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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 April 4

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April 4 edit

Torrenting... edit

How legal is torrenting? Let's say I download a season or two of a television show through BitTorrent. Will the FCC be coming to my doorstep with handcuffs? Or am I in the clear? --Captain Wikify Argh! 01:32, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

BitTorrent itself is legal, but yes, downloading a show like Scrubs without a license to do so is copyright infringement and is illegal in most countries. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T01:37Z
What exactly is a license to download shows? --Captain Wikify Argh! 01:52, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
One granted by the copyright holder. Usually DRM comes along with the deal, though. Put plainly, you're not legally free to download TV shows you find via BitTorrent. Insofar as I'm aware, no studios or television networks release shows this way. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T01:54Z
Gotcha. I always assumed that the instant you bought something, you held certain copyrights to it and were allowed to re-distribute it to an extent. Stupid ambiguous copyright laws... --Captain Wikify Argh! 01:58, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
No.Generally (The details of copyright differ from country to country but are roughly the same in most countries) the copyright holder usually grants you the rights to watch a DVD (or music or game or anything else covered by copyright) in your own home and from the DVD in a normal DVD player. They don't let you copy it to another device or disc, you can't share it or show it publicly. In short you can watch it that's all. - X201 09:58, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I seem to remember that something like using the VCR to record a show is legal if you destroy it within 24 hours (In the UK at least), is there a same kind of rule that applies to bittorrenting? Capuchin 11:32, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Nope! Main reason is that the VCR in that model is like a TiVO: where the law does allow you to copy something (and it doesn't always), the legal argument is that you are merely "timeshifting" that content -- that is, you were given a legal right to watch it because it was going to show up on your TV anyway, and you have some minor right over how you might want to watch that. BUT, on bittorrent, there is no assumption you would have had the legal right to watch that show, and no assumption that it would have come into your house in that form anyway so even IF you have a TV and missed scrubs, you still don't have the legal right to download it from scratch via bittorrent AFTER it was shown on TV. Jfarber 14:07, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Or before, even. Adrian M. H. 16:07, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, you have a Psychic TV, too? Jfarber 02:55, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
It's REALLY important that people distinguish between what is sent and what does the sending. There is absolutely nothing wrong with BitTorrent from a legal perspective - it's just a file transfer protocol. However, it's likely to be illegal to download TV shows without permission - no matter what protocol you use. So, yes, you can use BitTorrent to transfer large files - no, you can't download copyrighted files without permission no matter how you do that. SteveBaker 22:14, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Just as there are no legal problems with HTTP, FTP, even the original Napster service... Until you start using them to violate copyright law. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T22:20Z

guise edit

Is there such thing as a "true guise"? I know that a guise is the external form, appearance, or manner of presentation that typically conceals the true nature of something, so I'm not sure if the guise could be true, if it's concealing something thats already true. sorry, I'm saying this all wrong & confusing, but it's hard to put it into an actual sentence :) thanks alot. I'm trying to use "true guise" in a poem that I'm writing.

A good dictionary can always help out. OED suggests that guise can well mean nothing more than outward appearance, with or without the connotation of something concealed. -- mattb @ 2007-04-04T02:19Z

Thanks much!

Ospedale maggiore edit

ok may name is gavin and im reading Erenst Hemingways book A FAREWELL TO ARMS and he menchions a place called Ospedale maggiore. is there any info on this place he wrote about? in trying to do a conpare & contrast of what he wrote and what he lived throgh at the time. contact me if anyone finds anything at <email removed to prevent spam --Captain Wikify Argh! 02:35, 4 April 2007 (UTC)>[reply]

