Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous

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March 9

Renting a lathe

Does anyone happen to know of any place around the San Jose area (other than TechShop) where I can time-share a metal lathe? Because I've been doing this at the TechShop for my project, but the problem is, half the time their lathe is not working right! Right now 2 of their lathes have an inop Z-axis sensor (which they said will take at least until April to fix), and the other one (in Redwood City) has an inop coolant system (which they're not planning on fixing at all)-- and since my project requires very high precision, this makes all of them unusable as far as I'm concerned. Thanks in advance! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:54E6:7BBC:ADED:E845 (talk) 02:31, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Does this help? I want to avoid sending business to anyone in particular, but there are likely some businesses there that can help you. --Jayron32 02:41, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks! One question, though: Can I use the equipment at that location, or will I have to take it home with me and install it? Because I don't have much space in my garage, y'know! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:1C73:84FD:3547:DED8 (talk) 04:56, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

You will need to contact the companies and ask them. MarnetteD|Talk 05:19, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Will do! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:4014:3962:946C:2AF1 (talk) 07:48, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• If it's high precision work, employ someone to do it, on the same lathe they're used to working on day-in-day-out. You won't achieve good results on a rented lathe (they're rarely in good condition), or on a lathe you're unfamiliar with. Andy Dingley (talk) 13:38, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

  True, in that case you'll want to look for a machine shop or job shop. --Jayron32 14:46, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Actually, so far I have achieved extremely high accuracy even with that worn-out lathe they had at the TechShop -- in fact, on turning the short end I had achieved accuracy in the Z-axis beyond what the manual said was possible on that machine! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:9031:2E93:E491:EE2 (talk) 08:13, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• I presume this is a follow-on from WP:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2016 September 10#Machining Andy Dingley (talk) 17:41, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Yes it is indeed! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:9031:2E93:E491:EE2 (talk) 08:13, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

3D Printer

Wishing to buy a 3-in-1 (metal, wood and plastic) cutter and curver (and so on).

Important: Capable of creating straw style holes...

Q:

1) Do 3D printers come with tools, like things you get with the sewing machine…?

2) How long will it take to learn its software? I'm planning to use it at home and self-publish my artifacts.

116.58.204.231 (talk) 17:18, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• No such animal (as a useful machine). Any "combination" machines are a bit like Dr Johnson's comment about a dog walking on its hind legs: it's not that it does it well, but that it can do it at all.

It sounds like you're looking for a machine that can:

• Cut like a laser cutter
• Machine large soft materials like a CNC wood router
• Machine metals like a CNC mill
• 3D print, probably filament plastics
• Bend plastics like a hot wire bender (which admittedly I do on the laser).

My suggestion would be to find your nearest Hackspace and to try and get some hands-on experience with the machines there. My own buying advice (for lasers at least) is:

• Don't buy one, use someone else's.
• Don't buy one until you've used one.
• Don't buy a brand you haven't used.
• Don't buy from anyone further away than you can go and shout at.

For things like subtractive CNC machining, there's a big difference between a CNC router (large sheets of plywood) and a CNC mill (smaller pieces of metal)[1]. There are very few hobbyist CNC mills around - most metal-cutting "mills" are more like small routers here, using high-speed spindles and router cutter geometry. Even the standard hobbyist model engineer import milling machine is slow-spindle speed, high-load cutting, thus almost never used with a CNC conversion. There is a lot of non-obvious subtlety here, so get hands-on practice before buying anything.

For 3D printing (Wikipedia has no useful coverage on the topic), then a machine like a RepRap Ormerod is about the best hobbyist machine, and also very cheap (£500). But this is way behind a commercial machine, either a £10k plastic powder or a £¼M metal powder machine. Yet you can use machines like that (and for much less trouble) by bureau printing through Shapeways or iMaterialise.

Andy Dingley (talk) 17:33, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

A month ago the Computing ref. desk had a 3D Printer question with the same spelling of "wood curving" (carving?) from an IP user. Wikipedia has articles 3D printing and a book about 3D printing. Blooteuth (talk) 18:41, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

and same kind of confusion of 3D printing with machining. Asmrulz (talk) 06:04, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

Glowforge can sell a laser cutter as a "3D printer". Andy Dingley (talk) 22:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

March 10

Multiple sexual partners?

