Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 January 31

= January 31 =

Confirming boarding on airplane
Is it possible to call an airline, more specifically Air Canada, and ask if a specific passenger was able to board his/her plane successfully? I'm guessing the airline could check the passenger manifest with the check-in counter or something; but would they be able to divulge this information to just anyone who calls? Acceptable (talk) 00:26, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * No. I've tried this before.  All they will tell you is if the flight is on time, but they won't give any personal information.   Corvus cornix  talk  03:39, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Hm, but did you try it with Air Canada? It's at least conceivable that the rules are different between carriers, or at least between the US and Canada. --Trovatore (talk) 03:52, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * It's reasonable that this is the same across further airlines, they won't give you details whether a specific person boarded the plane, just as people usually won't give out any other information, the obtaining of which requires personal presence and identification, for the sake of protection of personal details (like i. e. whether a letter to you had arrived at the post office and is waiting to be picked up). --Ouro (blah blah) 09:37, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * It's reasonable, but is it true? --Trovatore (talk) 18:13, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * I'm not about to start checking whether it is true, but you're welcome to try :) as it stands, it's true enough for me. I suppose one could try and maybe after much persuasion the person on the other side of the line will cave in and tell you, but I don't suppose they should do it. --Ouro (blah blah) 19:41, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Back in the distant past (1981) I was able to persuade British Caledonian (long since taken over) to tell me that my son was booked out of Dallas for London on the next day's flight. But I doubt it could be done now.90.9.87.253 (talk) 15:45, 31 January 2008 (UTC)DT


 * A friend of mine had a sorry experience about 2 years ago. A friend of his was coming from Los Angeles to join him in Australia, so he drove to Melbourne Airport to meet him.  Living where he did in the bush, this was a trip of about 3 hours, each way.  The flight arrived on time, but the friend didn't show.  He waited about half an hour in case there was some delay in disembarking all the passengers; still no show. He enquired at the counter to see if the friend was on board the plane, and without any fuss they checked and told him that no, there was no such person registered on board.  It may have been a QANTAS flight, but I can't be sure.  Maybe the airline staff would have been less forthcoming if he had enquired by phone rather than in person - but he was obviously very worried by this stage, and appeared to be genuine, so maybe they relaxed their normal rules, I don't know.  Now my friend's worry turned to distress.  However this distress was greatly magnified when he later discovered why the other person had not bothered to call and say he'd changed his mind about coming, but just let my friend go for a 6-hour wild good chase.  Needless to say, that "friend" is no longer a friend. --  JackofOz (talk) 21:54, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Soyent Green Ice Cream?
I haven't edited a page before, so I'm not eager to muck it up, but I'm pretty darn certain that there is no Hagen Dazs flavor called Soyent Green. The prankster may have meant Soylent Green, but that's not really an ice cream either. Would somebody like to fix this? 67.166.93.238 (talk) 03:21, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * It's all good now, next time just click edit on the section you want to fix and remove what shouldnt be there. If you figured out how to post a question here you should be able to remove vandalism no problem.--ChesterMarcol (talk) 03:52, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Oh.So the chewy chunks in my Soylent Green Haagen Dazs aren't really 'extra caramel' then.Oh dear. Lemon martini (talk) 13:27, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

Is this greatest debate performance ever audio recorded? (repost from humanities)


David Lange v. Jerry Falwell, Oxford Union 1985

His diction is so immaculate and elocution so flawless--and it sounds to some degree improvised! Have you ever heard any performance that can top Lange?

132.239.90.214 (talk) 06:01, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * This is so arbitrarily subjective (and borderline 3rd-party soapboxing) that I'm not sure it has any place on the Reference Desk. Certainly no objective answer can be stated. &mdash; Lomn 06:04, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * No objective answer? We know that.  Why did you even bother to say that?  Lotsofissues 09:09, 31 January 2008 (UTC)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lotsofissues (talk • contribs)


