Wikiversity:Help desk/Archive 6

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Reheated Food

<New questions go at the bottom of this page. Your question has been moved there.> StuRat 18:54, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

IP trace

please tell me that how i can be able to trace the IP adress of some mail sender on yahoo and hotmail.And suppose if by getting the aquaintance of the sender Ip ,i might be able to trace its location. But if that person while making any account on yahoo registerd his location wrong then this means it is impossible to trace his real location.cheers,--Aquistive bud 18:06, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

http://www.dnsstuff.com/ has many tools for this kind of thing. IP locations are not guaranteed to be correct (they can be spoofed). – Mike.lifeguard | ^talk 01:21, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for guidance!--Aquistive bud 11:55, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

e-mail

i wanted to e-mail one of the tutors on some computer programming,but system is unable to do so.what to do?can anyone guide me please. --have a nice time.

--i have changed my e-mail adress on my preferences, This is allowed or against any terms of wikiversity? --Aquistive bud 12:32, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

For questions about Wikiversity, it is probably best to ask at the Colloquium. All the options in "my preferences" are there for you to use in any way you like. "tutors" <-- which page talks about tutors? --JWS 13:37, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

If i am not wrong its not really the page.I am talking about this link http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Topic:Software_testing under the heading which ends with this word "tutors", there was a name with tutor written after it, to whom i wanted to e-mail for assistance.so this is the whole story.But one thing happened i.e good.That after telling about this problem now i checked to e-mail and it worked.Is it not ridiculous or i might be encountering any problem at that time.

Anyhow ,a great thanks to you.--Aquistive bud 18:32, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

can I speak to someone experienced?

Hi and well done to all who have participated in WIkipedia. I jumped in when the project started last year, but have been doing a million and one things since. I am now back at school and for the last 7 weeks been playing around with various resources for the assistance of teaching mathematics when I suddenly remembered Wikiversity!

Two things:

• is there an irc chat channel related to wikiversity? Would make sense to have each faculty, department, etc with an easy way of moving about. I found your info on discussion, and the redirect to moodle was too problematic and a bit of a dead-end. IRC is open source too, so I suspect you are using this already... if so, where do I go?
• I am interested in workflow. I worked with a bunch of people this summer who were trying to produce something like the metaweb. As a small step, to improve workflow, we came up with a new way of using Wikimedia -- please check out my user-page. This has been celebrated by eg wikiindex.org. If anyone is serious about wikiversity, and which got me excited by the project initially, is the experiencial nature of it. It must avoid just reproducing book-work. I took a peek at the maths school pre-uni, and it was a bunch of equations with few links to activities etc throughout the net. I hope to add these over the next year.

For this reason, is it possible to speak to someone, perhaps through skype or irc, about this project... if anyone has the time...? --Fidocancan 09:33, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Chat provides information and links to arrive at the main chat rooms currently active for the entire project. Several administrators usually monitor #wikiversity-en. People often setup custom chatrooms for various purposes. Often these are announced in the main room to help people find them. 71.161.3.80 21:09, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Sometimes we do live audio discussions. I can use Skype if you just want to talk about things. Wikiversity has a "learn by doing", but many Wikiversity participants are familiar with the Wikipedia model, so it is challenging to get people to think in terms of learning communities and activities that lead to learning. --JWS 21:36, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Making new Learning topics

Well , um , I have looked through this site and , well , i was very intrested in the languages . I had a thought , I am currently learning the langauge of Cornish , only 3000 people speak it and 500 fluently . I wanted to start a topic like the french department and spanish , so that increased amount of people could use these amazing facilities to learn this beautiful langauge in need of more speakers. But , i cannot make a topic , can anyone please help me with this?

