Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 May 21

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 21

The Human Body

Why is it that some of us (girls) develope later than others My Mom is a d size and developed at age 14. i am 15 will i soon get my breast and big but like her? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.122.83.105 (talk) 01:01, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Sometimes body types in families give a clue. People can inherit characteristics from parents, relatives or from other generations. The range can be close, or widely different. Mostly it's about observation and guess work... and waiting to find out. Cheers, Julia Rossi (talk) 03:44, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

You might find this chart helpful...and of course WP's article on puberty. --zenohockey (talk) 02:59, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

London (and other UK) museums, tourist attractions, etc.

Anyone know of any "must see" places for a tourist in London? I've got a few of the normal ones down (ie. the British Museum, London Eye), but I'm just wondering if anyone has other ideas. I'll also be around Chester, Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Bath, so any other interesting places to be would be appreciated. 206.126.163.20 (talk) 01:59, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Out of London,if you can get to Cardiff in Wales,visit the castle in the centre of the city,and travel to St Fagans welsh folk museum is free to visit.You will need to pay to go into the castle.In London,Hampton Court Palace and the gardens,they do also charge to go into the gardens.A boat trip up to Greenwich is nice for about £6 pounds return,and you can visit the meridian line there and stop off on the way back at St Pauls,also walk over to the TATE.In the west end/soho and Covent garden where there are always street entertainers to watch for free.Have fun! Fluter. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.86.15.15 (talk) 07:57, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

In London, I'll propose the Tower of London, the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum. If I were you, I should skip Chester and take in some great houses instead, such as (to take one at random) Blenheim Palace. Xn4 02:08, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes, you're not the first who has recommended Blenheim. I'll have to consider that too. The only thing is transportation costs, which limit our moving around too much (and Chester... I think we went with that because of the zoo?). I've got the Tower of London, I'll have to throw the National Gallery and V&A Museum onto the list. 206.126.163.20 (talk) 02:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Chester's good, if history's your thing : most complete city walls in Britain, plenty of Grade I listed buildings, Roman fort, medieval buildings (plus lots of Victorian ones!), cathedral, and so on. Gwinva (talk) 03:05, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Skip Chester?! Chester is awesome, and not just because I live there. Lots of Roman stuff, as Gwinva says, and Chester Zoo is one of the best zoos in Europe (and hence one of the best in the world - [1]). Plus good shopping. If you time your visit right, and you can get there when Chester Races are on, it's even better. Neıl 龱 09:43, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

You should at least have had a look at Harrod's, even if you don't go for a shopping trip there. --71.236.23.111 (talk) 05:02, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Harrods also have a shop in the Highlands at Shin Falls where you can also watch the salmon leaping.--Artjo (talk) 06:22, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

£99 t-shirts. Wow. 24.76.169.85 (talk) 06:31, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

To make you feel today's London, I would suggest junk & antiques markets like Portobello Road Market and Petticoat Lane Market on Sundays, or the atmospheric street performances at Covent Garden -- Meister (talk) 06:30, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

In Edinburgh, if you are reasonably fit (i.e. able to walk a couple of miles) go to the top of Arthur's Seat. You get a great view of the city and coastline. -- Q Chris (talk) 06:51, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

London sites not yet mentioned, in no particular order ... Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Shakespeare's Globe, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, London Zoo, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ... Gandalf61 (talk) 10:25, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Bath has lots of attractions such as the Royal Crescent, roman baths, a cathedral, some sort of teddy bear shop/museum... It's also not too far from Bristol which has sights such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Victoria Rooms, a cathedral, the SS Great Britain and The Matthew, a widely-renowned zoo, the Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Queen Square, At Bristol, as well as the New Rooms, John Wesley's first Methodist chapel. -mattbuck (Talk) 23:24, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Just have to let you all know, I <3 all of you. Very useful suggestions :) 206.126.163.20 (talk) 23:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Unused political campaign contributions in the US

When a candidate drops out of a race in the United States, what happens to the unused campaign contributions? 76.199.151.77 (talk) 04:17, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

After federal campaigns, the money can be used for "any lawful purpose" that does not benefit the candidate personally. ([2]) Typically, the candidate donates the money to another campaign organization. John Kerry gave the leftover funds from his presidential campaign to Democratic Party organizations. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 07:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Campaigns often end up in debt, a situation covered in this recent story. --Sean 12:21, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Who are you?

