Where can I find the Netbook of Feats for D&D 3.5?

Question: I remember a web page called the Netbook of Feats that had a huge list of feats for 3.5e. Does anyone know where that went?
Answer: The latest edition of the Netbook of Feats that I can find is Version 12.4, published in May 2007. The official site is down, but you can download the HTML version here:
https://www.adnddownloads.com/en/resource/the-netbook-of-feats-version-124
Take care when using the Netbook of Feats, as not all of these feats are balanced to the same standards as the official material. I once had a character take the feat Bonded Weapon from this netbook, which grants +2 to attack and +1 to damage with one individual weapon, at the cost of -2 when using other weapons. As a high-level fighter specialized in one weapon, Lord Aramil never wielded anything but his own named weapon, and so this feat was very powerful.
Comment: A lot of the feats are actually quite weak compared to official feats published later in 3.5.  I had a curated list where I tried to straighten up some of the mechanically more cumbersome feats and throw away the less useful ones.
Answer: D&D Wiki has the last published version of the Netbook of Feats.
We'd always made some effort to balance the feats but it's a tricky business in 3.5 with so many options and ways to combine things. I think any time you venture outside the core rules for a game you want to be a little self limiting so you keep the game fun for the style of play you are doing.


Are domain name registration charges yearly or a one time affair?

Question: Domain name registration charges are yearly or a one time affair?
And how long does it take? I want to register a domain name for my personal site.
Answer: Usually the charges are yearly, but you can pay for years in advance.
Answer: Average costs are around USD10 per year.
Most registrars will allow you to register instantly for .com, .net and most other domains, and you can setup and manage the domain immediately, changing DNS records to point to your site. Normally this means that the site will be visible on your URL in a matter of hours.
For some Top Level Domains -- such as .th -- the registration process may take longer, as there may be conditions requiring documentation -- for example that you need to have a business registered using that name or derivative.


Day Count conventions

Question: I have a general question concerning day count conventions. Let's say I have a 6M FRA with a start day 2017-02-09 and a end date 2017-08-09. The day count convention (DCC) would be e.g. Act/360. Today would be the 2017-02-09. (neglecting calendars). My DCC(Act/360) would be for the 6M FRA today 0.502777778. How would be the DCC(ACT/360) when moving one day further (2017-02-10)? Will it be the same value? The other question is how would holidays plays a role
Comment: Holidays and dcc are two distinct issues. Use holidays and an adjustment convention (following, modified following, no adjustment, etc.) to adjust the period start and end dates. Then apply the dcc to compute the year fraction between the start and end dates. See for instance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_count_convention for an overview of various dcc.
Comment: Thanks. But the question is now, are the DCC static means every day I am using the same DCC or do I have to adjust the actual days numerator every day?
Comment: The latter.  It is not static.
Comment: The year frac depends on the start date and the end date. If these change the year frac has to be recomputed. If you trade a 6x6 FRA today then the start and end dates are not the same than for a 6x6 FRA that was traded yesterday.
Comment: Thanks. That means starting today I would get a DCC and that stay through the whole lifetime of the trade until it matures. either way which evaluation day it is for that trade the DCC e.g. stays at 0.55 evey day.
Comment: Yes. If you trade today(15 jan 2018) then the 6x6 FRA period goes from start date = 17 jul 2018 to end date = 17 jan 2019. These become part of the trade confirmation and will not change throughout the life of the deal.
Answer: Day count
Day count conventions are a way to agree between parties how interest is calculated for an instrument. It is, therefore, as simple as possible given some constraints.
An Act/360 convention is ActualDays/360, where 'actual' means days on the calendar, including counting weekend days, holidays etc. So 181 days is always 0.502777.. in Act/360.
Other conventions like Bond basis are more complex, but satisfy other requirements like calendar 3 or 6m periods always having even fractions like 1/4 or 1/2 and thus making coupons equal (and generally round numbers) throughout the regular portion of a bond.
Business day convention
The convention for determining the coupon dates or maturity dates for a given tenor are not the same thing. This is a calendar function in which we find suitable dates given some rules about weekends, holidays and so on. So this time, we might use a simple rule like 'following' where we just roll forward from a natural calendar end for the 11th (2017-08-11) to the next available business day (2017-08-13).
Essentially you always need both, first to generate the correct dates, then to calculate the correct interest amount given those dates.
Oh and beware Brazil.

