Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 June 3

= June 3 =

Can you get an erect penis with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
I was doing some research on Stephan Hawking and discovered that he has three children. I understand that in vitro fertilization could be possible but usual involves a man ejaculating into a cup but can you get an erect penis with ALS to do the actual act of ejaculating into a cup? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.37.8.185 (talk) 12:29, 3 June 2011


 * See semen collection for various ways of doing this, some which may circumvent the need for an erection. In particularly dire circumstances they could use testicular sperm extraction. --jjron (talk) 14:38, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Why ejaculate into a cup (or worse, have a doctor jab a needle into your testicles) when you can still have satisfying penetrative intercourse? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis principally affects motor neurons that control voluntary muscle movements; the autonomic nervous system (which regulates sexual arousal) and sensory neurons (which convey the sense of touch) are largely unaffected.  "Motor neurone disease does not affect sexual ability or the ability to have an erection, and orgasm will remain unchanged" .  Psychological issues (depression, feelings of unattractiveness, etc.), loss of cardiovascular condition, and some medications (particularly antidepressants) can have a negative effect on the ability of these individuals to achieve and sustain erection, but these issues are far from unique to ALS sufferers.  Again, because ALS doesn't tend to affect the autonomic nervous system, medications for erecticle dysfunction – like Viagra – remain effective. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:07, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * This medical text says that ALS can indeed cause impotence. --Sean 15:20, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Professor Hawking hasn't always had MND, and I believe his 3 children were all born before the disease progressed to a debilitating extent. --TammyMoet (talk) 15:17, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Doubt he wants us to think this through to its logical.... brain bleach! Crisco 1492 (talk) 07:13, 5 June 2011 (UTC)

Mumbling
It has been brought to my attention that I mumble. I don't believe I always mumbled but in the last 5 or 6 years it has become worse. What can cause a person to develop mumbling? Thank you in advance. --Endlessdan (talk) 13:31, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Also I knew the reference desk cannot answer medical question but this is broad - what can cause me, you, anyone to start mumbling?--Endlessdan (talk) 13:32, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * I can't understand a word you're saying. Speak up and speak clearly :) Lemon martini (talk) 16:54, 5 June 2011 (UTC)


 * A slightly different interpretation, based on experience: Sometimes when a person is losing his hearing, he complains that someone else is "mumbling." That might cause the other person to "bring it to your attention that you mumble." Edison (talk) 14:58, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Often a cause may not be able to be identified, but when it can be there could be psychological or physical reasons for a person to become a mumbler. For example psychological issues such as loss of self-esteem or confidence could contribute to a decline in assertiveness, which could be exhibited through mumbling rather than expressing oneself freely. Physical reasons could involve damage to the voice box, parts of the brain involved with speech production such as Broca's area, or even hearing damage/loss as the auditory feedback would be reduced. Speech disorder provides more information and links. Obviously this information is too general to be considered medical advice, but if you feel you personally may have a problem you should of course seek assistance from appropriate medical professionals. --jjron (talk) 15:06, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * If you rarely talk to other people, you may well lose the ability to judge just how loud you should speak to them. After all, you can always hear yourself, can't you! You may just have a naturally soft voice, which has gotten softer because of underuse. For example, I used to teach and during this time I had quite a loud voice. However, I haven't taught for quite some years, and my voice has returned to its usual volume. (If I tell you anything else it might be construed as medical advice. If you're really worried about this, see a doctor.) --TammyMoet (talk) 15:15, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * A physician (maybe a neurologist) or a speech-language pathologist may have some idea of what might cause this. Neutralitytalk 03:37, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Free advice: Always look at the person you are speaking to. In a public speaking or class teaching situation, look at the person at the back of the room. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 14:19, 4 June 2011 (UTC)
 * It seems to me that this might describe two different situations, which will need to be approached in different ways. In one of them, you think you are speaking normally, but people tell you it comes over as mumbling; in the other, once people draw it to your attention, you agree that you are mumbling. --ColinFine (talk) 17:37, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Which city?
Could anyone please enlighten me which city the park in this image (http://www.piratefighters.org/files/theme/main_image.jpg) is in? Just wondered because I find it very picturesque and there is no reference on that website as to where it might be (I think it's a stock photo). Thanks in advance! --195.14.222.40 (talk) 18:15, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Central park in New York, compare this image and commons:Category:Central Park Mall. Nanonic (talk) 18:26, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Ah, thanks a bunch! --195.14.222.40 (talk) 18:32, 3 June 2011 (UTC)

where to find stock symbols
I want to find a list of company names with their stock symbols, but I want to be able to narrow the search in the following ways...


 * 1. I want to see only shares that are traded on the NYSE or NASDAQ
 * 2. I want the companies to be in the range of $10M to $500M in current total share value (# of shares * latest price)
 * 3. I want to see companies that get 50% of their revenues from selling goods outside the US.

