Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 September 15

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September 15

Aquaman (TV series)

In Aquaman (TV series), are the fictional cities of Tempest Key and Mercy Reef in Florida or California?

Although I'm not an expert on the series, the names sound like Florida geography. California's offshore islands are known as the "channel islands" and are not coral reefs. Florida's keys are coral reefs. Conceivably, though, the location might be somewhere else such as the Bahamas. If I remember correctly, key or cay was the Carib word for island. Durova 02:33, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Am I an Australian Citizen

Hi,

My Parents were both British Citizens and emigrated in 1970 to Australia. I was born in Australia in 1973. My parents then returned in 1974 to England. Am I an Australian Citizen by birth? Would that mean I have dual nationality? Could I return to Australia as a citizen?

Kind Regards

It would appear the answers are yes, yes and quite possibly. This article says:

Between 26 January 1949 and 19 August 1986 any person born in Australia acquired Australian citizenship by birth automatically. The only exceptions concerned children born to diplomats.

and here it says:

Prior to 4 April 2002, it was still possible for Australians in some circumstances to hold dual citizenship, including... those born in Australia who automatically acquired another citizenship at birth. Holding a foreign passport did not in itself cause loss of Australian citizenship.

However, i presume you are currently a British subject. Therefore, the above notwithstanding, this section may also apply. You should speak to a lawyer or the Australian immigration dept. Rockpocket 07:23, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

It would also appear that, if you have your Australian birth certificate, your would be fair dinkum in proving your case, mate. Rockpocket 07:37, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

A cousin of mine in the same position (parents emigrated to Australia, he was born there, they came back when he was four) has just settled in Australia with no bureaucratic problems whatsoever, and despite having a criminal record in the UK. Jameswilson 23:42, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Having a criminal record was par for the course, historically speaking. Rockpocket 05:17, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

True! Jameswilson 00:07, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Whose Line US Question

In many games of Whose Line USA people say to Ryan "What you talkin' bout Willis?" and he always laughs like it is directed to him. Can someone tell me why this quote gets to Ryan and where it is from?

Thanks Anthony Smith

That line was repeated in almost every episode of Diff'rent Strokes, spoken by the character Arnold (Gary Coleman) to his brother Willis (Todd Bridges). StuRat 11:44, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Do you know what significance it is towards Ryan Stiles as it is always him who gets the line said to him.

Ryan Stiles is rather tall (6'6"), and Todd Bridges was rather tall relative to Gary Coleman (5'11" vs 4'8"). Perhaps that's the link. StuRat 12:55, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Haha, now that's funny.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  14:18, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Statutory declaration/affadavit

I wish to make a statutory declaration or an affadavit. Will I need a qualified person (commissioner for oaths) for this? If so, is there anything better than a sworn declaration that I can do?

Yes, generally it is better to have written documents verified and/or signed by qualified persons.

It may depend what legal jurisdiction you are in. ColinFine 09:27, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

It definitely does, and it also depends on where the affidavit is going to be filed. Check with the court or organization you're filing it with; they may require that you have your affidavit sworn in front of a notary public and not a commissioner for oaths. For instance, if you're in Canada and the affidavit has to be filed in a different province than the one you swore it in, you may need to swear it in front of a notary public and not a commissioner for oaths. There is a difference (notaries are federally registered, commissioners are not).

Virtually all courts have precedent forms that show you what the format of your affidavit or statutory declaration has to look like. Follow these to the letter. In some jurisdictions (the Northwest Territories of Canada comes to mind), having one word in the preamble or closing (the jurat) wrong or having the spacing incorrect may cause the court to refuse to file it! I once had an affidavit rejected because the jurat said "SWORN BEFROE ME" instead of "SWORN BEFORE ME". --Charlene.fic 21:32, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

A New SciFi Book (series)

It has been a dream of mine ever since I statrted to write a science fiction series about two years ago, that it would be most entertaining to publish. Unfortunately, I am having trouble getting a publisher. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact mwe on my talk page. Also, perchance there would be a way for me to create ap age with my first book on it, perhaps even statrt a wikiproject where I can collaborate with other wikipedians to make this book a good one. Xel Pos'tare 17:20, 15 September 2006 (UTC)CaptainXel