I believe that means something like "greater hospital" in Italian, akin to "general hospital" in English. For example, the "Ospedale Maggiore di Milano" [1] is the Greater Hospital of Milan. I'd ask at the Language Ref Desk for a precise translation. StuRat 04:10, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The design was entrusted to Filarete, who directed the work until 1465 and to whom is due the general character of the building, done in terra-cotta after the style of the early Renaissance in Lombardy. Filarete was directly responsible only for that part of the existing hospital which lies to the right of the entrance beyond the large central court. This court with the chapel opposite to the entrance and the wing on the left, corresponding with Filarete's original building, were added in the seventeenth century. Hence the hospital consisted, in the Sforza era, of a square with buildings running through it in the form of a cross. Four inner quadrangles were thus formed, each surrounded by colonnades the principal of which Foppa was emloyed to decorate with frescoes representing the foundation of the hospital, Francesco's presentation of a model to Pius II. and other scenes connected with the building. One wing was reserved for men, the other for women, and at the junction of the four arms of the cross stood the chapel, so arranged as to serve for both parts of the hospital. Hard by ran the city canal whence water could be obtained for the various needs of the establishment. In all these contrivances can be traced the practical mind of Francesco Sforza, whose capacity for detail found equal scope in planning a hospital, which served as a model for all other institutions of the day, as in organising campaigns and marshalling armies. Filarete was succeeded in his office of architect by Guinforte Solari, who was followed in his turn by Amadeo. Bramante also worked at the hospital during his stay in Milan, contributing to the rich terra-cotta decorations which adorn the windows and the capitals of the colonnades. From the days of its founder until now the Ospedale Maggiore has been in constant use. Some 20,000 patients are received there each year, and it still holds its place as one of the best managed hospitals in Italy.Ady, Cecilia M. (1907). A History of Milan under the Sforza. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

—eric 05:10, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
EricR, I feel you are missing that it's a general term, and there is a "ospedale maggiore" in many Italian cities, like Trieste [2], Parma [3], and Bologna[4]. Your response above and the article you created seem to focus solely on the one in Milan. StuRat 18:32, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Well, yes i am focusing on the one in Milan, but can see how this all might be confusing. Part of the question was about the hospital building itself, the one Ernest Hemingway stayed at while recovering from shrapnel wounds, fell in love with Agnes von Kurowsky and used as a setting for A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises. The structure itself is notable as the site of one of the first community hospitals (one source calls it the first lay hospital), the largest such project in the fifteenth century, a hospital which was in continuous operation until (i think) 1923 at that location, and one of the first Renaissance buildings in Lombardy. We already had a few redlinks to and one request for creation of the article. Most of my sources simply call it 'Ospedale Maggiore', so i took that to be the most common name in English.—eric 20:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
To avoid the confusion, I suggest that you name the article about that specific hospital Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, as in the Italian Wikipedia, with Ospedale Maggiore being used for a general discussion of such hospitals in Italy, perhaps including a list. StuRat 23:41, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2007 Tornado/Servere Weather Outbreak edit

Just seen on the news that there is a Tornado/Servere Weather outbreak going on RIGHT NOW. Is there a article on this ?! 65.173.104.19 03:09, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also seen this on the Weather Channel. 65.173.104.19 03:24, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Tornadoes of 2007 WP:SOFIXIT. Anchoress 04:48, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Also Late-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak. Anchoress 04:50, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wine Teeth edit

I know when everyone drinks red wine, their teeth turn a bit purpleish. Mine get very stained. My brother's only slightly. And though it doesn't matter much, I feel a bit self conscious walking around with a purple mouth all day until I can get to a toothbrush. What could be causing the difference in how our teeth stain? How could this be fixed? Is it a lack of enamel thing? Thanks 70.108.199.130 04:28, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds like plaque, which would explain the toothbrush bit. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 05:19, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Why not just stick with white wine ? It's either that or tell everybody that you're "blue-tooth enabled". :-) StuRat 05:52, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Aaargh! *collapses from overdose of bad punitude* 66.195.208.91 03:07, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, dental plaque can be stained by certain foods and drinks, hence why the color goes when you brush your teeth. I suggest you avoid red wine, or perhaps get some dental floss or mouthwash. I like the blue tooth enabled idea though! SGGH 08:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm looks like you found some cheap? disclosing fluid or disclosing fluid
It has been recommended that at dinner parties you serve white wine for this reason. But if you floss and brush properly - and maybe if you get your teeth polished by a dentist - I think it might help this problem Rfwoolf 07:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

miss anderson edit

which cuban celebrity was born under the name miss anderson?am to find the husbands name who made this quote laugh..'its hot' its a guy--212.49.87.210 05:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This Google search may get you somewhere — the asterisk is a "wild card" character, here substituing people's first names. 66.195.208.91 03:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Rev Dr/Dr Rev edit

