Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 January 17

= January 17 =

Car alarm problems
My car alarm keeps going off for no reason that I can see. (The car is a Honda Civic, 5 years old) What might be the cause of this? --TammyMoet (talk) 15:01, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Is something disturbing the car? High winds? Kids playing near it and bumping into it? Newspaper delivery guy throwing the newspaper and unintentionally hitting your car? Bus stop (talk) 15:14, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Defective car alarm? Someone wants to steal your car, and is waiting for you to get frustrated with all these 'false alarms' and turn off the alarm completely?  Annoyed neighbours who are kicking your car every time they walk past, because the alarm keeps waking them up?  (Please bear in mind that no matter how annoying you might find this problem, your neighbours will think it is much worse.)
 * Is this a daytime or evening phenomenon? Hourly, daily, or weekly interval?  Can you set up a webcam in your window to watch the car for a day or two to see if there's a triggering event? TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:40, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Speaking from personal experience of exactly the same problem with my Vauxhall Corsa a few years ago, it may be simply that the battery built in to the car alarm is running down. Since in that model of Corsa, and probably in many other cars, the alarm was a sealed module with (allegedly) no way of replacing the battery alone, I had to have the entire alarm unit replaced for a 3-figure sum.
 * As with other seemingly unrepairable modules built into cars these days, one might suspect that this is a deliberate money spinning tactic on the part of the manufacturer to force one to buy replacement parts via their official dealers at high markups. I suggest that you ask the advice of a reputable independent car maintenance business to find out (a) what the problem really is and (b) whether it can be rectified more cheaply that an "authorised dealer" is liable to admit to.
 * I'm not sure if you're in the UK, Tammy, but if you are there is now legislation ensuring that one can use such independent dealers (provided they use appropriate parts, etc) for service and repairs without adversely affecting one's warranty and service history.
 * If you soon start to hear rattling from underneath your car, varying with the throttle, it will likely be your catalytic converter beginning to break up - they seem to have lifetimes comparable to that of alarm batteries. Ah, the joys of motoring! 87.81.230.195 (talk) 16:02, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Is this a factory installed alarm or a aftermarket device? The factory alarm shouldn't be a problem, but many aftermarket kits are just terrible.  One other possible cause (I would put my money on low battery) is accidentally pressing the "panic button" on the key fob when it is your pocket.  While not that easy to do, if you where the right kind of pants and carry the right kind of other keys in your pocket it is possible. --Leivick (talk) 16:35, 17 January 2011 (UTC)

Alternatively, why not contact the maker of the device? They should be able to help. --  KägeTorä - (影虎)  ( TALK )  17:17, 17 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for all your help on this. I called the dealership I bought it from, as it came fitted with the car. They suggested that the car battery itself needed changing, and so I've done just that. It seems to have cured the problem. However, I'm still curious as to how a low battery could cause something to happen which would appear to produce a bigger drain on the battery than, well, just sitting there doing nothing! --TammyMoet (talk) 19:34, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I suppose it might be a deliberate fail-safe mode, like a smoke alarm starting to beep when its battery gets low. If it just stopped working silently you might not realise it, and a thief could then rock your car to see if the alarm was working and break in with impugnity if it wasn't. 87.81.230.195 (talk) 20:08, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Without contacting the manufacturer, that would be my bet &mdash; smoke alarms do the same thing when they sense that their batteries are getting low. Comet Tuttle (talk) 21:55, 17 January 2011 (UTC)

Well, the car is now with the dealership. Apparently one of the sensors has failed and thinks it's always open! Still like to know why there isn't a sort of tell-tale on the dashboard to warn of low battery, though. There used to be one on older cars, I'm sure. --TammyMoet (talk) 17:06, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I seem to remember most cars I have been in having a battery indicator - this may just be because I have noticed them in the cars that did, and not noticed them in the ones that didn't, giving the illusion that they all did. There should be some information in your user manual. --  KägeTorä - (影虎)  ( TALK )  13:48, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Art
I am trying to find our articles on the use of light in painted art and the use of colour in art. please help —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.89.16.154 (talk) 16:24, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * You'll find a bit at Painting, and you can follow some links from there, but there doesn't appear to be a lot of information really, the best link is possibly Color theory. Artistic tone is another brief article perhaps of some relevance. It's a start. --jjron (talk) 16:46, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * The subject is likely just too broad for a decent Wikipedia article. Commentary on the use of color and light in painting could fill volumes of art criticism and art theory textbooks, I am actually not surprised there isn't much at Wikipedia given the broad nature of the subject.  The best I could find is perhaps Luminism (American art style), which is a short article, but the references and painters described therein may give the OP some places to continue to search.  -- Jayron  32  16:50, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Don't forget Thomas Kinkade, "Painter of Light"! For all the kitsch you might ever need... --Mr.98 (talk) 17:18, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Edward Hopper is known for his skill in depicting light. Also consider articles such as Color theory and Munsell color system. There is a Category:Color space. There is also a thing about "north light" in an artist's studio. We find here (for instance) that "In the northern hemisphere, artist’s studios have for centuries been built with windows only on the northern side, to let only north light in, because it’s such a constant light and good measure of general indoor light." Bus stop (talk) 17:56, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Also check out the article chiaroscuro. --Xuxl (talk) 18:24, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * + Divisionism (pointillism). 81.131.68.227 (talk) 19:56, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia article on Pointillism. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:32, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