Why not give the first book away for free by publishing online at your home page ? Then, once the audience is hooked, you can charge them for the sequels. StuRat 17:41, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Do you know anyone who pursued such a strategy successfully? Durova 00:16, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Not specifically for books, but this strategy has been used for other products successfully, such as software and music. StuRat 01:34, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

That's what worries me: prior publication of part of a manuscript creates a serious obstacle to landing a book deal. I studied writing in graduate school and every instructor and guide on the subject I've ever had recommends the opposite of what you posted: at the very least format the manuscript into an acrobat file and publish commercially as an e-book (after all other options have failed). Yet this poster hasn't even stated that the manuscript is finished: he or she might not understand the different standards for nonfiction and fiction queries. Rather than suggest such a radical and dangerous step, I've posted some mainstream suggestions to the user's talk page as requested: science fiction is one of the easier fiction markets to break into, particularly because its leading magazines have a longstanding policy of introducing unknown authors. Durova 05:47, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

First, there are lots and lots of resources for prospective authors on the 'net. Specifically, there are hundreds of support groups on places like yahoo groups and google groups, where authors can get together and help each other via mailing lists. I belong to some such lists and they are very very helpful. Often they are populated by successful authors, and they are totally genre-specific. Second, you should stop trying to get a publisher and get an agent. Pulp romance novels are the only types of novels where publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts, otherwise you need to do everything through your agent. Go to the library or to a bookstore and get yourself a book or three on the topic of getting your first novel published. Third, it's always easier to get a novel published after you've had a few short stories published. Write a few and submit them to sci-fi magazines and anthologies. Anchoress 01:39, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Phone numbers in letters

Is there a special name for when phone numbers are written in letters, for example 1800 REVERSE in place of 1800 7383773? _{J Di}^talk 17:42, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Best I can come up with is mnemonic. Clarityfiend 19:58, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Vanity phone numbers? (as in vanity plates)---Sluzzelin 22:09, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

As a footnote, I think this is a mainly american thing, I don't remember ever having seen a phone number like this is Europe (I think that in Japan and China, though, there are mnemonics being used where numbers are pronounced similarly to words with different meanings...) 惑乱 分からん 22:57, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

It's extremely popular in Japan, mainly because it's so easy to make sense of the numbers like that. I've actually been thinking of making an article on it, but I need a source to link to first. One good example is NOVA Inc.'s phone number, which can sound like "take a lot into your ears", which is a pretty good phone number for an English school. My phone number can sound like "Circularly circular, I haven't lost it" or "You've gone, but I have no regrets" depending on how you pronounce the numbers.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  14:12, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Note that Japanese generally has two words for the basic numbers, one borrowed from Chinese and one native (which sometimes have different forms in counters) similar to how English has one/mono/solo two/bi/duo etc, which, by mixing forms, facilitates the ability to create catchy mnemonics. 惑乱 分からん 09:30, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Before telephone numbers were standardized as numbers (in the U.S. at least) they could have letters or numbers as components. One notable example is the fictional phone number that also served as title to an Elizabeth Taylor film Butterfield 8. Telephones continued to be printed with letter codes on the keypad after this practice ended, so some firms that actually had digital numbers would publish the mnemonic form in advertising. A different mnemonic that doesn't get used is keypad tones - a friend of mine has a home telephone number whose sound is the first seven notes of Yankee Doodle, but I won't give the area code for obvious reasons. ;) Durova 00:08, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I don't think that's quite right. They always had both numbers and letters on them. In the US, there is a 3 digit area code (although once you needed to call the operator to have them connect you to long distance), then a 2 digit exchange code, then a 5 digit phone number. The area code was only used for long distance calls, originally. The exchange was the first 2 letters of the town, typically, or, if more exchanges were needed, they would "invent" a town and use the first 2 letters from it. In the Butterfield 8 example, the exchange would have been BU or 28, and the 5 digit phone number would have started with 8. Here's an old phone with both the numbers and letters shown: [1]. StuRat 01:27, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

In the UK, we used to use letters both for (three-letter) exchanges within big cities and for (two-letter plus one digit) long-distance dialling codes: see UK telephone numbering plan#history. I remember being told that it was when international dialling became possible that we abandoned using letters, though the article doesn't confirm this. Foreigners did funny things like putting letter 'O' on number '6' instead of on '0' where it belonged.

