starches and carbohydrates mostly; they are known to be a scourge of libraries for their ability to eat through books. Ringworm is caused by a fungus similar to Jock itch or Athlete's foot. Beyond these basic definitions, we cannot provide medical advice. If you are concerned for your son's health, please seek the advice of a qualified medical professional, in person, and do not look to the opinions of random strangers on the internet to inform ANY course of action related to your son's health. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 16:46, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Communal Queues

Usually, when in a situation with several tills/what-have-you (such as in a fast-food restaurant or at a bank of cash machines) and several people waiting to use them, people spontaneously form a communal queue (I am aware this is culturally specific: I am speaking from an English point of view).

Now, a few times I've been chivvied out of this queue by some manager or other who directs people to wait behind specific tills. The only times I can recall this happening, the manager has had a non-native accent and so presumably is coming from a slightly different cultural background. I have some theories as to why this would happen, but I was hoping someone knew of studies into this (or could at least provide an outside perspective). Presumably queuing and its impact on business is studied.

Theory 1: Communal queuing is inefficient.

Theory 2: Communal queuing (a)makes, or (b)is believed to make, the queue look longer, and thus puts people off.

In both of these, I assume that a native manager would be swayed by being part of the culture that produces the communal queue, whereas a non-native manager would be more impartial. Although 2 (b) allows for the possibility that a communal queue looks longer to someone not used to them and shorter to a native. I find theory 1 unconvincing, since I do not see how it can be true.

Theory 3: Someone who hasn't grown up with a culture of communal queuing may find the concept strange, 'untidy' or chaotic, and so tries to 'order' the situation by moving people into many separate queues.

Of course, it may just be coincidence (or some sort of bias) that the only times I remember this happening the chivvier had a non-native accent; it doesn't happen very often, so the sample size is small.

So, hoping people can provide some insight :) 79.66.127.79 (talk) 17:26, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Translation for Americans: "Communal queue" = "common line". StuRat (talk) 21:43, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

One other possible reason is that the single lineup, or "communal queue" as you put it, takes up a larger area in one place then the manager thinks their layout allows for. Here in Canada, or in my part of it, banks used to have separate lines at each teller window and they all switched around 1980 to the single-lineup system. However, supermarkets still use a separate line for each checkout -- the long narrow space between the main part of the store and the row of checkout counters could not be efficiently used by a single line of people with big carts -- and while many fast-food places I've been to do use a single line, some have a narrow space like the supermarket where it wouldn't work well.

Another reason for separate lines, of course, is when not all the stations are equivalent. For example, one bank teller only does business transactions, one nbank machine has US as well as Canadian money, one checkout counter takes different forms of payment. I don't expect this to apply in the typical fast-food environment, though.

--Anonymous, 20:10 UTC, March 23, 2009.

In queuing theory the single queue for multiple servers gives a shorter waiting time for the customers, especially for varying length of service. It saves being stuck behind one very slow service encounter. It has to be easy to move from the queue to the counter, so a supermarket with trolleys is going to have a bit of a slow down. If you have a giant queue, such as at Customs at an airport, it will be more efficient to have one big rat race rather than lots of smaller ones. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 20:15, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

(Unsourced information follows) I was told in the late 80s by a Operational Researcher I knew who claimed to be one of the national experts on queueing theory in Britain that the combined queue was significantly worse than individual queues both for overall throughput and for the counter staff, in both cases because of the accumulated dead time while the next customer notices that there is a position free and walks to it. But at that time more and more shops and services were introducing the system under pressure from customers. --ColinFine (talk) 21:26, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

It's important to note that the communal queue is only quicker on average than individual queues. I prefer the latter, as I know all about Poisson processes and the likelihood of persons in certain demographics to write a check which they only start digging for after the total has been presented, on the off chance that they'll save the effort should the total for that full cart of grotesque "foods" come out to zero dollars and zero cents, so I can choose a better line than average. Only the below-average shopper will benefit from optimal queuing. --Sean 21:33, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks so far: some interesting thoughts.

Colin, interesting about that 80s researcher. I'd wondered if there was something of that effect, but surely that would only kick in at a high number of counters? Hmmm. Must consider.

