Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 March 16

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March 16

Divorce Watch

On All My Children, how come Divorce Watch was cancelled? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 00:07, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I've noticed that you've asked a lot of soap opera questions. We do have a specialized Entertainment Desk which is usually where these sorts of queries are asked/answered. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 04:19, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Split Trax vs. Twin Trax

On commercially produced cd's, can anyone explaint the difference between Split Trax and Twin Trax?? I,ve recently purchased a CD toting Split Trax(Vocal on right balance, Instruments on left balance)but voices are sporadic throughout disc, usually on chorus of songs only, not verses. Publisher (BrentwoodBenson)hasn't been much help answering this question. Previous CD's have had vocals on left side throughout all songs, so I'm wondering if disc is flawed ,or if I should have ordered Twin Trax instead of Split Trax.--Glekel (talk) 01:46, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Grape Soda...What the?

I drinking some Welchs Grape Soda. May I ask one question...why does the aftertaste taste like the grape flavored medicine that kids hate taking?71.143.3.182 (talk) 03:49, 16 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Probably because it's artificial flavoring. bibliomaniac15 03:53, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

There are a few varieties of "fake grape" flavoring used in both medicines and sodas. None of them take like any actual grapes that I have ever eaten. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 04:18, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Well now I know. Thank you. I won't drink Grape soda for a while. Cause that was gross grape soda. Ha, yeah it doesn't taste like real Grapes. Unless they found these grapes on some magical tree.71.143.3.182 (talk) 01:20, 17 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

The flavor of most "grape-flavor" stuff, including sodas and medicines, is called "foxiness" and is a very good approximation of what Concord grapes taste like. If you've never had them they're quite a revelation! --Sean 14:39, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Wow! If that's true, then there must be a banana that tastes exactly like that bizarre "banana" flavouring they use for candy. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 16:13, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Is that also why Welch's grape juice tastes weird and unlike French and British grape juice? Skittle (talk) 12:36, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

I've never (to my knowledge) tasted French or British grape juice, but Welch's is made of concord grapes. I too was shocked when I ate concord grapes for the first time. I love them because they're just like eating grape candy. Mangostar (talk) 15:55, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

I am agreeing with the bizarre banana flavor.71.143.3.182 (talk) 04:19, 18 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

I always wonder how in heaven they came up with the blue raspberry flavor. bibliomaniac15 Midway upon life's journey... 04:30, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

I wonder how they get any flavor. Most of the flavors taste fake and are sickening.71.143.3.182 (talk) 05:00, 18 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Internet Networks

If you have forgotten your password to a internet network is there a way to find it again? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 09:22, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

This question would probably be better answered on the Computing ref desk. Since you've already posted it here though... What type of network specifically are you referring to? Do you mean the password to the router on your home network? Dismas|^(talk) 09:54, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Um... I mean the Wireless Network Connection at home. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.233.83.26 (talk) 10:08, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

You have two options: either reset the wireless router to its factory (default) settings, or try and access the router directly and find its password that way. The latter requires you to have a physical connection (ethernet) to the router, or to have a computer that already is authenticated with the router and can already sign in. Depending on what model of wireless router it is (Linksys? Netgear? etc.), the method for accessing its settings will vary. Note that if you have a password on the router settings itself, you won't be able to get into it at all (if you don't know that particular password), and will need to do the factory reset. If there is a password on the router settings screen (which is different than if there is a password needed to connect to the internet through the router) and you don't remember setting it, it might be the factory default password, and that can be looked up if we knew the make of the router.

Sound complicated? It is, unfortunately. I wish it were not the case. Even a technologically savvy person can find things like this a little time-consuming and confusing, as there are different passwords for different things and so much of it depends on knowing the specific defaults for any given router. And it's the sort of thing that's hard to explain to others because there is specific terminology (do you know the difference between your modem and your router? whether it is a WEP password or WPA?) that is easy to get confused about. It's the sort of problem you might consider finding someone you know who is very tech savvy and seeing if they can do it for you. (I've tried to explain this sort of thing over the phone to non-techie people before and it's verrry hard to walk them through it). --98.217.8.46 (talk) 22:11, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Pantyhose

How does Pantyhose keep legs warm if it doesn't hold air against the body and insulate it? Merely adding a layer against the skin does not seem like it would provide protection from the cold to me. Thank you. --24.183.39.245 (talk) 13:29, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I suspect it acts (at least) as a windbreak, though I think you underestimate the warmth that they will bring. ny156uk (talk) 15:44, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Some people find them effective under other layers to cut the chill. Julia Rossi (talk) 02:02, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

I was under the impression that pantyhose were meant not to keep legs, but rather for fashion or style purposes. Worn to hide veined legs for older women, avoid showing starkly white legs (as opposed to tanned ones), or simply to match (wearing black pantyhose with a short black dress, for example). EmilyELewis (talk) 23:45, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

I haven't found that hose provides a significant warmth benefit over bare legs, but most of my thermal issues are due to wind. Kuronue | Talk 14:26, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

If you examine the hose close up (maybe using a microscope, but preferably when no one is inside them), you will see lots of little stitches all locked together but with air spaces between the threads. This air acts as an insulator. Its how most (all?) clothes keep us warm. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.76.144.62 (talk) 04:47, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

Real virtual world

What is a virtual world that doesn't suck ass where there is some chance of making a living? Second Life, WoW and Entropia Universe are all out of the question. I want to experience like a simulated young USA. How can there not be something like this out there? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.48.193 (talk) 13:49, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

A Perfect World Ericthebrainiac (talk) 17:28, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

What do you mean by "making a living"? Making a living ingame, or being able to farm enough gold and resources to sell out of game to make a living in RL? SaundersW (talk) 17:55, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

