Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2014 March 24

= March 24 =

Robert Mankoff - New Yorker

 * I want to know if Robert Mankoff, the cartoonist who works for The New Yorker Magazine is related to me. My name is L. [hidden]   We are of Jewish Russian descent. How can I get ahold of Robert Mankoff to send him an email? 65.128.176.193 (talk) 01:06, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * I have hidden some of your personal information (we can't confirm who you are, and people who see your name here may spam you) and corrected your formatting. The name Mankoff/Mankov/Mankow/Mankiw/Mankovits etc., is very common.  There are several geneological sites, someone here will probably comment with advice shortly. μηδείς (talk) 01:15, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * I don't know where you got that from Medeis. According to this site, Mankoff is very far from common.  It says that there were only 217 people with that name living in the USA at the time of the 2000 census. (And there are only 118 Mankov/Mankow/Mankiw/Mankovit's).  SteveBaker (talk) 22:01, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * You can contact him by email Here. This is a blog of his published by The New Yorker, and there's a link near the bottom that says "E-mail Robert Mankoff"  -- Jayron  32  01:17, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * You might find Ancestry.com of interest. Shadowjams (talk) 02:00, 24 March 2014 (UTC)

Publicly accessible "microdata" statistics for Europe
Does the EU or any European country have something like https://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/public_use_microdata_sample/ ? At least Eurostats seems rather all or nothing and there is no way they would give access to a random guy like me. --82.128.250.221 (talk) 02:37, 24 March 2014 (UTC)

Financial innovation and enhancement of productivity
"The primary locus of modern rent-seeking is the overblown financial sector, where burgeoning trade in existing assets has overwhelmed the creation of new wealth..." - Financial Times columnist

I want to evaluate not this particular statement but its kind in an organized manner. Lots of experts point out that the recent rise in finance has not enhanced productivity but instead captured rent.

1. What would productive financial innovation look like? Make available more financing while reducing credit risk to the system? (Any specific examples of recent productive financial innovation that does this?)

2. What isn't productive - we know what that looks like - the trading of credit default swaps in sub-prime mortgages - this risky financial activity was ultimately subsidized by the public because the banks that made the wrong bets were too big to fail.

3. Even with the above being an example of clear rent seeking is it possible to say that was only one slice of the new financial innovation degrades productivity and competitiveness and is rent seeking while most other innovation in finance enhances productivity?

Not creating any arguments, just trying to think about how this issue can be clearly approached in a step by step manner.

Gullabile (talk) 12:05, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * 1. Microfinancing.
 * 2. Loan sharking, Ninja loans.
 * 3. Rent seeking is lobbying to obtain public benefits for private purposes, and would seem to be the wrong term to use.DOR (HK) (talk) 06:59, 25 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Generally speaking, productive financial innovation would serve unmet needs or would reduce the costs of financial intermediation. For an example of unmet needs:  credit cards have given millions of consumers easy access to credit, made it possible for them to have buying power without carrying large amounts of cash around, and created a convenient payment system for online and telephone transactions, among other advantages.  For an example of reduced costs:  exchange-traded funds have lower costs than most competing investment vehicles, and are inherently tax-efficient (although ETFs are also an example of an unmet need, since they allow market trading of an investment vehicle whose price derives from the value of the portfolio assets).
 * People are going to argue over what isn't productive, since any financial innovation that finds a market presumably is filling some need. However, innovations that essentially displace risk to the public sector (arguably the case with your example of banks that are too big to fail), that increase risk or reduce the value of a market segment (e.g., a leveraged buyout that reduces the value of the issuer's outstanding bonds), or that simply take advantage of tax preferences, presumably would be examples of what you are looking for.
 * I'm not sure I understand your third point. John M Baker (talk) 16:21, 25 March 2014 (UTC)

