Miscellaneous desk
< October 19	<< Sep \| October \| Nov >>	October 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.

October 20

Domestic terrorism

In what ways are right wing terror groups bonded together by racism, religion, and anti- governmentalism?12.216.52.81 00:41, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a reason you added this section, then deleted all but a few words? FiggyBee 00:46, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and restore the original post, perhaps it was deleted in error? I'm sure if it wasn't 12.216.52.81 will come back and remove it again.--VectorPotential^Talk 01:11, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Your question isn't entirely clear, are the three you list options? Are you asking about bonding between groups or within groups? Within most extremist groups, members are bonded together by exactly that: a shared extreme view that is usually in conflict with an establishment or mainstream view. That can be a shared hatred of certain races or religions, or a shared belief that change in the status quo, that they favour, will only come "through the barrel of a gun". The mechanism of bonding may come from indoctrination, a shared persecution experience, political or social disenfranchisement.

Bonding between groups is less common, particularly when they happen to pursue a similar, but slightly different agenda. By the very nature of extremism, small differences between groups' beliefs can ensure they do not co-operate and even will attack each other. For a time during The Troubles, for example, a number of Republican Irish paramilitary groups (Irish People's Liberation Organisation, Irish National Liberation Army, Provisional Irish Republican Army and Official Irish Republican Army) were kept busy killing each other rather than the British, even though they all had roughly the same goal). However, there was some co-operation between these groups and more disparate para-military groups. The IRA was co-operating with the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hezbollah and FARC. Obviously this example isn't explicitly about right-wing terror groups (most of them would be considered left-wing), but the principle holds. Rockpocket 02:31, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What's with the title? I thought this would be a question about someone terrorising others in their household and thought that was a funny name for it. DirkvdM 06:29, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think somebody has to write a school paper. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 09:07, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The words "common goals", "common ideals", "common beliefs" should give a hint as to the type of things that would or could join them together. As to real links between terror groups (monetary, physical support, cooperation) - obviously I have no idea.87.102.17.46 11:14, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sexual Urban Legend

I've heard that a sperm cell can cause eye trouble if one got into the human eye. Is that shit true? I've heard it will mistake it for a egg cell. (!) (:O) 65.173.104.140 03:21, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well depending on how it got there they do say it can make you go blind! ---- WebHamster 10:49, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Although not an expert in this field, nor do I have any personal experience, I'm pretty sure that even if the sperm cell has mistaken the eyeball for an egg cell, it will be biologically impossible for it to fertilize with the eyeball. Acceptable 03:24, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Confirm the previous answer. It is impossible for a sperm to cause any damage to the eye, except if it were carrying some sort of infection that it might, but only might, pass to the eyeball. Anyway, to reduce your fears consider a pair of industrial safety glasses ;-)) Richard Avery 07:36, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

They do say semen stings like hell if it gets in your eyes (can't say I know for sure), that must be the origin of this myth.--Rallette 08:43, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I can confirm this. (But please don't ask for a reference; you just have to trust me on this one). -- JackofOz 01:44, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Define 'trouble' first. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 09:06, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A sperm cell causes your eye to explode. 65.173.104.140 10:05, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yeh, right, and your source?!! Richard Avery 11:14, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm now imagining bukkakke -babies and all the porn stars wearing eye patches--hotclaws 10:25, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There was a story going round when I was in puberty that the Germans in WWI dropped leaflets on to the British troops telling them that semen in the eye would cause temporary blindness and thus get them out of the firing line for a time. (Also, I suspect, it would get them shot!). But I doubt the veracity of the claim. Still, if true, an interesting piece of propaganda.86.209.153.65 14:06, 20 October 2007 (UTC)petitmichel[reply]

Under normal circumstances (whatever that means) it defiantly does not damage your eye. Otherwise this would not exist. --S.dedalus 05:30, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I got some in a girlfriends eye a few years ago, she said that it was very painful and was red for hours, but shes okay now and was by the next day.:-)193.115.175.247 12:29, 22 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Rush Limbaugh Letter

To those concerned, the letter went for $2.1 MILLION on Ebay. Auction is closed. Was trying to place this news item, only that my Wi-Fi system unit fucked the hell up - again. 65.173.104.140 06:44, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Really? Wow--Phoenix 15 (Talk) 10:54, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Google Ebay, Rush Limaugh and/or Ebay, Rush Limbaugh Letter for more info. In my area, I get the radio show @ 11 am, CDT/CST, Mon-Fri. on the radio's AM band. Go to his website, located on the article concerning Rush Limbaugh to locate a radio station carrying his show. Be warned, if "you're" a US Democrat, a liberal, on the FAR left, this show is not for you. 65.173.104.140 23:42, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Do you have a question or are you just trying to advertise Rush here? By the way, anyone with a reasonable command of history and the current facts of the world would probably find that Rush Limbaugh's show is "not for them."

Atlant 19:43, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Pacific

What is the term for people living on Pacific islands? Surely it can't be "Pacifican". In this particular context it would be impracticle for me to use the name of each place, eg. Fijian, Polynesian etc.--Phoenix 15 (Talk) 10:35, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Pacific Islanders? I have certainly heard of Fijian/Polynesian as groups of people. Though I guess you are meaning more like how we describe people from Europe as either 'European' or their individual nation (African, Asian etc). I guess because Pacific Islander has a wiki that'll be the name. ny156uk 10:48, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, thanks. Now I've got another question; What is the term for things from the pacific islands. For example, if someone saw a car that was made in Europe, they would say "That's a European car". If someone saw a car or other object made in the pacific what would they say?--Phoenix 15 (Talk) 11:04, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps Polynesian, Micronesian, or Melanesian, depending on which of the three major island groups and peoples one is talking about? Pfly 15:22, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But if you had no idea which specific part of the Pacific it was, you might just say "That's a car from some Pacific country/nation". Depending on whom you're talking to, your interlocutor might well respond with "My country has always been pacific, fortunately". Then you'd respond with "I mean some Pacific island country". -- JackofOz 01:42, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But my island country has always been pacific! FiggyBee 08:58, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Re the original question usually you would use the names of specific countries, e.g., Fijian, Tongan, Samoan, or Maori for native New Zealanders, but if you were talking about the area as a whole, the most common terms used would be Pacific Islander (often just abbreviated to Islander), or more rarely Polynesian.

