Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 January 12

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.

January 12

Cost to White House of Super Bowl security

How much does security for the Super Bowl cost US taxpayers, given its status as a National Special Security Event? Has it been proposed to tax the NFL for this cost? NeonMerlin 04:34, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

No more than air conditioning at the park ranger office in Yellowstone National Park -- the White House doesn't pay for this out of its budget. Perhaps you refer rather to the US Federal Government. And if you think the government should tax the NFL, do you think it should also tax the airlines for federal air marshals? DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 05:18, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Why are you biting the questioner over a technical detail and a matter of opinion? Comet Tuttle (talk) 05:58, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Matter of opinion? It is not within the NFL's control how the US Gov defines the level of risk at events -- if the NFL would refuse, would the government overrule or cancel the Super Bowl? If the government decided that Obama's daughter's school play was a security threat event, should the school have to fund the extra security? And I didn't think my comment was biting, merely questioning the premise in a comical sort of manner. DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 13:19, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

No answer yet, but this document says that Congress authorized US$100 million (!) for the Secret Service to provide protection for the two 2004 Democratic and Republican nomination conventions. Each of these was a multi-day event, smaller than the Super Bowl. Comet Tuttle (talk) 05:58, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

There are a number of news sources online that give potential manning figures for Super Bowl's past including [1] and [2], none give full figures (mainly stating National Security reasons for not disclosing the cost) but the second link does also state that the NFL earmarked over US$6 million to contribute to the costs for Superbowl XLIII. Nanonic (talk) 12:46, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

snoring

what can u do to prevent snoring all the time72.53.194.237 (talk) 10:40, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Some women have been known to sew marbles into the back of their husband's pyjama tops. I assume the idea is that people snore when they sleep on their back, so the discomfort of the marbles may get them to turn to the side. Also don't eat cheese before bed. There was also a device, which South Africa used to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup, ( along with other means I bet are not shown in the movie Invictus ), which was a plastic strip put on the nose, that kept the nostrils open wider, allowing them to breathe more easily. The Russian Christopher Lilly 11:03, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

You could read the article on snoring, particularly the part on treatment. Or this, or this, or this...etc. etc. Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:22, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Snoring may be a sign of a pathological condition and advice on its prevention may amount to medical advice. Having said that the treatment of snoring, like the treatment of a number of common human conditions is not easy to relieve. You may notice that there are many alleged cures for snoring, this should tell you that none of them are really effective. The same principle applies for, say, treatment of haemorrhoids or the common cold. I propose Murphy's Treatments Law which states that the more treatments available or alleged for any said condition the less likely any of them will cure the condition. Richard Avery (talk) 11:36, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

I know an ex-soldier. He told me that when one of his mates snored, they'd kick him, hard. Apparently, he soon learned not to snore. Note: I'm not recommending this approach, but it has a certain logic to it! --Dweller (talk) 12:00, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

_{Ah, God Bless our brave heroes!} —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.4.186.107 (talk) 13:29, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

I used to snore a lot. At boarding school my roommate used to hit me on the head with hockey stick when I snored. After doing this a few dozen times, he found that he merely had to say my name in a threatening manner. almost-instinct 16:27, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Snoring can be a symptom of a sleep disorder, and that can have negative effects on you over time, as it can make the heart work harder for one thing. You should discuss this with a doctor, who might recommend a sleep study, in which they can determine the extent, if any, of your sleep disorder. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:09, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Bugs, snoring is a sign not a symptom. How does snoring make the heart work harder? Why is that a problem? Having sex makes your heart beat faster, do you advise that we all desist for the sake of our health? The heart was designed to work hard at times, this is why regular exercise which increases the heart rate is generally good for us. Nevertheless I broadly agree with your remarks. Caesar's Daddy (talk) 14:57, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Snoring can be connected with sleep apnea, a sleep disorder which makes the heart work harder than it wants to by causing the sleeper to wake up frequently during the night. We're getting into the realm of medical advice here. "See a doctor" is reasonable advice to any OP. "Don't see a doctor" is medical advice, which we're not qualified to give. I am somewhat qualified to discuss sleep apnea in general terms, since I have it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:08, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

"snoring is a sign not a symptom" ... What!? "sign" is the laymen's term for "symptom". A symptom is "a phenomenon that arises from and accompanies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it." -- kainaw™ 19:29, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