Is there some kind of free tool on the internet somewhere that might assist me with this? Googlemeister (talk) 20:07, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Stock screeners are what you want. Here's a good one . I'm not sure if it has everything you want, but it may have most of it. Shadowjams (talk) 00:26, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Baseball bats
Dear sir; Something must be done about the bats breaking and sending the razor sharp projectiles into the fans seats & onto the field. Sone little girl is going to be killed someday! Are you giong to be OK with that? How about if she is your little girl-. The bats could be made with a much thicker handle, not OK with the players-too bad, or the dreaded alu bats or wraped with a fiberglass coating good enough to contain the wood; but do something! Here is a new rule that might help with intertainment factor-if a batter hits a pop fly & can get to 2nd base before the ball is caught he would be able to be scored as hitting a double, providing the runner on third could not advance (if any) Thank you John Miller — Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.90.105.226 (talk) 21:22, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * We at the Wikipedia Reference desks have no power whatsoever over the policies of professional baseball leagues. Looie496 (talk) 21:25, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Here's some useful advice, though: If you're worried about it, get a ticket that puts you behind the backstop, where there's very little chance of being hit by flying objects. OR, get a ticket in the farthest reaches of the bleachers, where only a Harmon Killebrew could hit one, and he won't because he's playing with the Angels now. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:38, 4 June 2011 (UTC)


 * All of life involves risk, but perception of relative risk often becomes distorted.   D b f i r s   15:55, 4 June 2011 (UTC)


 * The OP also mentioned "razor sharp" splinter of wood, as if it were possible the shave with them, which is doubtful. They're more pointy than sharp - kind of like a stake flying through the air. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:34, 4 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Have there been any documented instances of fans being carved by razor sharp splinters of wood that erupted from a shattered bat? Comet Tuttle (talk) 03:56, 5 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Not splinters maybe, but fans occasionally get hit by a large chunk of the bat flying into the stands (and sometimes the entire, unbroken bat). Adam Bishop (talk) 09:42, 5 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Fans have occasionally been hit by bats, but the danger from foul balls, in general, is much greater and much more frequent. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:41, 5 June 2011 (UTC)
 * My guess (probably wrong) is that Mr. Miller posted at the Reference Desk to complete an assignment for a civics class (or something similar) at school. I had to write a similar letter way back when, and chose to write about the lack of street lights on a local dangerous road, but since there was no Wikipedia Reference Desk back then, I sent mine to the city council.  If I guessed correctly, I'd just reply, "Thank you for your thoughtful message.  We somewhat share your concerns and wish we could help more." Just a thought.  Kingsfold   (Quack quack!)  14:32, 6 June 2011 (UTC)
 * You might be onto it. If he had signed it Jon Miller instead, that would have put a different spin on it. I'm not sure but what the "we somewhat share your concerns" could be worded differently. Maybe "we weep for you, we deeply sympathize." ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 00:46, 7 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Cute.  Kingsfold  (Quack quack!)  13:01, 7 June 2011 (UTC)

I was once at a high school baseball game where an aluminum bat broke, so that would not necessarily be the solution. Very sharp edges, too. DOR (HK) (talk) 07:42, 8 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Metal bats could indeed present that problem, from time to time. They are not used in professional baseball. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 10:14, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Use of Title Governor

 * a working governor is a "sitting" governor
 * a previous governor is called a "past" governor
 * a deceased governor is referred to as the "late" governor"
 * but does a governor that resigned (quit) and did not finish the term of office still entitled to be called "governor"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.137.221.99 (talk) 22:19, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Hope you don't mind, but I've added some minimal formatting to help make your question more readable. --   Jack of Oz   [your turn]  22:50, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Nothing can change the fact of the person once having been a past (previous or one-time) governor. What "entitlement" that fact carries depends on the jurisdiction (country) concerned, about which you have told us nothing. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:58, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 * The IP address is from Wasilla, Alaska, which is associated with a recent former governor... Neutralitytalk 03:31, 4 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Not in my North American experience. That's usually reserved for U.S. presidents. Everyone else is a "former" or "ex". Que Sarah Sarah. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:58, 3 June 2011 (UTC)


 * When speaking directly to the person who used to hold the office, they are still addressed as "Mr. President", "Senator", or whatever. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:36, 4 June 2011 (UTC)


 * According to Robert Hickey of the Protocol School of Washington, former governors would be addressed using their former title: Mr./Ms./Dr./General/Judge/Senator, etc. (the last three titles are retained even after leaving office). However, in an address block, the former governor's name would still be prefixed by "The Honorable." According to Hickey: "Former office holders go back to whatever they were before they were governor. Only a Governor in office is formally and officially addressed as Governor (name). The reason? There is only one Governor at at time, and it's not respectful of the current office holder to refer to former office holders as it they were still in office." This 1994 book has the same view on the subject.
 * This view is also taken by a 1912 dictionary of titles, which states: "All titles of Federal officers—except in the Army and Navy—expire with the term of office. This rule applies to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. See Keim's Handbook of Official Etiquette. Although this rule should apply to state officers, it is grossly violated. Federal and state officers who were properly addressed as Honorables are to be so addressed after their terms of office expire, but the custom of calling men governors after their terms expire is to be discouraged. There can be but one governor of a state at any one time. To address a man as governor when he is not a governor is to raise an embarrassing question as to his jurisdiction at the time he is erroneously given the title. He may be a former governor or an ex-governor, but not a governor after the expiration of his term of office. If a governor was a general before his election he should resume the military title after retirement from the office of governor.
 * Not all authorities are unanimous on this point. This 1887 school textbook states that "It is a singular fact...that the title of certain high officers seems to cling to the individual through life. There could be no impropriety in addressing an ex-governor as "Governor," or an ex-President as "Mr. President." Indeed custom seems to demand it."
 * I hope this helps in your case. Neutralitytalk 03:29, 4 June 2011 (UTC)