 * See the top of the page: Do not start debates or post diatribes. Debates about debates, doubly so. --M @ r ē ino 23:50, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

income taxes
After an employee's payroll taxes are paid, he puts some of his net income (say, $10,000.00) in an interest bearing bank savings account paying 10% interest per year. Then he closes the account after a year, receiving $11,000.00 ($10,000.00,the original investment [or deposit] and $1100.00 interest). Is it correct to assume he will only be taxed on the $1000.00 interest, not the $10,000.00 original deposit and this is "not" double-taxation? --Hippidoman (talk) 07:13, 31 January 2008 (UTC)George


 * Only the money made on interest counts as an income. So he will be taxed as earning $1,000. The $10,000 was already taxed (as it was net). depending on what country you are in, you may be able to claim inflation, so if inflation was 3%, he might only have to pay tax on 7% or $700. Usually you add $1,000 to your taxable income though.--58.111.143.164 (talk) 11:28, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Summer Heights High
Where can I download the 7 episode of Summer Heights High?? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 07:15, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * It will cost you $3 to download it from bigpond. I shouldn't think you can (legally) download it for free. FiggyBee (talk) 08:50, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Identifying a font
Hello,

I am trying to identify one of the fonts that is in use in the Mass Rapid Transit of Singapore. This font is the one the name of the station is written in, but it is different of the one that is used to indicate the way, although it seems to be the same). I have tried a web site (edit section to see url in comment) but without successful outcome.

Here are some links to images in a sufficient resolution, with signages using this font:, , , , , , ,, , , , , , ,.

You'll notice the font is sans-serif, non-fixed width, very readable, that vertical strokes are smoothed on the top-left hand corner (see letters B, P). I'm really curious about who developed the font, and what its name is.

Thank you much for your help! ♦ Pabix 07:23, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Looks very much like Tahoma but more rounded.  Lanfear's Bane |  t  11:11, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * I ran through the questions at Identifont, and didn't come up with anything close. It's an interesting font -- notice the distinctive notch in the capital P, among other features. jeﬀjon (talk) 14:06, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * WhatTheFont didn't get there either. FYI, I've posted this on the forums there in the hope that someone will recognise it. Angus Lepper(T, C, D) 00:34, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Large organisations which need a lot of signage (and transport companies are the classic example) will often commission their own typeface from a designer - for the quantity involved it can be cheaper than paying royalties on a commercial font. So it's entirely possible that MRT's font does not exist anywhere else. FiggyBee (talk) 04:12, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Edit; the article List of public signage typefaces suggests that the font used by MRT is rotis. FiggyBee (talk) 04:18, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Comparing the image to the various official versions of Rotis turns up a few discrepancies, both in terms of notches and proportions. I'm not at home and thus can't do overlays to directly compare the two fonts, but my eyeball says that Rotis-Serif is not the same font as in Image:Boonlaymrt.JPG. EvilCouch (talk) 04:42, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Hello, I knew about Rotis, but Rotis is used in the MRT for every signage, except station names. Maybe this is a modified Rotis... Thank you all for your help! ♦ Pabix 05:59, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

COLINS HRM MODEL
DESCRIPTION REGARDING COLINS HRM MODEL OR ANY WEB LINK TO IT. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Neekita Choudhury (talk • contribs) 07:37, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Could you explain in more detail what you mean? A google search for colins+hrm or collins+hrm doesn't turn up anything that looks relevant. 130.88.151.210 (talk) 13:36, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * HRM stands for human resource management. But I too was unsuccessful in locating anyone called Collins or Colins who has a model for it. --Richardrj talkemail 14:18, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Azim Premji
Sir, I didnot find name of father and mother of Azim Premji? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.93.219.245 (talk) 14:57, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

This is better placed on the articles talk page. I have brought it up there. Cryo921 (talk) 04:11, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

diet pills
can the diet pill phentermine (fastin) interfere with my birth control pill lo-oval 28? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.224.134.222 (talk) 19:29, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * It's likely you won't get an answer - we don't give medical advice - better ask your physician. --Ouro (blah blah) 19:39, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * And if you do get an answer, it will be worse than useless as it won't be given by a medical professional with access to you and your records. Get yourself down to a doctor and ask them. Perhaps the one who prescribed the birth control pill? 130.88.140.119 (talk) 13:44, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Never mix any two drugs unless your doctor says it is okay. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 06:58, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Brussels changed their telephon numbers from 6 to 7 figures....WHEN?????
'''Anybody who can help me???? Al the best, Charlie''' —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.247.50.178 (talk) 19:42, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * As Liège changed theirs in 1996, I'd guess at least fifteen to twenty years ago if not earlier. You should try and see Telephone numbers in Belgium. --Admiral Norton (talk) 22:11, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Gmod?
I know that gmod is a mod for valve based games, but can I download it for my xbox 360 if I hook it up to my computer? Can I possibly get it for free anywhere?