My understanding is that a "sign" is something objectively observable to a third party such as a doctor (e.g. a limp, posture, discoloration etc etc) whereas a "symptom" is something perceptible only to the sufferer, such as a pain or sensation: do you have references to the contrary, Kainaw? Since snoring nearly always occurs only during sleep, it is rarely directly perceptible to the sufferer, but very obvious to anyone else present. As Bugs says, snoring can be part of more serious problems that can interrupt breathing entirely for many seconds, straining the heart, and can cause frequent but unremembered waking during the night, leading to extreme daytime tiredness or even narcolepsy, which is especially dangerous if the sufferer drives or operates (other) 'heavy machinery.' At the very least it can often indicate health-threatening overweight. Definitely worth consulting a doctor over, even if one lives in an uncivilised country </snark> where this would involve some extra expense. 87.81.230.195 (talk) 21:31, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Indeed. Whether it's a sign, a symptom, an e-mail, a telegram or a message delivered by homing pigeon, going to the doctor would be a good thing to do. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:10, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Holy medical advice, Batman!! Shouldn't we just say:

This question appears to be a request for medical advice. It is against our guidelines to provide medical advice. You might like to clarify your question. You may also find it helpful to read the article: Snoring, and form your own opinion from the information there. Please see a doctor about personal medical treatment Responses containing prescriptive information or medical advice should be removed and an explanatory note posted on the discussion page. If you feel a response has been removed in error, please discuss it before restoring it.

Mattopaedia ^{Have a yarn} 23:34, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

Yamaha XJ 900

I checked on this bike and saw that it was last manufactured in 1994. The seller insists that it is a 2006. Is this possible?41.112.210.79 (talk) 16:19, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

We have an article on Yamaha Diversion which lists some replacement models that were manufactured after that model, however a quick scan of it reveals that production for the last line of those may have ended in 2003. cheers, 10draftsdeep (talk) 17:52, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Don't bikes have a 'VIN number' like a car that you could look up someplace? SteveBaker (talk) 20:12, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

It may be that the bike has been rebuilt. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:36, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

It may be...but that wouldn't give the seller the right to call it a 2006 bike. You'd normally say something like "It's a 1994 bike that was completely rebuilt in 2006". SteveBaker (talk) 18:46, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Digging and construction by North Circular Road in N London

Hi

I'm curious as to what all the work is that's being done in N London alongside the North Circular Road (A406) that's been causing disruption to traffic for a few weeks already, just where the road is narrowest (3 lanes shared between the two directions).

For context, it's where the road makes a very sharp (right-angled) bend in the Southgate area. Anyone who knows the road well will remember the "chicken lane" that used to exist there, that traffic in either direction could use - whoever was bravest!

I think it's a separate project from some large scale renovation work of derelict properties in the exact same place that's going on simultaneously.

Struggling to find info myself, so any useful leads gratefully received. --Dweller (talk) 16:37, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

You could try http://public.londonworks.gov.uk/roadworks/help which /might/ let you know what's going on. http://public.londonworks.gov.uk/roadworks/?x=PqwiPIlDs8nql7vlYfLxGQ (if it works) lists everying happening in the Southgate area. --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:31, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Amazing site, thank you. --Dweller (talk) 17:52, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Just out of curiosity do you know if there's sucha site for Swansea, South Wales? As a driving instructor it helps to plan routes if you know what roadworks are on and for how long... Plus I'm nosey! hehe Gazhiley (talk) 14:00, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

http://www.traffic-wales.com/ would seem to be your friend. Not sure how far down it resolves - may be trunk roads only. But looks like there's lots of good stuff in there. There's also http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/travel/ which seems to have some great resources. --Tagishsimon (talk) 14:42, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Does anyone know what these kind of puzzles are called?

Hello wikipedia, im a highschool student in my final year and i wish to get into medicine. In Australia, you need to take the UMAT to get into medicine. It's intended to be a sort of general aptitude test, similar to an IQ test i guess you could say with a more medical skew. You're not really meant to undertake any-kind of preparation or study for it, however preparation coursesexist for it anyway. These are very expensive and i dont have a lot of money, i doubt their effectiveness anyway. (I guess this is why a lot of rich kids only get into medicine here, along with other factors)

The umat is broken up into 3 sections, the first two i believe you cant really prepare for, however the 3rd section has puzzles (there are some pictures below) i think you can ace this section and get 100% if you practice the puzzles until can do them in a heartbeat. The preperation course fee includes a program that generates an unlimited amount of these puzzles, something similar to that would be nice a link perhaps or even a website with a couple pre-rendered images. I'd settle for just the name of the type of puzzle however.