Sean, only the below-average shopper benefits from queuing at all; the strong/loud could probably get served quicker if they just strode to the front :P Communal queuing is fair, which I think is the real motivation behind it (and why it tugs at my heart a little when a manager breaks it up). But I expect other motivations than optimal fairness drive managers. 79.66.127.79 (talk) 22:29, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

I seem to remember there is a section in Kate Fox's Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour (ISBN 1857885082) addressing the very British habit of forming single queues (Bill Bryson may have also discussed it in Notes from a Small Island). The sociological issue does indeed seem to be one of fairness. If everyone waits in a a single queue, rather than multiple queues, then no one line will move faster than the other and no one person will gain an advantage or disadvantage over another. This appeals to the British sense of fair play. Foreign visitors to the UK are often amazed that this occurs so frequently. It is the exact opposite of many other cultures, where it is expected that one should try and get in the fastest queue even if it means disadvantaging someone else. Rockpocket 02:07, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Is the motivation to avoid inconveniencing others, or to avoid being frustrated by unexpected holdups (which tend to be alleviated by cashiers' taking customers from the *back* of the affected queue rather than the middle)? —Tamfang (talk) 04:47, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

In what conditions will multiple queues be quicker? Or does Sean mean that common queues are quicker only for the average customer? —Tamfang (talk) 04:50, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Some queues have another factor. I will happily queue in a 'longer' (more people) queue if I can see that they have small amounts of shopping in comparison to the 1 person who has their bi-annual shop of (seemingly) 10,000 things. The single-queue multi-teller system is ok but personally I think it makes things 'look' slower than several queues. Whether that's the case is largely irrelevent to me - I have, on countless ocassions, put-down some trivial item I was going to buy because the queues just looked too big and my impulse-item was, well, just that - an impulse. Ikea is the worst place for this - you go in, see nothing but think "oh wait i'll get some new tumblers" and then you get there with your 4-pack of glasses and are confronted with 100 people all buying 90% of the contents of their new home. 194.221.133.226 (talk) 09:12, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Coming back to the manager-breaking-up-the-queue aspect of this, it doesn't just affect spontaneous communal queueing. In certain stores I am regularly beckoned and hallooed at by some officious uniformed individual, who has decided that I should move from my chosen till to wait at one that they have chosen for me, presumably on the grounds that the new till has no queue, or a shorter queue. However, being sentient like most shoppers, I am able to assess all the available tills myself without help, and - particularly when alone with a large trolleyload - prefer to find one where a previous customer still has his/her shopping on the conveyor awaiting scanning. I can thus unload at my leisure while their shopping is scanned through, rather use an empty till where each item is scanned as I unload it and they all pile up at the far end before I can get down there to start packing. This suits me, is an efficient use of the till with no dead space between customers, and probably also pleases the bloke with two tins of beans who gets to use the empty till I declined. My response to the chivvying manager is therefore "no thanks, I'm fine where I am", no matter how insistent or grumpy they get (and they do). Perhaps spontaneous queuers could stick to their communal guns? Karenjc 22:12, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

lots of freetime

because i just got expelled till next january i am being homeschooled and find myself with way too much free time..wat constructive things should i do? (example:learn a new launguage) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.14.124.175 (talk) 17:59, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Learning an instrument is fun, walking, photography, volunteering. Try to find a hobby that interests you rather than something you'll quickly get bored of. And don't just spend all your time on the internet >_> —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.43.88.87 (talk) 18:21, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