Thanks! ❦  ECH3LON   ❦  20:55, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * No. Garry's Mod is for the PC version of the games. APL (talk) 21:11, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Period After WSJ
Why is there a period after The Wall Street Journal's logo?Mdamedic (talk) 22:14, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * There's no period in the masthead in the infobox in our article, but there is in places like this. I think it's just a question of corporate style, and various companies use it for some sort of effect. It made you notice it, so maybe that's the object. Ansett Airlines planes had the word "Ansett" followed by a big round dot, on their livery - but Ansett is now defunct so maybe the period was an omen. They don't call it a "full stop" here for nothing. -- JackofOz (talk) 22:12, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Glitch side issue
Can anyone explain how this happened. In my original post, I spelled both "There's" ("There's no period ...") and "it's" ("I think it's just a question of ...") with apostrophes, yet they mysteriously vanished and I had to re-insert them. The apostrophe in "... maybe that's the object" was unaffected. -- JackofOz (talk) 22:39, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Disappeared in this not-so-useful edit. --Tagishsimon (talk) 23:03, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Mdamedic also seems to have deleted Larry Mac's post . Bit of a worry.  --  JackofOz (talk) 23:14, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

National Cheese on Toast Day ?
When is National Cheese on Toast Day this year? I haven't missed it already, have I?

Atlant (talk) 22:47, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, last year it was the 19th of April. So I don't think that you have missed it.--Dlo2012 (talk) 22:58, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Anybody know when this year's big day is?


 * Atlant (talk) 13:16, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

metroid prime 3
I was just wondering what the reception was for Metroid Prime 3 from Famitsu. I looked on the article, but i didn't find anything from Famitsu. Thanx in advance wikipedians.--Dlo2012 (talk) 22:54, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Never mind, i just found out that it hasn't been released in Japan yet. sorry

http://kotaku.com/347318/metroid-prime-3-dated-for-japan-took-long-enough--Dlo2012 (talk) 17:15, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Resources on doing a radio show
I'm starting my on radio show and I was wondering if anyone knew of any websites that gave ideas, and instruction to first time radio hosts. I particularly looking for help with talk radio, but DJ or radio drama instructions would help too. --Gary123 (talk) 22:59, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Heres a link that might help: http://www.ehow.com/how_2041933_radio-show.html. Ehow teaches you to do almost everything!--Dlo2012 (talk) 23:40, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Are police officers sarcastic ?
I just seen a Law & Order episode in which officers arrested a environmentalist.


 * Environmentalist:" This is a wasteland!"
 * Police:"Then you ought to see Riker's Island." (as the guy was being arrested)

This was part of a Arson and someone got killed in that episode. 205.240.146.242 (talk) 23:34, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

