Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2009 May 24

= May 24 =

Background music
This will be difficult but I was watching some clips on YouTube and was watching this clip. I was wondering what the background theme music? I believe it has been used before, probably in an ad. --Blue387 (talk) 01:44, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * You should ask this on the entertainment ref.desk...they are very good at identifying music. SteveBaker (talk) 14:43, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I can barely hear it *sigh* —Tamfang (talk) 23:53, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Sounds to me like it was meant to suggest the Trek title themes while avoiding rights issues. —Tamfang (talk) 00:03, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

University Transcripts (UK)
In the UK (not the US - I know about that already), what is the general policy regarding university transcripts ordered in triplicate and sent through the post? I have received mine (for my work permit for Korea), and specifically asked them to stamp and seal the envelope. However, they seem to have done this on the envelope they sent me the transcripts in, and I have no way of knowing whether they have done it on the transcripts inside, or even whether they have put them in individual envelopes (which is what I need). I don't wish to open the main envelope and risk invalidating the entire package if the ones inside are not stamped and sealed. I will call them on Tuesday to find out (Monday is a bank holiday), but it would be nice to know a bit earlier, as this gives me an extra couple of days to work with (application for work permit needs to be done as soon as possible). --KageTora - (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 08:11, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * The transcripts themselves should be individually stamped, do you really need them to be in a sealed envelope? I've never heard of that before and don't recall an option to request that when I last ordered some transcripts. --Tango (talk) 14:56, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I've been told that for immigration purposes they need to be in sealed envelopes. --KageTora - (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 15:13, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * This probably doesn't help you but when I ordered mine in NZ, IIRC the main letter was sealed and so were the invidual copies. I did actually order one that wasn't sealed as well Nil Einne (talk) 19:57, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

online library
does anyone know an online library site?? i tried wikisource but there were only classics, like sherlock holmes and monte cristo.... i need a site where i could read dan brown's and rowling's and tolkien's, (actually every major author's. the book i want to read right now is angels and demons. i googled for it but every site seems to demand payment), so if anyone knows this sort of site, please tell me.

thanx!!!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.50.134.149 (talk) 10:44, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * You could try Internet Archive and Google Books, but they won't have anything by Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling, since those books are very recent and still under copyright. Google Books might have excerpts but every once in awhile a chunk of pages will be missing. Why don't you try an actual library? That is also free. Adam Bishop (talk) 13:54, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * You won't be able to legally get new digital books without payment. The "classics" are on there because they are in the public domain. Everything else is under copyright and the authors need some money in order to keep at it for a living. Go to a regular library or pay for the book. --98.217.14.211 (talk) 14:30, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * All true - but you could (for example) get an Amazon Kindle - which allows you to buy books from their online bookstore and download them immediately. Because those books are paid for - this isn't a breach of copyright and modern books are widely available.  But in terms of free sites - no - everything has to either be out of copyright or donated by their authors.  However, free, modern books by popular authors is an impossibility - the authors have to make a living somehow. SteveBaker (talk) 14:40, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * An exception is Baen, which make many recent books available for free download. Their business model is that most people who download the free books alos buy them in hardback. In particular, almost all of David Weber's novels are available, along with a bunch of other stuff. -Arch dude (talk) 16:46, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Another exception is Cory Doctorow who releases his books via a Creative Commons license. Dismas |(talk) 19:49, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * True, but the poster specifically asked about Brown, Tolkien, and Rowling. Which you aren't going to find (legally) online for free. --98.217.14.211 (talk) 19:55, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * They also said "actually every major author's" and Doctorow is a well known if not "major" (whatever that means) author within his genre. Dismas |(talk) 20:01, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Some public libraries (mine for example) lend e-books as a downloadable pdf. They work it so that (unless you hack it) you can't copy it and must "return" it at the end of the loan period. It's quite effective. I'm sure there are ways to hack it so you can copy it, but it's not easy. I have found some sites (which I can't recall) that offer a particular book free each month. Steewi (talk) 02:57, 25 May 2009 (UTC)
 * To my knowledge, most ebook DRM systems are relatively simple to break. (Worst case scenario, since the output should be exceptionally high quality, you can easily OCR the book.) But to be frank, there's little point hacking it if it's a library book. If you're going to violate copyright, you might as well just download the book from a good P2P network. Both are just as ethically, and in some countries, legally questionable (I'm talking about criminal law here, in most countries it will be a violation of the copyright owner's right so they could likely sue you) Nil Einne (talk) 19:53, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