http://i48.tinypic.com/okvsxz.png - Image 1 http://i50.tinypic.com/14e9iis.png - Image 2

~Cheers, kp. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.180.104.23 (talk) 18:06, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

They're called various things, like "non-verbal reasoning" tests. This link, for example, might be helpful. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 19:06, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

These are really intended as general IQ tests - and they are supposed to be designed in such a manner that practicing them doesn't help and also such that the score you obtain won't change significantly throughout your life. The theory is that if you aren't smart enough to get the right answer, you won't understand why the correct one is correct. Lack of that understanding is what prevents you from learning and improving with practice. That said, you can gain modest improvements through practice - mainly because the tests are imperfect in their goals. SteveBaker (talk) 20:10, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

If you want more, I suggest searching for IQ tests online (the sort that put 50% of the population at 130+), until you find one with this sort of question. Most will be a mix of these and other sorts. - Jarry1250 ^{[Humorous? Discuss.]} 20:21, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

A variant of the Raven's progressive matrices.--droptone (talk) 13:23, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Barcode - what country is it?

Hello. I have a product with barcode as following: 2902 2717. What country does it come from? What is the name of such code? 83.31.109.65 (talk) 20:14, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Our article section Barcode#Types of barcodes has a list of many barcode standards. I would hesitate to guess because many of the standards have variable numbers of digits, meaning your 8-digit code could be any of those. Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:28, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

It would help to know what the product is, as some types of barcode are only used in particular applications. I'd hazard a guess that it may be an EAN 8 barcode. If so, the first three digits are the GS1 country code - but 290 is apparently "Restricted distribution", so it could be from anywhere. Warofdreams talk 21:23, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Looking for a kind of watch

Good evening,

The past week I've been searching all over the internet to find a specific kind of watch. I'm looking for a watch which has only one hand which goes from 0 to 12 (doh) ánd back. So like this:

hope this works

Once I saw one, but I could never find it again.. Does this kind of watch has a special name? Could you provide me with some examples please?

Thanks! Sealedinskin (talk) 20:16, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

I've seen a clock built like that: http://gradbert.org/wordpress/?p=5 - this one has hours, minutes and seconds. But I don't know of a name or where you saw the watch. SteveBaker (talk) 02:30, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

I've seen watches like that at high-end watch stores (I know The Swiss Watchmaker has one at the moment). No clue on the name, though. I suppose you could contact them. --Mr.98 (talk) 17:47, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Guess what. I happened to go by a watch shop today and I asked. They belong to a broad category of what are called jump hour watches. --Mr.98 (talk) 19:01, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

We do not (yet) have an article about jump hour watches, but they are mentioned in Cortébert (watch manufacturer) and Chronoswiss (which appears to be a blatant copyright violation, but I can't research at this time as I am behind a corporate firewall). --LarryMac | Talk 19:27, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

It's not one big copyvio anymore.  :-) Dismas|^(talk) 20:58, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks guys, I managed to find some interesting links looking for 'jump hour watches', although most results only have the 'rotating background' which displays the hours instead of the hence and forth going arm. But thanks again. Sealedinskin (talk) 21:55, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

I was unable to look at your linked graphic before (see previously mentioned firewall issues), and I see now that it's not at all like the jump hour watches that I saw in our articles. But I'm a little confused - what happens in your diagram when it is one hour past noon? Does the hand swing all the way back to the left? Or does it point to 11? --LarryMac | Talk 00:40, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

OK, some more googling and some more refinement. What you are talking about is, I believe, called a "retrograde jump hour" watch. I think they refer to the fact that they have to jump all the way back to the beginning instead of completing a circle—something that probably requires the jump hour mechanism, but is not just that. (But I don't really know for sure if that's why it is called that or if that is exactly how it works.) Here are some of the ones I found searching using those terms: Here's a nice one. Here's a really crazy one. And another. And the second one on this page is a beauty, for only $8,350. If you put "retrograde jump hour watch" into eBay, you get a bunch of (impressively expensive) results as well. --Mr.98 (talk) 00:59, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

That's it! Thanks! Unfortunately all those watches are waaaay above my budget, but that's another story ;) Sealedinskin (talk) 08:21, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

In a related question, I have a clock which has no second hand, but still ticks. Can someone explain? JJohnCooper (talk) 18:10, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