If you are both a reverend and a doctor, would your title be Rev Dr or Dr Rev? To be honest I don't think he's either and he's making it up but I still have to work out the correct way to write the letter! SGGH 08:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think it's Rev Dr, but I can't put my finger on why. It just sounds better. By the way, you don't describe someone as "a reverend". You say they are a vicar or whatever. --Richardrj talk email 09:45, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yes I know, it just saved me saying "vicar/bishop/member-of-the-church" etc. Thats for your answer, I ended up putting Rev Dr. because it sounded better, though he is certainly lying so on the letter itself I just put Mr :D SGGH 10:49, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
You should never write "Rev Mr". It would be "The Rev John Smith", or "The Rev Dr John Smith", but never "The Rev Mr Smith" or "The Rev Mr John Smith". JackofOz 11:36, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I remember reading of the Reverend Dr Spooner. Reverend had been shortened to Rd :D DDB 12:15, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

He's a liar in any case :D its against the law to pose as if you have a Ph D, and probably a Rev. title too SGGH 12:31, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
You don't say which country's law you are referring to specifically, but in most countries it is not against the law to call yourself Dr. It is only illegal to attempt to use the title for fraudulent purposes. Rockpocket 05:11, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
It is certainly possible to be both a Reverend and a Doctor, especially if your doctorate is in Theology or the like. Also true that, since (as our article shows), Reverend is a stylized, generally honorary title, someone with an honorary doctorate is legitimately able to self-refer as (and should be referred to as) "The Reverend Doctor". (It is also possible to be described as a reverend in SOME religious denominations, despite what Richardj says above -- don't assume we're all Catholic here!) This is admittedly anecdotal, but the two or three people I've met with such status in academic used "The Reverend Doctor so and so" as their formal address, as with DDB's example above. Jfarber 13:56, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I wasn't assuming anyone was Catholic. The fact of the matter is, as our article states, "As ['reverend'] is not a noun it is not a synonym for an ordained person. Thus, in traditional usage it is incorrect to say that someone is "a reverend" by using the word as the name of a job or role." --Richardrj talk email 00:28, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Duly noted. The definition of "Reverend" as NOT a noun in this usage Pwns my anecdotal knowledge of a single person who used it, apparently incorrectly, to refer to herself...it is possible, as I said, but it is also wrong. Jfarber 10:15, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
It is indeed a solecism, but it has/had a certain foothold in Westerns (movies) and things of that kind. JackofOz 10:50, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Ian Paisley is sometimes "Rev", sometimes "Dr", sometimes neither, but, oddly, never both. jnestorius(talk) 00:14, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
No, he gets the RT Hon. Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley, instead. Natgoo 14:50, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could ask them what they want

I think it's Rev. Dr. - there's a guy at my church who is studying/in the seminary/whatever to be a permanent deacon (so he'll be Rev. on account of being a deacon). He's also studying for a PhD (which is a doctorate PhD) and I think I remember him saying that when he gets his PhD he would be Rev. Dr. Smith.
Also, isn't 'reverend' an adjective, so it would come before the 'Doctor' bit, which would be a noun? Just my two cents. -JoeTalk!Work 23:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
The proper written form is Rev Dr. However, Rev is not a spoken title. In speech, please refer to the person as Dr, unless they specify/insist otherwise. Freedomlinux 17:33, 7 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Television doesn't really go black edit

why is it that when a television set is turned on but only showing a black screen does it still produce so much light?

