Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous

Welcome to the miscellaneous section
of the Wikipedia reference desk.

skip to bottom

Select a section:

• Computing
• Entertainment
• Humanities
• Language
• Mathematics
• Science
• Miscellaneous
• Archives

Want a faster answer?

Main page: Help searching Wikipedia

   

How can I get my question answered?

• Select the section of the desk that best fits the general topic of your question (see the navigation column to the right).
• Post your question to only one section, providing a short header that gives the topic of your question.
• Type '~~~~' (that is, four tilde characters) at the end – this signs and dates your contribution so we know who wrote what and when.
• Don't post personal contact information – it will be removed. Any answers will be provided here.
• Please be as specific as possible, and include all relevant context – the usefulness of answers may depend on the context.
• Note:
  • We don't answer (and may remove) questions that require medical diagnosis or legal advice.
  • We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate.
  • We don't do your homework for you, though we'll help you past the stuck point.
  • We don't conduct original research or provide a free source of ideas, but we'll help you find information you need.

Ready? Ask a new question!

How do I answer a question?

Main page: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Guidelines

• The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.

See also:

• Help desk
• Village pump
• Help manual

December 24

Abandoned combine

Can anyone ascertain any details about the deteriorating combine? It's at the abandoned Rich Neck Farm in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Nyttend (talk) 00:31, 24 December 2017 (UTC)

Maybe combine demolition derby. It looks smashed as well as rusted. 00:45, 24 December 2017 (UTC)

Maybe it just rolled several times down a slope. Akld guy (talk) 00:24, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

You wouldn't say that if you visited the area; it's the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with not much relief aside from streams, and nowhere to roll a combine :-)

The green paint still visible in places suggests John Deere. Edison (talk) 00:36, 26 December 2017 (UTC)=

Clarification

The answers above responded well to my question, but I asked the wrong question. Is there any way to identify the combine's make and model? I was trying to learn about the combine's original condition. Nyttend (talk) 18:32, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Just go there and look for markings of maker/model. 2606:A000:4C0C:E200:B8D8:3FE9:323E:5312 (talk) 19:17, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Nyttend took that picture. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 05:54, 26 December 2017 (UTC)

Most combines where painted green in the past so that is no way of identifying. You can simply compare photos of this sample - you will of course need some that show more detail - with historic photos of combines that show or refer a model and/or brand. Given the state i would guess that this combine was working 30-40 years ago so its maybe a model from 1950-1980. Also very likely a combine build in USA since the target time period was befor the globalization, which narrows your search to a few brands. --Kharon (talk) 06:03, 27 December 2017 (UTC)

I commented above that green suggested Deere. Do you hav a ref to support the notion that most brands of combines were painted green in the past?Edison (talk) 18:41, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

Parliaments and Legislatures that use WikiMedia to Present Laws and Legislation

Are there examples of national parliaments or state legislatures that use WikiMedia software on websites that present law and pending legislation?

Asgardia (nation) is in the process of electing a 150-member parliament. It will soon become necessary to keep records of the acts of the Asgardia Parliament and to make those acts publicly available. Is WikiMedia the right software for that purpose?

Scott Gregory Beach (talk) 22:49, 24 December 2017 (UTC)

I would recommend archive.org. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 23:57, 24 December 2017 (UTC)

December 25

Fax system

How important is a fax system nowadays?

Which is used as alternatives?

123.108.246.98 (talk) 18:52, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

People usually send pdfs or scanned images by e-mail these days, though occasionally you will find fax machines still in use. See Fax#Fax in the 21st century. Dbfirs 20:55, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Someone (with probably a COI ) has given some reasons why some old fossils still use FAX The Top 10 Reasons Companies Continue to Fax in 2017 . Oh Gosh! I might be an old fossil too, as the last time I used my fountain pen was just this month to write some Christmas cards to be delivered by snail-mail !!! Note to self. I must buy a modern ball point pen for next year as to not get too far behind modern times.. Aspro (talk) 22:44, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Simply get or look up your local Yellow pages and check out how many businesses still offer a fax number as connection option. I think most still do but its slowly vanishing since the smartphones are as capable for sending documents today as any PC and according Kaiser Family Foundation even 31% of the children age 8-10 own a smartphones now. There is also a mass of "Apps" for Android and iOS (smartphone operating systems) that make your smartphone work like a fax system. So it seems its still widely used. --Kharon (talk) 05:47, 27 December 2017 (UTC)