Just wanted to know who you people are that answer all of these questions. Just random people who want to answer questions, or people who somehow work or volunteer for Wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.7.126.152 (talk) 06:25, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Random people like me. -- Meister (talk) 06:31, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Everyone who edits Wikipedia is technically volunteering. Wikimedia doesn't have that many employees, and you probably won't see them around much. 24.76.169.85 (talk) 06:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

We are the internet. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 14:44, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

We're people who think it's fun answering questions. Many of us are doing it during breaks at work, or while watching TV at home. We're not invariably right, so the answers you should take most seriously are the ones that cite sources you can double-check. Me, I'm a bored junior high school teacher on her lunch break. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 14:51, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

What? You're surrounded by all that teenage angst and drama and you're bored? ;-) So you come here for Wiki angst and drama? ;-)

Atlant (talk) 16:07, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm Spartacus. Ziggy Sawdust 19:31, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

No! I'm Spartacus!! (just had to do it) Fribbler (talk) 19:32, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

No, I'm Spartacus and so's my wife! Matt Deres (talk) 00:14, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm a software engineer in the UK, working for a large IT company - though I started editing Wikipedia about five years ago while at university. I usually read the Desk rather than write, for interest (and sometimes amusement) in the questions and answers. When something comes up that I know about, though, I'll offer an opinion. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 08:13, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I suppose I am a person that works for the readers of Wikipedia. I answer questions when I believe that I can be helpful. Thomprod (talk) 17:42, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

St John the Apostle

How did St John the Apostle become a saint? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 07:01, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

See Canonisation. Fribbler (talk) 09:20, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Still that does not say anything specificly about how or what St John did to actually become a saint. 220.233.83.26 (talk) 09:58, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Whoops. His sainthood would pre-date the Canonisation process.... Basically all apostles are saints by default, by virtue of their association with Jesus. Fribbler (talk) 10:07, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

...Apart from one.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 11:00, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

St Johns?

Is St John the Apostle the same guy as St John the Baptist? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 08:15, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

John the Baptist and John the Apostle suggest that they were not. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 08:27, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

St John the Apostle

Can someone explain what it means if John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos at the age of about 100, where he had a vision of Christ and of the future? Basicly I'm confused what the exiled part means? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 08:34, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

See Exile. Basically it means being forcibly sent somewhere where you must remain. Like Napoleon Bonaparte for one, he was exiled to Elba and St.Helena at different times. Fribbler (talk) 09:24, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Well, in a sufficiently abstract sense, yes -- the "somewhere you must remain" being "anywhere but here". If you have to stay in one particular place, that's not so much "exile" as "imprisonment". --Trovatore (talk) 19:46, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Also, if I recall correctly, it wasn't John the Apostle who was sent to Patmos, but John the Divine. --Trovatore (talk) 19:58, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Although they might be one and the same. Lots of guys called John? One John who did lots of things? Gwinva (talk) 01:46, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

St John the Apostle

What were St John Beliefs about the resurection of Jesus? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 10:01, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Are we doing your homework for you? Read St John the Apostle. If the information is not contained within the article, follow the external links the article provides. Neıl 龱 10:26, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Is Tim Cahill back with yet another mask? Dear 220.233.83, I encourage you to read the article as Neil says, then if you still have questions, put them all in the one section. Maybe you could call it, the remains of St John the Apostled or something like that. Julia Rossi (talk) 10:41, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Could you just answer the question? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 11:49, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

The answers to your homework questions are probably in the article St John the Apostle. We don't do homework, though, so you'll have to read the article- or your assigned reading- and finish your homework yourself. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 11:57, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

To tell you the truth this wilipedia article isn't as crash hot as your making it out to be. You think this almighty article will hold all the answers. WELL IT DOESN'T!!!!!!! Why do you think I'm asking this question! Because your pretty little article doesn't have the answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 220.233.83.26 (talk) 12:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

The answer to your question is in the article - it is in the paragraph beginning "After the Resurrection ...". Takes much less time to find it than to type out rude responses to folks who are trying to help you. Gandalf61 (talk) 13:46, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

And using common sense would probably help. St. John the Apostle, is first of all a Catholic Saint. He's going to share the beliefs of the catholic church. Second of all, the guy, or one of his followers, wrote one of the Gospels in the bible. It talks about the resurection. Checking that out would most likely be a tad helpful. 63.110.146.129 (talk) 15:00, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

News channel

What is most neutral TV news channel? I personally think EuroNews, but I can compare it only to CNN and BBC, have no idea about other channels. 89.236.214.174 (talk) 11:17, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

From an American perspective, I'd have to say Auntie Beeb; all of our locally-produced news networks are crap (and yes, that definitely includes National Public Radio). I'd probably give CBC a nod, but I don't hear them often enough to really say.

Atlant (talk) 12:08, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

There is no neutral TV news. The BBC is no exception, especially now that they've got an interest in marketing to the Arab world. The change in their thrust has been noticeable—shocking sometimes. The closest thing to neutrality is achieved by Fox News and the like, so yellow that they look like sunshine. Their entire agenda is to get you to watch, that's all, and that approximates integrity. --Milkbreath (talk) 12:53, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Fox News neutral? Maybe in the Bizarro World. Clarityfiend (talk) 15:30, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I think he's suggesting that they at least make their biases obvious. I think that the best way to find out what's really going on is to get news from multiple, diverse sources, rather than relying on any one news source. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 15:37, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

In America, the trouble is that there are several prominent Right-Wing sources (e.g., Fox), several center-right sources (the major networks, NPR, most newspapers), and few or no blatantly-left-wing sources except Pacifica and, to a certain degree, Air America Radio.