Pets to keep in a 2 bed flat
Hi all,

I've recently bought a new flat and would like some comapny in the form of a pet. However it is a small-ish (775 sq ft) 2 bedroom flat which keeping a cat or a dog in would probably be a bit cruel. What other options are there? I live in the UK so it would obviously have to be legal here. there are no restrictions on pets as I am the landlord and money/time is no object. Also I don't like spiders! Something that can be let out of it's cage every so often would be cool. Ideas? 80.254.147.164 (talk) 12:26, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Our article on pets might give you a few ideas.--Shantavira|feed me 14:59, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * That's not too small for a cat. You do have to make sure you get a litter box trained indoor cat though, not one that needs to go out.  If you adopt one, make sure it's used to staying indoors.  If you raise one from a kitten, you can train it to be an indoor cat.  I find cracking a window occasionally, so they get the outdoors scents, is enough for such cats.  And you will need to make sure it gets some exercise, say by playing with it with a string.  Modern clumping cat litter makes sure they don't stink up the place, provided you dispose of it daily.   I also recommend a short-haired cat and daily brushing, to limit cat fur on your clothes and furniture, and prevent hairballs.  Feed the cat only dry food for their health and to avoid the wet food stink, and always leave a bowl of fresh water out (a bowl you don't care about, as their saliva will eventually dissolve the finish on ceramics).  If you leave for more than a day you need a cat-sitter, more for the cat's mental well-being than physical needs.  I recommend declawing the cat, at least the front claws, to avoid them damaging furniture. StuRat (talk) 15:18, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Declawing is illegal in the UK (except for medical purposes), FYI. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.254.147.164 (talk) 15:30, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Then a scratching post is a must. (I wonder if you can take the cat abroad for the operation.)  StuRat (talk) 15:43, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * If you do then keep it secret or be prepared for a whole army of protesters to turn up. -- Q Chris (talk) 16:34, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * When guests come over you can affix a set of adamantium claws to the cat, so the guests can leave all scratched up. :-) 16:47, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Why would you want to take your cat abroad in order to cut the ends of its toes off? And I doubt there are many places in Europe that would be happy to do it. If you don't want claws, don't get a cat. 86.157.148.65 (talk) 16:54, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * In the previously mentioned declawing article, only the USA is mentioned as allowing the mutilation of your pet in this manner. I think the same goes for the ridiculous modifications Americans make to the ears of some dogs.  Astronaut (talk) 17:37, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Yes, I'm sure every nation in Africa and the rest of the world has decided that putting cats to sleep who scratch up the family and furniture is much better than a procedure which is less traumatic than neutering. StuRat (talk) 17:50, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * More likely, only Americans thought that there should be cats with no claws. Would you desqueak a mouse, or amputate its tail to discourage climbing? Cats climb, and race about, and scent mark, all using their claws. They pick things up in their paws, and manipulate things with them. They hunt, and defend themselves. Regardless of surgical trauma, which do you think would impact your life more: being sterilised, or having the bottom joints of your fingers and toes amputated? If all you want is a warm furry cushion, get a hot water bottle. 86.157.148.65 (talk) 05:56, 25 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Can you provide references for cat saliva dissolving ceramic finishes or for the relative trauma of neutering? 84.209.89.214 (talk) 20:39, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * I've seen the finish dissolve myself. As for the relative trauma, look up the recovery time required after each procedure. StuRat (talk) 22:31, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * The Finnish don't dissolve. They are highly resistant. μηδείς (talk) 23:13, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * If it wasn't the Finnish that dissolved, it must have been the Polish. StuRat (talk) 00:50, 25 March 2014 (UTC)


 * As for other pets, most urinate or defecate wherever they feel like it, so letting them out is likely to make a mess. Goldfish are easy pets to keep, as all you need is 2 bowls, and to feed them and clean their bowls (moving them to the other bowl, which was filled with tap water previously and allowed to sit to let the chlorine outgas over several days).  Other fish require more care, like an aquarium with aerator, filter, heater/thermostat, saltwater, etc.  (Although personally I find fish offer about as much companionship as a plant, with the only additional interaction being when they move to the surface to eat the food you give them.)  StuRat (talk) 15:43, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * More of an issue than size, is whether your flat has access to the outside/garden, and your own lifestyle. All pets take some looking after - food, water, space to sleep, cleaning, occasional vetinary care, etc. Dogs need daily exercise and a place to poop, cats (usually) need access to outside and at least a litter tray, and so on.  Also bear in mind their lifespan - you might need to look after the animal for many years.  Astronaut (talk) 16:32, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * You, or your descendants. Tortoises are commitments, but double as furniture. InedibleHulk (talk) 18:34, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Well, they don't ALL need veternarian care. A goldfish, for example, needs no end-of-life care beyond a flush of the toilet followed by a trip to the pet store for a replacement. :-) StuRat (talk) 16:41, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * A goldfish is not a very functional pet. Better to get some kind of little projection screen and play a video loop of a fish swimming back and forth. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:28, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * That's big enough for a chihuahua, who will need a walk around the block daily and a clear path to run in the apartment. A rescue cat that's old or injured may work, although you may not be looking for a 3-legged cat.  A tegu lizard will work.  They are omnivores, and seek attention if the have been handled well from birth. μηδείς (talk) 16:38, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * The image is part of my comment, that's why it is inserted there. Please place your comment either after mine, or at the bottom of the page.
 * (oops) Per Domesticated_hedgehog, they are legal in all UK, which is where OP lives. SemanticMantis (talk) 00:28, 25 March 2014 (UTC


