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March 22

Two questions about the US restaurant industry

This is a sequel to a question I asked here five years ago. This time I have two questions:

1. What is the largest US restaurant chain not to have an international presence? Largest in terms of revenue, and largest in terms of number of outlets.

2. What large US restaurant chains that lack an international presence never had one in their history? It surprised me to learn that some US-only chains such as White Castle and Chick-fil-A did have an international presence at some point but have since closed them down. What large chains have never expanded internationally ever? Narutolovehinata5 ^tccsdnew 00:16, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Here is the list of the top 100 U.S. Restaurant Chains as of 2012. Near as I can tell, Sonic Drive-In, #12 on that list, only has outlets in the U.S., and does not look like they ever had an outlet outside of the U.S. --Jayron32 01:49, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Wow, yester evening I happened to see an advertisement for Sonic, of which I was previously unaware. Holy Baader-Meinhof effect, Batman! —Tamfang (talk) 07:26, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Swam on wood

got a problem with water going under my in roof and damage my wood. I have cut it out and find the next stuff on the wood. I am living in a rural town in the Karoo in South Africa. Can somebody identify this and explain this.

• 
  Caption1
• 
  Caption2

It looks like you've tried to upload some photos to illustrate your question. Unfortunately it hasn't worked and you can't just upload any old photo to Wikipedia anyway. Upload them to an image hosting site such as imgur and link them from there. --Viennese Waltz 08:07, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

The swam may be wet rot (coniophora).--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:58, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

What does "swam" mean here? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:06, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

"Swam" is Afrikaans for fungus (from Dutch 'zwam'). - Lindert (talk) 21:28, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Is that definition given anywhere in the English Wikipedia? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:29, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

AFAIK it's not an English word, and Wikipedia is not a foreign dictionary, though fungus is linked to af:swam. - Lindert (talk) 21:39, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

inkjet printer ink and fountain pen ink

Are inkjet printer ink and fountain pen ink significantly different from each other? Would inkjet printer ink work in a fountain pen?

Reviewing Inkjet printing and Fountain pen ink, they seem to be of sufficiently different composition. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:05, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

In the early days of inkjet printers, I used to use fountain pen ink successfully to refill ink cartridges, though the quality of print was slightly inferior. This might not work with modern printers. For the other way round, just try it and see, but don't blame me if it clogs your fountain pen. Dbfirs 21:43, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

I expect this to be an issue of viscosity. Inkjet ink has a very low viscosity because it has to squirt out a very tiny hole at incredibly high speed. Google shows inkjet viscosity <5 mPas. I cannot find viscosity for fountain pen ink. If it is higher, it would likely clog an inkjet printer. Next issue would be how vital the higher viscosity relates to the fountain pen. Is it necessary to make the pen work? I believe so. Low viscosity ink should drip off the pen too easily. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 14:32, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Update: References I've found for fountain pen ink are measured in dynes/cm2. One dyne/cm2 is 100 mPas. The inks go from around 15 to 45 dynes/cm2. So, they are 1500 to 4500 mPas, which is considerably more than 5 mPas max for inkjet ink. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 14:40, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

I'm surprised that the difference is so great. They seem to drip in very similar fashion. Olive oil has a viscosity of 81 mPas, and thick motor oil 319 mPas. What are you using in your fountain pen? I think you mis-read the patent which was for a gel ink. Most bottled inks have a viscosity of 5 mPas or lower, just the same as printer inks. Many fountain pens have a rubber reservoir. I don't know how the chemicals in a printer ink would affect this. Dbfirs 18:13, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

I am also concerned. I only found one site giving specific values for viscosity and it clearly marked them as dynes/cm2. My gut tells me that they are actually mPas. So, I searched for contradictory information, but haven't found any. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 19:48, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Searching again on dinner break and found a great site [1] that I believe explains the confusion. The surface tension is measured in dynes/cm - which is in the range 42-48 for that manufacturer. The viscosity on that page is measured in cPas with a range of 1*1.25, which is 10-12.5 mPas. So, that fountain pen ink is at least twice as viscous as inkjet ink. It still supports my two fears. First, I worry that fountain pen ink will clog the inkjet printer. Second, I worry that inkjet ink will drip off the fountain pen too easily. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 19:54, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Hmm, that seems to be particularly viscous ink, probably designed for calligraphy, and I agree that it would probably clog the jets in a printer cartridge. I can't find evidence yet, but I instinctively feel that the Quink ink, mentioned by Aspro below, and exactly the brand that I and others used for refilling cartridges, is less viscous than that, and less viscous than most printer ink. I agree that surface tension will also affect performance. Dbfirs 21:34, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

