Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 October 9

= October 9 =

background music

 * i have a song whose background music is the only thing i want. is there a way to detach background music somehow...anyhow. :)--Myownid420 (talk) 07:55, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * There are audio filtering techniques that can achieve amazing things, and a singing voice can often be isolated from music by processing the differences in frequency spectrum and amplitude. But it's not likely that background music can be detached without distracting artefacts. I would have to hear the piece to comment sensibly. There is another way which is to let a musician recreate the melody. This example (video) shows what can be done from just hearing a song in a film. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:18, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * This question was first posted on the Maths desk, and two answers were given there. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 23:51, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

How to turn down a friend
A friend of mine wants to join my team for group work in a course. He is not a good student academically. I like him as a friend and I enjoy hanging out with him but I don't want to work with him in a team. Please advise me on what I should say to turn him down without appearing too rude. He knows my team still has available spots. Thank you 222.254.26.175 (talk) 12:21, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

Unfortunately, there is no way to do this; you are a horrible person. Instead, you should feel ashamed and, in that ashamedness, lash out irrationally at those you love. Following this, a long, long life of bitter anger and further disgusting acts by you is to be expected and endured —Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.242.186.241 (talk) 12:27, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

I think the previous poster is a bit over the top but I do agree it is a tricky situation. Clearly you have a conflict between your academic achievement and your social commitments. You use the phrase ". . . my team still has spots"; does this imply that you have the ability to choose who joins 'your' group? If it is up to you then the only decent way is to be as honest as you can and explain that you are concerned he may not cope well (or whatever) in your group. If he is a friend then he would hopefully recognise and accept you rationale. If it is a more democratic arrangement that decides who joins the group then you may have to accept the results and as a real friend support him if he struggles. Finally you may have to consider that he is not really your friend but 'someone you like to hang out with'. Dealing with this dilemma is going to decide which he is. Caesar&#39;s Daddy (talk) 13:24, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Tell him (insincerely) that you think it is a shame that "they" (unspecified) think they can dictate who to have on the team. You share his disapointment. To atone for this white lie you could wreak massive medieval harm upon an unsuspecting IP in New South Wales. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 13:51, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

Do you have a reference for that? 60.242.186.241 (talk) 14:03, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Before you reject him - and there is absolutely no foolproof way to do this without hurting him and damaging your friendship - have you stopped to consider the possible advantages of accepting him? Do you really know what your assessor is looking for?  Most team tasks are set up to assess teamwork skills as well as progress in the task itself.  Successful teams take people with varying skillsets, personalities and talents and weld them into an effective force that makes the best use of what each individual can offer in order to get the job done.  If your team already contains academic types, perhaps your friend has other qualities that would be valuable in the exercise.  And if your teacher knows you all and your various strengths and weaknesses, s/he may be looking for evidence that you have forged and run an effective team from a mix of individuals, rather than just cherry-picking the class eggheads.   Ka renjc 17:13, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * I agree with Karenjc on this. You may wish to investigate the work of Meredith Belbin regarding what components make up high-functioning teams. OK so your friend may not be an academic, but does he/she have other skills, abilities or qualities? One of Belbin's roles is a "chaser" - can your friend keep on top of what people have agreed to do and make sure they do it? Maybe they're good at coming up with new and different ideas? Or could they have the sort of people skills that neither you nor others in your team possess? Hell, even the ability to remember what everyone has to drink and to supply it at regular intervals is a quality sadly lacking in many teams I've worked in! --TammyMoet (talk) 19:32, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * And to add to that, if your friend is less strong academically than you, they may require you to explain what you are doing and why, which helps you consider what you are doing, and will most likely help you learn the material better. They are also more likely to get on with the work rather than try to take control of the task and do it their own way. As Belbin explains, many a team has been stalled and unable to complete the simplest task, because each member was sure they knew the best way to do it, and refused to do it anyone else's way. While I am unconvinced by much of Belbin's specifics, their work was useful in counteracting the idea that a team of super-smart leaders will be the best. 109.155.37.180 (talk) 22:04, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

