Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 January 9

= January 9 =

yogas
how can yogas be dangerous if done without proper guidance? Chirag111 12:41, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * If you don't know what you are doing, you can strain or tear muscles or tendons, dislocate bones, or herniate parts of your abdomen, including the intervertebral discs in your back. These injuries can be painful, debilitating, and even life-threatening.  Here is a web site explaining the importance of finding a qualified instructor.  Marco polo 15:40, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

US clothing retailers
I've noticed that a number of US clothing retailers - such as American Eagle, for example - are covered by wikipedia articles. In addition to the standard biographical information of the company, however, it would be interesting and endlessly useful to have current research on companies' labor practices and work/wage standards, both at outlets in the US as well as factories abroad. This information would be helpful in allowing consumers to more effectively choose brands that participate in fairer trade. Is there any way that wikipedia could solicit input from knowledgeable individuals with regard to this question, perhaps generating a network of behind-the-scenes investigative information on the practices of US corporations? Many thanks. Jason Hickel Department of Anthropology University of Virginia —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.189.48.181 (talk) 17:49, 9 January 2007 (UTC).
 * Probably not. Wikipedia requires published verifiable sources. Rmhermen 19:01, 9 January 2007 (UTC)
 * WP:NOR and a slew of notability guidelines would apply if you mean using wikipedia as a base of operations in discovering their labor practices. Find some sources, though, and add that info to our articles if you want --⁪froth T C  20:29, 9 January 2007 (UTC)
 * Sympathetic as the goal may be, Wikipedia is an effort to produce an encyclopedia. Investigative information gathering is not part of that. Also, we are globally oriented, and should not single out US corporations. If there is verifiable information, published by reliable sources, there is no objection to adding that in a balanced way to articles. So if you have such sources... There is no objection to soliciting a network of editors who scout published reliable sources for such information with an aim of adding it to existing articles. Since we're all volunteers here, if you think this is endlessly useful, why don't you set the first steps? --Lambiam Talk  22:17, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Furthermore, while Wikipedia is not an appropriate venue for original research, you might consider setting up your own wiki with different guidelines where such information could be collected. --Robert Merkel 06:29, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Nantt Falls in Chile
I would like to know exactly where Nantt Falls are in Chile. My maiden name was Nantt, which is a German name, and I would like to know how the Falls got their name. Thank you


 * As for the first part of your question, the falls are apparently located in Palena Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile, probably along the the Rio Futaleufú, near the border with Argentina, near the Argentinian town of Trevelin.  Marco polo 18:54, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * As for the second part of your question, many Germans settled in Chile during the 19th and early 20th century. It is likely that the falls are named after one of them. I'm not sure how you would uncover the details behind the name of this place without consulting printed (or even handwritten archival) sources in Chile.  Marco polo 20:15, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

emergency ucas help
I have to apply on ucas this week, but have forgotten my username. It was given to me by the website, and is based on my name. Can anyone give me any idea what it would be? This is really important.Hidden secret 7 19:55, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

em.. how would we know what your name is?


 * Silly, it's a Hidden secret! V-Man737 06:56, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

Have you tried the following:

http://www.ucas.com/apply/index.html# - click on student login - then "lost login details" - then enter your name and date of birth.

--Charlesknight 20:05, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Now why didn't I think of that?Hidden secret 7 20:13, 9 January 2007 (UTC) It might work. If I can get the rest of the internet to work.


 * O, are you the person who gets the Internet to work? So it's not Al Gore then? OK, I have a complaint: it is sometimes rather slow over here. :) --Lambiam Talk  22:06, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

That isn't what I meant. And it did help, I now know my username, and have almost finished applying. :)Hidden secret 7 13:28, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

Does anyone else know about Uncyclopedia?
It seems like a satiracal portrayal of wiki... the URL is http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page What's the deal? - Anonymous User

Yeah, I know about them; that's where I tell vandals to go. ;-) Uncyclopedia is a parody of Wikipedia, read the article if you want. | A ndonic O  Talk 21:25, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Please don't. Vandals belong at Encyclopedia Dramatica.  Uncyclopedia is only for people with a sense of humor. --Carnildo 21:39, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Of course we know about Uncyclopedia. It's a satirical parody of Wikipedia. Or rather, as they claim, Wikipedia is a parody of Uncyclopedia. ;) &mdash; Kieff 21:28, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

N Ireland/Scotland currency
I understand that Norethern Ireland and Scotland currently issue banknotes via private banks that are officially only used in their respective areas. If someone however tries to use a Scottish or Northern Ireland pound note in say London, will it be accepted by a merchant or bank? Also what about Gibraltar notes? EdwinHJ | Talk