Today I keep being surprised by people who don't know that you can usually read two letters from an area code and so often guess at the location of a phne number. ColinFine 09:51, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Alphanumeric --Philc _T^E_C^I 19:09, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

These have really only become popular in Australia in the last 5-10 years. Many ads for companies that use these types of numbers don't just say "dial 1300 COMPANY" - it will usually show both the letter and number version (if a TV or printed ad) or say "dial 1300 COMPANY - that's 1300 266 726" (if a TV or radio ad). The 1800-REVERSE ad spells it out in detail and says "dial 1800, then the numbers that spell "REVERSE" on the telephone keypad" for the slow ones... -- Chuq 10:04, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Ah, but there's nothing new under the sun, is there. When I was a kid, in the '50s, Sydney (and probably other places) had 6-character phone numbers consisting of 2 letters followed by 4 numbers. My grandmother's number was XL-3320. Later it became 95-3320, and later still had a further 2 digits added and some existing digits changed. JackofOz 08:42, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Fisherman with Chapped Lips

I once heard a joke about a grumpy Eskimo Fisherman with chapped lips, who vented his discomfort on his "vife" (wife). However I forget the punch-line. Can anyone put me out of my misery? JohnSmith.

Toilet paper

I have always wondered why the toilet paper you find in public toilets, on the large (about 12" diameter) rolls, is perforated into sheets about a foot long. This seems a bit wasteful if one uses one sheet per wipe. Domestic loo roll sheets are more like 6 inches long.

I notice that the distance between perforations remains the same regardless of how far through the roll you are...

Anyone know? Alf Boggis 20:22, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

I think most people use more than one 6" sheet per wipe to avoid penetration of the paper by the fingers ending in a smelly (and sticky) hand. If you can wipe yours on one small sheet, all I can say is youve got a very small asshole! Also why should the perforations distance change as yuo come to the end of the roll??--Light current 20:28, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

BTW can I request no puns on 'sheet' please!--Light current 20:31, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

What, I'm not allowed to make a joke about the fact that 'scheet' is Dutch for 'fart'? DirkvdM 20:16, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

More likely English sheet-shit. (Btw, there's an old bilingual pun in Swedish, "I buy pink sheet." sounds like the equivalent of "oo-poo pee shit", alt. "He buys pink sheet", "Heeh-poop pee shit".) 惑乱 分からん 13:24, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

It appears that in North America the standard sheet size is 4.5 X 4.5 in (Toilet Paper World). I suspect that the larger rolls are cut that way to save on paper. When the airport here was built the toilet paper holders had a special knob on them. As you tried to get the paper the knob would catch and only allow you to get two sheets before splitting on the perforations. Within a couple of weeks they were all broken off so that people could get more than two sheets at a time. Now if the bigger rolls were cut at 4.5 in people would take several sheets but may view one longer sheet as enough. On the other hand this could just be a lot of crap. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 23:29, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Yea, of all things to be cheap about, restricting the amount of TP is pretty stupid. I think everyone denied an adequate amount of TP should break into the house of the guy who invented that device, and wipe themselves on his clothes, drapes, bed sheets, blankets, pillows, etc. :-) StuRat 00:54, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

THat would be a pretty shitty thing to do ! 8-)--Light current 01:00, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I remember seeing some documentary about the British army where they were showing the new recruits how (via creative folding) to get four wipes out of a single sheet of toilet paper. IIRC, in their training, they were only allowed to use two sheets per bowel movement... --Kurt Shaped Box 01:06, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

OK. Take one piece of paper. Fold into four. Wipe once. Remove from ass and fold other way. Wipe again.. Hang on I dont think it can be done!--Light current 01:10, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

No hang on: take one sheet of paper unfolded and wipe once. Fold into 2 and wipe again. Fold into four .. wipe a third time. shit... still dont work!--Light current 01:13, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm (after edit conflict). Wipe ass once using whole sheet. Fold in half, shit inwards. Wipe using clean side. Fold in half, shit inwards. Wipe using clean side. Turn over carefully and use other side. That'd work, if you made sure your fingers were in the right place. I think. --Kurt Shaped Box 01:16, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Shitting inwards sounds both unhealthy and counterproductive, to me. Rockpocket 05:10, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, but it would save having to use any paper. Yes?--Light current 05:20, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Tell it to the Cat in the Red Dwarf episode backwards. DirkvdM 20:16, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I thought of that but I dont think its acceptable really -- do you?--Light current 01:26, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Acceptable as a method of showing new recruits that they're 'in the army now'? --Kurt Shaped Box 01:31, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