For a personal anecdote, in the U.S. my experience is that medical providers almost universally still use fax to transfer patient information between each other. From my limited knowledge this is for a few reasons: they already have faxing set up, so why change it; issues with HIPPA compliance; and incompatibility between providers' electronic systems. Things have been changing a little with the adoption of electronic medical records: many offices now issue "electronic prescriptions" which are sent via Internet, not fax. (One of my medical providers gave me an overview of how their system works when setting up one of my prescriptions for a mail order pharmacy.) --47.157.122.192 (talk) 07:19, 27 December 2017 (UTC)

I set up a small business in 2004. My business cards, web page, yellow pages listing, etc. all had my fax number, because I wanted to make my business look professional. My fax number went to a service that received the fax into a disk file and then sent it to me via e-mail. No actual fax machine was involved. This service cost much less than a separate fax line, and was much more convenient. I could also send outgoing faxes by sending an e-mail attachment to this same service. So, did I use fax, or not? I think many companies, large and small, use some equivalent of this. -Arch dude (talk) 04:09, 30 December 2017 (UTC)

Business Travel

A curiosity. Just wish to accumulate a basic knowledge i.e.: Is it possible to travel to U.S.A with a business idea? My family and friends are their to support it with expenditures, from traveling to publishing... 123.108.246.98 (talk) 18:52, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Ideas have no value. Implementation of ideas has value. 71.85.51.150 (talk) 20:40, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Once the trolls are done, we can get back to the topic. Your question requires more information: can you easily get a visa? If yes, then travel is open to you, and how you spend your time is only lightly regulated. For instance, if you have a tourist visa, you may not take up employment, but you are free to discuss business ideas. On the issue of publishing, you would not be allowed to act as a journalist without the appropriate visa, but you could (for example) research a book. DOR (HK) (talk) 17:54, 26 December 2017 (UTC)

Visa policy of the United States is what you want; note the links to official U.S. government sources in the bottom sections. I'm afraid we can't give legal advice, so if those resources don't answer your question, your best bet is to contact the U.S. embassy in your country, if there is one. Family/friends of yours in the U.S. may also be able to get assistance from the U.S. State Department or an immigration lawyer. --47.157.122.192 (talk) 07:10, 27 December 2017 (UTC)

Speaking of trolls, the endless drip of "how do I travel to/do business in/go to school in the US?" questions from Bangladeshi IP addresses on half-a-dozen or more spam blacklists is fascinating in and of itself. One wonders why a person whose family in the US will pay to get his work published even needs a travel visa when he's got access to both the internet and knows what a fax is. μηδείς (talk) 03:38, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

Embassy or consulate. —Tamfang (talk) 08:42, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

FM Station Names

I drive a Toyota Prius with its standard VHF/FM radio labelled "Toyota P3808" in Europe. Since the radio selector buttons were tuned to national FM broadcasters that have closed down, I re-tune them to whatever local stations I can find. (These recently included Amnesty International who ran a short-lived pirate broadcast.) In almost every case the name of the station appears on the screen a few seconds after its frequency is selected, suggesting that there is a slow data connection, perhaps on a subcarrier? The article Station_identification#Europe does not mention what kind of coding or subcarrier frequency these stations use to identify themselves. Can someone please tell me or provide a reference? SdrawkcaB99 (talk) 23:57, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

Yes, exactly. This text is probably delivered through the Radio Data System, which is a low-speed subcarrier in the FM signal. Really anything can be written here, but it will often contain the radio station's identification or the current song/artist. Freedomlinux (talk) 04:31, 26 December 2017 (UTC)

