Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 October 13

= October 13 =

career
i am a student of electronics and telecommunication in diploma engineering, in BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY under the board of WEST BENGAL STATE COUNCIL OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION. Is there any possibility for me to have admission in MIT via exam or any process on electronics based subject for further studies? i have a great willings for studies in MIT. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 111.93.4.158 (talk) 06:46, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Other people may have good advice to give you about applications to MIT, but there are some obvious things. You have to improve your English first. You should read the MIT website and find out what it says about admissions. Itsmejudith (talk) 07:23, 13 October 2010 (UTC)


 * You might want to talk to someone at the appropriate administrative office at your school, or a dean, or a tutor, or a professor you like. But certainly also you will want to have a look at the MIT admissions page.  Good luck!  Wiki Dao  &#9775;  (talk)  07:45, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Whoa. Let's not jump to conclusions. The person may not be referring to the MIT; he may mean Manipal Institute of Technology, Madras Institute of Technology, Maharaja Institute of Technology, Maharashtra Institute of Technology or even schools in other countries. Clarityfiend (talk) 08:39, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Certainly these are possibilities. "He" may also be a "she" too. Wiki Dao  &#9775;  (talk)  11:59, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * You have had some good advice: to get help from the institution you're currently studying in and the one you want to apply to. If you tell us more details we might be able to help more. Improving your English will be useful for studying electronic engineering. I join in the wishes of good luck. Itsmejudith (talk) 12:45, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Dang. I used "the person", then slipped up anyway. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:39, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * It gets easier. And then, one day, when you've forgotten you're doing it, someone will rant at you that you're debasing the Great English Language as spoken by Shakespeare, and you'll get to laugh at them. 109.155.37.180 (talk) 23:49, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * WP:BALL. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:40, 14 October 2010 (UTC)

MIT has students from around the world, and, oddly enough, many are not fully proficient in English. Write to the Dean of Admissions for information - MIT is very competitive as far as entrance is concerned. "International students represent 37% of the MIT graduate student population, and more than 20% of the overall student population. " Good luck. Collect (talk) 10:24, 14 October 2010 (UTC)

Downloading movies
How can I download movies from the net59.95.7.16 (talk) 16:11, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Open a Netflix account, or go to a site such as Hulu. We aren't going to give you instructions on how to download movies illegally. Looie496 (talk) 16:17, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Archive.org is an example of a place where you can download films that are not in copyright. For example, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is up there, as are some other classics and some more recent, non-mainstream, films. 109.155.37.180 (talk) 16:37, 13 October 2010 (UTC)

μTorrent then The Pirate Bay. We don't have to give you instructions on how to download movies illegally but we can lead you in the right direction. --Endlessdan (talk) 16:34, 13 October 2010 (UTC)


 * You should know, of course, that if you go this direction, you do open yourself up to possible prosecution according to the laws of whatever jurisdiction you are in. (The IP is from India, if that helps.) --Mr.98 (talk) 18:09, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Not necessarily. There are some torrent sites offering downloads under creative commons or with copyright holders permission, such as http://vodo.net/ or Mininova 82.44.55.25 (talk) 20:12, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes, but I think we're all pretty clear that the vast majority of holdings on the Pirate Bay are blatant and unapologetic copyright violations. --Mr.98 (talk) 02:07, 14 October 2010 (UTC)
 * As I'm sure you're aware, torrent sites don't host the media files themselves, they only host the torrent files that tell the software where to go to get the media files. A torrent file is not a copyright violation.  It may lead people to content that is, but then again so does Google. --Viennese Waltz 07:49, 14 October 2010 (UTC)
 * If the IP is non-US, then the above suggestion to go to hulu is useless. Hulu only works for US IPs, and this notice saying "we'll make hulu available worldwide ASAP, we promise" has been unchanged for years now. Same goes for netflix - no US IP, no go. So those two suggestions aren't really any help and Endlessdan's suggestion is the way to go. Of course, there are possible legal problems involved, as Mr. 98 says, and presumably also moral ones. TomorrowTime (talk) 20:00, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * While I agree recommending Netflix and Hulu when you have no idea where the questioner lives and the evidence suggests it not the US, there's no reason you can't recommend other services if they are available. For example as an alternative to Netflix Online video rental (some of those appear to have online download services as well, Bigflix is one I think). I also found who don't appear to be India exclusive but are usable by someone in India I believe. There are I think other similar sites who may offer content to people in many countries including India (obviously not the very popular content).  suggests there aren't many download services in India but it was in early January so things may have changed slightly since then. Nil Einne (talk) 02:30, 14 October 2010 (UTC)

Valkyrie
I have new historical facts re the plot to kill Hitler which would be very interesting to Wikipedia and to Nathan Alexander, author of Valkyrie. Can Wikipedia contact Mr. Alexander and get him to contact me? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.109.162.62 (talk) 17:04, 13 October 2010 (UTC)


 * We have no special access to anyone. If you want to talk to Nathan Alexander, you'll have to write to him yourself. Many publishers forward mail to their authors. -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 17:07, 13 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Also, it's unwise to leave your personal information on a very public noticeboard. -- McDoob  AU  93  17:08, 13 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia has an article about the failed assassination plot and would benefit from notable information that meets WP:RS. I suggest you present your information first at the article discussion page. Nathan Alexander is co-writer and co-producer of the film Valkyrie (2008) and appeared in the same year in a TV program "Valkyrie: The Plot to Kill Hitler". I think it likely you will get his contact details if you sign up for a free trial of IMDbPro (I didn't try). Cuddlyable3 (talk) 19:35, 13 October 2010 (UTC)

International Effort on Rescuing the Copiapó Miners
Many countries have contributed in some way to the ongoing rescue of the Copiapó miners. I read that NASA designed the escape pod, and I think a U.S. company came up with the drill bit that drilled the rescue hole. Austrians apparently designed the pulley and winch system that takes the pod up and down. South African has something to do with this effort too, but I don't know what yet. Etc. Does anyone know of a comprehensive listing of the international contributions to the rescue effort? TresÁrboles (talk) 21:14, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Someone mentioned to me that they thought South Africa was involved because they had seen S.A. after company names. In fact S.A. in Spanish speaking countries stands for 'Sociedad Anonima' which is equivalent to 'Company Limited'(Co. Ltd.) in English. But I guess with a user name like yours you know that already.Richard Avery (talk) 21:48, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * For those wondering what 'South Africa' (note of course any help may not actually come from the goverment) did do  Nil Einne (talk) 23:41, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * 7:34-8:40 for some always-relevant commentary. 109.155.37.180 (talk) 17:35, 14 October 2010 (UTC)


 * There's been Australian expertise used in the drilling. --  202.142.129.66 (talk) 00:32, 14 October 2010 (UTC)