My guess is that a Cathode Ray Tube still continuously cycles through the raster scan, regardless of the image DDB 12:12, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
And as sets age, their electronics may not be able to completely "cut off" the electron beam in the CRT. I've got quite a few not-very-old Trinitron computer monitors with that very disease.
Atlant 16:06, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cheap TV sets sometimes do not have a circuit to achieve DC restoration invented in 1933 by Allan Blumlein, so black becomes gray. DC restoration keps the bright part of the picture from affecting the dark part. It has always seemed remarkable that a TV screen looks, gray or green when the set is turned off, but when there is an image the green/gray can look quite black, only by the effect of the lighter image near it, when it is no darker than it was with the set off. Same with movie screens. Edison 23:47, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is this anything to do with black level clamping? [5]

?c=b—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.109.118.157 (talk • contribs).

If it's an LCD, this could be leakage through the screen. This has long been a problem with LCDs, and particularly older and cheaper ones. Newer ones don't have as big a problem with it, though you might still notice some light coming through when the picture is completely black. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 23:53, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • In any case, the only way for TV black to be "true" black would be for the light to go off completely — there's no such thing as "black light" (a blacklight is a different thing altogether). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.195.211.27 (talk) 19:20, 7 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

again edit

okay what is mh exit on a strip.i heard earlier asked this question but now i have more info.its about indonesia thats my first clue.am not sure if its exit or hexit or something that sounds like it. 2.what are the 5 best songs ever produced.any genre 3.who knows a chat room where i can chat with big women.as in fat or rather plump

1-no idea :(

2-I don't think you are suppose to ask oppinion questions here :(

3-I doubt there are any specifically for you and fat women, I think you will have to ask women on normal chat rooms:(

HS7 16:15, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2. There is no answer to this question, it's impossible. There is no general consensus as to the best songs of all time. Like HS7 says, it's all just a matter of opinion. Think about what your favourite songs are, that's all that matters.
3. I'm sure there are some. Forget about web-based chat, the place to go for real chat is IRC. --Richardrj talk email 10:49, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

book dedications edit

who am I not allowed to dedicate books to? Can I write a book with a dedication to wikipedia, or would that count as advertising. Is there a law that says you need someones permission to dedicate a book to them, and does it still could if I don't mention them by name, eg 'to my family'. What would happen if I ignored your answers and dedicated a book to someone I shouldn't? And can I dedicate a book to a place, or is that advertising, or pointless due to some subtle meaning behind dedications that I haven't quite understood. JS

I don't see why advertising would be illegal in your own book. If you want to put "dedicated to Ray's steak house, where the baked potatoes are always free and Tuesdays are all you can eat steak nights", go right ahead. It is polite, of course, to ask permission before mentioning someone in your book. StuRat 18:18, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Karl Marx asked Charles Darwin if he could dedicate volume one of Das Kapital to him. Darwin sensibly refused. Clio the Muse 19:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Consult a lawyer for legal questions. AFAIK in the US, free speech rules apply so as long as you don't use copyrighted material without permission, or slander anyone you can put whatever you want on whatever page you want. -- Diletante

Hey I want to complain.I went to Ray's steak house last week and had to PAY for my baked potato :( Lemon martini 10:27, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ray's Steak House... let me write that down... :-) · AO Talk 12:31, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

People coming back from the dead edit

There are always theories that people like Andy Kaufman, Elvis or 2pac faked their death. Are there any famous cases of someone faking their death and then returning later to everyones surprise? -Lapinmies 16:15, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

lord lucan may have faked his death, but he didn't come back :( HS7 16:16, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Aimee Semple McPherson was the equivalent of a televangelist (before TV) and first faked her own drowning, then reappeared claiming to have been kidnapped by evil Mexicans. She was charged by the police with faking it all, likely to carry on an affair with a man who disappeared at the same time. StuRat 18:13, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Agatha Christie went missing for ten days, her car found in a ditch, then she showed up claiming to have amnesia. Corvus cornix 20:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