Atlant (talk) 16:05, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

(NPR is center-right? I've always thought of them as center-left. I'm center-left myself, anyway, and always thought that most of their news programs and commentary seemed to be right up my alley. But maybe we're using different definitions of left and right; I've noticed that much of what passes for "left" in the US is considered to be much more "center" in the rest of the world, as we are a country of liberals and not radicals.) --98.217.8.46 (talk) 15:14, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Fifteen years or so ago, I would have agreed with you (that they were "center left"). But as the government started attaching more and more strings to CPB's money and as corporate sponsorship had a larger and larger influence on their programming, their news and commentary definitely shifted rightwards. They used to at least occasionally have overt socialist commentators but nowadays, it's nothing but several choices of Right-wing propagnda.

Atlant (talk) 17:18, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

It is pretty impossible for any broadcast news program to be neutral, because even a twenty-four-hour source such as CNN has limits on what it can reasonably cover. There are limits on time, personnel, and viewers' sensibilities. These limits mean that someone has to decide what's going to be covered, how much time it will be given, and how many of the other resources will be allocated. Since these decisions aren't being made by a large number of differently-minded people, neutrality is quite impossible. It's somewhat more attainable with Wikipedia, since the definition of "noteworthiness" has been arrived upon by a collaborative, constantly-evolving means and since the resources are virtually limitless. Mitchell k dwyer (talk) 17:50, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Some of the best American public-affairs reporting comes from the Voice of America, which is legally prohibited from broadcasting to the U.S. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:15, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Who's got time to watch the news? You're obviously not taking your roles at WP seriously enough! Anyway, what can be more neutral than Wikipedia? :) Gwinva (talk) 01:54, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

MYLAR BALLOON

Why is the material called MYLAR, what does it mean and where does it come from? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.103.69.50 (talk) 13:31, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

See PET film (biaxially oriented) --Tagishsimon (talk) 13:34, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If it's the word meaning you're just after, this is from The Online Etymology Dictionary:

Mylar: proper name for a polyester film, 1954, trademarked by E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A. Like many Du Pont names, it doesn't mean anything, they just liked the sound.

Fribbler (talk) 15:39, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

black suit combinations

I own just one black suit and wanted to see what different combinations of shirt/tie I could use? Mr.K. (talk) 14:27, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

That isn't a question, it's a statement. However, if you have the shirts and ties, you could try them on in front of a mirror, if not, try drawing all the options and cuting them out, and creating 2D figures dressed in your pictures of clothes.HS7 (talk) 19:27, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

The statement has an indirect question. Mr.K. (talk) 23:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If you are a pretty consevative dresser, try a plain pale blue or white shirt with a darker tie (plain or patterened doesn't matter). If you are more flamboyant, try a bright coloured shirt and maybe a contrasting tie. Keep the black tie for funerals or joining the "Men in Black". Astronaut (talk) 01:55, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Work as a librarian

I am currently in the process of finishing my BA in history and then was thinking of pursuing a masters in library science and was wondering what it is like being a librarian - what do the daily duties include, what sort of jobs can you get a library science degree and how is the job market? Would you recommend being a librarian, what is the good of the job? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Baalhammon (talk • contribs) 15:29, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Here is a listing of the major division of roles. The job market data would be a function of the type of librarian you plan to be.--droptone (talk) 17:34, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

A couple more, slightly fuller answers here. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 09:41, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Who discovered that the liver has four lobes?

I have been asked by a proffesor to find a picture of the man who discovered that there were four lobes to the liver. I have searched high and low and no answers. He said that the man was a grave robber and was possible named Darius. That he was competing with a well known man named Galund who did autopsys on bodys. That Darius proved the well known man Galund wrong and discovered that the human liver has four lobes and not six which was originally thought. I'm not sure if i spelt those names correctly. Please assist. 64.24.174.179 (talk) 16:56, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

For one of your anatomists, see Galen.