 * I very briefly kept my pig indoors (in a back room) while I was between moves. Do not even briefly keep a pig indoors. InedibleHulk (talk) 18:31, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Unless your nose doesn't work. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:55, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * As far as crap goes, it smells a lot better than dog or cat. Solid, too, cleans up like a breeze. The problem is the rooting. Great when they find a truffle, not fun when they find subfloor. InedibleHulk (talk) 19:16, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Plenty of cats live indoors without any problems, consider one of the dwarf breeds or hairless ones, or you can get a FIV+ one from a rescue shelter. As for other animals, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils... --TammyMoet (talk) 19:57, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Pets was linked above, but here's a short list of the most popular non-cat-or-dog pets that I'm personally familiar with, along with some brief commentary based on my experience. For a first small apartment pet I'd recommend a budgie. They are inexpensive, easy to care for, and are quite tame. Many owners let them fly about the house for large portions of the day. Unlike many novelty/exotic pets, they are a social creature, and can have interesting interactions with their humans. They can also mimic basic melodies, and (especially males) can learn to say several words.


 * Canaries and Zebra finches, are also nice birds, that can become reasonably tame, and be allowed to fly about the apartment a few times a week. For mammals, domesticated hedgehogs are popular among those with small living spaces. They are rather docile, cute, and low maintenance. Some domestic rabbits can be litter trained, and hop about without being caged during the day. Some people very much enjoy their domestic rats, and carry them about in a pocket or purse. Iguanas are probably the best first reptile pet, but several years down the road they might become a bit too large for your taste. SemanticMantis (talk) 20:57, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * An angry iguana can cut you (and your curtains) up in ways angry cats only dream about. The larger they get, the mellower they get, thankfully. But it takes some patience. Might not be the best starter reptile. Gotta keep them hot, too. That can be a hassle. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:29, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Ah, I've not known any violent iguanas, but since my experience is limited, I'll defer to yours. I was loathe to suggest e.g. a ball python. Even though they are often kept as pets, they are also very commonly abandoned or sent to "rescue" organizations when the owners loose interest. Terrapins and tortoises carry lots of diseases that humans can catch, and also have high abandonment rates (and are not very rewarding, IMO) ... perhaps no reptile is a good "starter" pet! SemanticMantis (talk) 00:24, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
 * The claws aren't so bad (assuming you're used to cats), but their bites and whips suck. I'll agree that reptiles aren't good for beginners/barely caring people. That's where my two came from. May have had something to do with the anger. One eventually became quite friendly, but the other stayed as detached as a fish. Birds and reptiles belong in the wild, I think, but it's also not cool to return an ignorant tame one. Overall a bad scene, that reptile market. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:45, 26 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Goldfish are very difficult. I knew someone who bought what looked like a 5 gallon carafe.  He put an aerator in it, and a nice 2oz fancy goldfish.  The aerator caused a current which caused the hapless goldfish to go around in 6-inch circles 40 times a minute.  I told him to take out the aerator, the fish would be dead in a few hours.  He said no, he had been told it needed oxygen.  I said empty half the carafe, so it has the maximum surface area for the water to absorb oxygen, and the fish to gulp when it wanted more.  He said my advice would kill the fish.  I visited the following day.  The fish and apparatus were gone.  We never spoke of it again. μηδείς (talk) 22:58, 24 March 2014 (UTC)


 * I had a goldfish in a bowl. It had no trouble breathing.  They seem to know to gulp air at the surface if they need to.  They must also have a low metabolic rate, because they don't seem to need as much oxygen as other fish.  And this fish was quite entertaining.  Well, not the fish, precisely, but they cat's attempt to kill it, which he finally managed to do, but only by bringing the bowl crashing down on himself from a 6 foot shelf.  StuRat (talk) 00:47, 25 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Somebody forgot something. —Tamfang (talk) 01:07, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Fixed further up the page. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 11:55, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
 * So I'm not declawing a cat, overseas or otherwise. A small lizard might be feasable, although I want to make sure I can care for it properly. I have expensive oak wooden floors so anything that poos on that might not be great - which is basically every animal. I think I mgith just build a robot. (OP) 80.254.147.164 (talk) 11:02, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Iguana poop is definitely some of the slimiest in the animal kingdom. Rabbits are probably the best, as far as scoopability goes. They're just pebbles, and smell like virtually nothing. Any vegetarian mammal is pretty good for that. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:53, 26 March 2014 (UTC)