Yes, here in Southern California the experience with FM radio is identical, including the delay in the RDS data showing up. As well, the RDS data gets garbled occasionally, presumably due to the error correction being overwhelmed by reception problems. --47.157.122.192 (talk) 07:23, 27 December 2017 (UTC)

December 26

Publishing

I don't know how it works but I'm sure that it depends on the pages you wish to publish together with the cost of book making/binding. Is there any information available that you could display to acquire a basic understanding knowledge please. 119.30.47.147 (talk) 16:08, 26 December 2017 (UTC)

Click on the title for more information. DOR (HK) (talk) 17:59, 26 December 2017 (UTC)

I just need to print a bunch of books with lots of pages in each. The article displayed doesn't give me the rough understanding of:

How many pages in a book will cost me how much in order to make/bind with a cover.

And how many book of the same will cost me how much.

if you know what I mean...

119.30.47.151 (talk) 16:27, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

We have an article on List of self-publishing companies that has some useful links to companies who will print for you. The cost will vary widely by country, company, and the quality of the finished product. I haven't found any in Bangladesh, though I'm sure there must be some. Here is an example of UK prices. No recommendation is intended. Dbfirs 19:22, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

I (a former professional bookseller and publisher's editor) urge the OP to be cautious before parting with any money. Some Self-publishing companies will carry out copy-editing, typesetting, book design, printing and binding if and as required, will explain in advance all their charges in detail, and will provide you with the number of finished volumes that you have contracted them for. What they will probably not do is market (advertise) your book, actively solicit orders from bricks-and-mortar booksellers, or sell the books to booksellers or directly to the public on your behalf as a "normal" publisher does.

There are also companies called Vanity presses (though not by themselves) who may promise all of these things and more, will charge (over-)high prices for them, but may well not bother or not be able to carry some of them out. You could for example find yourself paying them a monthly charge to store unbound pages for you (which may not yet actually have been printed at all – see Print on demand), to be bound one by one if any order is received for the book. Reputable book distributors and stores never have dealings with such companies, and several of the most notorious operators have a habit of failing to provide what they have been paid for, failing to pay the Royalties owed to their authors, and declaring bankruptcy only to spring up under different names.

The OP might like to investigate potential problems on the websites Writer Beware (operated by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America organisation, but the advice is generally applicable) or other similar writers' organisations. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.199.208.241 (talk) 15:30, 29 December 2017 (UTC)

Thank you all. I have a rough idea now, plus I can save up... Regards. Wish you all a happy new year. 119.30.39.140 (talk) 18:41, 30 December 2017 (UTC)

December 28

Battle definitions wikt:battle wikt:skirmish

What is the definition of a "major battle", and how is it different from a "skirmish"? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 06:21, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

Many are both, depending on who's reporting them, and who was victorious. There's no robust, objective difference. In some conflicts, from into the modern media reporting age, one side might claim to have lost a few 'skirmishes', but decisively won every 'major battle' - then lost the war. This was particularly common in Korea, Vietnam, the Iran-Iraq War and then in the US invasion of Iraq. Andy Dingley (talk) 10:23, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