Atlant (talk) 17:27, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

And my bet is that "Darius" is really Vesalius. Note that they were not contemporaries. Galen was a well-known authority on anatomy from the Roman times who was much respected in Medieval Europe even though Galenic anatomy had a lot of well-known problems (one of which being that Galen only dissected animals and so was quite wrong about certain parts of human anatomy that he extrapolated from them). Vesalius was not the first to suggest a new anatomical approach based more on empiricism, dissection of humans, and conceptualizing the body not as a series of regions but as a body full of sinews and organs and blood and other nasty things in a three-dimensional space (Galenic anatomy is more about regions of humors and conceptualizing the body as a 2-D arrangement), but he was one of the most popular and influential, and is sometimes called the "Father of modern anatomy" for that reason. Vesalius is widely seen as one of the major forces to overthrow Galenic anatomy, though again this is a convenient simplification. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 17:43, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

(After ec beaten to it!)It was Andreas Vesalius. Check out the impressive illustrations from his book De Humani Corporis Fabrica. They're excellent and online somewhere. (Also, Galen and Vesalius lived at very different times, but Andreas proved much of Galen's work to be false, even though it had been taken as infallable for centuries.) Fribbler (talk) 17:44, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Scars

Hi! Everyone has gotten a scar from a cut, right. So, why do some old scars ache?X27 (talk) 17:56, 21 May 2008 (UTC)X27

They don't. There may be some nerve damage or something if a scar still hurts after healing; see a doctor, not Wikipedia. 206.126.163.20 (talk) 23:34, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Sorry if it seemed like I was asking for medical advice.:(X27 (talk) 00:49, 22 May 2008 (UTC)X27

My first Kiss

Yesterday I went to the dentists and had a replacement filling because the old one was leaking or something. I got an injection and my whole face area around my mouth went numb. Anyway, later I went to school, and as I didn't have no lessons in the morning nobody knew I'd been to the dentists. So I'm with this girl I like and we share our first kiss, and I fact my first kiss ever. But I didn't feel it! My lips were totally numb! I'm really upset because I wanted it to be special, but I don't even know how it felt. She says it was good, but what should I do? I haven't told her about this. Everyone would probably laugh at me. Does this count as a first kiss or should I tell her and we can do it again but it won't be as special? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.75.241.52 (talk) 18:48, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Well, in a way, it was special. You'll likely never forget it because of whole dentist drama. And yeah, I'd tell her. It makes for a light-hearted anecdote. Dismas|^(talk) 19:29, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Holy shit, talk about bad luck. Do you work at the ladder factory? Wittiness aside, kissing isn't really that unique an experience physically; it's basically the same as smooshing your mouth into your elbow. The specialness of it would lie more in the fact that you're sharing a relationship/personal moment/French fry with someone else, and the physical sensation is more of a side effect. (Of course, this is coming from a Wikipedia editor, but...) Ziggy Sawdust 19:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

It does count as your first kiss, but you should probably still ask her if you can do it again. :) If you do it right, being able to tell a humorous story at your own expense can work wonders. Bovlb (talk) 19:48, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Consider yourself lucky. You could have been to to the andrologyst and have had an injection into a different part of your anatomy. Whereupon your entire <insert name of organ here> goes numb.

Anyway, so I am with this girl I like and we share our first <insert name of activity here>, but I didn´t feel it! My <you know what> was totally numb. I´m really upset because I wanted it to be special, but I don´t even know how it felt.

Should I tell her and we can do it again? --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:23, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm not sure about that one. If said body part was numb, I don't think it would actually functioned in the way it should meaning 'name of activity' wouldn't have happened in the first place. Of course, when it didn't work you would have had some explaining to do... Nil Einne (talk) 16:41, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Ha ha! You've made my day with that one 79.75.241.52! Think outside the box 19:45, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

DTS

Hi. I am wondering how DTS on a surround sound system works. I can't seem to figure it out. Other than the fact I know it's loud. Do I have to turn it up in order for it not to sound like crap because it seems that way. If I have it on DTS mode on a surround sound and it's at a low volume, it will sound like not all the sound is coming through the speakers. Yet if I turn it up, it will sound extremely loud but not as crappy. Also, what is the difference between DTS Hi-Def and normal DTS?Jwking (talk) 19:18, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Firstly, you need a surround system actually capable of playing 5.1 audio. Then you'll need a DVD or Bluray/HDDVD player that can either decode DTS itself and simply pipe the 5.1 audio to the surround system (in which case you don't need DTS mode enabled on the receiver, it just has to be set to accept the 5.1 input), or that outputs the DTS data to the system directly so that it can decode it instead (in which case you do). Then you'll need a DVD / Bluray / HDDVD disc that actually has a DTS track. That's about it. HD DTS does up to 7.1 channels of audio and has a higer bitrate than plain DTS. 24.76.169.85 (talk) 19:57, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Can't stop having Conservative thoughts

Hello ! How do you become Enlightened ? Does being enlightended make you superior to the unenlightened ? There is much social stigma associated with Unenlightened Ideas such as free trade, patriarchy, theism, etc. How can one make an effort to not think those dangerously reactionary thoughts ? Thank you. 69.157.238.199 (talk) 19:29, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Is there an actual question in here? Please don't use the reference desk as a soapbox, if that's what you're doing. Friday (talk) 19:34, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If you can't stop the conservative ideas, I suggest a lobotomy. -mattbuck (Talk) 19:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