Stick insects are fairly easy to keep, take little space and don't cost much. They're not that exciting but have a rarity cachet I suppose. Just beware that many species are parthenogenic, which means that even from a single individual you could end up with more insects than you can cope with. When I was a kid, my friend was given a stick insect by the school biology dept (for that precise reason). He took it out of its cage to 'play' with it on the floor, his toddler sister came in, saw it, said "ugh" and stamped on it. --Dweller (talk) 13:07, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
 * I say go for a ball python. Get them when they're about a few weeks old and a foot long, and put them in a 40 gallon breeder and it can stay in there for life.  They only get to be about 4-5 feet long and are extremely docile, yet exotic.  Feeding is simple if captive bred (1 mouse a wk, at least until they get full grown, then maybe 2 a wk).  Clean-up is also simple -- a slotted spoon takes care of refuse, also once a week or so.  Fill the water bowl and have a heat lamp, but snakes don't require UV-B.  You can take it out and play with it and it's even great for kids -- mine are 8 and 5 and they hold it and carry it around.  Costs about $75 and then the cost of the tank setup, and then a mouse or so a week.  Can live for 15 yrs plus.  DRosenbach  ( Talk 13:47, 25 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Tegu lizards aren't small, but they have peg-shaped teeth and mellow as they age and only get to about 5 feet. I have to agree iguanas are problematic.  They either die or become hostile.  Ball Pythons are either lethargic, or nasty.  I decided to euthanize the second one I owned.  The first one died of a respiratory infection.  My 40-y/o Sister-in-Law's first memory of me (when she was 4) is of me feeding a Ball Python a mouse.  It was fun for me at the time, but an embarrassing memory now. μηδείς (talk) 23:43, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
 * That's a very misleading characterization: lethargic or nasty. It's like you're criticizing a snake for not being a dog.  Snakes are poikilotherms and so are more, sedate, let's say, than a hamster or a dog.  But they are by far not, as a species, nasty.  In fact, I'd say they are renown for their docility and are one of the most calm and handleable of any household pet.  And I think it's laughable that you suggest a tegu while claiming that ball pythons have the potential to be nasty.  DRosenbach  ( Talk 12:58, 26 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Do you then? Is there any chance, while we are at it, that you normally squeeze to death your dinner, Drosenbach, and then swallow it whole?  You sound a little partisan. μηδείς (talk) 22:24, 26 March 2014 (UTC)
 * What about something like a Barred Parakeet (aka Lineolated Parakeet) or a Bourke's Parrot, or two? While not looking particularly 'magnificent' as far as parrots go, these have a reputation for being (relatively) quiet, easy-going and gentle birds when tame. --Kurt Shaped Box (talk) 00:00, 26 March 2014 (UTC)


 * I've figured it out. You should get two chinchillas. Half cat, half mouse. Funny looking, funny acting. The whole Tom and Jerry package. Very soft. Barely eat or drink, so barely poop. They're (hilariously) self-cleaning. About the same lifespan ballpark as a cat or dog. You'd love them. Just can't get them wet. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:48, 30 March 2014 (UTC)

Sunday Times Rich List
Hi, apologies if this is the wrong place to ask this, I wasn't sure where to go. Does anyone have a subscription to The Times, thereby enabling them to see the 2013 Rich list, for an article? Thanks, Mat  ty. 007 17:31, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * I'm afraid not, but the top 20 are listed in this Daily Telegraph article. Alansplodge (talk) 18:30, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Nope, looks like Johnnie Boden is a mere 24 on the rankings (or was). Thanks, Mat  ty  .  007  18:32, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Just to note, features.thesundaytimes.co.uk/richlist/2013/live is the page which I would like looking at please]. Thanks, Mat  ty  .  007  18:46, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Try WP:RX RudolfRed (talk) 21:17, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Thank you. Mat  ty  .  007  19:13, 26 March 2014 (UTC)

How do I become a member of a wikiproject?
I have been making maps of empire's lately and I was wanting to join the WikiProject: Maps. But I do not know how I join them. Where and how can I join the WikiProject Maps? Can anyone tell me how? Regards. Kirby (talk) 21:44, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * First step is probably saying hello at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Maps. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:48, 24 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Full marks to everyone who has resisted the temptation to offer to draw a map to show directions to the WikiProject. --Dweller (talk) 13:08, 25 March 2014 (UTC)