Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2012 December 30

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December 30

how is kenyas millitary power?

how is kenyas millitary power? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.201.216.136 (talk) 11:41, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

>> Kenya Defence Forces Choyoołʼįįhí:Seb az86556 ^{> haneʼ} 11:44, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

'#77 of the world by miltary expenditures according to our List of countries by military expenditures article. Royor (talk) 12:29, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Weird sound at night

Since my childhood, I can hear some weird noise at night just if I listen carefully. It sounds like some sort of sound of working electric lamp. But when I hear it, there is no light in my or near rooms. What is the sound? --維基小霸王 (talk) 12:05, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

In a place where I previously lived I would sometimes hear a loud high-pitched continuous noise coming from outside at night. I decided it must be coming from the top of a utility pole -- either from something in the electrical transmission system or from a street light. Is your noise high-pitched and continuous? Duoduoduo (talk) 13:23, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Yes, it is high-pitched and continuous. But my room is in the 13th floor, so it can't be the utility pole.--維基小霸王 (talk) 14:49, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Maybe the reason it's not louder is that you're on the 13th floor. And it wouldn't necessarily have to be specifically a utility pole -- maybe it is part of the electric transmission system wherever the power enters your building. Duoduoduo (talk) 17:12, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

There's probably a piece of electrical equipment, like a transformer, in a utility room on your floor. You can't hear it during the day because of other, louder sounds masking it. StuRat (talk) 18:08, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Could it be tinnitus? Looie496 (talk) 15:21, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Tinnitus is "the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound". That is, it seems to be coming from inside your head. That's certainly my experience and that of others I know who have this suckworthy condition. I never think it's an external sound source, which is what the OP seems to be saying. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 18:54, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

The 13th floor? A lot of buildings have a mechanical floor there instead with air conditioning equipment and suchlike. You'd certainly get hums from that. Dmcq (talk) 18:45, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

It's the faint wailing of the souls of the damned. That's what one gets for living on the 13th floor. We even have an article on this. μηδείς (talk) 22:07, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Common faint electrical humming sounds are mains hum (low-pitched, can be caused by just about any electrical equipment), and the component hum of switched-mode power supplies (high-pitched). --Carnildo (talk) 01:16, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

May be this is the reason.--維基小霸王 (talk) 03:46, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

The Hum. See also WP:WHAAOE. --Dweller (talk) 23:44, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Not sure how likely or reliable this is, but John Cage once reported hearing a high-piched sound later explained to him as his nervous system when he visited an anechoic chamber (see 4′33″#Background and influences). May also be otoacoustic emission? I myself have often been able (since childhood) to hear a very high frequencied sound (usually when in near-silence), though I've never told anyone so I don't have an official explanation that might help you. May also be tinnitus, you may be hearing the wiring in your room (I can hear a high-pitched whine when cell phones are charging), or even Radio Frequency hearing. Brambleclawx 04:11, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

We discussed tinnitus above. The OP is describing an external noise, but tinnitus is an internal noise. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 04:38, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

High pitched sounds are often generated spontaneously in the hearing system, and are filtered out by the brain. They can often seem external when first heard, though this possibility can usually soon be eliminated by experiment. As Jack says, we should assume that the OP has done the elimination, so an electrical or electromagnetic source seems most likely. Switched-mode power supplies generate a high frequency (because that's how they work) and this is often audible in a quiet room. Pinpointing the exact location can be tricky for frequencies near the top of the hearing range. Our binaural direction-location system seems to work best at mid-frequencies. Dbfirs 08:14, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

Sorry, I've just realised that most of what I wrote had already been said. Dbfirs 08:27, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

That's OK. You have support from unlikely quarters. Such as Max Beerbohm, who wrote: Anything that is worth doing has been done frequently. Things hitherto undone should be given, I suspect, a wide berth. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 01:24, 1 January 2013 (UTC)

It could be the sound of your fridge. – b_jonas 10:07, 2 January 2013 (UTC)

Borther Stair

Article about "Brother Stair" Makes no personal reference to the mans family. He has a wife and I believe at least a child. This personal information would be helpful to Wikipedia viewers, in my opinion. It helps to quell bias against a person if they are portrayed as "just like any normal" person with a family? I found the article incomplete with some bias in as much as the personal loves and family interests were not mentioned, but all of his indiscretions were. Thanks Brian Hedger. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mistrmn2012 (talk • contribs) 17:45, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Presumably this Brother Stair. Rmhermen (talk) 17:54, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

"Helpful" only if they're looking to harass the guy's family. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:11, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Most WP articles about people have some information about their family life, but it should only be included if it is found in a reliable source. By all means add some information if you can reference it reliably. But the purpose of Wikipedia is not to quell (or encourage) bias but to present every topic in a neutral way. --ColinFine (talk) 18:52, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Agree with Colin's response but just to note that also generally it is best to raise concerns like this on the relevant page's talk page (Talk:Brother Stair) rather than on the reference desk as these pages are more about answering questions/helping people find information than discussing the quality of specific articles. 188.221.55.215 (talk) 21:27, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

who had founded Pizza king and shilton hotels?

Who had founded these failed brands Pizza King in the mid 80s and Shilton Hotels in the late 90s? Thanks for the help! Linkinfloyd (talk) 23:41, 30 December 2012 (UTC)