John Stonehouse, a former British government minister, faked his drowning in Miami; he was discovered a month later in Melbourne, Australia, rather to the Australian police's surprise (they thought they'd found Lord Lucan!). -- Arwel (talk) 23:23, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Our very own List of premature obituaries contains quite a few. Two other people believed by many people (not me) to have faked their own death are Peter Falconio and Jesus Christ. JackofOz 04:14, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I assume that the theory that Jesus Christ faked his death is not straight forward - there are some proponents that simply say the Jesus might have not died when he was crucified because although rare it was possible to survive a crucifiction - and in the bible it says afterwards some guy visited Jesus's coffin with various herbs - it has been said that those herbs were healing herbs indicating that Jesus was actually alive - and if that be the case he may have survived the crucifiction altogether. Rfwoolf 07:31, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Very possibly true. There's now a huge literature about this and related questions, with some authors proposing that Jesus was complicit in the plot. Some say he survived and travelled to India where he died. At this remove, I doubt we'll ever "know" one way or the other. That's why there's such a thing as faith for those who believe he really died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. (Btw, Happy Easter for all of you for whom this is the case. For the rest, all I can say is: Klaatu barada nikto.) JackofOz 10:43, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

does stephen fry count, going to france without telling anyone for a few days

I doubt the Jesus theory works seeing it would be hard to heal a man with a spear wound, broken legs, bleeding forehead, hand, and ankle, move a gigantic stone, be able to sneak past an alert-research their shifts technique-squadron of the Roman guards (note the Roman army was at its peak at the time), and walk about (on broken legs), walk through a door (later), without collapsing during all of this. I doubt any herb could heal someone so dead even after three days. Plus he had to unwind himself from probably 50 feet of cloth used to bind his body. No one could have helped either theywere all to scared.-Randalllin 22:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

template edit

1.what is a google template and its functions 2.give me a great sight which talks about what went down during the eightys.bell bottoms afros...etc. 3.what is something great to buy in dubai for 100 dollars.sumthin interesting and unique. 4.give me a great excuse to attend an a list wedding.guys are to send emails and if u have a unique reason ur in.help me out

5. Who are you and 6. Why are you asking? —Steve Summit (talk) 23:29, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

7.i need a good reason ,so help me out guys.

9.a good reason to do what?

8 what happened to 8
  • Most likely, 8 became part of 7's crafty plans concerning 9, to the horror, as we all know, of 6. Anyway, I don't think we can we can help you here — sites like these can help if you're having language difficulties. 66.195.211.27 19:44, 7 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Graphing market rate over time edit

I wasn't sure whether to put this question on the math, computing or science desk so I am putting it here. I want to graph an exchange rate (or price for a commodity) over time. I will have a set of data points which include the price paid per unit, and date of transaction.

How do I draw a line through all these data points which approximates the average market price? How can I asses the direction and rate of the market?

What is the most common/useful way to represent this kind of financial data? I will have a relatively small number of data points, maybe 10s per week, rather than thousands per day.

Thanks! -- Diletante 16:49, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The usual way to draw a graph of a value varying around an average, is to calculate the average, by adding all the price data together and dividing by the number of bits of data, then drawing this as a streight line parallel to the x axis, then marking the actual data around this and drawing another line between each bit of data :) To asses the direction and rate, you might need a moving average, which is complicated enough that I doubt I can explain it properly :( HS7 17:21, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
If you want to go one step further and draw a straight line that isn't parallel to the axis, you could use a sum of least squares method or some other method to fit a straight line to the date. You can also go further and fit polynomial curves to the graph. Another approach is to calculate a running 30 day average (or whatever period you prefer), and graph that. Those long term averages tend to be a bit "lumpy", but smoother than the base data. I would say the Math board is the best place to post this. StuRat 18:03, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
For stuff like that I use Equation Grapher with Regression Analyzer. Thats actually package of two programs, and you need the Regression Analyzer. It can graph several types of "average" lines, trends and whatnot, and you choose the one you feel best represents what you are trying to achieve. Shinhan 12:35, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! What I really want to know is what is the "Right WayTM" to graph market price. I have been searching around on google and wikipedia but can't figure it out. Once I figure out the right way i will be implementing it in PHP. -- Diletante 15:16, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Total United States Workforce edit

Does anyone have a link to the total population in the United States workforce (preferably working full time)? I've been looking everywhere for this but I can't seem to find the figure. It should be relatively simple, but the best I can get is this article:

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_QTP27&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U

Which says the answer is about 130 Million. (I had assumed it was more.)

