Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 June 28

= June 28 =

History of Military Rank Insigna
The history behind in Military Rank Insigna, silver bars are senior to gold? Example 2nd Lt b ars are gold and 1st Lt are silver. This is throughout officer rank insigna in US Military. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.166.82.203 (talk) 11:56, 28 June 2013 (UTC)


 * Thare is a referenced history of the development of US military insignia at United_States_Army_officer_rank_insignia and a recognition of the gold/silver anomaly here. Essentially it appears to have arisen out of a series of decisions based on cost. - Ka renjc 12:07, 28 June 2013 (UTC)


 * I wonder if the "gold" insignia were actually brass and therefore cheaper than silver ones? Probably no relationship, but in the UK fire service before WWII, firemen had brass helmets, while fire officers were distinguished by silver plated ones. The distinction continues today with yellow helmets for the rank-and-file and white ones for officers. Alansplodge (talk) 23:34, 28 June 2013 (UTC)


 * As Kerenjc noted, it is based on cost. Other organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America borrowed this tradition. There are any number of alternative explanations that amount to urban legends. --  Gadget850talk 01:00, 2 July 2013 (UTC)

Military Support Vehicles
I was stationed at Fort Richardson (US Army) 127nd INF BDE, D-40th Armor as a tank mechanic 1966 - 1969 and am looking for information on two tracked vehicles I was assingned to. One was an M-4 and the other was an M-578. I have been on line trying to find info but nothing comes up that matches what I worked with. I have pictures of each vehicle can't figure out how to attache them to this question. 206.174.77.9 (talk) 17:13, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
 * The best way to attach images is to upload them to an image hosting website and then put the link here. Here is one such website. --Viennese Waltz 17:47, 28 June 2013 (UTC)


 * M578 Light Recovery Vehicle, and M4 Sherman, perhaps? We have a searchbox at the top.  KägeTorä - (影虎)  ( TALK )  17:49, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
 * M4 Tractor is another possibility. Alansplodge (talk) 23:18, 28 June 2013 (UTC)

Shift of Energy sectors worldwide to mitigate damage in case we run out of oil
My question is very broad. Since Oil is a limited resource is it possible to reduce the dependence of existing energy infrastructure to help the world not be affected to by a "peak oil" situation. Take into consideration also that the cost of shifting will be very difficult to handle due to the financial state of global markets. any and all answers are welcome and a discussion here is encouraged. Thank you. Merwyn0810 (talk) 17:15, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
 * -- Jayron  32  17:21, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
 * The cover article "What If We Never Run out of oil ?", by Charles C. Mann in the May 2013 edition of the Atlantic Monthly addresses the question and could be a good start to your reflection, whether or not it's a homework question. See here --Xuxl (talk) 10:06, 29 June 2013 (UTC)

This wasn't a homework question. I actually asked because "Peak Oil" is the topic for the next Model United Nations conference I am going to attend. The article wasn't much help. Thanks for trying anyway. Wanted a deeper personal kind of answer. with some concrete research. I already have done a ton of research but I wanted a second perspective.

07:35, 30 June 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Merwyn0810 (talk • contribs)


 * I'm not sure where present estimates leave us - but we're burning something like 80 million barrels per day with estimates of something like 1.2 trillion barrels still in the ground - albeit much of it locked in hard-to-retrieve resources like oil sand and oil shale. That gives us a 500 year supply at current consumption rates.  If we can use technological solutions to halve our energy needs within 250 years - then after we've used half of the oil, we only have half left - but it'll last twice as long - so we'll still have a 500 year supply.  After another 250 years, we'd need to halve our demand again.  If we can halve our needs every 250 years, then the oil will last forever.
 * The problem here is that we have plenty of oil - but we don't have plenty of atmosphere. Consider that since "pre-industrial times", we've pushed the amount of CO2 in the air from 280 ppm to 400 ppm.  In the last 50 years, we've gone from 320ppm to 400ppm - so if we continue to use fossil fuels at that rate - then we'll add 800ppm more CO2 before the oil runs out.  At 1200ppm, we'd be looking at a 6 or 7 degree temperature increase...anything over 5 degrees is generally considered to be an "End Of The World" scenario.  CO2 lives in the upper atmosphere for a very long time - so it doesn't much matter whether we burn the remaining oil fast or slow - if we burn it all at all, then we're pretty much doomed.
 * We're not going to run out of oil...that's not the problem here!
 * SteveBaker (talk) 16:50, 30 June 2013 (UTC)

How long would an unused Post Office box stay opened?
I have a friend from school here in the United States who fought in the first Gulf War in 1991. He moved from the mobile home he lived in and all I know is that a PO Box in Cleveland (and I'm sure there's lots of those) is the only address I have for him.

Because of health issues he had before, I suspect he could be in a VA hospital somewhere, so I keep writing him each Christmas and once over the summer, though I haven't heard from him in maybe a decade, in case he really needs that. He also doesn't contact with his father (family issues). And, the letters never get returned to sender.

But, I just wonder, how long would it stay open if he never checked the letters. If he's deceased would the USPS learn and close it? I'm a contact for his insurance and they called me last year wondering if I'd heard from him - all they had was the PO Box, too - and they said they'd tried sending him stuff for something and he never replied. (This is where I learned they also called his dad and the dad didn't know; that's probably the only family he has left, or close to it.)

From what I read at the USPS site it looks like you have to pay a yearly rental fee, and that can be via automatic withdrawal, so I guess that *would* stop once he would pass on. So, I guess I can presume he's still alive. But, would it just get returned to me with no forwarding address if something were to happen? And, if a person has a PO Box like that, and they don't get their mail for months, does the Post Office just let it pile up, or what?Somebody or his brother (talk) 23:47, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Have you asked at the Post Office itself? They should be able to tell you if it has been emptied recently.  KägeTorä - (影虎)  ( TALK )  00:15, 29 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Specifically, the post office where the P.O. box is. Although it's possible they won't tell you anything, due to confidentiality, it shouldn't hurt to ask. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 06:47, 29 June 2013 (UTC)


 * Veteran Associations might be another way to contact him. Here is a list :--Aspro (talk) 13:28, 29 June 2013 (UTC)

If it really came down to it you could just mail a letter certified or delivery confirmation and see if it is received or signed for. μηδείς (talk) 22:46, 29 June 2013 (UTC)
 * You can't do that in Canada if the recipient only has a P.O. Box #. I suspect the U.S. might have similar rules. Bielle (talk) 23:06, 29 June 2013 (UTC)
 * You can certainly send mail to POB's signature confirmation required. I've never gotten certified mail to my POB that I can remember, though. The real point is, if it's undeliverable you will either be told wrong addressee or no signature given, which is slightly different information. μηδείς (talk) 02:20, 30 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Canada Post will deliver certified, registered and delivery confirmation mail addressed to a PO box or even to "General Delivery". The problem is that some companies will not send to PO boxes but Canada Post doesn't worry about it. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 07:12, 1 July 2013 (UTC)
 * I like Medeis' idea just above, as it stands a good chance of determining whether or not he still has the P.O. Box. You could also consider the Social Security Death Index, which isn't 100 percent foolproof, but if someone's on it, they're probably dead. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:58, 30 June 2013 (UTC)