SYNTAX ERROR: QUERY FAILED. PLEASE TRY AGAIN. Ziggy Sawdust 19:36, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If you genuinely want to become less conservative, one effective thing to do is to spend more time with people who are significantly different than you- especially, try to make friends who are poor, or who are part of racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities. Another good way to become less conservative is, if you are able to afford it, to travel to countries about which you have lots of stereotypes but little personal experience. Gaining as much education as possible can also be helpful- in general, people who are more educated are less conservative, as are people who live in large cities (and thus have frequent contact with many different kinds of people.) -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 19:48, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

What's a sexual minority? :) Zain Ebrahim (talk) 20:42, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people. Conservatives often find them very upsetting in theory; in practice, they're as dull as straight people -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 20:48, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

The french? A very sexual minority if stereotypes are to be believed :-) Fribbler (talk) 22:58, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Free trade is a very whiggish new-fangled idea. William Avery (talk) 20:01, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Now, wait just a second. Who is telling you that you must do this? because, you are sounding like someone who is being told they must think a certain way; which is dangerously close to brainwashing.

Do not stop thinking conservative thoughts if you do not want to. If you wish to be a theist, then do so, for instance. Just becasue certain people label something as "reactionary" doesn't mean you are not entitled to think that way - freedom of thought is central to you as a person. And, this is coming from me as a devout Baptist; God does not want to force you to believe anything. i believe the way I believe because I choose to.

So, exercise your freedom of choice. If you are freely choosing to believe in something other than free trade, for instance, as the proper way for a society to run, then do so. But, you are not "dangerously reactionary" if you believe in free trade, theism, or anything else. And, nobody should say that you are.

I will stop now, as I feel this is becoming something of a soapbox statement itself. But, I was troubled by the notion that you sound almost compelled to stop thinking certain thoughts, instead of exercising free will. And, I wanted to ensure you that certain thoughts are fine. Some opinions may not be as acceptable in one culture or another, that's all.(And yes, I would say that to someone feeling compelled to think liberal thoughts, too.209.244.30.221 (talk) 15:31, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I thought the OP was constantly plagued by visions of David Cameron,John Major and Maggie Thatcher.That might not be such a bad problem-after all the good folk of Crewe share your desires Lemon martini (talk) 14:00, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Suggestions for an itinerary in Great Britain

I am planning a two-week holiday in England, Scotland, and possibly Wales. I have been to London several times, know the city fairly well, and will be spending just three days there on this trip. However, most of my past trips to the UK have not gone beyond London, and I am eager to explore the country. I want to see some of the great cathedrals and have already made a list. I have also made a short list of prehistoric monuments, since they interest me as well. Beyond this, my traveling companion and I are particularly interested in medieval castles and places for exhilarating hill walking. Can anyone suggest a few impressive castles and scenic hill walks? For example, I was thinking of doing some walking in the Grampians and/or the Lake District, but would welcome suggestions of particular routes in those places or other places I might not have thought of. Also, I would like to take a look at a well-preserved Victorian industrial cityscape. I had been thinking that Manchester might fit the bill, but it seems to have been redeveloped and repurposed and maybe not much different in feel than London. Would Liverpool be a better pick? Somewhere else in Lancashire or Yorkshire? Thanks in advance for your help. Marco polo (talk) 20:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

The major castles are, I think, Dover, Edinburgh and north Wales (Conwy, Harlech, Caernarfon and Beaumaris). If Canterbury is on your cathedral list, then Conrad's grave is a little-known cultural spot. Algebraist 21:40, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I can recommend countryside in the North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales for walking and castle-spotting. Middleham castle has Richard III associations and the surrounding countryside is scenic and fine walking territory, being a national park and containing parts of the Pennine Way. You are within an hour or so of Skipton Castle, Barnard Castle, and of York Minster and Durham Cathedral and castle, with Hadrian's Wall an easy car trip in a day as a plus. Durham in particular is a World Heritage Site and the cathedral is spectacular. -- Karenjc 22:22, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Arundel Castle. Dover, yes, is the major businesslike fortification, a real must-see, but Arundel.... Chock full of treasures, beautifully restored, also a major serious defensive work, lovingly maintained on fairy-tale grounds by a charming village. A real best-kept secret. --Milkbreath (talk) 22:23, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Is it safe to assume you will be renting a car? If so, most of the country will be accessible to you. Because of the heavy traffic, expensive parking and £8/day congestion charge, I suggest you only pick up the rental car when you leave London (if you can't drive stick, make sure you request automatic transmission).

England:

West of London there's Stonehenge (get there as soon as it opens to avoid the bus loads of tourists), and Salisbury has a cathederal. If the tourist crowds get too much at Stonehenge, you could take a look at the much smaller stone circle in Avebury. You could the push on further west to Glastonbury, Wells (another great cathederal), Bath.