Thanks in advance --TheElvenLordTheElvenLord 13:34, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

Hello, you can start a topic like this. Click on the following link: Topic:Cornish and then you can edit it. E.g. for the start you could take some elements of the other topics and adapt them (e.g. [1]). Does this help you ? ----Erkan Yilmaz (talk ?, wiki blog) 13:37, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

English Wikipedia has an article on the Cornish language: w:Cornish_language. Perhaps if you and a few other contributors joined in, you could even create a new Cornish language Wikipedia. I wouldn't expect many articles, but perhaps a few articles on Cornwall and a few famous Cornish people could be translated from English. StuRat 15:45, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

marriage

--124.104.101.104 05:57, 3 November 2007 (UTC) What countries practiced polyandry124.104.101.104 05:57, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Lino Soriano soriano_lino@yahoo.com

It is practiced, but may or may not be legal, in the countries listed here: w:Polyandry#Human_polyandry. StuRat 13:46, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Mediawiki software

Free Wikepedia software download --71.37.180.25 17:30, 5 November 2007 (UTC) I was told that you could download a wikepedia software to use at the office from this site, so that each employee could access the file, and it has the saerch feature. Any truth to this? If yes, I haven't been able to figure out how to do it.

This software might be what you are looking for. --JWSchmidt 20:03, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

gastroenterology

I feel very much like writing some chapter like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease for wikipedia Does it make sense  ? I am a gastroetnerologist. Kind regards Tamas Zagoni --Zagonitamas 12:46, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

At Wikiversity, the main content development project for medical topics is School:Medicine. There is also a starting place for planning learning resources for gastroenterology at Topic:Gastroenterology. If you want to write a chapter for a book, plan to have the book hosted at Wikibooks. --JWSchmidt 13:39, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Is there a National Innovation Month?

--74.8.241.162 16:10, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

I can't find any evidence of one. StuRat 02:01, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

I couldn't find any either... but feel free to start one :-) Countrymike 03:19, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Outlook express and account setup

Good day to everyone out here! I tried to set an account on "outlook express" on my computer but at the end of this process i was asked about,Incoming mail server to be selected from the options as POP3/ IMAP/ HTTP server and also to tell POP3 server used for my incoming mails and then SMTP server for my outgoing mails.I don't know what to write there.Can anyone please help me out?Thanks in advance.

--Aquistive bud 17:05, 13 November 2007 (UTC

If your email address is 'abud@isp.com', my best guess is 'mail.isp.com' for incoming and 'smtp.isp.com' for outgoing mail. If that doesn't work, you have to contact your isp/email provider. Tlep 19:30, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

How do you go about getting an event declared a national event? Is it possible?

--74.8.241.162 14:49, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

What nation? In the U.S. a starting point would be a letter to your Congressional Representative inquiring what he/she requires from you and your event's supporters before introducing a Bill to Congress. Probably should include a large self addressed stamped envelope for any helpful materials or examples the staff members responding decide you might find helpful in figuring out how to proceed. Mirwin 23:53, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

School: Medicine

I am a medical student and I want to be heavily involved in the school of medicine project. How do I become a member and what will my limitations in editing the structure be? DónalMcK 12 noon 20th November

I've added your name on School:Medicine#Active_participants, but really wiki's don't usually have such a formal structure: there's no formal need to register.

To answer your second question, there are very little to no limits whatsoever to you editing the structure: I set up the structure a long time ago and it hasn't changed much, while it should have. So you basically need to be bold and just change it, people will tell you what they don't like and then you can discuss and compromise, but as long as you are open to what other people are suggesting and you are willing to discuss, and you are able to take some criticism and keep cool about it, you can change to entire structure: after all, it's not the structure that matters, it's the content. Furthermore, the ones who do the most work are the ones who get most respect, so if you want become heavily involved, we'd be very happy! --Steven Fruitsmaak (Reply) 13:13, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

constituion

I NEED SOME AUTHENTIC MATERIAL ON RUSSIAN AND FRENCH CONSTITUIONS .ALSO IF POSSIBLE WITH ANALYSIS

--203.135.21.45 09:10, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

A serious challenge. I think we will need to attack it piecemeal. If you read French you may find http://fr.wikiversity.org/wiki/Accueil; the French language Wikiversity; a better starting point to find authentic materials than a English translation available to we English speakers. Mirwin 22:45, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Chemistry question

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Personal_Rover_Maintenance

LOOKING FOR 3D ARTIST FAST

--69.125.197.149 20:53, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

looking for an artist to convert this DAZ Studio model, Aikobot Maria ps_ch130b so that it can be imported into 3DMAX8.

we need someone to solve this issue fast.....

for more info please contact: stellardesigngroup@yahoo.com or call 516-806-6436

what is the biggest bird?