Is this perhaps the source I am looking for? Robinson0120 17:02, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

According to the CIA Factbook: [6], the total workforce was 151.4 million in 2006 with a 4.8% unemployment rate, which makes for 144.1 million employed in 2006. That's over 10% higher than your figure, so I suspect that yours ignores nonresidents (legal and illegal), while the CIA includes them. StuRat 17:55, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Damn, why didn't I think of the factbook? Thanks a lot, StuRat. I thought it was low. Robinson0120 18:20, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
You're quite welcome. When the CIA occasionally gets something right, let's all be sure to take advantage of it. StuRat 23:34, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

dial4aclaim.com vs. easyclaim.com edit

In this Thomson Local Isle of Wight 2006-7 telephone directory, under the 'compensation' section, there are two adverts for dial4aclaim.com and easyclaim.com. The content of them is the same, just reordered and differently-designed. Both of them are ran by a company called TimeBond Ltd. What is the deal? Why might there be two almost identical adverts for two companies offering identical services and both ran by the same company? Also, do I ask too many questions? Vitriol 19:19, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps they are trying to give the impression of more competition (i.e. consumer choice) than there actually is.
Perhaps they were once two separate companies who merged, but wanted to keep both original brands (and packs of loyal customers).
—Steve Summit (talk) 23:26, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Copyright Question edit

Where can I find documentation on how the Lib of Congress secured rights to digitize materials for Am. Memory?

Looking for information on how rights to digitize copyrighted materials (not materials in public domain) were secured by the Library of Congress for their American Memory site.

Vision improvement edit

Is there any way to improve vision without surgery.

Are you by chance asking about this-> See Clearly Method? dr.ef.tymac 20:22, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Your question is too vague even for an opthamologist or other expert, which is probably who should be answering it, after having examined you. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:05, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, by playing video games. Anchoress 21:08, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Depending on your particular vision problem there may well be, yes. For example, if you are suffering from night blindness due to a lack of vitamin A, then changing your diet or taking vitamin pills to ensure that you get sufficient vitamin A may improve your vision, or at least keep it from deteriorating further. StuRat 23:31, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Get glasses (spectacles) ?

Just eat right; works for me. Vranak

an answer to a similar question a little while ago was to avoid wearing glasses

Well, the thing is that "vision" could mean "how well your eyes function" or just plain "how well you see", which are, counterintuitively enough, different, thanks to such wonders as glasses and contact lenses. Sometimes, not wearing glasses can help your eyes develop better; then again, sometimes they will only get worse, especially if you have any of a number of genetic vision issues (standard nearsighted/farsightedness, glaucoma, progressive blindness, etc). 66.195.208.91 03:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Remote Control edit

Is there a universal remote control that can connect to a radio, TV, etc. automatically and wirelessly? 68.193.147.179 20:42, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are lots of remotes out there that can be 'taught' commands by pointing your original remote for whatever the device is and pushing the buttons. Some others have l-o-n-g lists of devices that they support. None of this is entirely automatic though - pretty much every kind of TV, radio, etc uses a different set of IR codes than every other kind - so there is always a certain amount of setup with these universal gadgets. SteveBaker 22:07, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Even the universal TV remote which turns almost all TVs off, takes up to about 5 minutes to operate for some TV sets. Going through a spectrum to not only turn off a device, but to control it.... you would definately need a programmable. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 03:55, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah - that gizmo ("TV-B-gone" or something?) sends every possible code for every possible TV type - with the commonest ones being sent first. It gets most TV's in just a few seconds - but more obscure TV's can take a lot longer. SteveBaker 05:02, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikisource Suicide Letters edit