If you're heading north-west from London, I would suggest brief stops in Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. Further north, Chester has an encircling city wall, Manchester still has some Victorian industrial cityscape but you might find more of what you're looking for in the smaller cities just north of Manchester (I'm thinking, places like Bolton, Bury, Burnley, etc. - though those cities are not really set up for tourists). Liverpool still has some preserved victorian architecture and is currently the European Capital of Culture (ie. lots of cultural events going on), plus there's the Beatles, football, the ferry across the Mersey.

Further north, there's the Lake District, and at the northern end of the Lake District is the scottish border and Hadrians Wall.

Alternatively, on the eastern side of the country, I would suggest stops at Cambridge and the cathederal cities of Ely and Lincoln. Industrial cities of Leeds or Sheffield. York has a cathedeal, Whitby was one of the settings of Dracula, and Durham is yet another cathederal & college town. Newcastle-upon-Tyne is another city like Liverpool with a distinctive culture and accent. North of Newcastle, Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne island could be worth a vist.

Astronaut (talk) 22:43, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Scotland

North of the border, Edinburgh is definitely worth visiting. There's a huge arts festival every year in August. In the north-west of Scotland, the Scottish Highlands give lots of opportunities for fresh air and peace and quiet. I would suggest heading towards Skye, going through Glencoe and past Eilean Donan castle on the way there. Many people say it rains a lot in the Highlands, but in my experience, the weather can be good with bright sun in August and into September.

Astronaut (talk) 01:23, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Living nearby, I'm probably biased, but I'd recommend the Peak District for walking. It has two distinct areas (Dark and White Peak) with very different scenery, both excellent walking areas, and contains countless prehistoric monuments - I'm a particular fan of Stanton Moor. It's fairly convenient for York Minster, Lichfield Cathedral, Conisbrough Castle, and the industrial landscapes of urban Yorkshire and Lancashire.

With regard to Victorian cityscapes, it really depends on what you hope to see. You won't find large expanses of Victorian industrial buildings still in use by industry, although there are the odd few. East Manchester is good for imposing former industrial buildings towering over canals. Liverpool has extensive Victorian docks, but for my tastes, they're so sanitised that it's difficult to get any impression of their former use. Sheffield has some small scale industries still operating in Victorian buildings north east of the centre, but they're nothing much to look at. For my money, the best options are the Derwent Valley Mills - mostly pre-Victorian, but great cityscape, or Halifax, West Yorkshire for the general impression of a Victorian mill town. Warofdreams talk 22:59, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I personally suggest Bristol as it is an absolutely beautiful city. -mattbuck (Talk) 23:00, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Bristol is cool -- gotta walk the bridge. But one place you may not have visited in London is the British Library, which use to be in the British Museum but now has its own building. The exhibitions are amazing -- you may get to see both the Lindisfarne Gospels and the original handwritten lyrics to "I Want to Hold Your Hand!" -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:13, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks to all of you for these suggestions! Many of these are places I wouldn't have thought of. I guess I wasn't too clear what I meant by a Victorian industrial cityscape. Maybe it isn't so important that it be industrial. I just know that my favorite cityscapes in many places (Berlin, Bremen, my own Boston, also London) date from the 19th century. In the 19th century, cities were built compactly, for walking not driving, but on a scale that feels urban in a way that earlier smaller cities (like Bruges) cannot. I was thinking that there must be a lot of that in England's old industrial heartland. After doing a little more research, I am thinking that Manchester might not be a bad choice after all, though I am tempted to try to head west and squeeze Bristol into the trip too. (Bristol has a particular interest for me as an American because of its role linking England with the colonies in the 18th century.) Marco polo (talk) 01:19, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Try Saltaire, in Yorkshire or New Lanark, Scotland, for Victorian industrial towns; both are World Heritage sites. Saltaire is on the outskirts of Bradford, which offers its own depressing example of a degenerating industrial town, and close to Leeds, a thriving ex-industrial city, which has some Victorian highlights, including the Leeds Corn Exchange, but also the marvellous Royal Armouries which is a must see if you've an interest in military history. (But if you are in Manchester, then check out Quarry Bank Mill, a National Trust restored cotton mill complex: plenty to see.) For medieval castles, I add my vote for Skipton Castle and Middleham Castle, in Yorkshire. (Much more atmospheric than the trophy castles like Edinburgh, which is mainly post-medieval, anyway.) From Leeds, you can get commuter trains to Skipton (via Saltaire), Bradford, York, Halifax, Harrogate... Head up through Yorkshire, Durham and Northumbria to the borders to take in a fine selection of medieval castles (I love Norham), battle fields such as Flodden, Hadrian's Wall and the various Roman forts (buses shuttle along so you can walk along and get picked up). Of course, on your way past is the unmissable city of Durham: Cathedral and Castle are another World Heritage Site. The Scottish side of the border has more castles and abbeys (Melrose Abbey is good; for castles see Hermitage Castle and the tiny Smailholm Tower, for starters. If you're heading up the West coast, then the East Cumbrian castles such as Brougham and Brough are pretty good; Carlisle Castle is tired and knocked about, but the Tullie House Museum opposite is pretty good, particularly on Reiver history. I could keep going, but you're getting inundated with advice. You've a wealth to choose from, so you're bound to have a good time. Enjoy! Gwinva (talk) 02:30, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