So hypothetically, a woman has unprotected vaginal sex with several men. My question is what factors would determine which man would likely be the father to the child. Let's assume the woman the woman does end up pregnant in keeping with the question. Also, all the men had normal fertility. Would say, sperm count/competition be the most crucial aspect? OR what? -- 37.239.96.144 (talk · contribs) 20:37, 10 March 2017‎ (UTC)

Motility could well figure into it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:47, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

Fertility#Male fertility says that the age of the man matters for sperm count (so "normal fertility" varies). Advantage to the younger man.

Also, different men of the same age can have different sperm counts while still having "normal fertility".

I would think there would be an advantage to the man who had sex at the time of the woman's monthly peak fertility, which is from 5 days before to 1 or 2 days after ovulation. (See Menstrual cycle#Fertility.)

Controlling for the above, is there an advantage to the man who was first (or maybe last)? It seems that I've read about that for non-human animals, but I can't recall where. Loraof (talk) 21:39, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

You may be thinking of a mating plug. Our article sperm competition is also of relevance to the OP. CodeTalker (talk) 21:48, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

It has been suggested that the shape of the human penis evolved to displace previously deposited semen. Matt Deres (talk) 04:26, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

"Whoever gets there firstest with the mostest"? (misquote alert) Clarityfiend (talk) 00:02, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

March 12

Inheritance in various legal systems:

In most of legal systems, a person can inherit from another person dying intestate - because they both have (dead) common parents, or common grandparents (and likewise).

Is there any legal system in which: a person can inherit from another person dying intestate - even without them being relatives (or spouses) - but rather because they both have a (dead) common child? Or a (dead) common half-sibling? Or a (dead) common half-cousin (and likewise)? HOTmag (talk) 13:05, 12 March 2017 (UTC)

In California: "Except as provided in Section 6451, relatives of the halfblood inherit the same share they would inherit if they were of the whole blood." Also it looks like adoptive and foster parent relationships count for intestate inheritance, under certain conditions. (Link to all of Part 2 of the California Probate Code.) --47.138.163.230 (talk) 22:15, 12 March 2017 (UTC)

I suspect this law discusses half-kinship (including legal kinship created by adoption), whereas my question is about two persons who are by no means relatives - nor are they half-relatives (nor are they spouses), even though they both have a common offspring or a common half-relative (e.g. a common half-sibling and likewise).

The law states: "relatives of the halfblood inherit the same share they would inherit if they were of the whole blood ". As I understand, this law states that a person can inherit from their half-sibling (and likewise). However, this law says nothing about whether John can inherit from Sandra, who is neither John's sister nor John's half-sister, but rather both John and Sandra have a common son or a common half-brother - Peter - who had passed away many years before Sandra died intestate and bequeathed. That's what my question is about. HOTmag (talk) 00:01, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Under the Inheritance (Family Provision and Dependants) Act 1975, if Sandra was financially dependent on John at the time of his death she can lodge a claim against his estate. It is irrelevant whether their son is alive or dead. This works the other way if Sandra was maintaining John when she died. 80.5.88.48 (talk) 06:50, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Is it relevant whether they have a common offspring? HOTmag (talk) 09:05, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

See Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The Act is perfectly general in its scope. A daughter who had been cut out of her father's will might claim against his estate if she was financially dependent on him. The Act operates equally well in the case of intestacy. 80.5.88.48 (talk) 09:14, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

So, it doesn't matter whether or not John and Sandra (who have no kinship nor half kinship) have a common offspring at all, and whether or not they have a common half-relative at all. The relevant point is the dependence, so I don't see how this law has anything to do with my original question. HOTmag (talk) 09:28, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

By law, in this country parents cannot be closer than first cousins. Since they had at least one child together they might well be married or divorced or simply have lived as cohabitees. Any of these scenarios gives John a possible claim against Sandra's estate. 80.5.88.48 (talk) 10:03, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Please notice that having lived together as cohabitees (or as spouses) has nothing to do with having a common child, i.e. they may live together as cohabitees (or as spouses) without having a common child, and also vice versa: they may have a common child without having lived as cohabitees (nor as spouses), so again I don't see how this law has anything to do with my original question. HOTmag (talk) 10:19, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