As inkjet ink costs a lot more than the very best French Champagne, can't see why the OP would consider using it in a fountain pen. My printers are more often idle than my favorite fountain pen, yet don't seem to clog up unless left idle for a very long time, so wouldn't think the OP would notice any difference when using this ink in his fountain pen. Like Dbfirs, I refill my cartridges with pen ink (brand name Quink) which is a ruddy site cheaper! It works, regardless of the mPas ! Quality wise – I can read it clearly and easily! Whether I would use it to print out my résumé to a prospective employer is a different matter. But me-being-me, I think I would; because if my prospective employer wants to know about me, what's better than demonstrating to him how I work and live... Look: this is my experience and if you don't like the presentation of my résumé, I'll go off and work somewhere else !!!. As you know, some, many, most companies retail ink-jet printers a low prices so that they can recuperate vast profits at selling very expensive ink. Of course this approach of refilling would probably not work for my four colour printers use for printing photographs, as the inks of the right hues and tints don't appear available by other brands.--Aspro (talk) 19:15, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Lest people believe that Aspro's anecdote regarding printer ink, the very best French Champagne (a redundancy since all Champagne originates in France) - Dom Pérignon Rose Gold '96 - actually costs about $49,000, and inkjet ink - though pricey in its own right - does not cost anywhere near that much.--WaltCip (talk) 19:56, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Does your odd exceptions prove the rule? Tell me where you buy or steal your catriages from please! Printer ink seven times more expensive than Dom Perignon Unless of course... your in the habit of buying very rare 1947 vintage printer ink at exorbitant prices in which case I suppose Champagne might seem cheaper..--Aspro (talk) 20:38, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

We're getting off topic, but Consumer Reports[2] puts the price of printer ink between $13 and $75 per fluid ounce, depending on brand. A wine bottle full of the stuff would therefore cost between $330 and $1900. I did some quick estimates (independent of the CR numbers) with a cartridge I happened to have handy, and I think the wine-bottle price would be about $705. So that checks out.

So, sure "Very best" is a sky's the limit sort of thing with Champagne, but ink jet ink is sure pricier than your average bottle of perfectly nice champagne. ApLundell (talk) 13:33, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

That's a clever rhetorical trick. A vial of cheap vanilla extract is $4.50 but if you filled a wine bottle with it, it would be $124.50 and up, which costs more than most bottles of high-tier wine and bubbly. But in any case, you're more likely to get two or three months use out of a cartridge of printer ink. Unless you are being absolutely penurious, you can't make a champagne bottle last for two or three months after opening it. --WaltCip (talk) 13:49, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

You can get a pint of vanilla for about $20 bucks, though. (Or about $30/wine bottle) Most people understand that with that small vial you're mostly paying for the bottle and the handling.

I think the reason the comparison resonates so well with ink cartridges is that you're required to buy it in tiny containers quantities that run out often. We all know that it'd be massively cheaper if we could just buy the ink in a bottle, but for consumer-level printers, you can't.

So how about Fountain Pens? If you have a cartridge pen, you pay about $5 for a pack of 12 cartridges of 1.4ml each. That's about $220 per wine bottle. On the other hand, if you bought a small 30ml ink bottle[3] for about $15, you'd pay $375 per wine bottle, So maybe fountain pen ink isn't so much cheaper than printer ink after all. ApLundell (talk) 14:16, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Check the prices on well printer ink. The whole point is you save money on ink because the printer stores large quantities of ink. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 14:44, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Large quantities of ink? In a printer cartridge? Those big cartridges are full of sponge. That sponge takes up most of the volumetric space. Open one up and see for yourself. The actual ink inside those big cartage is very small. Try refilling one and you'll find the spong becomes saturated and full before you have even thought you started. That'll demonstrate how little ink is contained within.--Aspro (talk) 17:03, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• They're very similar and they will interwork, in some cases. However each type also includes a large variation range within that type. Not all fountain pen inks are usable in all pens. Far from all inkjet inks can be used in all inkjets.