 * In my personal experience, if you try to spend a Scottish note in a supermarket that is part of a large chain, it is usually accepted. If you try to spend it in a small, privately-owned shop, they won't accept it. And it all depends on how confident the person behind the till is that it is a genuine note (which tends to depend on whether they've seen one before), and how great an impact that one note would have on their income. I think banks tend to accept them. Bear in mind that this is all in my personal experience asw a consumer; hopefully others will bring more to this. Skittle 22:56, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, this is my understanding too, though I suspect that it would be a very small outlet indeed that would refuse to accept Scottish notes, which, incidentally, are issued by three separate banks. I do not think that Gibraltar notes would be accepted for direct payment in the United Kingdom.  Clio the Muse 23:21, 9 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes are technically not legal tender anywhere in the UK - not even in Scotland or Ulster - they are instead promissory notes. They are only used as money because they are commonly understood to be money. (Peculiarly, no banknotes are actually legal tender in Scotland and Northern Ireland - except the Bank of England one pound notes when they existed!) See Paper money of the pound sterling for more details. In practise - as the previous responders have noticed - it varies. Though in my experience in larger English cities, like London, most places will accept Scottish notes. Its small towns and villages that you have a problem, especially outwith larger chainstores. Pretty much all banks will accept Scottish and Northern Irish notes, though, even those abroad (again, in my experience). The Gibraltar pound is actually a different currency (with a different ISO 4217) and thus is not legal tender in the UK. Unlike Scottish and Northern Irish notes, they are not typically accepted in stores. However, our article notes (no pun intended) that, "the fact that the coins are almost identical to UK £1 coins, they can be found in circulation in the UK fairly frequently" Banks will, however, exchange the Gibraltar pound for Sterling at 1:1. Rockpock  e  t  07:52, 10 January 2007 (UTC)


 * A few years ago, I worked in a small petrol station (Americans, read Gas station) in rural SouthWest England. We accepted Scottish notes, but not Northern Irish - nobody ever tried with Gibraltar notes (they did Gibraltar pound coins, but I think anybody would just treat them as a normal one). --Mnemeson 17:39, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

Do the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have their own currencies? User:Zoe|(talk) 18:32, 10 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, Zoe, they do, although there is no common 'Channel Islands' currency as such (just as there is no common government). On this please see the Manx pound, Jersey pound and Guernsey pound.  Clio the Muse 20:03, 10 January 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks, Clio. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:23, 10 January 2007 (UTC)


 * I have sometimes been given gibraltar and channel island pound coins in change ( I live in southern England) and find it very hard to use them in vending machines, the best trick is to buy somthing which costs £3ish and lump it in with other coins, that way nobody will notice. If there is a bank nearby then take it there. Notes I'm not too sure about, personally I would never accept a scottish note, if it hasn't got the queens head on its not legal tender.I didn't know that N.I had there own notes, I have never seen a Gibraltar or channel island note so don't know much about them. I would suggest a bank or bureaeu de changeAMX 19:28, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

As an Englishman, until recently living in London, and still working there, I can confirm that Scottish banknotes tend to be accepted by all shops, and occasionally you get them cropping up in your change. Ulster notes also tend to be accepted, but are much, much rarer. If you go to Northern England, close to the Scottish border, Scottish notes are commonplace. Channel Island banknotes (really separate Jersey and Guernsey banknotes), Manx currency and Gibraltar banknotes would not be accepted. (Similarly, no doubt, with the even rarer Falkland Island and St Helena banknotes.) Bank of England banknotes are accepted in all those places, though I believe St Helena asks you to change your Bank of England banknotes to St Helena notes free of charge on arrival.

There are three banks in Scotland that issue notes - The Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank. Four issue them in Northern Ireland - the Ulster Bank, the Northern Bank, the Allied Irish Bank and the Bank of Ireland. It is the Governments of the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, the Falkland Islands and St Helena that issue their banknotes (and coinage). If you want to see what the banknotes look like, go to banknoteworld.com.

The different notes for Scotland and Ulster are, however, a problem when people leave the UK (although, to be fair, I guess some Republic of Ireland banks must be accept Northern Irish currency). Bureaux de change overseas refuse to accept Scottish and Ulster notes, meaning that Scots and Ulstermen often need to go to a bank to change notes to Bank of England notes before jetting off (which will be done at par and for free, but it's a hassle none the less). Recently when the Scottish football team played Lithuania (or Latvia, I'm not 100% sure which), there was a special arrangement allowing Scottish fans to exchange Scottish currency in Lithuania. But this was very much a one off.

There is no separate coinage for Scotland or Northern Ireland. There is for Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, the Falkland Islands and St Helena. This coinage, although appearing different, is all to the same size and weight (apart from the odd St Helenan coin), and so is readily accepted by vending machines. I'm surprised AMX had any difficulty using them. jguk 09:31, 14 January 2007 (UTC)