OK, let's say that John and Sandra have Robert, who emigrates to Australia at the age of 16. Forty years later he dies. Ten years later Sandra dies. I can't imagine any mechanism by which the fact of Robert having died in Australia would create a right for John to benefit from Sandra's estate. Would it be under British law or Australian law, and why would any legal system make such a provision anyway? 80.5.88.48 (talk) 10:37, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

The fact of Robert having died, may be necessary in a given legal system, because maybe (under that legal system) - if Robert is still alive - then Sandra (who has just died intestate) bequeaths to her son Robert rather than to his father John. That's why I'd added the provision of Robert's death. However, I don't insist on Robert's death, which may be unnecessary if - under that legal system - Sandra (who has just died intestate) can bequeath both to her son Robert and to his father John (provided that both of then are alive). Anyways, I still wonder if there is such a legal system, while Sandra and John (who is her son's father) are neither relatives, nor half-relatives, nor spouses, nor have they lived as cohabitees. That's what my question is about. HOTmag (talk) 11:24, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

I think this is your question of Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2016 January 26#Law: Is there any legal system in which the dead can inherit? in a slightly different form. It all depends on the law of intestacy. You may find this previous answer helpful:

You can establish the position in the English legal system from the following previous answer. What you are asking is if any legal system gives preference to issue of the whole blood over issue of the half blood. If the English rules are typical (and I would guess they are) the answer will be "no".

No, I'm not asking if "any legal system gives preference to issue of the whole blood over issue of the half blood ". My question is about two persons who are by no means relatives - nor are they half-relatives (nor are they spouses), even though they both have a common offspring or a common half-relative (e.g. a common half-sibling and likewise). HOTmag (talk) 21:16, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

In English law, certainly, if there is no will (the grandparent died intestate) the grandchildren might inherit. Under the rules, a divorced spouse gets nothing. If there are surviving children, grandchildren or great - grandchildren of the person who died and the estate is valued at more than 250,000 pounds the partner will inherit:

• all the personal property and belongings of the person who has died, and
• the first 250,000 pounds of the estate, and
• half of the remaining estate.

If there are no surviving children, grandchildren or great - grandchildren, the partner will inherit

• all the personal property and belongings of the person who has died and
• the whole of the estate with interest from the date of death.

Children of the intestate person will inherit if there is no surviving married or civil partner. If there is a surviving partner, they will only inherit if the estate is worth more than a certain amount.

If there is no surviving partner, the children of a person who has died without leaving a will inherit the whole estate. This applies however much the estate is worth.

If there are two or more children, the estate will be divided equally between them.

If there is a surviving partner, a child only inherits from the estate if the estate is valued at over 250,000 pounds. If there are two or more children, the children will inherit in equal shares:

• one half of the value of the estate above 250,000 pounds.

All the children of the parent who has died intestate inherit equally from the estate. This also applies where a parent has children from different relationships.

A child whose parents are not married or have not registered a civil partnership (see earlier discussion regarding children of civil partners) can inherit from the estate of a parent who dies intestate. These children can also inherit from grandparents or great - grandparents who have died intestate.

If you follow the BBC series "Heir Hunters" you will know a lot about these rules, and also that the situation in Scotland is different. Under the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 there is no generational cutoff.

In England, a grandchild or great - grandchild cannot inherit from the estate of an intestate person unless either:

• their parent or grandparent has died before the intestate person, or
• their parent is alive when the intestate person dies but dies before reaching the age of 18 without having married or formed a civil partnership

In these circumstances, the grandchildren and great - grandchildren will inherit equal shares of the share to which their parent or grandparent would have been entitled.

Parents, brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews of the intestate person may inherit under the rules of intestacy. This will depend on a number of circumstances:

• whether there is a surviving married or civil partner
• whether there are children, grandchildren or great - grandchildren
• in the case of nephews and nieces, whether the parent directly related to the person who has died is also dead
• the amount of the estate.

Other relatives may have a right to inherit if the person who died intestate had no surviving married partner or civil partner, children, grandchildren, great - grandchildren, parents, brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces. The order of priority amongst other relatives is as follows:

• grandparents
• uncles and aunts. A cousin can inherit instead if the uncle or aunt who would have inherited died before the intestate person
• half - uncles and half - aunts. A half - cousin can inherit instead if the half - uncle or half - aunt who would have inherited died before the intestate person.