I think learning a language is a good idea. I found the Pimsleur language tapes to be a good way to get started, and doing the lessons can be pretty addictive and the easiest way I've found to learn to speak a language. They are expensive to buy, though, I would recommend trying to find them in a library or a second hand copy. Less scrupulous souls than ourselves might turn to pirated copies... TastyCakes (talk) 18:25, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Look for cool science experiments on YouTube and do them at home (following safety procedures, safety glasses, adult supervision, yadda yadda. Then film some of your own. Edison (talk) 18:45, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Perfect timing, if you are in the northern hemisphere, to learn about food. Plant a garden, harvest it, cook what you can and can what you can't, as the saying goes. Through food you can learn about (almost) everything. Plants means botany, obviously, and you can go deeper into the chemistry of photosynthesis and cell biology if you want to. Finding somewhere to garden might lead you to community gardens and allotments and the history and politics of land tenure and ownership. (Who has access to land? Why?) Read The Omnivore's Dilemma and the The 100-Mile Diet. Gardening and cooking are good practical life skills. Can you sell your surplus? That's the essence of entrepreneurship. Learn basic accounting: the seeds cost X and the produce sold for Y so the profit is Z. How much money does your household spend on food? If you were given that budget for a week, could you handle it responsibly, feed everyone healthily, and still have change for ice cream? (Learn how to make ice cream -- great fun!) Go to your nearest farmers' market and talk to the farmers. If it's practical and mutually agreeable, you might want to visit the farms and see what you can learn by helping out there. (Consider WWOOF.) If not, try interviewing the farmers -- say you are looking at life options and what do they like about farming? Volunteer at a soup kitchen: who in your community goes hungry, and why? (That's politics and citizenship.) On a rainy day, read some old novels, looking at how food was portrayed in pre-supermarket times of scarcity and abundance (you might start with Oliver Twist and Little House on the Prairie.) Keep a blog, in good clear lucid English, and let us know about it, if Wikipedia and the RefDesk has helped you. (That's English covered.) Compare how different religions treat feasting and fasting. Interview some people who, for religious or other reasons, have a very different diet from yours (e.g. Muslims who are halal, or animal rights vegans; respectfully find out what their experiences are like. Challenge yourself to eat a previously taboo food. If you have an artistic bent, make music or video or poetry about what you are learning. Gather together a recipe book(let) of what you have learned to cook, month by month, experiments and accidents and all; illustrate it. Have as a goal a great big thanksgiving feast you prepare for the people you care about, to show them what you have learned and achieved with this opportunity outside of school. Have a delicious creative time! BrainyBabe (talk) 20:34, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Well, if you don't want to be seriously behind by next January - you're absolutely going to have to learn everything on the curriculum between now and then. When you're done with that - teach yourself to program your computer maybe? SteveBaker (talk) 01:11, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Concur with above answers: learn a new skill, one that will not bore you, and one that could prove useful later in life. A new foreign language is a great option! --Ouro (blah blah) 12:50, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Studying English language, spelling and grammar would not go amiss based on the presentation of your question. Good written English presentation is likely to be useful when seeking employment in later years. Ensure you are thoroughly adept at "Reading, Riting and Rithmetic". -- SGBailey (talk) 17:21, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Just to be awkward here, what about either learning a musical instrument (electric guitar?) or a sport? Summer's coming after all (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway) and sports clubs operate independently of the school system. --TammyMoet (talk) 18:53, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

I thought of a good one last night: read a book that you've always wanted to read but never had time to do it. Make it a large one. --Ouro (blah blah) 08:04, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Reg. Col. B.

Does anyone know what Reg. Col. B. stands for? I have seen it used a number of times in reference to British school masters, so i guess it is or was an institution where masters trained, however I have no idea what Reg. Col. B. stands for. Thanks 79.75.160.165 (talk) 19:14, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

You might find the following entry from Hansard helpful - http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1902/may/26/class-iv "In the scheme of registration of teachers which had been devised by the Department there were to be two columns—A and B. In column A were to be the names of those teachers who held the certificate of the Board of Education for employment in the public elementary schools, and in column B the names of all other teachers otherwise qualified." Nanonic (talk) 20:35, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

I've taken Nanonic's reply and created Reg. Col. B. How long it will last before being deleted is another question, but it seems a useful page to me. -- SGBailey (talk) 16:15, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Who is the most prolific author on Wikipedia?

That is, who has written the most 'featured' articles? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Polymonia (talk • contribs) 23:20, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

It's difficult to determine who has written any given article, but we have this page: Wikipedia:List of Wikipedians by featured article nominations. --Tango (talk) 23:33, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Also not complete, but see User:Durova/Triple crown winner's circle. Its pretty much a self-nominated award, later confirmed by Durova, but there does appear to be a clear favorite for the most DYK + GA + FA winner. I'll let you read it yourself. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 00:30, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

That doesn't really prove it though - to qualify for the triple - at level 'N' - you have to have at least N DYK's and N GA's. It's perfectly possible (indeed, rather likely) that people have more than N FA's but much, much fewer DYK and GA's. SteveBaker (talk) 01:05, 24 March 2009 (UTC)