They both work at a small scale, so bulk viscosity is less important than surface effects, and their attraction to other materials. But yes, modern inkjets are very low viscosity and need to be. More importantly, some inkjets work by mechanically spraying the ink, some by heating it and causing vapourisation, thus gas pressure. Those are very fussy, as their thermal behaviour is important. One needs to boil easily, one mustn't (even the physically propelled ink gets heated in the process).

Some also have unusual chemistry. H-P had a patented ink for later cartridges on the original DeskJet that reacted with acidic papers to become moderately waterproof. One of the few inkjets that could print envelopes that didn't wash clean in the rain - at least until the office stationery was upgraded to a better grade of white paper! Andy Dingley (talk) 14:33, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Inkjet ink is very specialized ink, as you've noted. These are the properties that I know of:

• Must be able to be heated to vaporization and cooled to room temperature without changing the physical characteristics of the ink (Most inkjet printers heat the ink).
• Must be able to go from a pool of liquid to a stream of microscopic droplets instantly.
• Must be able to accelerate almost instantly to 300mph (approximate speed of inkjet sprayers).
• Must be able to go through nozzles thinner than a human hair without sticking to the walls of the nozzle.
• Must not splatter when going from 300mph to a dead stop on a sheet of paper.
• Must not bleed into nearby ink.
• Must dry almost instantly.

The comparison of inket ink to fine champagne above is rather accurate. Inkjet ink is not your average Bic quality ink. Many years of research (that is still going) has been used to perfect this very special blend of ink. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 14:42, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

March 23

Edits by Edward321 Help

disputed edits belong at the article's or editor's talk pages, or WP:ANI, but NOT here. μηδείς (talk) 22:46, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Please would you check the edits made on 22 and 23 March 2017 by Edward321 to the Wikipedia entry "Nader El-Bizri" and to some of its associated Wikipedia reference entries. The edits of Edward321 are extreme and radical and this might need some editorial intervention from your senior editors to look into them 2A02:C7D:36C6:8300:ED41:35E8:6F5B:3CE5 (talk) 14:29, 23 March 2017 (UTC) Hello, IP editor. I see that, before you posted this request, you reverted two of Edward321's edits to Nader El-Bizri. You are entitled to revert edits that you think are not good, but rather than then launching an appeal to "senior editors" (who don't exist: some are more experienced than others, but there is not a hierarchy of seniority like that), you should discuss the matter with Edward321, normally on the article's talk page: see WP:BRD. If you think this is not just a disagreement about content but a behavioural issue (eg vandalism), you may post a request on the WP:administrators' noticeboard/incidents or WP:Administrator intervention against vandalism noticeboards; but if you do so you must have attempted to engage with the editor in question first. For what it's worth, I can't see any problem with Edward321's edits to that article, but I know next to nothing about the subject. --ColinFine (talk) 22:21, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

March 24

Cold War

When did the Cold War begin? Some say that it began with Churchill's Iron Curtain speech in 1946, others that it began with the Berlin blockade in 1948. So which is it -- or was there yet another event which started it? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:F88D:DE34:7772:8E5B (talk) 07:03, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

The article says "Historians do not fully agree on the dates." ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 07:35, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

12 April 1945 - because while Roosevelt felt that it was possible to do a deal with Stalin, Truman didn't trust him. So Truman becoming president was the moment at which the course of East-West relations changed. Wymspen (talk) 18:51, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

This is yet another Platonic Ideal question that assumes words have meanings in the way that bodies have mass. A term has a meaning in a context, and it is up to the user to define his term (on some reasonable basis) and use it consistently. We cannot give such REAL DEFINITIONS here, just refer to how people use such terms. μηδείς (talk) 21:13, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Wymspen, that date you quoted would be, like, your personal opinion, no? Unless it overrides the statement from our article quoted by Baseball Bugs. In which case, of course, you would have a reference to that effect, wouldn't you? So, don't be shy, let's have it. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:30, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