You cannot generalise that grandchildren will inherit if there is a will. It depends on the terms of the will." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.147.143.29 (talk) 13:37, 5 February 2016 (UTC)

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.14.24.95 (talk)

March 13

Gadungan Island

Does Gadungan Island really exist, or is it a fake/hoax article? 86.20.193.222 (talk) 06:56, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• It's not in The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World (2008 edition).
• It's not in Rand McNally's The New International Atlas (1991 edition).
• It's not in Google Maps.
• The article cited in the first reference is available free online in PDF, but it's page images only, not searchable text. Still, I skimmed it and it does not seem to mention this island, nor does it seem like the sort of article that would.
• The user who created the article has made only three other Wikipedia edits, one of which also relates to this same supposed island and the other two are about other minor islands in that part of the world (one a redlink, one not linked).
• The user who claimed to have validated the references in the article has made no other Wikipedia edits.

The second reference requires payment to see, and I'm not going to pay just for this reason. But I think we already have enough evidence to say "hoax" (and also "sock puppet") and to revert the user's other edits. --76.71.6.254 (talk) 08:27, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Gadungan is a city in Java, 26 km from Surakarta. 80.5.88.48 (talk) 08:51, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

The first line of the article clearly says that the name means "fake" in the local language - then gives an alternative name in Arabic, which translates as "false." The further comment about it being difficult to see the island because of mist suggests that the author has included enough clues for us to spot what he is doing. The Michael Hitchcock work cited has the words "The Case of Bali" in its full title - and a search shows that there is a tourist village (not an island) in Bali named Gadungan. Wymspen (talk) 09:33, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks for taking the time on this. I had been through the same thought-process and searching, but wasn't confident to tag it as a "blatant hoax" without a second opinion. The article has now been deleted. 86.20.193.222 (talk) 16:31, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

When was the article created? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:16, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Resolved

@Baseball Bugs:

It was created 05:55, 13 March 2017 by Somuchphotography (talk · contribs), and marked "Reviewed: Good sources, well-written" at 06:09, 13 March 2017 by Verscaper (talk · contribs). I took notes while investigating. I've requested Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Somuchphotography. 86.20.193.222 (talk) 02:16, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

At least it wasn't around for long. You hear stories about hoax articles that linger for years before they're found out. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:23, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

March 14

Household delivery of exotic meat in Italy

I am after a service to deliver exotic meat to a household in Italy. I'm aware of UK based companies, but I guess one actually based in Italy might be cheaper. As I don't speak Italian, and Google translate isn't so good, I'm a bit stuck.

I'm also aware that the word "exotic" is a bit nebulous, so I'll provide some examples: kangaroo, crocodile, elk, llama, alpaca. Any websites?--Leon (talk) 08:34, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Here is an Italian supplier that mentions some exotic game. --Jayron32 16:19, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

No mention of home delivery on that website, though. --Viennese Waltz 16:29, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

people will generally do a lot for you if you pay them enough. --Jayron32 16:53, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

And, it is in Rimini, which is more than large enough to have multiple delivery services (including FedEx and UPS). So, you can get a dedicated delivery service to handle the order. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 18:01, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

"Get me a crocodile sandwich - and make it snappy" ... sorry, couldn't resist. Gandalf61 (talk) 16:49, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Living in an RV home

I heard that living in an RV home is often cheaper than a regular home or apartment. Is it possible to live in an RV while working a regular full time job? Do you know of anyone who lives in an RV who works full time and isn't a vacationer or a retiree? 32.214.87.245 (talk) 16:01, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

[2], [3], [4], [5]. --Jayron32 16:07, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

see also Mobile home. Xuxl (talk) 16:09, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Mobile homes (as in prefabricated and named for the city in Alabama) are not really intended to be moved from place to place. It is possible, but they are usually parked on a lot and left there. Recreational vehicles are intended to be moved from place to place. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 17:24, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• This is a rather odd question. I knew multiple managers who lived in mobile homes. Is there some hidden premise here? 17:34, 14 March 2017 (UTC)