addition: Glasgow is a fine example of a Victorian city; for something earlier, see Edinburgh's New Town. The heart of both cities can be enjoyed on foot. Gwinva (talk) 02:46, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Manchestr still has lots of Victorian stuff left.Try walking the canal tow paths.They have Victorian warehouses all along them and some really exciting new developements.Manchester town hall is a monument to Victorian architecture.There is the Royal Exchange theatre too, and Central library.The Science museum has a working Victorian loom amd Manchester was built on the cotton industry and there are guided walks through the city.Salford Quays is well worth a visit too, the Lowry Gallery has matchstick men paintings.The art galleries have great collections of Victorian art too.hotclaws 08:09, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Looks like you're going to need a couple of years. Have a great time, anyway.90.0.129.100 (talk) 09:59, 22 May 2008 (UTC)DT

Shopping Embarassment

Suppose one is shopping in a North American store such as Wal-Mart. One loads a shopping cart with the desired merchandise and proceeds to the cashier, just to discover that one forgot one's wallet and has no money. What does one do in such as case? Should one just excuse oneself and leave the loaded shopping cart aside and go home? Acceptable (talk) 20:43, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If you're planning to go home, get money, and come back, you can park it by the information desk and tell them so. If you're just leaving, the polite thing to do is to take the time to put items back on the correct shelves. If you aren't able to find the correct shelves, or really don't have the time, you should deliver the cart to the information desk, explain that the items need to be reshelved, and apologize profusely. If you just leave it in an aisle, you are saved embarrassment, but the frozen / refrigerated items will have to be thrown away, which costs the store money and is wasteful as well. My opinion. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 20:53, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Ditto to the above. I've seen this done a time or two when I was younger and not everyone had a credit card. Back in those days, people would sometimes forget to go to the bank to get money first or to bring their check/cheque book or whatever. They didn't have a number of credit cards in their wallet or purse to just whip out. Dismas|^(talk) 21:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Oh, and additionally, many small retailers still don't have the facilities to make credit card transactions. So unless you have cash or a check (that they're willing to accept), you're stuck there as well. I know of a few small local stores around me that are this way, including one restaurant. This is why I always carry at least one blank check with me since I rarely carry more than a few dollars cash. Dismas|^(talk) 21:06, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I have had once this problem. I have loaded the shopping cart until the point that it was difficult to push it. As I came to the cashier I tried to pay with my credit card but it was not accepted by the system. I apologized and suggested that I could left everything at a corner, go to the nearest ATM and come back to pay for it. Unhappily the ATM didn't give me any money since my account was overdrafted so - as you can imagine - I came never back to this supermarket. Even years after this event I avoided going there. Mr.K. (talk) 01:56, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

It's most likely they won't remember you, if that's what you're worried about. In addition, a significant number of them have probably changed jobs. --WikiSlasher (talk) 10:38, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Screen shots

Are there any Wikipedia pages that could use a screen shot? Example: User script pages, assorted editing pages. I just love making them! WikiZorro^sign 21:12, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Try Wikipedia:Requested images -mattbuck (Talk) 21:13, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Anatomy of the Penis (This is a good question!)

What's the part of the penis called that is like a string that attaches the top of the foreskin to the bell end and stops you from pulling your foreskin all the way down your penis? I've searched on Wikipedia articles, but they don't help me. Meaty♠Weenies (talk) 21:43, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Frenulum? --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:00, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Ah yes, thanks. Is it possible that it could snap if you stretch it too far? Meaty♠Weenies (talk) 22:02, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

According to Frenulum of prepuce of penis yes. --Tagishsimon (talk) 22:04, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Hmmm, what a lovely thought... Meaty♠Weenies (talk) 22:05, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes. See here. [3]. -- Karenjc 22:07, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Ouch! Is this common i.e. is this likely to happen to me at some point in my life? Meaty♠Weenies (talk) 22:13, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

The link above states (and I quote) "...but information about it is hard to come by..." --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:28, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Not too likely to tear unless the frenulum is shorter than normal. Frenulum breve is the name for that condition. If there is no pain associated with sexual activity don't be concerned. If there is pain, see your doctor for further infos. (BTW a torn frenulum is incredibly painful and much bloodier than one would think.) 161.222.160.8 (talk) 00:25, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Well, thanks a lot, I'll have loads of fun for the next 3 hours while I try to get that delightful image out of my head. Ziggy Sawdust 02:05, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Fuel economy and opening car windows (This question is better)