So what's the question?--Dlo2012 (talk) 23:42, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Are police that sarcastic in real life ? 205.240.146.242 (talk) 23:53, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Some will be, some of the time. "The police" are not sufficiently homogeneous to enable a simple yes-no answer. Doubtless most police forces will espouse professional values, which would tend to preclude the use of sarcasm. But police are a) human and b) often dealing with horrible people, which makes the use of sarcasm occasionally understandable. So. No good answer to your question. --Tagishsimon (talk) 23:57, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Very few people in real life, police officers included, are as consistently sarcastic or witty (wit being a more accurate term for the Riker's joke than sarcasm) as their fictional TV counterparts. That's one reason why TV is entertaining.  --M @ r ē ino 23:57, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Police can be sarcastic and/or funny at times. I have listened to them on a scanner. Once i heard them talking about some kids fishing at some intersection. This was an intersection not even near a river so the other officer came on and said "Well, If they are fishing there, i bet they are having a hard time catching anything. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.210.143.173 (talk) 03:23, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * True story: Guy in California gets a letter informing him he had been caught speeding by photo-radar and had to pay $45. The letter included a photo of his car speeding. The guy's a bit of a smartass, so he takes a picture of $45 in cash and sends it to the police department. A few days later, the guy gets another letter from the chief of police. It contained one thing: a photo of a set of handcuffs! Verified by Snopes. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 04:45, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I think what the writers and actors realized was that they could portray a guy, say Lenny Briscoe, who could have a tough, impossible-to-impress, cynical New York attitude, a forthright, wise-cracking, no-nonsense blue-collar worker attitude, and the gallows humor of the experienced cop who has seen most everything bad that there is to see, and it would make for snappy dialogue. Jerry Orbach, who played Briscoe, trained as a method actor and I'd imagine there's a good deal of truth to a depiction like this, just as there may be to that of the younger partner in the show, who is slightly more circumspect and who is much more likely to AGF. Lenny Briscoe quotes ftw though. 86.44.6.14 (talk) 10:37, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Well if you do want to find sarcastic police officers, i recommend watching the show speeders, which is basically what the whole thing is about.--Dlo2012 (talk) 16:36, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

I know two officers well both were sarcastic.

Go ahead and laugh about this pizza question.
Okay, I left a frozen pizza in the car (which was hot) for around 26 hours, and I'd like to know if it's still safe to eat. Anyone know? Thanks in advance. *stomach grumbles* · AndonicO  Hail!  23:47, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * NO! Its spoiled. 205.240.146.242 (talk) 23:54, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * I wouldn't. --Kurt Shaped Box (talk) 23:55, 31 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Unless you left your car outside in a freezing winter night, I wouldn't take my chances.  bibliomaniac 1  5  23:57, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Aww. :( Too bad, now I have to find something else to eat... · AndonicO  Hail!  23:59, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Have you considered ordering a pizza? Pizza shop pizzas are usually nicer (IMO) than frozen pizzas anyway. --Kurt Shaped Box (talk) 00:01, 1 February 2008 (UTC)
 * What, out of interest, do we think the problem will by now be, which will not be solved by a ten minute bask under a hot grill? Salmonella? (Maybe I can put you off food altogether. Maybe not; I'm hungry too :( --Tagishsimon (talk) 00:02, 1 February 2008 (UTC)
 * The problem is that many food born pathogens release toxins into the food which are not broken down by cooking. Don’t take the chance. If food's been sitting out at room temperature for more than about two hours it’s usually not safe to eat, even if cooked. I’ve had food poisoning before and it was the worst I’ve ever felt. --S.dedalus (talk) 04:21, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks for saving my life guys. ;) Ordering a pizza is more expensive around here, and they taste like greasy cardboard, but maybe I can do that... · AndonicO  Hail!  00:03, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I'm sorry S.daedelus, I can't let your remark go. "If food's been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours it's usually not safe to eat, even if cooked." This is a tad misleading. I eat lots of things that have been at room temperature for way more than two hours, bread, cheese, eggs, meat from the freezer, cream cakes, fruit, and so on. I suspect many other people do as well and do not suffer any negative health consequences. Maybe you were referring to prepared frozen products? Richard Avery (talk) 08:08, 1 February 2008 (UTC)
 * He was most likely referring to a defrosted-then-cooked meal, or anything prepared for your average lunch (i. e. cooked, boiled, fried, baked or whatever suits your tastes) and left to wait for you. I also wouldn't touch this. Most of the stuff you described (like eggs or fruit) can of course be left lying about without harm for a certaim time, however I keep most of these things in the fridge. --Ouro (blah blah) 10:21, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * It all depends on the person, I can eat things that make other peiople very sick like spoiled fish, stomach of iron i guess. But it does depend on the individual, I sujest eating some, than giving it an hour or so, if you feel okay, eat it all mmm good luck. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.191.136.2 (talk) 12:50, 1 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Ouro is correct. Food safety --S.dedalus (talk) 22:45, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Well, if anyone is interested in the result: I went back to the supermarket and bought the same pizza again. · AndonicO  Hail!  23:18, 1 February 2008 (UTC)