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

= March 17 =

Where can I buy potassium iodide pills?
All of the pharmacies in my town are sold out, and I need it within a week. --70.244.234.128 (talk) 00:22, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I assume you want these for protection against radionuclides from the Japanese nuclear power plant accidents? We cannot give advice on whether or not you should take these, and without knowing where you are located, are unlikely to be able to help with sourcing. You would probably do better to seek proper local medical advice. AndyTheGrump (talk) 00:32, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Although it's worth noting that public-health officials in California are saying that potassium iodide only works after you have been exposed to radiation and is intended for people who are in close proximity to a radiation source, not thousands of miles away. And it has possible side effects. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 01:05, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Potassium iodide is not intended to remedy exposure to radiation per se. You take KI to prevent radio-iodine from accumulating in your thyroid.  So the only time it's useful is if radio-iodine is present in your air, water, food, or anything else you're actually taking into your body.  It doesn't do anything about radiation from outside your body, nor about any other radionuclide that you might ingest. --Trovatore (talk) 01:17, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * (Oh, it seems that radioiodine redirects to the article on I-131. To clarify, by "radio-iodine", I meant in principle any radioactive isotope of iodine, though I think it practice I-131 is indeed the main worry.) --Trovatore (talk) 01:27, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Try online, many places sell it. But first you should read this article where the surgeon general is recommending not taking them. They can be extremely harmful to people with shellfish allergies or thyroid conditions, on top of other side effects. In general, people are being recommended in California and elsewhere not to buy these unless they are directly near the source.AerobicFox (talk) 01:36, 17 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Be extremely wary of buying any pills from an unknown source on the internet unless you can be absolutely certain you are getting the genuine article.--Shantavira|feed me 09:35, 17 March 2011 (UTC)


 * In the US, the FDA shut down some online vendors of potassium iodate because they broke the US rule in which you can't advertise health claims about a product unless you've proved the claims with testing ... though it seems to me that via this rule, this type of product could never be offered for sale in the US. (While making any health claims, I suppose.)  Comet Tuttle (talk) 17:12, 17 March 2011 (UTC)


 * MSNBC posted a story about 90 minutes ago about this: "Popping potassium iodide already? Really bad idea". Comet Tuttle (talk) 21:35, 17 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Some people have really gone into panic mode about this. The WHO is now reporting iodine overdoses all around the world -  - what colossal overkill.  --   Jack of Oz   [your turn]  21:33, 18 March 2011 (UTC)

How to identify my Independant Gas Transporter, UK?
I live on a new estate with gas coming via an Independant Gas Transporter. How can I find out who they are? Is there something I could decode from my gas bill?

The Ofgem website mentions "Independent Gas Transporter Network Codes" and "Uniform Network Code" but I cannot find any further details.

Note that I am trying to identify the gas transporter, not the gas supplier. Thanks 2.97.215.199 (talk) 20:39, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I would think if you phone the gas bill supplier with the gas meter number or account number they can tell you the answer. Sussexonian (talk) 22:29, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Maybe, but would I hate to have any contact with them as they've already paid me a three figure sum in compensation for various bad/stupid/incompentent/delusional/dishonest/macho behaviours of their staff. Eeeh, its not on. 92.15.2.23 (talk) 15:27, 18 March 2011 (UTC)
 * The first google result for "Independent Gas Transporter" says it's something to do with an "M number (MPRN)" (Meter Point Reference Number, apparently) shown on your bill, and has a list of (all?) the IGTs, and a request form for if the number isn't shown on your bill. 81.131.53.219 (talk) 00:44, 18 March 2011 (UTC)

Already seen that, thanks. It's four years out of date and does not cover the range of my 76... MPRN. 92.15.2.23 (talk) 15:23, 18 March 2011 (UTC)

This PDF lists the number rangers for IGTs: www.igt-unc.co.uk/ewcommon/tools/download.ashx?docId=941 The MPRN can be found hidden in the small print of your gas bill. More information here: http://www.which.co.uk/switch/faqs/preparing-to-switch-faqs/how-do-i-find-my-gas-mprn-number. 92.15.2.23 (talk) 15:53, 18 March 2011 (UTC)

Autocad etc
is autocadd (software) important for architectural engineers ? An architectural engineer can be as site engineer ? if he would not interested in designing the projects .... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.52.158.245 (talk) 22:52, 17 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Yes, I believe that AutoCAD is used in the architecture industry, along with other competitors. StuRat (talk) 00:44, 18 March 2011 (UTC)


 * CAD programs in general are certainly very important, though each company has its own preference as to which it uses. There are a very few that still work mostly by hand, but they are particularly rare now. Computer programs can be even more important for engineers, who use them to measure precice details of the forces acting on the structure. Architects and engineers are usually two very different things, the architect makes the building look nice, the engineer makes it stand up, leading to some heated discussion between them at times, though there are a few that have made a point of taking both qualifications. To be either requres passing a long university course in one area or the other first. 148.197.121.205 (talk) 10:15, 18 March 2011 (UTC)

I changed the title. "Hy" didn't seem to mean much. --  Jack of Oz   [your turn]  19:00, 18 March 2011 (UTC)