Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2012 June 15

= June 15 =

San Francisco Olympic Club History
In your history of the SF Olympic Club, it is noted that the Club sent 22 athletes to the 1924 Olympics in Paris. What were the names of those athletes and in what events did they participate? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.238.167.206 (talk) 02:25, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I've looked at our article on the Olympic Club, and can't find any statement in the current article that makes the specific claim you mention. Are you sure it is our article you're referencing?  You would find information about that year's U.S. Olympic Team in the article on the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics, but I don't think it's likely to have the very specific piece of information you're seeking.  If you can point to the page or source for your claim about 22 athletes more directly, I think we might stand a better chance of tracking down the list you're seeking. Jwrosenzweig (talk) 03:30, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * It's stated in Olympic Club Foundation and on the official club site. The OP is probably better off asking them directly. Clarityfiend (talk) 07:43, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Apparently, a number of them were members of the U.S. rugby team; this page names Dink Templeton, George Dixon, Rudolph Scholz, and Harry Maloney. Another was the boxer Raymond Fee. So there's five, at least. Deor (talk) 08:19, 15 June 2012 (UTC)

1961 edition of Webster's Third
I would very much like to own a copy of the first edition of this dictionary. My research skills for purchasing something like this extend pretty much to eBay, which doesn't seem to have any. So my questions are such: are any of these likely to still exist in good condition? where would I go to find one? about how much would I expect to pay for one? Any help or advice will be appreciated. 67.164.156.42 (talk) 02:41, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * A little under $15 total on Abebooks (most of it shipping from the UK to the US). They're where I go for used books that are not necessarily collectibly rare but are still kind of uncommon. A lot of ex libris stuff is available there for nearly nothing. --Mr.98 (talk) 02:50, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Or you could adjust your search to look for copies in the US and save the postage. Richard Avery (talk) 07:24, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * I didn't see any in the US that were cheaper. There are a few other listings for that specific edition but they are all more expensive than that. Here's a longer set of listings. --Mr.98 (talk) 13:05, 15 June 2012 (UTC)

uss tutuila arg 4
i was aboard the uss tutuila arg 4 -1951-1955. we were ramed by a merchant ship in norfork and went in to dry dock in baltimore ship yard. i don't remember the date, but it was sometime in the early 1950's.we were in the ship yard,a month or so.i can't find a record of that any where. respectively jack traughber. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.193.244.148 (talk) 15:01, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Here is a log of the ship's activities, but there's no mention of this incident: . StuRat (talk) 16:07, 15 June 2012 (UTC)

How to address people with former titles?
How does one address an individual such as Paul Wolfowitz within a formal setting? Wolfowitz was a former Deputy Secretary of Defense, former Ambassador, former Dean, former President of World Bank. Let us assume that he is also a retired army General. What prefix should one use to address him? Secretary Wolfowitz, Dean Wolfowitz, Dr. Wolfowitz, General Wolfowitz, etc... ? Does any of those titles supersede the others? Does it depend on the specific formal event? Thanks Acceptable (talk) 16:36, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * You would probably want to call him Ambassador Wolfowitz, but I think any reasonable attempt in that area would be fine. I would say that a high civilian title would be more likely to be used than a high military one, if a person has held both.  This wasn't always so, in the 19th century it would have been the opposite.  William McKinley always (until he became president) preferred the title "Major" for his Civil War service, although he was a former congressman and governor, and if you look at sources from that era, even living former presidents were called by their onetime military rank (General Benjamin Harrison, for example).--Wehwalt (talk) 16:52, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * For some previous titles, it's customary to continue to use the title after retirement. Former US Presidents are still called "Mr President", for example.  Southerners, in particular, like to use their maximum military rank attained, even after they retire, with Colonel Sanders being a prime example. StuRat (talk) 16:57, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Colonel Sanders was never a Colonel in any military service in any nation in the world. He served briefly as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army, probably never ranking higher than private.  His title comes from the fact that he was a Kentucky Colonel, a purely honorary title bestowed by the State of Kentucky on its favorite sons.  It has no military significance.  -- Jayron  32  17:28, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Only some job titles are customarily used as a prefix to a name (eg. the President of the World Bank isn't generally referred to a President X) and only some of those continue to be used after they leave the job. In the US, Ambassador is one that is used like that, as is General. I don't think Dean is generally used as a title at all (it definitely isn't in the UK, but the US does use job titles as personal titles a lot more than we do), but deans are usually tenured professors, and Professor is used as a title, even in retirement. Are Deputy Secretaries referred to by a title? Which of his titles would be used depends on the situation - in a military context, his military rank would probably be used; in a diplomatic context, his ambassadorial title would be used; in an academic context, his professorial title would be used; etc.. --Tango (talk) 18:35, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * In April in Paris, Ray Bolger plays Winthrop Putnam, who is the Assistant Secretary to the Assistant to the Undersecretary of State, and was formerly Assistant Assistant Secretary to the Assistant to the Undersecretary of State. What would his title have been had he retired at that point?  --  ♬  Jack of Oz  ♬  [your turn]  21:26, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Mister. --Tango (talk) 13:48, 16 June 2012 (UTC)
 * What a comedown. --  ♬  Jack of Oz  ♬  [your turn]  22:07, 17 June 2012 (UTC)

Aggregated Medical Treatment Data Question
I have a question regarding statistics related to the treatment of diseases in general. What are most common methods used to treat patients? i.e. How often are drugs used, how often are surgeries done, and what other sorts of treatment options do doctors frequently use (including no treatment, if possible)? North America Data would be preferable. a list of major treatment categories would also be preferable if statistics cannot be found. Thank you very much. Sazea (talk) 18:59, 15 June 2012 (UTC)

charity sports
I'm helping to organise a charity sports event soon, but we're having some trouble deciding which of a nearly infinite list of sports to host, which would be most likely to attract enough people to go ahead and which people would most like to watch. What I want right now, though, if anyone wants to help out, is a few ideas, lists of different things that could go on there, amusing, entertaining and slightly unusual things for preference, we've been thinking perhaps not all of it has to be sport based even, something creative perhaps, or really anything competitive and entertaining to watch. so, suggestions anyone?

79.66.103.132 (talk) 22:07, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * It depends on where in the world you are, and what sports are popular as "pick-up" sports. If you were in the U.S., you could organize flag football and pickup basketball and softball or kickball as common games many people play and you could generate a lot of interest in.  In Canada, street hockey or shinny would probably work.  In areas where association football is popular, you could organize games for that.  The key is picking sports that can be organized quickly, and which require minimal equipment and set up.  -- Jayron  32  23:24, 15 June 2012 (UTC)


 * How about something more like they do during picnics and such: water balloon tosses, egg relay race (carrying an egg on a spoon), three-legged race, sack race, etc. ? You might get more participation that way, because people are embarrassed to play "proper" sports if they don't know the rules or aren't good at them.  StuRat (talk) 02:03, 16 June 2012 (UTC)


 * If you want something creative, get an art/craft area and ask attendees to draw/paint/create a representation of their favourite sport. I don't know if you're in the UK but you could hire Sumo suits or human velcro walls. Maybe involve animals - race dogs? Flyball? --TammyMoet (talk) 09:26, 16 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Having worked with many charity events, there are far too many variables in your question to give an accurate answer. A lot depends on the community where the event will be — some activities will be acceptable in small rural towns, while others work only in large urban areas. The age groups you hope to attract, and the affluence of people living in the area, also should play a part in your decision.   → Michael J Ⓣ Ⓒ Ⓜ 13:12, 16 June 2012 (UTC)