Cigarette machines?
Do they still have cigarette machines in England or have they been banned? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.1.161.76 (talk) 13:09, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * We still have them in pubs, even though you have to smoke outside. --KageTora - (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 15:10, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Lol still good to know they haven't been completely outlawed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.25.185.62 (talk) 15:55, 25 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Good? Good?! Please switch your brain into the "ON" position before posting! They allow ridiculously young kids to buy cigarettes despite the laws against that.  I presume that the only reason they are still allowed in pubs is that kids who are too young to buy cigarettes are not allowed in pubs unless accompanied by an adult - so it's reasonable to assume that if all of the other laws are obeyed then these machines cannot be gotten at by kids.  If you think that allowing little kids to get addicted to this terrible stuff is "good" then you have an argument on your hands here! SteveBaker (talk) 16:10, 25 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't think the OP was implying or hinting at that, but I can see your point Steve. In Japan, there are cigarette machines in the streets, and they can be used by kids. They are closed between 11pm and 5am, and this is apparently to stop kids from buying cigarettes at that time of night (as if they are out that time of night). Recently, machines have had 'cameras' fitted, supposedly to check the age of the buyer, but in actual fact, they are only motion sensors set at 'adult head height' and can be easily foiled by a child sticking his/her hand up over the motion sensor (I know! I tried it myself and it worked!). Cigarette machines in pubs in the UK, however, are not a threat to children, as children in pubs are constantly being monitored either by parents, staff, or other punters. --KageTora - (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 16:41, 25 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't think SB was saying the OP was implying or hinting that but rather he or she should have recognised the potential harm from such machines and the reason why they may not be good. I agree though it seems from a kid POV such machines in pubs are mostly harmless since it's likely children would generally be supervised. A bigger problem is probably stores who don't follow the law and sell to kids Nil Einne (talk) 19:32, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

Ferrari F430 spider
Please could someone tell me how the doors open on a ferrari F430 because I am using the model in a book I am writing and cannot find a picture of one with the doors open. I think they go upwards. Thanking anyone in anticipation. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Geekiss (talk • contribs) 16:18, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The photo at right is of the F430 Scuderia - it's doors evidently open conventionally. SteveBaker (talk) 16:27, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Picture of Teufelsberg?
Does anyone know where/if there are pictures of Teufelsberg before it was planted with trees? It was made from the rubble from Berlin, so I'm looking for an impressive picture of an enormous mound of rubble. Any tips on where I could look? Aaadddaaammm (talk) 16:30, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I had a look on Google Images for you, and the second picture was of rubble in Teufelsburg, but not really the 'impressive picture of an enormous mound of rubble' that you asked for. It was more like a few bits of concrete on the floor of what looked like a forest. Anyway, there were dozens of pages of images, so if you want to check through them (if you haven't done so already), go ahead. --KageTora - (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 00:07, 25 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the reply, I had seen this picture (and similar images with my own eyes), but really want a historical picture of the mound, perhaps as it's being added to still. Google images and English and German WP pages are no help. Any more tips? Aaadddaaammm (talk) 13:33, 26 May 2009 (UTC)

Microeconomics homework question
"From the society's viewpoint a benefit of advertising is the revenue it provides to some firms to enable them to supply public goods. Discuss this statement, starting by outlining the characteristics of a public good."

I'm quite confused because I don't understand why firms need to supply public goods in the first place? Please, any help? 117.0.61.25 (talk) 16:37, 24 May 2009 (UTC)


 * OK then let's pick this apart. "The society's viewpoint" - which society is this? "Benefit of advertising" - how does advertising benefit anybody? The answer is "the revenue it provides to some firms" in other words, it gives money to some companies. How does it do this? "Supply public goods" - obviously this is what these companies do. What is the "public good" these companies provide? Well it appears to be the services of an advertising agency. So we can deduce that one of the characteristics of a "public good" is that it is a paid for service: one side offers the service (in this case, advertising) to another side who pays for the service. Does this help? --TammyMoet (talk) 17:48, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It's difficult to determine exactly without more context. Certainly, the broadcasting of TV shows in the United States might be considered a benefit to the U.S. public (or it might not, depending on one's view of Family Guy), and it's the revenue supplied by advertisers that allows the broadcasters to supply those public goods. Deor (talk) 19:00, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Deor has it. Advetising pays for broadcast TV in many countries. It pays for Google searches. It pays for bus shelters &c. So those are examples of your public goods. We have an article on Public goods which may assist wih the rest of your homework. --Tagishsimon (talk) 19:55, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

I fixed your link, Tagish. --KageTora - (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 22:58, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Public goods are not always provided by the government. Remember a public good is simply any good that is non-vivalrous and non-excludable203.217.46.79 (talk) 11:26, 28 May 2009 (UTC)