Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 May 29

= May 29 =

Are the Hindu goddesses Tataka and Kali one and the same?
Are the Hindu goddesses Tataka and Kali one in the same? Venustar84 (talk) 02:07, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * FYI, the phrase is "one and the same". You have apparently read the relevant articles, given you have (with all credit due you) linked them in your section header.  The first is described as a princess turned demoness, the second only as divine.  So, given there is almost no overlap between the two, and no mention of either in the other, is there some reason you believe they might be identical?  (We should know if there is some external source you are aware of that implies this.) μηδείς (talk) 02:49, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Hindu mythology has a concept that a god or person can be an avatar of a god with different characteristics, as for example Rama and Krishna are avatars of Vishnu. So I think we can't rule out that some people consider Tataka an avatar of Kali -- but I can't spot any evidence for that. Looie496 (talk) 14:41, 29 May 2013 (UTC)

Doesn't Kali repent being a destroyer goddess and Tataka does represent destruction as well? Venustar84 (talk) 21:44, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Perhaps, but drawing conclusions is not what we do here professionally. Perhaps someone can name a Hindu or Comparative Religion forum? μηδείς (talk) 00:38, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I'm not asking for a professional answer. I'm asking the question for my personal interest and I'm not looking to add religious info in the Hindu article.
 * I couldn't find Tataka mentioned on Beliefnet, but I could find Kali. --TammyMoet (talk) 09:47, 30 May 2013 (UTC) Found her on Godchecker spelt differently. --TammyMoet (talk) 09:50, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

Extending my question: Is there any where online I could buy a statue of Tataka? Venustar84 (talk) 05:14, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

Airliner (not aircraft) identification
Saw a massive commercial airliner fly overhead a few days ago, four-engine, and I think it was a 747. But what I'm curious about is the paint job. The front half of the plane was all white, the rear fuselage and tail were all red. The red did not fill up the entirety of the bottom of the fuselage. Any ideas what airliner or cargo company this could be? – Kerαu noςco pia ◁ gala xies 06:14, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Airline liveries and logos change all the time, but if you can tell us which airport you were near, it would help us to narrow it down.--Shantavira|feed me 07:40, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * There are also a LOT of one-off paint jobs, either single planes under private ownership or special paint jobs from commercial carriers. Consider, if you will, the plane Bruce Dickinson flew for Iron Maiden on their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.  That's not the plane you're looking for, but it does show one example of a plane with a unique paint job.  -- Jayron  32  12:05, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Was it anything like Shenzhen Airlines? Or was it really dead plain, with no lettering or other markings at all? - Ka renjc 17:56, 29 May 2013 (UTC)  As this demonstrates, the ratio of red to white can vary considerably between individual aircraft. -  Ka renjc 18:02, 29 May 2013 (UTC)

Value of petroleum distillates produced globally
I'm after a breakdown of the total value of different petroleum distillates produced globally. By this I mean, say, what proportion by value produced is gasoline, what proportion kerosine and others.--Leon (talk) 07:04, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Here: is a per-unit retail price of various petroleum distillates.  If you can also find data for the total production of such products, you could fairly easy calculate this.  -- Jayron  32  12:02, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * If...Does anyone know where to find total production figures?--Leon (talk) 12:56, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Here. There's menus where you can select each individual product, and where you can break down the analysis by region, country, or for the whole world.  -- Jayron  32  13:58, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

Two similar Acts
Is the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act the same as the "Patient's Rights Act 1980"?-- Auric    talk  17:00, 29 May 2013 (UTC)