WP:NOTAFORUM
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
There is a high probability that this is related to a previous question about the first "battle" by the Rebellion in Star Wars. Over 20 years, there were many skirmishes, but the battles didn't start until the final year before the Battle of Yavin. In this case, there were conflicts that were named "battles" and others named "skirmishes". There were "rescues" and "invasions" and "infiltrations" and "insurrections" as well. However, the war didn't begin until the Battle of Scarif. So, everything before the was is considered a skirmish and everything after the war started is called a battle (unless there simply aren't enough people to make it battle - like a single Jedi and his apprentice sneaking onto the Death Star with a rag-tag team to back them up). 209.149.113.5 (talk) 17:57, 28 December 2017 (UTC) And how many people are enough to make it a battle? For example, would a company-size engagement be considered a battle? What about if there's a battalion on each side? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 08:05, 29 December 2017 (UTC) Star Wars aside, our article skirmisher holds the key. An army on the move throws out a protective screen of lightly armed troops, "skirmishers", so that they know what's coming and can also disrupt the activities of their oponents. When they come into contact with the enemy and fight, it's a skirmish. When the main bodies of both armies engage, it's a battle. Alansplodge (talk) 19:55, 28 December 2017 (UTC) So, how does this relate to naval warfare -- for example, would the Battle of Midway be considered a "skirmish" or a "major battle"? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 08:05, 29 December 2017 (UTC) Purely WP:OR: one distinction (as I understand it) is that a "skirmish" is typically a chance encounter whereas a "battle" is planned. 2606:A000:4C0C:E200:30AA:9654:FB15:2DB1 (talk) 02:01, 29 December 2017 (UTC) And if one side plans to do battle, whereas the other is caught by surprise -- where does this fit in? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 08:05, 29 December 2017 (UTC) The battle, skirmish & ambush articles do a fair job of covering the subjects. There is no definitive distinction, it is in part a matter of scale, preparation and intent. List of military tactics might be a good starting point for further research. —2606:A000:4C0C:E200:30AA:9654:FB15:2DB1 (talk) 08:18, 29 December 2017 (UTC) So, suppose that the battle (skirmish, whatever) was a surprise attack by one side on the other (as in an ambush), but involved multi-divisional forces on each side (as in a major battle), and ended inconclusively (as in a skirmish) (not very likely, I know -- but possible e.g. if the attackers misunderestimate the defenders' reserves) -- where would it fit in? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 08:26, 29 December 2017 (UTC) You have just used the words battle and skirmish with obvious intent and the expectation that you think we know what you are talking about. THERE IS NO POINT TO YOUR QUESTION. To paraphrase Aristotle, to expect the obvious to be explained by the obscure is like the man blind from birth describing color or the fool who uses words as sounds without any idea corresponding to them. This is not a forum, please consult a dictionary. μηδείς (talk) 16:38, 29 December 2017 (UTC) Because this was preceded with questions about the first "battle" in Star Wars, this is likely an attempt to win an argument about the first battle in Star Wars and there isn't actually any interest in the definitions of battle or skirmish. As such, the attempt is to use this as a forum to say to whomever is on the other side of the argument, "Hah! Wikipedia says I'm right!" 209.149.113.5 (talk) 18:31, 29 December 2017 (UTC) We are not a substitute for actually doing any original research required, or as a free source of ideas. Nope, you're wrong -- this does in fact have to do with Star Wars, but it has NOTHING to do with any argument! In case you want to know, I'm writing a Star Wars-themed song (actually a Star Wars-themed parody on a really old cavalry song from the Russian civil war), and I was stuck on just one line (the 3rd line of the 1st verse, if you want to know) -- and that's why I needed to know the year! And the way it turned out, 5 BBY fitted a whole lot better than 0 BBY -- that's why I have a vested interest in classifying some of the events of the Rebels miniseries as battles, and not just because I want to prove some point! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:8115:EFB1:83C0:5101 (talk) 11:14, 30 December 2017 (UTC) In that case you have two obvious choices. You can either work with the terms (if any) used in the canonical (or apocryphal) sources describing the military encounters in question, or – if there are no such terms used or if contradictory terms are used – you can make your own arbitrary decision in the knowledge that nothing in the sources will completely contradict you. If you're writing a filk, much will depend on who the song is notionally attributed to (or sung by) in story: as Andy Dingley alluded above, different sides or onlookers might well interpret the same encounter in different terms. In any case, songwriters use poetic licence, they aren't producing historical documentaries (except on Pern). μηδείς has it right: there is no point to this discussion, choose what you will (since it will harm no-one) and move on. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.199.208.241 (talk) 11:40, 30 December 2017 (UTC)

Name of an angel?

Kind of a strange question here: maybe 6 months back I was clicking around on Wikipedia and ended up at an article about an apocryphal angel. I thought the imagery was very interesting and vivid, so I made a mental note to come back to it later, and then of course I closed the tab and forgot the name of the article. Here is what I remember, but of course the human memory can be pretty fuzzy at the best of times:

• The angel teaches something or other to humans, but is not one of the Grigori.
• The angel reveals its true form to someone, and delivers a warning that something terrible is going to happen, so it's probably got something to do with the non-canonical apocalyptic literature.
• The angel in the vision is quite tall, maybe 90 miles. (The first thing I tried to re-find the article was a search for "miles tall", which led me to Hadraniel, but this guy is definitely not 2.1 million miles tall.)
• The angel faces to the west while he delivers his spiel. Or maybe he came from the west, and faced to the east?
• Pretty sure he's on fire.

