Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 December 22

= December 22 =

Strange headphone issue
I have a pair of Sennheiser wireless headphone and the volume adjustment on the headphone causes the right side to go silent, unless adjusted to a specific position. I've had similar problems with a Panasonic portable CD player is well, so I'm wondering if this is a manufacturing fault in the potentiometer used, or something more complicated. As neither are in warranty anymore, is there some way of fixing this, with a bit of soldering and new parts? --antilivedT 00:06, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * That always happens. The first step is to clean the pots. Get a can of spray that is specifically for that, squirt some inside the pot, and crank it around vigorously. Repeat several times if necessary. If the pot is sealed, you can sometimes get some in around the shaft. Try not to get the spray all over the headphones, mostly because it usually has a persistent annoying odor. --Milkbreath (talk) 02:25, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Will WD-40 work? --antilivedT 03:28, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Thank you, spraying some WD-40 on the pot fixed it, and the pot is now easier to turn. However, does anyone have an explanation on this effect? How can a potentiometer affect only one channel while leaving the other channel alone? --antilivedT 03:54, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Perhaps it's two pots with one control? --jpgordon&#8711;&#8710;&#8711;&#8710; 04:51, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Correct. They are called ganged (or stereo) potentiometers--TreeSmiler (talk) 04:53, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * its likely there was some surface corrosion on the contacts and it was only working at some point where it had been left for a long time. A spray contact cleaner would also likely work and save you that greasy film in the future. Furmanj (talk) 10:23, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

reporting a suspect spelling...? Kapsu v. Kaspu
It would-appear that kapsu should be kaspu ... most google references to kapsu aren't about long-distance measurements, but kaspu are ... kaspu appears in Babylonian translations ... both kapsu and kaspu appear on a google book but where kapsu appears to be a singular misspelling....

I've searched a half hour and found no authority for either spelling, but leans toward kaspu.

I don't want to bother anybody with facts.... I'm not going to edit your fiction neither....
 * fixed. --David Broadfoot (talk) 03:48, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Shortest/smallest FA on Wikipedia
What is our shortest/smallest FA? I remeber seeing it on a page out here once, but I forgot to bookmark it. TomStar81 (Talk) 08:05, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Take a peek here. --Ouro (blah blah) 14:20, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Yep, there it is. Thanks, I appriciate it. TomStar81 (Talk) 00:51, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

Can you do pinch harmonics using only your fingers?
I hate using picks because they are to use and have little precision, at least for me. My favorite guitar solo opens with a pinch harmonic on the seventh fret on the G string (the solo is the outro of Comfortably Numb), at least from what I have seen on the internet, and I want to know how this can be done with your fingers only, with no pick, if possible. Long live David Gilmour! MalwareSmarts (talk) 17:08, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Hammer the string down on the fret wire hard, without picking or anything, and snap release. It's easier with the pick hand. Tap hard and quick. Work the feedback. See tap harmonic. --Milkbreath (talk) 20:24, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Christmas traditions
Question: When and where did the concept of Santa Claus originate especially climbing down a chimney? 68.193.12.2 (talk) 17:39, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Snopes has an excellent Christmas section here. The entry about Santa Claus is here, and says that the chimney thing originated with A Visit from St. Nicholas ("T'was the night before Christmas"). --Masamage ♫ 18:33, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * I was going to suggest this: Santa Claus in Northern American culture. --Ouro (blah blah) 18:38, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * If I may interject an anecdote, I deduced that Santa didn't exist because he didn't leave soot footprints on the carpet. Apparently I had no problem with every other aspect of the story, but that part was just unbelievable. Adam Bishop (talk) 00:36, 23 December 2007 (UTC)
 * 's all part of the magic of Christmas :) --Ouro (blah blah) 10:53, 23 December 2007 (UTC)
 * That's a pretty awesome reason! :D Also from Snopes, I dig this piece on physics and the conversations that stem from it. --03:04, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

Removing price stickers from gifts
What is the best way (using ordinary household products) to remove that sticky, gummy adhesive that is left on a product after you have scratched away or scraped off the price sticker? You know what I mean ... those price stickers that you have to scrape away little by little with your finger nails ... and then, when you're done, there is always that sticky gluey substance that remains on the product. Thanks. (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 21:33, 22 December 2007 (UTC))