Olafur Eliasson (http://www.olafureliasson.net/) uses light more literally and produces some very interesting modern art (I know now strictly painted art but pretty much 'on topic') ny156uk (talk) 18:37, 17 January 2011 (UTC)

Toggle bolt
I just reinforced some shelving by replacing the plastic anchors + screws with toggle bolts, but was wondering how I'm going to get the toggle bolts in, because the increased diameter indicated by the bolt packaging (3/8 for 1/8) was still too narrow for the toggle to get through because of its hinge mechanism -- but I figured that since the toggle is engaging the wall and not the hole, I just wobbled my drill to make the hole wider, no harm done, right? Moreover, I was wondering how I' going to get the toggle to engage the back of the drywall while I was drilling to make sure it didn't just spin with the bolt as I drilled it in, but everything engaged, so I was wondering if anyone knew how, even though it was basically dangling off the back and not being held by anything. Is it that the bolt spins so quickly with my drill that the toggle remains stationary in respect to the wall and is pulled toward the drywall because I'm twisting the bolt into it?  DRosenbach  ( Talk 18:38, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Your narrative is a little unclear, but you shouldn't need (although you might want) to tighten the toggle bolt with a drill at all - a simple screwdriver with a suitable head for the bolt-head slots should suffice. The idea is that you first make sure that the lined-up holes in the shelving (made/widened if necessary with the drill) and the wall are (just) wide enough to pass the folded down toggle through, then you open up the toggle inside the wall cavity by turning the bolt, pull the opened toggles back against the far side of the wall surface nearest you (which will keep them stationary), and then tighten up the bolt (which will have a wide head and/or washer on your side of the wall and shelving) with the screwdriver (or drill if you prefer) in order to pull the shelving and the wall tightly together. The trick is to keep a backward pull on the bolt to keep the toggles against the inside of the wall while simultaneously turning it to tighten it, which is easier with fingers and screwdriver than while manipulating a drill. It's difficult to explain any more clearly just in words - did not the toggle bolt packaging have diagrams? 87.81.230.195 (talk) 19:59, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Another way to tighten a toggle bolt efficiently is to slip a small screwdriver or a heavy piece of wire through the hole once it's inserted to keep it from spinning. Toggle bolts and their ilk shouldn't be depended upon to hold anything you care about or to hold up anything over anything or anyone you care about, as the pull-through resistance of drywall is about nil.   Acroterion  (talk)  20:05, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Well, the guy at home depot told me that toggle bolts are good enough to hold up a microwave, but that wasn't with drywall and they didn't fit anyway, so for that I used lag screws. But I had the toggle bolts handy so I fixed up some other loose shelving, but I didn't know how to hold the bolts while tightening them, so I just drilled them with a drill and, miraculously enough, the toggles engaged and the shelving is secure -- I was just amazed at how this could occur, and it seems that you two are as well.  DRosenbach  ( Talk 20:10, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Lags are the best thing short of through-bolting. I generally ban toggle bolts and drywall anchors when I write construction specifications, requiring solid blocking and lags. When I've been forced to personally use toggle bolts, I've had about 50% success in getting them to engage without spinning, as you've experienced.  Acroterion  (talk)  20:49, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Wait a minute &mdash; are you holding up a microwave oven with shelving that's attached to drywall only? That seems like a terrible idea.  Comet Tuttle (talk) 21:54, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Indeed. Forget the shelving, and get a microwave cart. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:02, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * When there was a need to hang something heavy on plaster or drywall, and the mounting holes did not line up with the studs, it was suggested that I get a piece of plywood large enough to span the joists, (it still could be centered behind the heavy device for aesthetcs) and screw the plywood to the joists, then screw the heavy device to the plywood. The edge of the plywood could be routered or cut to look decorative, and it could be painted to match the wall. Then there is basically no limit (within reason) on how heavy a device could be mounted on the wall. No major structural changes to the wall are needed, and when the device is removed the plywood could be unscrewed and the 4 holes patched. Edison (talk) 17:54, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

I want to be an Entrepreneur......and something is holding me back...
Hi friends, I am a fresh Engineering graduate and have been working with a MNC for last six months. I know my goal in life is to be an entrepreneur, although I don't have an idea but I know someday I will have one. My problem is that due to some finencial reasons and due to uncertinity that i will suceed in business or not.... My mind doesnot allow me to take risk.