How do they prove when people are faking mental illness for welfare payments

How does the disability benefits agency prove when people are faking mental illness? It's easy when people claim to have a bad back or a lost leg and then they are caught working cash in hand on a building site. But how can faked mental illness be proved? For example anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 168.10.85.15 (talk) 09:08, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

PS: I do not know why this keeps being deleted. Welfare fraud / Disability fraud is a very real thing and a big issue for the economies of many countries. This is a valid question and very reasonable. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 168.10.85.15 (talk) 09:50, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

There are criteria for diagnosing mental disorders just as much as for other illnesses, e.g. the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It's not easier to fake, say, a depression than to fake an unspecified back pain. In legal situations, illnesses are diagnosed using standard criteria by suitable experts - normally a qualified physician. If there is reason to doubt one diagnosis, a second or third expert can be consulted. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 11:40, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• OP, you are providing us with the answers (you've linked to the relevant articles) and you are asking us to conduct a broad discussion of the topic, not any specific case,law, disease, or jurisdiction. Per the guidelines at the top of the page, that is why someone has previously deleted your question, and we can't answer it. Specific requests for articles or links on specific topics are much better. μηδείς (talk) 01:19, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Continuning disputer over Nader El-Bizri

disputes over articles do not belong at the ref desks; see admin warning below
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Dear Administrators, please help with professional edits in checking whether tags added and/or restored in connection with the entry "Nader El-Bizri" are justified, and kindly assist in directing this query to administrators or professional editors who can help improve it. Apologies if this query is not directed to the right administrators but perhaps you can kindly help with this matter. Thanks2A02:C7D:36C6:8300:3DE7:5B4A:4EE8:E3CB (talk) 10:55, 24 March 2017 (UTC) When referencing an article here please wikilink it, so that we can easily go to it ourselves: Nader El-Bizri. I only looked at the first few references, but: Ref 1 doesn't work Ref 2 is not independent of the subject Ref 3 isn't a reference at all, but a footnote, as are several others. Refs 4 and 5 are both by the subject. We need multiple substantial independent references from reliable sources to show that Dr El-Bizri is notable and qualifies for an article. There are no "professional editors" who can help you with this, nor is this within the remit of those volunteers who have been granted administrator powers. The tags currently on the article seem to me to be completely justified. Rojomoke (talk) 11:33, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Hi, 2A02:C7D:36C6:8300:3DE7:5B4A:4EE8:E3CB. Since you're editing from many fluctuating IPs in the 2A02:C7D:36C6:8300::/64 range, I'll speak to you here rather than on one of your many user talkpages, which you're less likely to see. If you continue to remove the tags, I will block the entire range you have access to. Bishonen | talk 15:44, 24 March 2017 (UTC).

Bills in the UK parliament

When a bill is voted on in the House of Commons (or Lords), is there a minimum number of votes that have to be cast in order for the bill to pass? 2A02:C7D:5DC6:3F00:E59B:1141:7F95:B5DE (talk) 21:44, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Having found the answer in the relevant public business Standing Orders (Commons #41 and Lords #57, if anyone cares), there is indeed a minimum number of votes. Forty in the Commons (counting the Speaker or his deputy) and thirty in the Lords. As far as I can see, however, this only applies if the question is pressed to a division (vote). If the person in the chair just says "I think the ayes have it" and no one says to the contrary, then since there is no procedure for counting there can't be a minimum number. 128.232.236.110 (talk) 22:17, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Excellent, thank you very much! 2A02:C7D:5DC6:3F00:E59B:1141:7F95:B5DE (talk) 22:31, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

That's interesting, because these things are generally the same in Canada, but this one isn't. See Canada Day#History, the paragraph about how it was renamed by private member's bill. --76.71.6.254 (talk) 23:07, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

The relevant article is Quorum. Alansplodge (talk) 10:37, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Ah no, I think that is the minimum number of members present in the chamber for a division to be held. But that said, as long as the minimum number of members is present, they can conduct business and debate legislation. A majority of those present is what's required to pass any motion, including a bill. If all 650 members are present (a rare event), then 326 votes would be required. If only the bare quorum of 40 members are present, a bill can pass with only 21 votes. That's if there's a division. But if it's just on the ayes, as 128.232.236.110 says above, it could be as few as 1 aye vs. zero nos. So there is an actual minimum number, 1. But that's unlikely. The most likely minimum is a majority of 40, or 21. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:39, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

I'd note that if I'm understanding Standing Order 37, a debate can't be closed (or a question decided) without at least 100 members voting in support if there is a division, so actually getting to passing legislation could potentially be problematic if there is opposition even with 40.