--141.213.241.107 19:39, 10 December 2007 (UTC)i do not know awnser please

According to Ostrich, "The Ostrich is the largest living species of bird". --JWS 19:55, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

The biggest bird to have ever lived may have been the Giant Moa, now extinct. Countrymike 01:36, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

--141.213.241.107 22:43, 10 December 2007 (UTC) what does a flamingo hang out in?

Flamingos wade in water. Some species also have an immunity to drinking salt-water and to heat, both of which help them when they hang out in salt lakes or volcanic lakes. StuRat 03:55, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Anyone have any info on John Stevenson Hall?

I am lookinf for informatiojn on "John Stevenson Hall", whom I believe was a missionary to Africa in the late 1800s to early 1900s, Does anyone have any information on this person. There is a British writer John Hall-Stevenson, who I believe is not the same person I am seeking information on.

I found an African missionary with that name who lived from 1883 to 1953 and wrote a book about his experiences: "Religion, myth and magic in Tangale" [2]. It appears to have been published after his death, in 1994. I suggest you read that book (especially if it has an "About the author" section).

There is also the "John Stevenson Hall School of Ministry", which I suspect was founded by him or at least named in his honor. According to their site: "The mission of the John Stevenson Hall School of Ministry is to train individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or sexual identity..." They don't seem to include any history at their web site, but do provide contact info here: [3]. Try sending them an e-mail and ask them about the man. StuRat 07:02, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

have you seen a cardinal?

--141.213.241.107 18:44, 16 December 2007 (UTC) have you seen a cardinal?

w:cardinal Mirwin 02:43, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

I've seen the birds in the wild, and I've also seen Cardinal Sin. :-) StuRat 03:21, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

what does a cedar waxwing eat?

what does a cedar waxwing eat? --141.213.241.107 18:49, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Picture and classification here ...http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Bombycilla_cedrorum I did not see anything on what it eats but perhaps wikipedia given the formal name would know? Mirwin 22:39, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

At wikipedia w:Cedar Waxwing Eats berries, fruit, and insects. Mirwin 22:44, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

listings

--59.95.171.235 05:47, 17 December 2007 (UTC)How do I search european engineering institutes?

I went to Google and typed "European engineering institute" (without the quotation marks). Included in the list of finds were some promising sites, like this one. StuRat 03:25, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

Education material for profesional education in the Netherlands related to land, water and nature

We are writing, collecting and distributing education material for profesional education in the Netherlands related to land, water and nature. Me and some colleagues are wanting to use this wikiversity. Can we just starting up? Can we write in Dutch? Or is there in the next months coming a dutch version of the wikiversity? Titico 09:33, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

The Colloquium might be a better place to ask this question, as that's for questions about Wikiversity, whereas this page is for general knowledge questions. That said, I doubt that there are any current plans to create a Dutch version of Wikiversity, so you and your colleagues would be the first. People at the Colloquium can also provide you with technical assistance in creating the Dutch version. StuRat 15:13, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

About the dutch versions please see: betawikiversity:Hoofdpagina

Why must it be in Dutch ? Any specific reason ? ----Erkan Yilmaz (Wikiversity:Chat, wiki blog) 16:34, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

The most obvious reason is that Dutch is the native language of many of the would-be authors and the audience. They may not all speak English, or may not be proficient enough to write articles in English. StuRat 16:37, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

To write an effective email for my company

How do I write effective mail for my company which is a new startup and distribute the same to concerned people

How to startup the mail viz: " company like ours " or how I am confused

help me with same

Business correspondence is generally focused on a specific goal with a target audience in mind. Do not try to use the same announcement or letter over and over to many people. It is not efficient it merely confuses the people you wish to communicate with. You might consider a standard business letter and make sure all the same information is available at the top of the email. You might design a company logo to add to the signature block you send out with contact information for you and the new company. Might also ask about business correspondence at Technical writing, Business Writing @ Wikibooksb:Business_writing, or Business writing skills. An easy way to get started is find a busiess email you like for a specific purpose then use it as a template, substituting your business information, purpose and particulars as appropriate. Mirwin 16:35, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

One of the issues you will need to overcome is the customers wondering "why should I take a chance on a company I've never heard of before ?". Established companies often do this by putting something like "making quality pimentos since 1896" in their letterhead (which always makes me wonder if they made crap before that). Since this isn't an option for your company, you might want to list the total years of experience and range of skills of your employees, instead. If you do have any well-known clients, list those. If you don't, you may want to list companies your employees have worked for before they joined your company.