You guys are so anal! It turns out we've all been doing it wrong, we should use a goose. See Toilet paper#History. To StuRat above, the amount of toilet paper is a concern to the companies that have to supply it. I checked with the janitor and got a five minute tirade on the vast quanties of TP used here. I never knew that the Cambridge Bay Airport was totaly responsible for de-foresting over half of Brazil. Also a quick survey of the others (5 people + me) indicates a) 100% of people surveyed required more than two sheets of TP and b) 5 out of 6 people think I am either a "fucking idiot" or "really weird". CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 01:33, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Ask the janitor if he's ever had one of those horrible, greasy, half-broken-off-by-the-anus bowel movements that need about 2/3 of a roll of TP to clean up? If not, please ask him what he's been doing that the rest of the world hasn't... ;) --Kurt Shaped Box 01:51, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Well look. If the sergeant was showing them how to use only one piece for 4 wipes, there'd be no point if you were going to get any on your hands at any point. Right?

So heres how you do it (and this is Original Research!):

Take the piece of paper and fold into 3. Perform one wipe with the open ended third. Fold dirty bit over.You now have 2 clean sides. Perform 2nd wipe and fold dirty bit over the other way.. You now have 2 clean sides again. Perform 3rd wipe and now fold the dirty bit in lengthways. You now have a small piece with two clean sides that you use the finish the job. 4 wipes from one piece! 8-))--Light current 01:55, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

In their quest to save pennies on TP, I wonder how many soldiers have died:

• From disease spread by the feces on their hands as a result.

• Because they give away their position to the enemy by smelling like feces.

• Because they are constantly scratching their itchy butts when they should be standing watch.

StuRat 06:56, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Its not pennies theyre saving, its that all-important weight in that backpack. Any way some indians use no paper at all! S othink yourself lucky for those 2 sheets--Light current 08:59, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

In a war, toilet paper's probably not as important as a steady supply of clean water. 惑乱 分からん 11:35, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

A boy scout troopmaster once instructed me on how to use only one sheet of paper... the method went like this: Fold one square into quarters. Take the one corner that's at the center of the original sheet (unfold it for a sec to see, now refold it), and tear that corner off. Stick the torn-off part behind your ear. Now, extend your index finger, and put the sheet over your index finger, using the hole you tore in the center of the sheet. Next, use your index finger, and, well, you know. Once done with that, wipe your finger on the grass, finishing up by using the sheet to get the last of it off your finger. Throw the sheet away. Oh, what's that litte dab of paper behind your ear for? You need to clean under your fingernail... 192.168.1.1 8:47 16 September (PST)

Why not just use the grass for your ass and be done?--Light current 16:32, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I heard about leaves or moss. 惑乱 分からん 17:02, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

The best idea I heard of was a sponge on a short stick and plenty of running water to clean it. (Roman method)--Light current 17:37, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Ok, you're in the army, you've got this sponge in your pack, you use it and nw you have two choices : 1) you put it back in your pack. 2) your pack is full of sponges. Now translate that to a public toilet.

Btw, I haven't just heard of leaves, moss and grass. 've had to resort to the like on my travels several times. Toilet paper is one of the greatest luxuries of the western world. DirkvdM 20:16, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I've done leaf before while camping. It's alright as long as your fecal matter isn't very runny, as the leaf doesn't tend to get very good traction. Conveniently, though, my diet while camping usually results in relatively solid fecal matter. I never really minded not having toilet paper, it was finding a comfortable place to crouch (that hadn't already been used 100 times) that was always the problem for me.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  14:04, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Bowery Braun

Who or What is Bowery Braun?

128.39.127.79 22:33, 15 September 2006 (UTC)Heidi R Lona

Not sure this is what you're looking for, but ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) is a large corporation. Before the merger the Swiss part was called BBC Brown Boveri (nothing to do with Auntie). But I don't know who Brown and Boveri were.---Sluzzelin 22:56, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

It seems that Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri (no article) founded BBC Brown Boveri.---Sluzzelin 23:00, 15 September 2006 (UTC)