The face and hands of a mechanical timepiece are just the "user interface". The Clockwork is where things really happen, and more than likely you are hearing ticking because of the escapement. --LarryMac | Talk 18:21, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

Font Identification (BBC DVDs)

Hello,

Does anyone know what the font used on this DVD cover is? I believe all the text (apart from "BBC Video" and "2 disc set") on this particular cover uses the same font, but to be specific, I'm referring to the font used for the "THE COMPLETE SERIES" text. I've also seen this font used on other BBC DVD covers, perhaps mostly notably at the top of covers for the Red Dwarf DVDs. Any ideas as to what font it might be would be appreciated - it's always struck me as a rather nicely proportioned sans serif.

Thanks!

- Hiram J. Hackenbacker (talk) 22:05, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

It _isn't_ Colin Samuels, but it's close to it... Tevildo (talk) 23:27, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

My second suggestion is Eurostile Heavy. Closer, but still not quite there. I agree that a specialist font site would be a good idea. Tevildo (talk) 23:47, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Hiram, you may get a quicker response at What the Font forum, which specializes in such questions. Abecedare (talk) 23:31, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestion - I've posted a case on that site. Hiram J. Hackenbacker (talk) 00:18, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Looks like Eurostile Heavy with a 140% or so horizontal scale. (Which is very easy to do in a layout program.) --Mr.98 (talk) 16:57, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Roller skating

A friend of mine seems to think that roller skating is a pursuit which is perceived as feminine by society. We both live in the UK. I've no idea how to Google up an answer, so I turn to you! Are skates feminine in society's eyes? Vimescarrot (talk) 22:05, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Roller skating might be, roller blading (ie. inline skating) certainly isn't. Which are you interested it? --Tango (talk) 22:21, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Inline skating - although now I come to think about it, I forgot to mention that to my friend! Might explain it! Vimescarrot (talk) 22:21, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

International Roller Sports Federation would disagree, as would all of the male skaters who participate in quad roller skating at the Pan American Games. Woogee (talk) 23:47, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

That would be like someone asking you if wrestling had a masculine image to it and you providing links to female wrestling. Sports are special, because males and females both compete. Sorry, I won't be able to explain this, so I would just say I'd like to keep sports separate (by the way, I am Vimes' friend he refers to above). --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 00:31, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

(EC)In the US, it might be that roller skating is associated with a practice of yesteryear, and when depicted as popular culture (such as in an episode of That 70s Show) it may be depicted as camp, which may itself be perceived as effeminate. DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 00:19, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

I don't understand what KageTora is trying to say. Roller speed skating is not competed by both males and females in the same races, any more than cycling, rowing, or swimming are. Are those sports conceptually masculine vs. feminine? And what makes roller skating more feminine than ice skating? Woogee (talk) 02:06, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

I didn't say or imply that any sport was practised by both males or females in the same races. I said I wanted to keep sports out of it because of reasons that I'd rather not try to explain because I know the internet well enough to know that if I make a single mistake on a minor point this thread will be hijacked by someone and the entire point will be lost in discussing back and forth that minor point. --KageTora - (影虎) (Talk?) 16:47, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

This is not a scientific question and not all "perceptions" of a society are completely rooted in facts and reality. This is why there are still many gender inequalities which exist in western societies even if a lot of people perceive that men and women are treated equally. I used to go to the rink when I was a kid but I would have to agree now that roller-skating is perceived as retro, camp and effeminate, by some people anyway, more people then would perceive it to be the opposite. Vespine (talk) 03:07, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Never having been to the UK, I don't know if you have these, but in the States we have drive-in restaurants like A&W Restaurants and Sonic Drive-In. At these places it is not unheard of to see the waitresses on rollerblades. And in decades past, they would wear roller skates. It was more prevalent in the past but you can still see it from time to time. The servers are predominantly female and therefore a stereotype might be built on this. Dismas|^(talk) 03:23, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

FWIW, I believe staff of both seses at Tesco in Peterborough UK use roller skates to get around the store. Also I moved link for Roller skating from heading to first line. -- SGBailey (talk) 09:45, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Carrefour - a huge hypermarket group in Europe - have their supervisors on roller skates.Froggie34 (talk) 14:49, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Interesting info, and productive too, I think. Thanks for all the responses. The pictures of KageTora in rollerblades will be online before 2011. Vimescarrot (talk) 21:22, 13 January 2010 (UTC)