Also does the House of Commons in the UK actually require a majority of those present to vote in favour? I was under the impression it was like most parliaments and only required a majority to vote in favour, and a person could abstain/not vote despite being present. (I'm sure it's somewhere in the Standing Orders but I couldn't work out where.) This generally means unless there is a minimum number required (as there is but only when it comes to divisions), you can actually pass legislation with only 1 vote if all other members even if present simply don't vote. This sort of situation may be unlikely, but abstaining/not voting isn't completely irrelevant since in very close votes it can be the difference between something passing.

I'd also note that the article linked above and its source suggests the Canadian House of Commons also has a quorom but for general business and it requires someone to call attention to the lack of it except during the beginning of the sitting where the speaker may take the initiative. This includes if it becomes clear during a division. Also since the Canadian one is only for conduction business, it's still possible for a bill to pass with only one vote even if someone objects to the lack of quorom etc if only one person votes. If 20 are present and vote you'd need 11 but by comparison in the UK case 40 need to take part in the division which means 21 in support however many are present (but again there needs to be a division).

Nil Einne (talk) 23:51, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

March 25

SSBSA degree

Does anybody know what SSBSA (and its not the Somerset Small Bore Shooting Association) stands for? It came up in a résumé the other day where the applicant stated they had, along with some others, an SSBSA degree. They received it from St. Lawrence College which given they went to Queen's University is probably St. Lawrence College, Ontario. I looked at the St. Lawrence site but didn't see anything. The degree may have some relationship to real estate. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 01:54, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

The applicant may mean Queens Australia in which case it make sense. Can't remember what SSBSA stands for but it is a degree. The applicant must have included a email address. If only for your own further edification contact him for more clarification. When writing a résumé one strives for brevity to get everything in and maybe the applicant assumed too much. If the applicant does come from the sunny, warm climes of Australia, may be worth considering why in the hell would he desire to work in Cambridge Bay? He may have a very good reason and which cold make him a good employee. It is a skill of really good employer to spot the right applicant out of all the other mediocre applicants that have all the right qualification... but not the drive. i.e. All show but no go.--Aspro (talk) 11:36, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Fearing I was falling in to the same bad habits of some other editors here, who just spout things off the top of their head … had a little google around. It is only one letter away from Senior Secondary Board of South Australia (SSBSA). Perhaps typographical error on the résumé. Don't guess -find out from the horse's mouth.--Aspro (talk) 11:59, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

What's the distinction between SSBSA (per the OP) and SSBSA (as you state above)? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 12:05, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

SSBSA is recognized by most as a degree, whilst SSABSA is not. It is the applicant’s responsibility, when there is doubt, to clarify things to the prospective employer's satisfaction. Which I assume is why CambridgeBayWeather is asking. Up in his neck-of-the-woods (or should that be tundra) these non- north American qualifications may make no sense at all. So, is it not natural for him to ask on WP for extra input. Think the very fact that Cambridge has asked at all, is because he knows how to read a résumé. That is not the issue. It is just that (I think) he has come across a qualification that does not ring all the right bells – so he is asking.--Aspro (talk) 13:01, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Where are you seeing SSABSA? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:04, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Don't know if you have ever heard of an online encyclopedia called Wikipedia? That has lots of articles about this, that, and everything. It even has an article South Australian Certificate of Education which mentions the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA) in the second paragraph!--Aspro (talk) 13:47, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks for the link and hence the clarification. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:57, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

(ec) Thanks. The SSABSA is the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia, the article is at South Australian Certificate of Education. The person is in Canada and it is the Queen's in Ontario they are talking about. Unfortunately, we can't/don't contact candidates prior to interviews. That is the résumé and cover letter must contain sufficient information, along with at least a Bachelor of Education degree (they had that), to make us want to interview them. We have had applicants from Australia, and several other countries, before but not this time. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 14:13, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

