Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 August 9

= August 9 =

What Island is the book Swiss Family Robinson set in and was inspired by a true castaway event?
What Island is the book Swiss Family Robinson set in and was inspired by a true castaway event? Venustar84 (talk) 02:40, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Read the article you yourself have linked to. You have promised before not to ask such questions.  Google "swiss family robinson island" or just read our article. μηδείς (talk) 02:53, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * (ec) No particular island AFAIK, but the book is based on Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, which in turn is probably based on the real-life castaway Alexander Selkirk. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:54, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Robinson Crusoe Island is the modern name of the Más a Tierra island that Alexander Selkirk was marooned upon - so it's probably the closest you'll get to what Defoe had in mind when he wrote is story. It's off the coast of Chile. SteveBaker (talk) 16:28, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * But bear in mind that the novel "presents a geographically impossible array of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants (including the Bamboos, Cassavas, Cinnamon Trees, Coconut Palm Trees, Fir Trees, Flax, Myrica cerifera, Rice, Rubber Plant Potatoes, Sago Palms, and an entirely fictitious kind of Sugarcane) that probably could never have existed together on a single island for the children's edification, nourishment, clothing and convenience." --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  22:30, 9 August 2013 (UTC)
 * In other words, a Gilliganesque locale. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:18, 9 August 2013 (UTC)
 * That show was unrealistic. For one thing, they never seemed to notice the film crew. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 23:20, 9 August 2013 (UTC)
 * It was a damn sight more realistic than the mystic shenanigans that went on on the island of the Lost. I watched it for a couple of seasons, until it became the classic case of a show that lost its own plot.  I'd watch unrealistic Gilligan any day of the week, though.  --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  01:16, 10 August 2013 (UTC)

friend

 * You should talk to an adult about it - immediately. A parent or teacher - anyone in authority.  SteveBaker (talk) 16:24, 9 August 2013 (UTC)
 * (EC) Please seek help elsewhere, I strongly urge you to discuss the problem with the appropriate authorities in your location or with an adult you trust as we cannot offer assistance in this matter. Nil Einne (talk) 16:31, 9 August 2013 (UTC)

buying a car - dealership fee
We are looking at buying a car. They add a $598 "dealership fee" onto the price you agree on (plus the usual tax, tag, title). I asked what the fee is for and they said some things that are part of the cost of doing business (lot maintenance, inspection, ect). They said that the fee is required by state law. Is that right? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 19:04, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * What state are you in? Dismas |(talk) 19:18, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * I'm in Georgia but the dealer I was talking to a few minutes ago is in Florida. In Georgia they add such a fee too.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 19:23, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * According to, it says that if the Floirida dealer charges one customer a "dealer fee", all customers must be charged the fee. So there is no law requiring the fee, only that if there is a fee it must be charged to all customers.   RudolfRed (talk) 19:53, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Thank you. I googled and found this and this and some blogs.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 20:42, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Even if they are indeed required by law to charge the fee, you can of course try to get them to take the amount of the dealership fee off of the price of the car. -Elmer Clark (talk) 05:51, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * I concur. If we had agreed on a price and they then slapped on a $598 "dealership fee", I'd insist that they take exactly $598 off the price of the car, handshake or not, or I would go elsewhere.  I also insist on knowing the exact final price of the car, including tax, title, destination, fees, etc., before I agree to buy, or you can be sure such fees will magically appear.  A good argument to make when buying a car outright is "I'm going to bring you a certified check, but I need to know exactly how much to have the bank make it out for".  It's quite a bit harder to get them to admit to the final price when you are buying on installments.


 * I once had a case where a dealership had advertised a price for a certain model, I went in and they didn't have one in stock, but they said it was no problem and they could ship one in from another dealership. I agreed, then it arrived, and when I went to pick it up they informed me that the price they had advertised no longer applied since it had to be delivered from another dealership.  I walked away immediately, and they were out the cost of the delivery of the car from the other dealer.  If enough people did that instead of agreeing to pay extra, then they wouldn't try to pull such crap on customers. StuRat (talk) 06:13, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Thank you. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 17:47, 11 August 2013 (UTC)

THE Midway Atoll
GOING BY ACCORDING TO THIS URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Minor_Outlying_Islands THE Midway Atoll IS PART OF THE United States Minor Outlying Islands BUT GOING BY ACCORDING TO THIS URL Thttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Hawaiianislandchain_USGS.png THE Midway Atoll IS PART OF THE Hawaiian Islands SO WHICH ONE IS IT? IS THE Midway Atoll PART OF THE United States Minor Outlying Islands OR IS THE Midway Atoll PART OF THE Hawaiian Islands? SO WHICH ONE IS IT? OR IS THE Midway Atoll PART OF BOTH? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.230.187.31 (talk) 23:10, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Can you please speak up a little? I'm getting on in years and am hard of hearing. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  23:12, 9 August 2013 (UTC)


 * There is no reason it cannot be both. The image at United_States_Minor_Outlying_Islands shows that the outlying islands include islands from several chains.  Midway is an outlying island that is part of the Hawaiian chain.  RudolfRed (talk) 00:55, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Yes, the first is a political designation, the second geographical. μηδείς (talk) 01:21, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Yes, and to address a possible source of confusion behind the question: Midway Atoll is part of the geographical designation Hawaiian Islands, but not part of the state of Hawaii. So if you discuss political subdivision of USA then Midway is not Hawaiian. None of the United States Minor Outlying Islands are part of a state. If they were then I assume they wouldn't be classified as Outlying Islands. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:14, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * As Medeis' legal representative I advise you to pay $10 for using his answer without attribution or face suit for real and compensatory damages. μηδείς (talk) 02:26, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Who is Medeis? Lawyer speak is Greek to me. As a WP:MOP I only know wikispeak like WP:ROLE, WP:NLT. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:28, 10 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Take no notice: μηδείς = Medeis. Alansplodge (talk) 12:56, 11 August 2013 (UTC)
 * PrimeHunter would have seen my signature when he editted his response, and his response that it was Greek to him makes it clear he knew my lawyer was kidding. μηδείς (talk) 16:28, 11 August 2013 (UTC)
 * WP:NLS? SteveBaker (talk) 16:42, 11 August 2013 (UTC)
 * WP:TLDR? μηδείς (talk) 21:25, 12 August 2013 (UTC)