In 2006, the year of our Wiki, I came across a wiki page of a list of notable suicide letters around the time of the amish murder/suicide incident. It had a pretty thorough list of names including the likes of Kurt Cobain. Wikisource by -Subject, subcat +Suicide Letters. Has this entire category been deleted by the anti-wiki robots? Please do note, I am fine mentally and physically, and I am not easily swayed by literature to go and off myself. I just had some peculiar questions of my own in regards to the writing style similarities and differences of these folks of yesteryear. Thank you. 216.100.216.5 20:56, 4 April 2007 (UTC)JACOB V[reply]

Possibly the article Suicide note? --Tagishsimon (talk)
wikipedia used to contain scanned images of famous suicide notes. The image of Kurt Cobain suicide note was deleted on December 31, the text was deleted from wikisource on December 16. wikisource:J. Clifford Baxter suicide note met the same fate on December 12 and wikisource:Charles Carl Roberts suicide note on December 11; . The logic was that since the person committing suicide has no intention of making money on it, he is releasing it into the public domain. This logic seems to have been rejected, but I cannot find any debate about it. There was a posting on Wikipedia:Possibly unfree images but no debate. The wikisource text and the category were deleted as PROD's without debate. Perhaps this issue should be revisited in a formal manner. Jon513 13:26, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I was mistaken, there was a debate here. Proposed deletion on wikisource is different than Wikipedia:Proposed deletion on wikipedia. Jon513 14:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The Transcenders edit

Who is in the rock band The Transcenders?

http://www.thetranscenders.com/index.cfm - They've changed their name to HenryStar, it appears. Who knew? --Tagishsimon (talk)

Bangladeshis sweater and t-shirt edit

When I was watching Jazzy B's video Oh Na Kuri Labdi on Youtube, I noticed that he was wearing a Brazilian sweater. I was wondering where can you get those clothing that has your country's name on it like Bangladesh, for example? Don Mustafa 19:36

Dunno about sweaters - but for polo shirts, hoodies, T-shirts, etc you can go someplace like www.cafepress.com where they'll put any design you like onto anything they sell. SteveBaker 04:55, 6 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

exercise edit

which one gets rid of stomach fat quicker (and/or more efficient in getting rid of it)- crunches or jumping jacks? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.211.8.100 (talk • contribs)

Someone, I'm guessing you, asked this very same question a couple weeks ago. Check the archives. Found it. See here. Dismas|(talk) 23:46, 4 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

oh, that's not exactly what I meant, but thanks anyway. I meant specifically, more like which one is just better for that kind of stuff. everything answered to that other question doesn't have much about this type of thing.

As said in the answer to the other question, you can't spot-reduce fat from any area of your body. If you mean, which of those two particular exercises burn more calories, I would be inclined to think that it was jumping jacks, since your are moving your whole body and working out more muscle groups. Why not do both? (But, if you don't exercise for at least 3 hours per week, it's unlikely to have any effect whatsoever. It is important to watch what you eat as well, if you want to lose weight.) BenC7 01:18, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]


HAHA, theres no real point in doing crunches or situps or any ab excercises if you have a stomach. And theres no way to just get rid of your stomach only without surgery. You need to lose weight, and you will lose weight from all over including your stomach. So to answer your question, jumping jacks because it will burn more calories faster, but forget all that, just run alot and cut your calories bigtime. I was 200Lbs, 5'10 and about 20% BF and my personal trainer said only consume 1200 calories a day. So you might want to do that. And also do weight training so you don't lose too much muscle while your losing weight. Try to lose about 3 pounds a week, anymore than that and you'll be losing mostly muscle.
If you're interested in reducing girth, spot exercises to improve flabby muscle tone—e.g. sit-ups or "crunches" for the abdominal area—are indeed likely to produce a noticeable improvement. Jumping jacks, on the other hand, would be more likely to improve cardiovascular fitness and perhaps "burn calories" at a faster rate, if overall weight reduction is the goal. -- Deborahjay 22:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
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