How much fuel does it cost to open a window (partly/completely) in a driving car? It's obvious that opening windows increases turbulences, but by how much? This must depend (at least) on the specific car, the speed, and on the combination of open windows (if more than one is opened), but what is a ballpark figure for opening a car window? As a minor point, are convertibles generally more or less fuel efficient (keeping everything else constant)? Thanks, Ibn Battuta (talk) 23:19, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Modern vehicle owner's manuals advise using the A/C at highway speeds instead of opening a window to maximize economy. You could probably ballpark a figure based on the energy requirement of the A/C compressor. Below about 40 mph any difference is negligible. As far as convertibles go- they are typically less efficient than their hardtop counterpart, often because they are heavier in order to provide the same level of occupant protection in a collision. 161.222.160.8 (talk) 00:33, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

(Original research warning!) Last summer, I did extensive research into the maximum fuel economy I could achieve with my 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan (3.3L motor). The bottom lines, for that vehicle, were:

• Running the A/C was extremely detremental to fuel economy, costing about 3 MPG.

• Opening the windows had no discernable effect on fuel economy, even at pretty high speeds.

• Reduction of driving speed from (say) 72-ish MPH to 52-ish MPH dramatically boosted fuel economy (from ~24 to 29 MPG).

• It is very difficult to drive slowly on American superhighways, even where the posted speed limit is "55 MPH". You're taking your life into your hands!

This summer, I may try a similar study using my Audi A8. With regard to my point #4, look for my obituary come September.

Atlant (talk) 13:45, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I don't have a link handy but the advice commonly given in "gas saving tips" these days is that the difference is usually insignificant. It stands to reason this may vary somewhat between vehicles tho- and we see from the observations Atlant made that in his particular vehicle there was a noticeable difference. Convertibles have a bit of extra weight as pointed out above, altho I bet this doesn't matter much cruising on the highway. Convertibles may also have a higher drag coefficient than their hardtop counterparts, which would make some difference. Friday (talk) 15:21, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks! I'm surprised, though, because I asked this question after reading the Loremo. The article claims that the predicted fuel efficiency of the Loremo is partly due to the door-less car body. Now I would have thought that a tiny gap between car doors makes less of a difference than opening an entire window (or more)! ... As for the minimal speed, yes, I know that problem. (sigh) The most outrageous thing in this context that I've heard of so far is that German courts have ruled that a slow driver on a highway (who drives above the minimum speed!!) is in part responsible if another car crashes into him from behind. I don't know the specifics of the case, but according to the news, it was really just about driving slowly! ... --Ibn Battuta (talk) 16:12, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Without having a source to reference, I'm guessing that's in connection with the Autobahn. Germany (and Europe, generally) are sticklers about respecting the "slow traffic keep right" (or British equivalent) that Americans love to disregard. If you're puttering along at 100 mph in the left lane, then yeah, you're going to take some portion of fault when a Porsche rear-ends you. — Lomn 18:06, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

You'd be amazed at how much drag minor irregularities can cause. During early WWII, metalworking technology reached the point where countersunk rivets could be used for aiplane construction. One model of fighter airplane got a 100mph increase in top speed just through being redesigned to use countersunk rivets. --Carnildo (talk) 23:18, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Speaking of the Loremo article, what exactly is the point of the map near the bottom? From nowhere in particular in Missouri, you could drive to Washington if the roads didn't have any curves? Matt Deres (talk) 02:26, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

How can i get my first car trick my ride

My name is Tiffany Viola Willamson and my baby daddy bought me a car after i had our little girl in november 3, 2004. I would love for ya`ll to trick my ride so how do i sign up for that? I`m from pine biuff Arkansas,deep down south —Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.255.139.160 (talk) 22:11, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If you have a truck, you could try leaving a request on the Trick My Truck message board. If you have a car, you might try leaving a comment on the Pimp My Ride blog. Of course, there are probably thousands of other people out there who'd like the same treatment, so your chances may not be great. Marco polo (talk) 00:21, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. We do not perform non-manufacturer-authorized alterations on cars. Ziggy Sawdust 02:05, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

What the heck does trick my ride mean ?90.0.129.100 (talk) 09:56, 22 May 2008 (UTC)DT

Article Trick My Truck, Pimp My Ride and Monster Garage are shows that look for deserving rigs to be customised, road makeover shows. Julia Rossi (talk) 10:03, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

One meaning of "ride" is: "vehicle used for transportation".  --Lambiam 19:08, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

How did I know she would be from the Deep South even before I got to the end of that sentence just from 'baby daddy' and 'ya'all'? Lemon martini (talk) 14:02, 23 May 2008 (UTC)