Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 December 25

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December 25 edit

Recaptcha edit

Why is it necessary to copy and paste some kind of code from one box to another after completing a re-captcha on some sites? 70.162.9.144 (talk) 05:37, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

In my experience, it's because it would normally use Javascript after you've done a successful captcha, but I block Javascript, so it has to use the copy-paste code as a workaround. If you use Noscript, that may be why. (You may have better luck on the Computing desk.) 90.195.179.14 (talk) 11:34, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I have never seen a black omish. edit

I would like to see if a black person can become Omish. And if so how do I get stated. email removed —Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.0.59.174 (talk) 09:04, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I've removed your email address. Any responses will be posted here. 90.195.179.14 (talk) 11:36, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If you mean Amish (sub sect of the Mennonite Church, I know of no explicit restrictions based on ethnic background for conversion to the faith. A Google search for converting to amish turns up some useful documents including How to Join the Amish: The Step-by-Step Guide. It states:
In a nutshell: come live with us, go to church, get a job, learn Pennsylvania Dutch, do all this for a year and then get educated in the ways of the church, and finally, get voted in by the church. Voila. It’s that simple.
A link in that article leads to So you think you want to become Amish which also appears useful. Contacting the Mennonite Church directly would also be helpful. If you write a letter, make sure to spell "Amish" correctly as many faiths might doubt the sincerity for conversion if such attention to detail is omitted. --Quartermaster (talk) 11:54, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia has a article about Amish. The misspelling "Omish" is not a casual typo here. It has entered wider usage as reflected in the name of a band Hostile Amish (video). Thus saith Wikipedia: Daniel Thompson (poet) performed at The JCS in August of 1998 as a special guest of the group Hostile Omish; clips of that performance are seen in the 2008 DVD documentary "Saints In The City", produced by Sam Phillips for Liberation Brew TV and widely featured on YouTube The word "Omish" in Wikipedia links to Amish. I feel that linkage is unfortunate because while "Omish" has as yet no formal definition, its emergent usage seems to be to ridicule the practices of Amish. An etymology dictionary notes that obsolete "Omish" reflects the pronunciation in Pennsylvania German dialect.
I have not found explicit black-related racism among Amish apart from a quotation I found "Christ is the head of man, and Negro is the head of woman." whatever that means. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 14:05, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
(For those unaware, it's some kind of a mangled version of 1 Corinthians 11:3.) Marnanel (talk) 15:10, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
A crime of omish-ion. Clarityfiend (talk) 04:25, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The first thing to do, obviously, would be to get rid of your computer. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:48, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
A hand-cranked laptop PC would be acceptable to the Amish, as this blog (scroll down to Nov. 1) indicates. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 00:02, 27 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The Amish are a practical folk. If a person needs oxygen for COPD (for example), they can use it, and even use electricity for it. Each small group sets its own practical standards - and the Hollywood image is inapt. They are stricter than the rest of the Mennonites, to be sure, but many of the rules are aimed at preventing vanity and covetousness, and are not just anti-progress. As an aside - the first "network TV program" in the US was "Learning to Draw with Jon Gnagy", a Mennonite. Collect (talk) 00:08, 27 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Partime job edit

hai, I am sanjay, a student.now I am encoded in a problem,I need rise some fund for continuing my studies.I am ready to do some par time job.I had already found some option like data entry,bogging,web designing etc.But I need some more options to complete my need.Can u suggest some for me.Pls also include details\link of provider. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.201.243.144 (talk) 14:57, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Since we know almost nothing about you, your skills, your availability for work and your wage expectations, it's unlikely we can offer you any more useful information than you can find yourself with a Google search or by checking adverts for part-time jobs in your local area. Amazon Mechanical Turk offers flexible work on basic administrative tasks, but like all non-specialist jobs it does not pay well. Traditional part-time jobs for students include food and drink service, delivery of leaflets, and work in shops, factories and call centres, as well as the ones you suggest. Karenjc 17:01, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If you are a student in the US (I don't know how other countries work), see if your university has a career office. They may be able to help you find something, even an on campus job. Other than that, I don't think we can be much help, for the reasons listed above. Good luck! Falconusp t c 05:42, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Bill Clinton edit

Can Bill Clinton run for president again? Kindly respond here e-mail deleted.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.180.102.13 (talk) 18:23, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Deleted e-mail address and added title. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 20:08, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Under the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, Clinton is ineligible to be elected a third time. (Well, he could if the constitution was amended to repeal that amendment.) --Anonymous, 20:16 UTC, December 25, 2010.