So, what is this "Queens Australia", Aspro? Do you mean Queensland? I'm not following this supposed Australian connection. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:25, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

As you should know better than I. An Aussie uses a lazy laid back vernacular dialect that is very similar to English. Assuming, that if he is an alumni of Queens, the whole ruddy world should know he is referring to Queen's because Australia is the center of the whole universe from his point of view. At least, that is the impression that Aussies give when they travel abroad. --Aspro (talk) 22:11, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Can you provide some evidence that there are actually many Australians, even self centred ones if you desire, who refer to the University of Queensland as Queen's University? Americans are often said to be self centred as well, but it doesn't mean they're likely to refer to New York as simply 'York'. Especially since so far the only Aussie here has found this odd, and we've already had a claim SSBSA is some sort of degree in Australia only for a later correction that it was SSABSA and did not award degrees (nor was really part of university except I guess a path to admittance), something which a quick search told at least some of us was likely the case before this correction was offered. Nil Einne (talk) 22:57, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Err. It was actually 'me' that pointed it out the difference between SSBSA & SSABSA if you have bothered read all the above. So don't see what your point is.--Aspro (talk) 00:05, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Yes, I was once a student at the Uni of Queensland, and I've never heard it referred to as "Queens". Not even in common parlance, let alone on a CV. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:05, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Oh, so. When every other University post-students from all over the world abbreviate – you and your alumni alone, always give the full title of The University of Queensland, Australia. Oh come on... pull the other leg.--Aspro (talk) 00:29, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

I've never heard anybody (Australian or otherwise) abbreviate Queensland to "Queens". Alansplodge (talk) 00:52, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

UQ is the usual abbreviation, to my knowledge. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 06:04, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Not sure if this is the same thing, but I found "EDUCATION / TRAINING / CERTIFICATIONS: B.A.-B.PHE. / B.ED. / SSBSA 1976 / 1997 Queen’s University & St. Lawrence College Kingston, ON (definitely nothing to do with Queensland though). Alansplodge (talk) 23:46, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Also "Independent Real Estate Professional - Education - Queen's University B.A-B.PHE.-B.ED., PHE & Psychology - I also got a SSBSA Degree from St. Lawrence College". Possibly something to do with Social Science and Behavioural Science? Alansplodge (talk) 00:02, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

That's the candidate. I had seen the second while looking for the degree. Interesting that he is the only one that turns up. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 00:45, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Finding an article that lists mature topics/categories.

I was previously referencing an article here for ideas on what disallow from a forum (which sounds weird, I know). It contained a list of "mature" topics that were extremely specific, like "use of a sharp object to insert into another person" or something along those lines. While it was very detailed it was described in the most clean-english possible. Described vulgar acts without actually being vulgar. I was using it for an art section of the forum to define specifically is and isn't allowed. A year later and I cannot for the life of me find such an article again and never bookmarked it and it would be very helpful if anyone happened to know of such an article that had such examples. I already checked the Motion picture content rating system, Motion Picture Association of America film rating system, Entertainment Software Rating Board, and a few other pages on various rating systems hoping it was a part of those to no avail so it must be a more broad article on mature topics. Causticism (talk) 15:27, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

I'm having trouble understanding your question. You're looking for a Wikipedia article that had a list of mature topics? Like, different kinds of violence or sexual acts described using euphemistic language? Seems like an odd thing have an article on. List of euphemisms just redirects to euphemism. Do you recall if it was just a simple list, perhaps in a table, or was it an actual prose article? Maybe looking through our articles on euphemism and slang will trigger your memory. Matt Deres (talk) 00:21, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Hmm, sorry it's hard to explain. The article didn't have a table but a section that simply had comma-listed examples of what is and isn't considered mature for some sort of rating system. If I'm not mistaken it was a rating system for more "static artistic" works rather than motion pictures or video games. It did have euphemistic-like language but still very blunt and to the point. Causticism (talk) 05:17, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