 * A friend who sells electronics equipment uses something called "Goo Gone" which removes the residue from screens. It also, I am told, removes nail polish and artificial nails, and must be used carefully and not left standing on a surface. I have used nail-polish remover; it also works, though not, I am told, as quickly.  Keep a damp cloth at hand to wipe the surface when the remover has done its work. Bielle (talk) 22:07, 22 December 2007 (UTC)


 * No! be carefull with the nail polish remover! it can remove paint from the product! I'd say cloth and some boiling water should work. --Yamanbaiia(free hugs!) 22:10, 22 December 2007 (UTC)


 * Some of these adhesives are not water soluble. I use - with care - a few drops of Zippo lighter fuel and the type of absorbent paper which can be purchased in  rolls:) Smoking or sniffing during this process is mildly detrimental to your health and / or sanity. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:50, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Hi Hi Hi, Ho Ho Ho, Shreeeeek ! And a Merry Christmas to you all! --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:53, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * And to you! To answer the original question, if something is waterproof or otherwise impermeable, CRC lubricating oil will dissolve the gum. If \the object is likely to be damaged by that, press a bit of invisible tape rpeatedly onto the gummy area - the stickiness of the tape will remove the gum. This often takes several attempts, but is often very effective. Grutness...wha?  23:12, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * There is also some very good stuff called "Sticky Stuff Remover" which removes sticky stuff. SaundersW (talk) 23:30, 22 December 2007 (UTC)


 * WD40 works very well - but obviously you need to be aware of what oil is going to do to the item. Goo'B'Gone and Goof Off are other products for removing this stuff - but they tend to be just as bad as WD40 and a lot more expensive. SteveBaker (talk) 01:58, 23 December 2007 (UTC)


 * If you have enough of the sticky stuff already removed then try using that to "lift" the remaining stuff. Also, depending in the surface, ordinary rubbing alcohol sometimes works. hydnjo talk 03:35, 23 December 2007 (UTC)


 * While I have never properly tested it, I do believe this works: If you spray furniture polish onto the sticker and wait a few minutes it should come right off. Of course you have to be careful that the polish isn't going to remove paint or otherwise ruin the surface - I believe the person that told me about this said he used it whenever he bought new mugs or cups - and such things are easily washable. Also if the item can be washed easily, try some warm-to-hot water. For difficult items like removing wine labels, I do believe I read on Google Answers (when it was still around) that you can try baking the bottle! (Do remove the cork/lid, I believe) Rfwoolf (talk) 05:36, 23 December 2007 (UTC)
 * White spirit (aka methylated spirits) can do some and vegetable cooking oil is a solvent for others, including some of the labels on bottles.Julia Rossi (talk) 09:01, 23 December 2007 (UTC)


 * White spirit is not Methylated spirits. DuncanHill (talk) 14:37, 23 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Keereckt. My mistake - should be white spirit or meths. I'd rather go with euc oil.Julia Rossi (talk) 12:59, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

Eucalyptus oil is excellent at removing (price) stickers. It works especially good on book and DVD covers. If you've attempted to manually peel the sticker off but there is some of it remaining or some residue, eucalyptus oil will fix it too.


 * You can avoid most of the residue problem by heating the tag with a hair dryer before peeling it of.  --—  Gadget850 (Ed)  talk  -  12:56, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

So Joseph, it seems that you have gotten the collective wisdom of several "mothers" about this. C'mon back if you try one or more of these gems and let us know how it works out. hydnjo talk 02:15, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

Statistics Question
I got a question about the statistics of Wikipedia (and maybe fir all Wikimedia projects). The Wikimedia statistics website is out of date (especially in the English Wikipedia) and on the EDIANS page, it claims you can get current statistics via this website. The problem is that I don't have access to the website, so can anybody who has access show me the current statistics of the Wikimedia projects? Pre ston  H  22:37, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Ooft, you'd need to be a student at the university. Category:Wikipedians in Auckland may be able to help. 86.145.104.223 (talk) 14:32, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Looking for a news story
A couple years back i remeber a army or national guard truck crashed into a barrier and onto a car in towson maryland. I tried searching but couldnt think of how to label it to get a good result. Any news story is good. Thanks. Bones Brigade 23:52, 22 December 2007 (UTC)