Day Count conventions


Maaseh Shabbos on Youtube

Question: Can one watch a video on Youtube that was recorded or uploaded by a Jew on Shabbat, or is this considered Maaseh Shabbat?
Answer: Since others are allowed to benefit from a melachah performed on Shabbos immediately subsequent to Shabbos even when the the transgressor did so in open defiance of Shabbos (O.C. 318:1) it would seem permitted to watch a video which is otherwise permitted to watch.  If the uploader is a mumar there are poskim who are strict and require one to wait enough time after Shabbos for the melachah to have been performed permissibly.
Of course it is nevertheless distasteful to depend directly on chillul Shabbos so it would be inappropriate to rely someone transgressing Shabbos so you can watch it immediately afterwards.
With regard to something recorded specifically on Shabbos (i.e. it isn't something that happened to be on Shabbos but is specifically about Shabbos or so forth) it is possible that this is more severe because it is done for posterity and there is no immediate benefit to the melachah.  As such it may be analogous to a situation such as a plant planted on Shabbos where the only rectification is for it to be uprooted (i.e. undone), see Biur Halachah 318 אחת משאר מלאכות.
Comment: +1 for most of this answer, but your second paragraph has a logical leap from "[o]f course... distasteful" (which I can't argue with) to "inappropriate" (which sounds like an halachic ruling).
Comment: I disagree, "forbidden" would be a halachic ruling. Inappropriate is inappropriate.
Comment: What did you mean by "rely" in that paragraph? If you explicitly asked the person to be mechalel Shabbos, then it's actually assur legamrei. But if you just mean watching such a video in general, I can think of cases where it would serve a positive purpose and perhaps not be distasteful.
Comment: @Malper 1. While one is certainly forbidden to ask a Jew to transgress Shabbos I am not certain that doing so changes the halachah bedieved, if you have seen to the contrary I would be very interested in seeing the source. 2. While there may be plenty of scenarios where it is perfectly appropriate to watch a video which happened to be uploaded on Shabbos, and  perhaps even some case where one NEEDS to rely on it being done on Shabbos b'issur, I cannot conceive of any case where it isn't distasteful.
Comment: @Yirmeyahu 1. I meant that it's assur to ask. I agree it could be muttar b'dieved to watch, but the language "inappropriate to rely" sounds like it is referring both to the asking and the watching. 2. You ask a non-religious friend to upload a video they took of your graduation onto Youtube. They do so on Shabbos even though you didn't ask them to. You then want to watch the video a month later. I don't really feel like it's distasteful to watch rather then asking them to re-upload it, though I admit it's pretty subjective.
Comment: The scenario you describe isn't relying on someone to upload a video to watch immediately after Shabbos.
Comment: Oh, I see what you mean. Alright then.

Maaseh Shabbos on Youtube


What are the repercussions of flying an aircraft with an invalid N number on the side?