Is there any chance anyone has any idea what I'm talking about, and can point me to the right article? -165.234.252.11 (talk) 20:35, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

According to Alcibiades of Apamea there was an angel 96 miles high who brought a new Revelation, but I don't see anything about the east/west thing, nor was the angel on fire. --Antiquary (talk) 21:13, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

Elsewhere I learn that this new Revelation, the Book of Elchasai, prescribes praying towards Jerusalem rather than towards the east, and reckons the washing of water is superior to the fire of sacrifice when it comes to forgiving sins (whatever that means), but Wikipedia doesn't seem to have any of these details, or not that I can find. --Antiquary (talk) 21:34, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

• The fire bit really does not narrow anything down. The teaching part and true form thing sounds like Metatron, Uriel, or Raphael (archangel). The height thing reminds me of Metatron and Hekhalot literature in general. The bit about facing to the west does sound like something that would appear in Hekhalot and Kabbalistic literature, but that detail is usually not something spelled out in articles. Raphael is traditionally the angel of the east (and so faces west), while Gabriel is traditionally the angel of the west.

A single article with all those details might have been deleted, as we get revisions (and occasional articles) written based on occultist "experiences" instead of published sources. Ian.thomson (talk) 01:02, 29 December 2017 (UTC)

Maybe List of angels in theology will help? -- SGBailey (talk) 20:06, 31 December 2017 (UTC)

December 30

Number of attendees at Wikimania 2017

Does anybody of you know the total number of attendees at Wikimania 2017? Thanks! --Ruislip Gardens (talk) 07:42, 30 December 2017 (UTC)

Hello, Ruislip Gardens. According to the Montreal Gazette, it was "about 1000 people". Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 08:42, 30 December 2017 (UTC)

December 31

Cell phone issue: Using wi-fi when out of data

I'm very confused. Maybe someone can help me or explain to me what's going on? My mother's cellphone (LG LFL33L) ran out of data on her Tracfone plan, because she didn't realize she was not connected to the wifi (that she has through Verizon for the house). It always worked that when connected to the Wifi, no data was deducted from the Tracfone data plan because the internet connection was not being used through the data plan but through the Wifi. So, as far as I can tell, even though she's out of data now, I don't see why the internet should not work so long as she's connected through Wifi, but I can't get her phone online. I went into settings and connected to the Wifi; put in the password, clicked connect, seemed to work. It says signal strength good; all that. Yet, every time I try to connect through the phone's native browser, it says "out of data", and when I try to connect through the phone's Chrome browser, it says the phone is offline. I am typing this post on the house computer so the same internet connection I am trying to get the wifi through is online. I tried turning off "mobile data"; no effect. I went into the browser settings and dumped as much as I could, cache, cookies and history; no effect. Airplane mode is off. I tried resetting the router and turning the phone off and on; no effect. Am I wrong and you actually have to have data through your plan to connect to the internet though the wifi? Thanks.--100.2.221.147 (talk) 19:23, 31 December 2017 (UTC)

Sounds like the phone's ability for Wi-Fi wasn't working (so it used network data instead) and then it still isn't working today (so can't connect now). No big change, just one fault and it's the same fault going on. No weird interconnection between Wi-Fi and data plans.

You need to get the phone's Wi-Fi connection working, and that connection working as far as the internet. Can the phone connect to the router? Does it think it has? Can it connect (use a web browser on the phone) to the router - probably as the IP address http://192.168.1.1 Once it's at the router, can it get beyond that to the internet? Andy Dingley (talk) 19:42, 31 December 2017 (UTC)

January 1

Vandalized articles

The articles for President George H.W. Bush and President Donald Trump have recently vandalized.