The subject surrounding Ma Ferguson and her husband Pa Ferguson, where the slogan was "Two governors for the price of one" may be of interest. schyler (talk) 21:33, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

See also George Wallace vs. Lurleen Wallace. PhGustaf (talk) 08:04, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The circumstances of the Wallace situation were similar to the claim by opponents of Hillary Clinton, that electing her would be a de facto "third term" for Bill Clinton. As I recall, some Reagan supporters talked about repealing that amendment so he could run for a third time. Since they were the ones who imposed that amendment in the first place, it would have been fitting. But nothing came of it. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:45, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Reagan supporters imposed that amendment? --jpgordon::==( o ) 01:39, 27 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Republicans did, though some 35 years before Reagan became president. --Jayron32 01:51, 27 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It was passed by the GOP during the Truman administration, specifically to prevent another FDR. Truman himself was exempted from it, but he didn't run for a third term. The quote below is excellent. Interestingly, Reagan was a Democrat when he was younger, and even when older and much more conservative, as I recall he still held FDR in high esteem. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:38, 28 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, good quote -- ascribed to Reagan: The two-term limitation is, in theory, a perversion of the Constitution`s sound design for a limited but energetic government. In practice, it has proved to be a disaster, nothing less than an ill-placed thumb on the scales of government in favor of congressional power, thus upsetting the carefully contrived system of checks and balances for which the founders so wisely provided. The result of the amendment has been twofold: It has undermined necessary presidential power to conduct the great public business assigned to that office, while simultaneously denying the people their most hallowed democratic right of having whomever they desire hold their offices for as long as the people desire. --jpgordon::==( o ) 03:12, 27 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

And besides, it came too late. —Tamfang (talk) 21:22, 27 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If you're referring to FDR, he's the reason the Republicans pushed for it. They wouldn't likely have got away with it during his actual term of office - and if it were worded the same, he would have been exempt anyway. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:40, 28 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If Bill Clinton became Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, or a Cabinet member, could he become President, if the Presidency became vacant and he was highest in the order of succession? The 22nd Amendment seems to restrict only election to the office. Edison (talk) 18:18, 29 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
What does the current Succession Act say? —Tamfang (talk) 19:34, 30 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
In some countries, like Russia, one can be president only two terms in a row; however one can apply for it later after someone's term: Putin can apply to president again in next election. And repeat that how many times he wants. So the list of Russia presidents can be: Yeltsin, Putin, Putin, Medvedev, Putin, Putin, Medvedev, Putin, Putin, Medvedev, Putin, Putin...--RicHard-59 (talk) 19:24, 30 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Regardless of his eligibility to hold the office, Bill Clinton may run a presidential campaign as often as he wishes (at least every 4 years). Googlemeister (talk) 16:48, 31 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Import Duties edit

Is there somewhere I can look up import duties for a country? In particular, I am wondering about the import duties of laptop computers into Egypt. I tried looking at the WTO website and various other places, but I couldn't really find an answer. Thanks.Eiad77 (talk) 22:39, 25 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Import duties are often negotiated bilaterally and also are product specific. You would need to know both the originating and destination country, and the thing being imported. Also, these rates are likely different for retailers, wholesalers, and end consumers. Thus, a company importing a whole bunch of laptop computers for sale in stores is likely to pay a different rate than a consumer buying a single laptop computer. For Egypt, the specific ministry in charge is the Minsitry of Foreign Trade and Industry, see this for their English-language website. --Jayron32 00:52, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, I found the tariff schedule after a little bit of digging. Now, I just have to look up the product code, but that shouldn't be too hard. Here is a link if you are curious: http://www.tas.gov.eg/NR/rdonlyres/8EACE727-4F47-493D-B2AD-42D68685CDF5/0/Manufacturingtariffs.pdf — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eiad77 (talkcontribs) 18:42, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Mostly, it is better to let the seller deliver through UPS or FedEx and let them take care of all details. Import processes can be complicated, and unless you are planning to do it as a regular business, DIY is not worth the headaches. Quest09 (talk) 12:45, 26 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

In case anyone wants a conclusion, there is no duties on importing laptops to Egypt.Eiad77 (talk) 02:02, 29 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]