For some bizarre reason, our ratings organizations are categorized into two groups: Category:Entertainment rating organizations and Category:Media content ratings systems. If what you saw was an article about a ratings system it should presumably be on one of these lists if it hasn't been deleted. If you do happen to find what you're looking for, I'd be interested in seeing which one it was. Matt Deres (talk) 12:36, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Potato question

What's the difference between a Salad Potato, a Baking Potato, White Potato, or a Baby Potato? Besides the price I mean. Are they all the same thing but just different sizes, or are they different species? — Preceding unsigned comment added by CyanDong (talk • contribs) 18:35, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

According to Potato, they are all the same species, and there are several thousand varieties within the species. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:04, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

The different varieties have different characteristics when boiled (or cooked in other ways). For example, some remain firm and waxy whilst others go "fluffy" and fall apart when overcooked. There are also differences in flavour. A cook or a potato expert could explain much more eloquently than I can. See here or here for more detail. Dbfirs 21:09, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Here is an article (with photos) describing the types and uses of some common American potato varieties (and some weird and colorful ones too) Rmhermen (talk) 23:00, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Dora, Alabama

According to the Dora, Alabama article it is in Walker County, but according to the Walker County, Alabama article it is 'partly in Jefferson County' but this is not mentioned in the Jefferson County, Alabama article. The city website doesn't mention Jefferson County, but I have found www.allplaces.us/z/35062 which states it is in Jefferson County, can this be used as a valid source for the statement that the city is partly in Jefferson County ? Thanks GrahamHardy (talk) 23:43, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Hard to know what the town's actual city limits are, but if you google Jefferson County, the town of Dora looks to be well outside of it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:03, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

The A Short History of Dora on the City of Dora Council website says that it is (or at least, was) "in East Walker County". Alansplodge (talk) 00:42, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

However, there is a County Line Rd, Dora which suggests that the boundary runs along the edge of the built-up area. Alansplodge (talk) 00:46, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Searches in Google Maps for cities or counties generally display their boundaries. Search for "walker county AL" and you will see Dora near the southwest side, about halfway between Interstate 22 and state highway 5. Now change the search to "Dora AL" and fix your eye on the city as the result displays. You will see the city shown entirely within Walker County. I presume Google Maps gets the boundaries from a reliable source, but it is always possible that the source is out of date. --76.71.6.254 (talk) 03:09, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

I sounds as if we should ignore www.allplaces.us then, or is it using the concept of a postal address (as sometimes in the UK)? GrahamHardy (talk) 13:44, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Ooh, you may be onto something there. If you do a Google Maps search on just plain 35062, which is the ZIP code for Dora, you get a larger area that does extend into Jefferson County. But normally when we speak of where a city is located, we mean its official city limits and not to postal addressing. --76.71.6.254 (talk) 06:37, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

March 26

What does the t-shirt say?

Starting at 1:55 and 4:30 in this video, David Gilmour and Nick Mason, respectively, are wearing a t-shirt that says something like "____ Washington University". I'm having trouble making out the name of the school. Can I get a hand finding out? Thanks, †dismas†|^(talk) 12:53, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Could be George Washington. Some googling give shirts that look quite similar [4] and it seems that they recorded a live album there in 1971. 128.141.114.93 (talk) 13:34, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks, I think you're right. Although the font and style of the shirt is a pretty standard thing amongst US universities, the rest matches up well to the specific circumstances. They played at Lisner Auditorium on 16 November 1971 for the Meddle tour (unless it's included in the recently release box sets, not a live album recording) and Obscured by Clouds (the images were taken from the recording sessions for that album) was recorded in February - April of '72.

So, thanks very much!! I appreciate it! †dismas†|^(talk) 13:53, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

March 27

New York subway

How long is the longest transfer passageway in the New York subway? Would that be the passageway between the Times Square station complex and the Port Authority Bus Terminal station, or between the Bryant Park station and the 5th Avenue station on the Flushing line, or would that be some other passageway (if so, which one)? Also, about how long on average is a typical passageway between stations? And last but not least, a related question: What's the largest vertical separation between stations in a multilevel station complex in the New York subway, and which complex would that be? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:54FD:1B3C:D13B:29E6 (talk) 07:45, 27 March 2017 (UTC)