Next you might want to discuss specific products or services your company offers. For each, list the specs, price, and how it is better than what the competition offers. For example, "with our products, if you are ever unsatisfied, you can return it for a free replacement, no matter how old the product is, no receipt required". That type of guarantee would be one way you could distinguish yourself from the competition.

You should personally sign real mail. With e-mail that's a bit harder, but still possible. StuRat 21:08, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

Video documentaries on Wikipedia

--69.62.156.33 16:52, 26 December 2007 (UTC) How do I access the video documentaries that are on Wikipedia? I hear they're excellent. Thanks!

A clarification is needed here. Do you mean regular documentary films that are reported upon in Wikipedia ? If so, most of those are copyright protected so can't be shown online for free. You can get a list of many of them here: w:Category:Documentary_films. If, on the other hand, you mean documentary films made by Wikipedians, I'm not aware of those, perhaps another responder is familiar with such documentaries. There are some news videos shown at Wikinews, however, perhaps some of those would qualify as documentaries. StuRat 17:32, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Reheated Food

Why does food reheated in the microwave taste different from when it was originally cooked?

This breaks down into two main questions, each of which have a slew of answers:

• "Why do foods taste different when reheated ?"

• Reheating may drive out moisture. Placing a lid on the food while reheating will help here.

• The foods may have changed during the storage period:

• Separation may occur. Specifically water and fats/oils may separate in liquids. Stir to fix this.

• Flavor blending:

• Specifically, flavors of items in contact with one another tend to blend. This can be good or bad. In a stew, this can be good, for example. Store foods separately if you don't want this flavor blending to occur.

• Odor blending. Foods with strong odors tend to affect foods with subtle flavors. For example, food stored next to garlic will tend to taste like garlic. Properly sealed impermeable containers will fix this, like glass jars. Odors can pass through many plastics over time.

• Moisture migration:

• The foods may have dried out during the storage period. Water can evaporate in refrigerated foods and sublimate (same thing as evaporation but with ice as the starting point) in frozen foods, which causes "freezer burn". Properly sealed impermeable containers will fix this, like glass jars. Moisture can pass through many plastics over time.

• Moisture may be absorbed by foods during storage, such as in pasta and rice. The lost liquid can be replaced by adding spaghetti sauce to pasta/pizza, butter to bread, milk to macaroni and cheese, etc., before heating.

• Water may have migrated during the storage period. This is particularly a problem in frost-free freezers, which heat the food periodically to melt any frost. This also has the effect of driving moisture in one direction. Frozen bread, for example, can be stale on one side and soggy on the other. Avoid frost-free freezers to eliminate this side-effect.

• Bacterial action:

• Food may have spoiled.

• Some bacterial action changes the flavor without spoiling the food. Cheeses may develop a sharper flavor, for example, and fruit may become alcoholic. If not desired, keep the food colder and for a shorter period of time. A traditional freezer (not frost-free) will also help here.

• Some flavors may evaporate. Some spices are volatile, meaning they will evaporate during long-term storage. The remedy for this is to add more of the spices which have evaporated.

• Freezing ruptures cell membranes. This can result in softer or "squishier" foods, such as strawberries. The remedy for this is to flash freeze foods with liquid nitrogen. Some frozen foods can be bought like this, but they are more expensive.

• "Why do foods heated in a microwave taste different from foods heated in other ways ?"

• Microwaves heat water more than ice or anything else. This can result in a few burnt spots in the food. Heating on low for a long period of time, rotating the food, and stirring periodically can help to even out the heat.

• Microwaves heat slightly below the surface:

• The center may remain cold. Use the methods described above to fix this.

• The surface will not be properly browned and may be soggy for some types of foods. If so, you may need to brown the food in a toaster, toaster oven, or traditional oven.

• The bottom of the food may not be heated enough. For some items with crusts on the bottom, like pot pies and pizza, special microwave absorbing foil can be placed underneath the food item to heat the bottom.

StuRat 19:43, 28 December 2007 (UTC)