I also know that without taking risk and without leaving my current job I can't do something innovative.... Please guide me ......should I take risk or should I continue with my current job? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.225.96.217 (talk) 23:03, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I don't want to seem unkind, but it seems to me that one of the notable characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is that they don't ask other people for guidance, except perhaps for specific information from experts in some field. And certainly not from a random collection of people on the Internet. Understand, I'm not advising you against asking people for guidance - though I would suggest asking somebody who knows you, rather than a random collection of people that you know nothing about - but you are not sounding very entrepreneurial to me. --ColinFine (talk) 23:19, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * It is not taking 'risks' that holds you back it is probably you fail to picture what contingency plans you will employ, if things drift off in other directions. So I agree with ColinFine. Money (or the lack of) should not hold a real entrepreneur back.   Read autobiographies by people who started with nothing and ended up stinking rich like  W. Clement Stone, Andrew Carnegie and Napoleon Hill. Really you are asking for a psychological diagnosis and we don't give them here.--Aspro (talk) 23:44, 17 January 2011 (UTC)


 * "I don't have an idea..." sounds like your biggest problem at the moment. Starting your own business requires a business plan, and that requires you to have some fair idea who sort of business you want to get into.  You've been in the workforce for just six months; you don't know what you want to do; you don't have any savings to live on or with which to start a business; you don't report any specific experience or track record that would tend to make people with money want to fund you.  If you quit your job, what will you do?  Sit at home, burning two or three hundred dollars per week (maybe more), accumulating debt, waiting for inspiration?  To be utterly blunt, why do you expect that you'll suddenly become 'innovative' once you're unemployed, when you haven't come up with an idea during four(?) years of school plus the last six months of working (when you've been surrounded by and in constant discussion and contact and interaction with other engineers)?  Once you do develop a plan, how long will it be before you go from idea to positive cash flow, and can start paying your bills?
 * If you put in an hour each weeknight and five hours (the afternoon, let's say) on Saturday, that gives you ten hours per week to work on your plans. If you can stretch that to an hour and a half on each weeknight and work a full eight-hour Saturday, then you get just shy of sixteen hours – the equivalent of two full working days – each week.  Be honest &mdash; how many hours have you actually put in on your own time so far, thinking about specific approaches to starting your own business, and doing genuinely useful preparatory work?  You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish if you're diligent during that day or two you set aside.  Think about what you'd like to do.  Work on a business plan.  Spend a good chunk of that time reading books about starting a business.  Figure out what kind of special skills you're going to need to hire for, or learn yourself.  Think about what you're going to sell, to whom you're going to sell it, and whether or not you'll be able to sell it for enough cash to keep yourself afloat.  Generate a marketing plan.  Sketch out timelines, deadlines, and milestones.  Don't quit your job until you actually know what you intend to do during the weeks and months after.  TenOfAllTrades(talk) 00:58, 18 January 2011 (UTC)


 * I seem to recall a Malcolm Gladwell article which pointed out that the very successful entrepreneurs are not actually as risk prone as their P.R. departments would have you think. Ted Turner, for example, made his money on a deal that he knew could not fail. I'm not going to give you career recommendations, but before rushing out and trying to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, why not spend some time actually working in the field you think you'll innovate in? Or working in consulting in a related field? It'll at least show you how the system works, and put you in contact with the kinds of people you'd need to learn to get in contact with anyway if your Big Idea does come along some day. And hey, you'll be able to pay the rent in the meantime! Win-Win, just like Ted Turner... --Mr.98 (talk) 04:45, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * "Ted Turner made his money on a deal that he knew could not fail". That's very intriguing - what deal was that? He was probably very skillful in setting up or identifying the environment or context for such a deal. 92.28.242.93 (talk) 14:31, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm also reminded of something Dogbert once said: "Beware the advice of successful people. They do not seek company." ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:18, 18 January 2011 (UTC)


 * That's probably true enough in a certain sense. But I think the broader problem is that we are conditioned — by our media, by our dreams, by our desire for a speedy outcome — to think that being successful means striking it big overnight. In reality there are very, very few people who really do that. --Mr.98 (talk) 13:08, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

To start with, do a course or read some (good, not the usual rubbishy pulp) books about business, and read some books about creativity. Finding good books on either of these subjects is like looking for a needle in a haystack, because most buasiness books (sorry to say, particularly the American ones) are rubbish. If you are in the UK I could make more specific recommendations. Otherwise, try to find introductory university courses on those subject and see if you can find their reading list. 92.28.242.93 (talk) 14:29, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * The OP is near Mumbai. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:22, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil. - J. Paul Getty. More quotes. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:22, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I got a shorter one: No risk, no fun. Ever since i started my own business and work from home (and sometimes elsewhere - am a translator and interpreter), I wouldn't have it any other way. Thinking about starting a second one now, set myself a deadline as a kind of challenge. Think hard about what you want to do (this is actually the most important part about starting your own business), and then just start doing it. All the best! --Ouro (blah blah) 19:44, 19 January 2011 (UTC)