Signs
Deleted following discussion on Talk page. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 23:59, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Sanitized and reasked below. -- 124.157.234.91 (talk) 02:26, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Numbers stations
Are there any numbers stations currently being streamed live over the internet? I'm aware of UVB-76 and am looking for others. Thanks, --Viennese Waltz 15:52, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Are you really sure you want to know? “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”—Tom Cruise, Top Gun--Aspro (talk) 16:15, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * As a spymaster, I can tell you this is a horrible idea. The great thing about numbers stations is that the numbers can be scribbled down by anybody in range and receipt is undetectable.  On the Internet. every time someone 'connects' to your Internet radio station, the radio station &mdash; and many intermediaries &mdash; know your IP address and can deduce where exactly you are.  Receipt is very detectable.  Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:28, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * I don't mean being streamed by the original broadcaster. I mean being picked up and streamed by anyone.  --Viennese Waltz 20:28, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * While it is possible for someone to relay the allegedly covert transmissions onto the Internet, Counter-intelligence organisations would not like this to happen. To help a potential enemy to communicate is not kosher. As things are, the spy who receives the messages can be distinguished by the equipment he carries (a shortwave radio tuned to a particular frequency. That setting can be identified by remote scanning of local oscillator radiation.) and the times when he has to listen or set up a recording session. Another disadvantage is that it would expose the code to worldwide Internet users. There are so many of them that there will probably be someone smart enough to decrypt a code that you can't, or don't want to reveal that you can decrypt. That's not kosher either. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:52, 10 October 2010 (UTC)
 * There seem to be a lot of useful links at the bottom of our article. For example, re. Cuddles' remarks:
 * How does it work?
 * "At the spy HQ a message to an agent is encrypted using a cryptography key called a one time pad. This key is a dictionary for a language that is only used one.The message is then broadcast according to a pre set schedule possibly from an embassy or military base located in another country. An agent in the field has is issued a shortwave radio (probably a portable something inconspicuous), a copy of the schedule a book containing copies of the one time pads he will need. The agent then listens at a time and on a frequency listed on his schedule. He listens to the message header to see if the message is for him and what key to use.  If the message is for him he notes down or records the number and then uses his key to decode the message. He then destroys the key."
 * from the Welcome to number stations link.
 * Does UVB-76 stream online? Wiki Dao  &#9775;  (talk)  02:27, 11 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes it does, see here, although it's not a numbers station it just transmits buzzes. And forgive me if I'm labouring the point here but C3 didn't quite answer the question I asked, which was simply whether any numbers stations are currently being streamed by "worldwide Internet users" (bloggers, third parties, etc).  As C3 says, "it is possible for someone to relay the allegedly covert transmissions onto the Internet".  I would just like to know if that is currently happening. Thank you, --Viennese Waltz 07:36, 11 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Many radio enthusiasts hang out on the #wunclub IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel. This is a place where you can chat with fellow listeners, as well as share monitoring catches in real time. You didn't hear this from me. I am not here. I didn't say this. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 09:27, 11 October 2010 (UTC)
 * It would be naive to think that agents carry special books printed on the front cover with "SECRET ONE TIME PADS. Tear off and destroy the last page used." The ubiquitous Gideon bibles have been used as one time pads more often than anyone knows. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:00, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

A very Strange comment
Recently someone commented on my style of mustache, they are not exactly Fu Manchu thing, but something quite close, thin and tapering downwards. He said something like this, well I cannot tell what he exactly said due to the fact that his accent was very queer to me. He said that early in '70 or '60 etc. guys used to grow such mustache as a symbol for the fact that they have cheated their girlfriends and they are doing repentance for the same ! I know it sounds very-very strange, even absurd. Was the guy mad or is there some hint of truth in what he said to me ? Jon Ascton   (talk)  17:13, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Never heard of it. (And those were the years of my young adulthood.) HiLo48 (talk) 20:28, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Neither have I heard it. Moustache growers then as now were proud of their decoration, which is irreconcilable with the idea that they are doing penance. These owners (video) seem satisfied with their moustaches, and a good Fu Manchu moustache can be rewarded in its own category at the World Beard and Moustache Championships. That is not to say that an attractive man with a moustache might not break a few hearts. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 21:26, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

Specops / aviation eye requirements
I have glasses, yet in the military i want to be a specops / aviation officer. Right now, i have glasses, but in the future i want to get lasik. Will i be removed from the pipeline if I have had a recent eye surgery?-- Last  Lived  18:23, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * I think yes. They are very serious about this matter. It also depends on the fact that whether you get a perfect 6/6 vision after surgery (it is not always very successful) Jon Ascton    (talk)  19:04, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Jon, please provide sources rather than speculation. This site discusses the various rules of the branches of the US military.  Whether or not eye surgery allows for service in certain areas depends on both the particulars of the surgery (the Air Force is fine with LASIK for pilots, the Navy isn't but permits PRK).  Special forces appear generally incompatible with LASIK patients, but they're likewise incompatible with those who need corrective eyewear.  However, "special forces" is a wide enough category that there may be exceptions.  Your best bet is to speak to a recruiter or other official with ties to the specific positions you're considering. &mdash; Lomn 19:19, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * There seems to be quite a lot of information out there on this subject. This report suggests that there was previously a blanket ban on anyone entering the US military who has had previous vision correction surgery, including Lasik.  The policy has been reviewed, and it seems a waiver may possibly be granted, depending on the applicant's medical records. However, we have no inside track on who might get a waiver, and under what circumstances. Asking the military directly is the only way you will get a meaningful answer.  If it were me, I would most certainly not undergo the surgery until I had an authoritative opinion on how it would affect my plans for a military career.   Ka renjc 19:31, 9 October 2010 (UTC)
 * You are not able to fly until 1 year after the surgery. If you are already in the military, why don't you just ask one of the docs at aeromed?  Googlemeister (talk) 13:58, 11 October 2010 (UTC)