For things from the Pacific islands, again you would almost always give the name of the country, but the most common 'collective' term used would be Polynesian, though this is probably used more for artifacts than modern manufactured items. While the other groups Pfly mentions are Pacific Islands, most people mean 'Polynesia' when they are talking about the Pacific Islands. Having said which, manufacturing industries in most places there are very minor, and as far as I know, cars made there are non-existent, so it's a bit of a moot point; quite a bit of clothing is being manufactured in Fiji atm as an exception, but that is then Fijian.

Incidentally places like Australia and Japan could be regarded as Pacific Islands too - it depends how wide you want to cast your net, but then including them would change the feel of your question. But it also demonstrates my point in that you don't for example refer to cars made in Japan as Asian cars in the way that is common for European cars - they're Japanese cars. The reason being that using the term European in that way is supposed to give the item an aura of sophistication and quality, and is done more for marketing reasons than anything to do with the actual geography of where it came from. --jjron 15:33, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sometimes it's called Oceania so maybe Oceanic? Recury 16:57, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe we're engaging in original research here. I doubt there's ever been a term for a person who comes from an island nation located in any particular sea or ocean. "Mediterranean" could be applied to people from islands such as Cyprus, Malta etc, but it's ambiguous because it also refers to countries bordering the Mediterranean such as Italy, Libya etc. "Indian", "Irish", "North" and "Southern" are way too ambiguous. There's no unambiguous "Atlantean" term. -- JackofOz 23:46, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

wikilaw

is it illegal to edit wikipedia while drunk? how about if ur high on pot? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.168.107.66 (talk) 11:14, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Of course it isn't. There are no "Laws" on wikipedia. We do have some policies and guidelines however; see here. Of course, no one can be jailed for breaking them but serious breachers may be blocked from editing wikipedia--Phoenix 15 (Talk) 11:29, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But what if you're wearing a mask? JIP | Talk 12:23, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

By george you're right, this is exactly how it started before :[ Nice catch :D --⁪ffroth 15:48, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sometimes it is encouraged! - hydnjo talk 19:10, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

See Wikipedia:Editing Under the Influence Rockpocket 19:10, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Damn edit conflicts! Rockpocket 19:11, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Geesh! I don't remember... er, never-mind. - hydnjo talk 20:35, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

moss in tarmac

My backyard is tarmac and in the shade. As a result moss grows rapidly and the only way I can remove it is by using a powerwasher. This is a slow process and I have attempted to find if there is anything I can spray (regularly?) to prevent the moss forming in the first place. (Prevention is better than cure!). I have tried the local garden centres without success. Does anyone out there know of a suitable chemical? Thanks in advance FJLD —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.1.28.33 (talk) 11:21, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I use a product called Pathclear. I don't know what it contains but it's great. You can buy it in sachets to be mixed with water and then sprinkled using a watering can or as a spray gun, for acurate spraying of weeds, moss etc. Once it's used all plants die and nothing can grow for 6-8 months. It's available in Ireland and Great Britain and possibly America. It must be used during dry weather to prevent it being washed into lawns and flower beds.--Phoenix 15 (Talk) 11:41, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can also use boiling/very hot water from a kettle to kill unwanted plants. It has the added bonus of not being a chemical, so there are no environmental considerations. Just do be careful with the hot kettle! -- Flyguy649 ^talk 16:06, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What's not to love about moss? Is it inconveniently slippery? —Tamfang 06:09, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Madaba map (mosaic)

I have read your articles on the mosaic Madaba map in St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Madaba.

Please, can you tell me who did the mosaics??

You say when it was done but you don't say who did the work... who ordered it done.

I need this information. If you can't help me, please tell me who can ... thank you very much.

(email removed) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.184.86.250 (talk) 19:25, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've looked and it may be that the persons who did/ordered the work are not recorded..or that that information has been lost in the mists of time.87.102.16.28 09:48, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's more likely that you get an answer on the humanities (history desk) - I'll move the question there. good luck.

See Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities#Madaba map (mosaic)87.102.16.28 10:19, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Legality of Coca leaves in Canada

Just some preliminary research, I'm going on a trip to Peru in a few months and would like to buy some coca leaves to bring back to Canada to chew. Would this (bringing coca leaves) be legal? Thanks. Acceptable 21:29, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Coca leaves are a Schedule I (ie, bad) drug under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. FiggyBee 22:15, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Same thing in the USA. You will end up in jail once you have cleared security and customs in either Canada or the USA when you come back. Security has been really strict since the 9-11 attacks and rumored terrorist attacks that are mentioned on the news outlets. 65.173.104.140 23:59, 20 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Aie :s. Thanks. Acceptable 01:12, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can generally bring a few packets of coca tea back with you, but to be honest it's not really that special. Having had a fair number of cups of the stuff while I was there, I'd recommend bringing back a case of Inca Cola and a bottle or two of Pisco instead. Inca Cola's the only thing I really miss about the country, though Irn Bru'll do in a pinch :) GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 01:28, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]