Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 July 10

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July 10 edit

Can't Remember This Song... edit

Hi guys, I listened to a parody of a song on the radio recently, except I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the original song. It was a chart topper many years back, and is still pretty well known. The parody is found at:

http://www.2ue.com.au/displayPopUpPlayerAction.action?&url=http://media.mytalk.com.au/2ue/audio/090710fridaymusicale.mp3

Huge thanks in advance!

121.216.110.25 (talk) 11:24, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The original is "Lola" (instead of "Lawyer"). ---Sluzzelin talk 11:30, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Lola with lyrics (video) Cuddlyable3 (talk) 00:17, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Hotline for medical advise edit

I distinctly remember hearing about a phone number inside the US where one can call a registered nurse to get medical advice. Does anyone know this number? - I am certainly willing to pay if necessary. Please note I am not asking for advice here, so please don't delete my question. Magog the Ogre (talk) 17:00, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If you have medical insurance, your insurer may offer such a line. Equally your doctor (or their affiliated practice or foundation) may have such a service. -- Finlay McWalterTalk 17:16, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Does 2-1-1 answer your question? Everard Proudfoot (talk) 19:54, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It's a shame you're not in the UK :P - the NHS has a few good phone lines for this. Chevymontecarlo 06:20, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sweet potatoes edit

I have two sweet potatoes in the house. I bought them three weeks ago, stored them away in a plastic bag, unrefrigerated (and I'm in New York; it's been about 95 degrees here for the past two weeks), and forgot about them. When I looked on the shelf where they are I said to myself "Oh man, I totally forgot about those, they must be so rotten..." and, bracing myself for the smell I was expecting, I opened the bag. They look fine. They aren't even mushy. Are these edible do you think? Why are they not rotting?--162.83.139.249 (talk) 19:52, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sweet potatoes are tubers. Like potatoes, you can keep tubers stored in dark places for quite awhile, though typically in cooler locations such as basements. Everard Proudfoot (talk) 19:55, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
They probably aren't rotting because they are still alive. It doesn't make a great deal of difference to a potato whether it's buried under six inches of dry dirt - or kept in a cool, dry, dark place in a plastic bag. Note that potatoes generally sprout shoots before they rot. If the plant is still alive, then whatever defenses it has against rot in it's natural habitat are still functioning perfectly well. So, yeah - go ahead and eat them, they should be fine. SteveBaker (talk) 04:54, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
That could be murder. :( ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 12:01, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
See also Carrot Juice is Murder, by The Arrogant Worms. (There is a music video, but I can't locate an authorized upload.) TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:44, 11 July 2010 (UTC) [reply]
Yeah, what I've noticed is that if you leave potatoes in a dark cool place for long enough they'll start sprouting like they think they're in the ground. Pretty cool. I would imagine they start sprouting, go mushy and then finally begin to rot, like SteveBaker says. Chevymontecarlo 06:19, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If they sprout, throw them out, or at least cut off the sprouts before eating. ~AH1(TCU) 14:54, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
No! If they sprout, put them in a glass of water and enjoy the gorgeous branches that will grow. Lova Falk talk 17:15, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Plant them in the garden and grow more taters. 75.41.110.200 (talk) 23:33, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
That also works with garlic. Onions grow a shoot too, but it makes them smell bad. 142.104.215.119 (talk) 01:57, 12 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Author search edit

Why the author who wrote "The Life I was Given" is not on Wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dcooper2003 (talkcontribs) 22:39, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Would that by any chance be The Life I was Given by Deanna Cooper and self-published by RoseDog Books? To merit articles, people need to meet the standard of notability defined at WP:BIO; specifically for authors the standard is WP:AUTHOR. The author of a single self-published book, about whom I can find no reliable information supporting any claim that they are "regarded as an important figure or is widely cited by their peers or successors". That's why. -- Finlay McWalterTalk 23:01, 10 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't want to cast aspersions but I'd bet a donut that the original poster is the author in question. --Mr.98 (talk) 02:44, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
And if that is the case, it's no wonder their book is not a best seller, if they use language such as "Why the author ... is not on Wikipedia?". -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 20:08, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]