Departure taxes in non-native currency
Many countries ask a departure tax (or similar tax) be paid before a visitor is allowed to leave. However, I find it rather odd that many demand this is paid in cash (rather then credit card) and some insist it is paid in another currency - for example, when leaving Suriname one must pay [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/suriname/entry-requirements $66 or €52. It cannot be paid in Surinamese dollars]. So what happens if you are willing to pay the tax but are unable to do so, either because you have no cash left or you don't have the right currency? Astronaut (talk) 19:06, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * You may miss your flight and have some trouble. Go to an ATM or a currency exchange and get some.--Wehwalt (talk) 19:56, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * ATM? How could you get US dollars or Euros from a Surinamese ATM?  --   Jack of Oz   [Talk]  21:14, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * You'd be surprised in some countries, but a subsequent trip to a money exchange may be necessary. You would not be the first tourist to be in that situation, to say nothing of the usual trade.--Wehwalt (talk) 22:11, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Is that something that's known ahead of time, or is it a surprise they pull on you as you're waiting for your flight? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 21:56, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I think it's mentioned in the fine print on airline tickets. I guess it comes as a surprise to some.  A lot of places collect it as part of your air ticket out.--Wehwalt (talk) 22:11, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * The whole point of this sort of tax is to extract some hard currency from travelers (hence the decision to demand payment in something other than the - likely worthless - local currency). Like a casino, local authorities make it easy for you to part with your money, either by positioning hard currency ATM's or currency exchange booths in the vicinity of where the tax is collected (although there are countries that are so incompetent at collecting taxes, or airports that are so disorganized, that you can't withdraw the required sum at the airport). The point is not to make you miss your flight, it's to collect cash from a captive audience. Paying in cash makes it a bit easier to fudge about the actual amount that has been collected. Of course, most regular businesses prefer electronic payments, as the risk of fraud is less, and the cost of handling a lot of cash is higher, but the purpose of such taxes has little to do with running an efficient business. Also, a competent travel agent will clearly warn you about such taxes, as will travel guides and any travel advisory site, but you can get a nasty surprise if you bought your ticket directly on the internet and did not check into this. --Xuxl (talk) 10:11, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * It's not just departure taxes, stuff like visas too. Recently did some travelling in East Africa, and all the visas are in US dollars, or maybe if they're being nice GBP. There would not be any point for most lesser developed countries to charge these in their currency, as probably one of the main sources of foreign hard currency is tourism, likely after natural resource trade. And yes, it is indeed possible to get foreign currency at ATMs in many countries, I have done so myself. Fgf10 (talk) 11:00, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I recall in Vancouver not too long ago (2008?) a cash impost as an "airport development fee". You had to put money into a machine or pay at a booth to get a receipt you had to show at departure.  These days, I think it's collected by the airline.--Wehwalt (talk) 11:10, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * My experience in Tanzania when I was surprised by (and unprepared for) this tax was that they were willing to take Tanzanian shillings, but at a hugely disadvantageous exchange rate (something like 50% worse than at a bank). The policy will vary by country.  The smart thing is to be aware that these taxes exist and to research whether they exist and their terms in a country before traveling there so that you are prepared.  Marco polo (talk) 17:36, 30 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I wonder if it would be possible to make a case (before a suitable international tribunal) that these types of "taxes" are nothing more than extortion/ransoms - the authorities in those countries are effectively holding foreign visitors hostage. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 18:17, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * And what would a suitable international tribunal be ? The World Trade Organization? You'd have to prove this consists an unfair restriction on trade, and you'd have to have to standing to complain (in the WTO, I believe only states can launch complaints); the various international human rights courts have more important matters to deal with, and you'd have to prove this constitutes a violation of international human rights instruments anyway, so that avenue's closed as well. By the way, those types of taxes often also apply to locals (there may be ways around paying them for some privileged ones), so the argument of unfairness does not easily apply. --Xuxl (talk) 12:58, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

The first time I visit a foreign country, or go back to one where I'm unclear on the rules, I always check with the clerk at the hotel if there is a departure tax, how much and how to pay it. In some countries you can buy a tax receipt at the hotel, in others it is done at the airport. Oh, and all taxes are "nothing more than extortion/ransoms [sic]." That's why their so popular (with governments).DOR (HK) (talk) 08:22, 3 June 2013 (UTC)

linguaphilia
Is it possible to be sexually attracted to languages? --66.190.69.246 (talk) 23:41, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Do you mean like men getting erections at the sound of a certain language? People often fuck up their own language, and have an ever greater propensity to do so with other languages.  But I'm sure that's not what you mean.  --   Jack of Oz   [Talk]  00:07, 30 May 2013 (UTC)


 * See Rule 34. -- Jayron  32  00:09, 30 May 2013 (UTC)


 * "I love it when you speak French!" Looie496 (talk) 00:18, 30 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Do you speak Italian...It's such an ugly language. How about Russian?. μηδείς (talk) 00:35, 30 May 2013 (UTC)


 * To the OP: Languages are concepts that are only observable through ink letters on a piece paper or vibrations of the air that is coming our of someone's mouth, so unless you are thinking having sex with a book, or with air vibrations, no. But it is possible to be sexually attracted to someone who speaks one (or more) language(s). --Lgriot (talk) 08:40, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I dunno. A good alveolar trill can really help a hummer enunciate. InedibleHulk (talk) 18:34, 30 May 2013 (UTC)