You can do this?? HYENASTE 00:51, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Annie Oakley seemed to make something out of almost nothing so maybe that's your era. -- Julia Rossi (talk) 01:50, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Jonathan Lavery's health and well-being

I am worried for Jonathan Lavery's health and well-being because what if his brain tumor grows back? What would Greenlee Smythe and Amanda Dillon do when it happens? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 17:22, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

It's fiction, soap opera at that. Who knows. Maybe it'll have been his twin brother from outer space all along. I feel like this isn't really an appropriate question for this forum, though that may just be because I honestly can't conjure up a tiny bit of caring about the answer. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 18:16, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

First of all tumors don't just grow back - ok they do. and if it does he'll be fine - just like a child again - since everyone knows the tumour caused his strange behaviour previously - if he starts acting oddly he'll be straight back in for a brain scan I suppose. Just hope nothing can go wrong with a brain scanning machine.

Oh dear God no! Please don't even consider such a thing! I would just DIE!!! − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 18:36, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Can anything go wrong with a brain scanning machine

A brain scan is a non-invasive medical proceedure - with no risk to the suubject. Is that correct?87.102.124.155 (talk) 21:40, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

If you mean a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, it is non-invasive, but things can go wrong. They generate massive magnetic fields in order to work, and that carries with it some risk (of things getting sucked into the machine while someone is in it, or with an unknown piece of metal inside the subject being pulled out). It is a real threat, not just a theoretical possibility, and people have been injured and even died in such accidents. The problem isn't the scanning itself—it is totally non-invasive—but with the operation of the scanner. See Magnetic_resonance_imaging#Safety. Note that when properly handled, they are very safe; I'm not trying to be alarmist in any way, but since you asked about potential risks... --98.217.8.46 (talk) 21:52, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

A brain scanning machine is a man-made object. So of course things can go wrong with the mechanics. Hopefully not affecting the treatment.86.200.5.86 (talk) 15:34, 17 March 2008 (UTC)DT

Pimpinela

Who are Pimpinela? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 17:26, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

It is an Hispanic operatic soap for those affected by pimples the cultivation of which has been optimised by obsessively witnessing moronic low caloric cerebral nutrients scripted by brain dead prepubescent televisionary dickheads. Bugger it, this won´t work, either... --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 19:01, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Have a look here for a start [1]. Richard Avery (talk) 08:43, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

They are a pretty famous Argentine melodic duet (at least, down here). A sister and and brother who have been singing together for like 20 or 25 years. They have an eswiki page. Geez, I even didn't know they have already sold over 20m albums worldwide. -- ReyBrujo (talk) 11:45, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Exceptions

What are the exceptions to the rule that "every rule has exceptions?" NeonMerlin 18:39, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Obviously it varies rule to rule. Have a look at the article Exception that proves the rule ny156uk (talk) 20:46, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

If you're asking about the ability to make a logical paradox with playful bits of language.. see Self-refuting idea. Or, if you're feeling ambitious, give Gödel, Escher, Bach a spin (the book, not the article on the book). Or jump to the grand-daddy of them all, Gödel's incompleteness theorems. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 22:04, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

To give an answer, every verb in the English language contains at least one vowel. HYENASTE 00:48, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Pwn? Warofdreams talk 17:59, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

Try?--Jabberwalkee (talk) 02:56, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

The letter Y can be either a consonant or a vowel. It's a semivowel. -- Kesh (talk) 00:44, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

I've always treated "every rule has exceptions" as a rule, which therefore has exceptions, such that, umm, some rules don't have exceptions. Hence, the original statement and its apparent contradiction are both true. Gotta love it... 63.231.161.238 (talk) 22:57, 16 March 2008 (UTC) Dan

I just ignore all rules. Useight (talk) 00:16, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Home Made Spirit Level

I recall many yeras ago seeing a contractor using a home made spirit level that consisted of a long length of clear tubing with water inside to measue various levels when laying out footings over wide areas with a number of obstacles in the way that would prevent the use of a normal rigid level such as a Carpenter's level or Laser level. Can sommeone tell me how to make such a level and explain how it works? Colin1300 (talk) 22:23, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I think you've already got the basic idea. Some transparent tubing, bought at your local home-goods store, some barbed couplers to join multiple lengths of tubing if you really need to go a long ways, and some water and you're in business. Try to avoid entraining bubbles in the line; bubbles in vertical sections will throw off the balance as that leg of your level would be "lighter" than the non-bubbly leg.

How it works is that within a single contiguous (connected) body of water, all points on the surface of the water will be at the same distance from the center of the Earth; this is the lowest "energy state" for the body of water. So the two or more mensici will all be at exactly the same level once the water has reached equilibrium. Yes, you can "tee off" as many different branches as you like and they'll all be "level".

Atlant (talk) 22:50, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

(EC) Clear hosepipe, mostly filled with water (add some food colouring so you can see it). Leave both ends open (And keep both ends up in the air so that you have a very wide sort of U shape with water in the upright parts of the U) . Water finds its own level ... so the level of the water at the one of the pipe is at the same level as the water in the other end of the pipe. You can use the water level as a datum from which to measure the level you want. (e.g. if you want a level floor, and the level of water is above the floor, you measure levels 2' above the floor, and know that the floor must be 2' lower than the marks. --Tagishsimon (talk) 22:56, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Long cheap pipe is used for the body of the level, only the ends are transparent with stiff tubing with calibrations, or just clear vinyl.An identical stand at each end makes it even betterPolypipe Wrangler (talk) 23:42, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Ooh ooh! what about some handles at each end to hold it, and maybe some little lights so you can carry on levelling at night. Richard Avery (talk) 16:12, 17 March 2008 (UTC)