Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2019 June 2

= June 2 =

Could a source from 1825 be considered a reliable source on Wikipedia?
Could a source from 1825 -- for instance, this book about the geneaology of the House of Bourbon: https://books.google.com/books?id=rjsWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA483&dq=jean+seigneur+de+carency+1825&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiF7pD-4cniAhWvJzQIHcqBB0wQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=jean%20seigneur%20de%20carency%201825&f=false -- be considered a reliable source by Wikipedia's standards? On the one hand, this book is extremely dated (being almost 200 years old!), but at the same time, this book has value in the sense that it contains some information that modern books might not have. Obviously this book would be unreliable for information on post-1825 members of the House of Bourbon, but the information that it contains about the House of Bourbon for the centuries before 1825 should still be considered reliable even today, no? I mean, historical genealogy for the House of Bourbon for the centuries before 1825 would still be the same whether the source is from 1825 or from today (2019), no? Futurist110 (talk) 02:41, 2 June 2019 (UTC)
 * WP:RSN is the place to ask questions like this.
 * But in general, then yes, there's no reason why RS can't be from 1825 books, especially not for contemporary subjects. Andy Dingley (talk) 07:06, 2 June 2019 (UTC)


 * Meaning, of course, contemporary to 1825, not contemporary to now. Indeed, an 1825 source might actually be better for 1825 topics, like a list of horse-drawn carriage manufacturers then, as any modern list would necessarily be based on such older, direct sources, potentially introducing errors in the process.


 * However, info from an 1825 source on science wouldn't be likely to be accurate, unless the source is to prove what scientists of the time thought. SinisterLefty (talk) 17:29, 2 June 2019 (UTC)


 * I'll go and ask them about this right now. Thanks! Futurist110 (talk) 16:58, 2 June 2019 (UTC)

Elton John in film Rocketman
The film Rocketman starts and ends with Elton John walking to an AA meeting in full stage costume, apparently straight out of a concert he decided not to perform in after all. Did this actually happen in real life, as pictured in the film? J I P &#124; Talk 16:04, 2 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Here's some fact checking in Rolling Stone. Doesn't address this question, though. --jpgordon&#x1d122;&#x1d106; &#x1D110;&#x1d107; 20:17, 2 June 2019 (UTC)


 * At the end, it does point out that the biography and autobiography do NOT have him showing up in AA wearing his stage costume. 68.115.219.130 (talk) 12:43, 3 June 2019 (UTC)


 * Just "deciding not to perform" would have major career and legal implications. Without a good excuse, like sickness, it would violate contracts and anger fans, leading to lawsuits. So, that part seems rather iffy. And wearing an outrageous costume to an AA meeting also seems suspect, as that violates the "anonymous" part of AA. Of course, he might still be recognized in street clothes, but that wouldn't be his fault, while wearing such a costume there would be. SinisterLefty (talk) 04:41, 3 June 2019 (UTC)


 * I am fairly sure severe alcoholism would qualify as sickness. But I still felt it strange he walked to the AA meeting in an outrageous costume. J I P  &#124; Talk 07:02, 3 June 2019 (UTC)


 * I should have said "acute sickness", as long-term conditions don't require cancelling a specific event. If he was so drunk as to be unable to perform, that might qualify, although the contracts may or may not be violated by this. Presumably the courts would say appendicitis is a just cause for breaking a contract, but getting drunk, maybe not. SinisterLefty (talk) 13:40, 3 June 2019 (UTC)


 * Regardless of your objections, SinisterLefty, musical artists are known to have refused to perform at shows before, often minutes before the show. Even if everything you say it's true, they have still done so.  And most of them have survived professionally just fine.-- Jayron 32 13:08, 3 June 2019 (UTC)


 * Yes, but in the context of this Q, such behavior would be sure to make the news, and therefore we would have a record of it. SinisterLefty (talk) 13:37, 3 June 2019 (UTC)


 * In multiple interviews, he states that he was highly depressed after Ryan White died. Then, his boyfriend went into rehab. He decided to go to rehab also and tried multiple places in California, but they refused. So, he went to Chicago. That doesn't fit very well with the movie depiction which is very very very loosely based on reality. 68.115.219.130 (talk) 16:42, 3 June 2019 (UTC)

Renting a P.O. Box
I'm looking into renting a p.o. box at a local (small town) post office. Since I'm also planning to order several books and DVDs through Amazon soon, I'm wondering how large of a box I'll need. Will size 3-m be enough? Or as if I understand my google searches correctly, the post office will provide some other way of getting my Amazon purchase to me if it doesn't fit into my box. 184.176.212.252 (talk) 20:35, 2 June 2019 (UTC)
 * They'll either leave a slip in the po box saying come pick it up at the counter (which in most small towns has quite limited hours; ours for example is 9:30-3, with 12-1 closed for lunch) or if your PO has lockboxes, you'll find a key to one of them in the po box. --jpgordon&#x1d122;&#x1d106; &#x1D110;&#x1d107; 23:03, 2 June 2019 (UTC)
 * if you're getting a box specifically for Amazon, check if Amazon has Amazon Lockers in your area. They deliver to a locker and you have a few days to pick it up, and it's free.Sir Joseph (talk) 23:21, 2 June 2019 (UTC)
 * If you're in a small town, there won't be any such thing. --jpgordon&#x1d122;&#x1d106; &#x1D110;&#x1d107; 03:36, 3 June 2019 (UTC)

I hope all of you are talking about post office boxes in the same country. Nobody mentioned which one. --76.69.46.228 (talk) 08:16, 3 June 2019 (UTC)
 * The IP geolocates to Kansas. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 12:16, 3 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Does the post office have a preferred method of payment for the boxes? (Cash, check, card?) 64.6.124.31 (talk) 16:04, 3 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Check and credit card certainly work up front, and probably cash as well. They probably don't want cash if you're renewing unless you do it at the counter. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 19:08, 3 June 2019 (UTC)

[Double] conical tongue and groove
I'm pretty sure "double" simply means two ridges and two furrows, but I can't find a clear definition of "conical". I suspect that means the tongues have sloping sides, so that the cutting bit would be conical, but can't find a confirmation of this. All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 20:49, 2 June 2019 (UTC).


 * From the few online images I could find it appears that unlike the rounded tongue in tongue and groove, conical has a straight slopes and a flat top in the tongue. Rmhermen (talk) 21:07, 2 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks, good find. All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 07:52, 3 June 2019 (UTC).