Question: I have requested a new N number for my airplane a few months ago. Thinking the change would come through I had my airplane painted with the new number. What will happen if I fly it without the number being authorized?
Comment: If it's been more than 90 days since requesting the number, you are supposed to call the registration branch, 1-866-762-9434 and figure out what is going on.
Comment: If the previous N-number is still valid and it's simply an issue of paint, you can have the painted number temporarily covered up and the old one displayed over it. This is common in new aircraft test flights, international sales, lease returns, etc.
Comment: What will happen depends on whether someone is around to notice/report. Fly NORAD in the middle of nowhere and you can expect a different response than if you fly with ADSB blaring in a Class Bravo.
Answer: As a controller, if it's a correctly constructed N-number, I'd know nothing. and wouldn't do anything. If you file a flight plan, however, the N-number you use will go into the FAA's database. Keep in mind that if you ask a controller for flight following, a Mode C check, etc., there will be a record, even if it's only "on the tape".
I have no idea whether they would flag an unregistered number, but I can give you some history on an aircraft that flew with an INVALID N-number.
In 2006 (or so, why is this stuff so long ago?), I was working the high altitude sector in the LBF (North Platte, NE) area. I received a handoff on an aircraft with a call sign similar to, but not exactly "N1EP2D", which is an illegal construct (see https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/forming_nnumber/)
I alerted my supervisor, who directed me to question the pilot. As it turned out, the pilot had filed this deliberately, and on a whim.
The FAA does not do "whimsical".
I instructed the pilot to submit the correct N-number, which he did, and I amended the flight plan. I also instructed the pilot to NOT use the invalid number, and to call our Operations Manager for further instructions.
I heard it was a six-month suspension, although I had no official follow-up.
Answer: You cannot fly. Since you changed the N-Number, you no longer have a valid airworthiness certificate (since they are tied to N-Numbers). This isn't just a wrong number on the side issue, you don't have a valid registration or certificate. You have 10 days after getting the registration number on your aircraft to file the appropriate form and receive an updated airworthiness certificate.
As far as what can happen... that depends. The FAA has pretty wide authority to issue fines, revoke certificates, or even impound aircraft. There is no set "you do X, then you get a fine of Y" like for traffic violations.
Comment: But who is going to notice?  Even if you fly into fields with a tower, I don't suppose they look up the N-number of every airplane that lands, or FTM even use binoculars to see the number.  Indeed, in my long-ago student pilot days, I probably gave out the wrong number on occasion, when flying a different plane than the one I usually used.
Comment: @jamesqf When is the last time somebody verified you had a license and were current before you took off? Just because you don't get caught, doesn't mean that it's any less illegal to do it. Get ramp checked once though... it happens occasionally.


Can the wood be near the heater or decorations?

Question: Is it ok for wood to be near a heater?  Or any decorations at all?  Will it create a hot spot and crack and the heater or glass of the tank?
Answer: Yes, it's ok to place it near the heater.
Heaters are often places against the glass with suction cups. So placing any ornaments or wood near a heater is also ok.
Just make sure the heater is always below water if it's turned on.
Answer: A heater inside an aquarium is going to be relatively safe as long as it is rated for aquarium use as sold in pet or fish shops. A general rule of thumb is cheaper products vs. industry average will be more susceptible to breaking, cracking (glass heaters), and the thermostat becoming faulty (either staying on and making the tank too warm, or shutting off and the tank will cool down too fast). In my personal experience, if I know that solid object could potentially come in contact with the heater, I will use a titanium heater which are generally more expensive. Rocks in your sump, would in your display tank could possible flow or be pushed into the glass heater and crack it!
Aquarium heaters aren't going to become hot enough in water to crack glass or cause any real damage if that's also something you're worried about. It's recommended to not lay the heater flat on the tank bottom or substrate. And definitely keep the whole heater submerged! Otherwise the exposed part could become hot enough to melt through a sleeve or container that the heater is wrapped in.

As with all aquarium equipment, it's not only a best practice, but
  crucial to safety that you turn off all equipment before doing water
  changes, cleaning, putting your hands in the tank, etc.


How do I fix and prevent EOSIO Node Instances from becoming unusable in EOS Studio

Question: Just learning EOS and using EOS studio.  Twice now my instances have become unusable.  As you can see in the image, there is no longer a start button or a version.  The gear/config button does nothing for these either.
When I first open the application, if I try and click the toggle for the network the application screen goes black and will no longer respond.  I am assuming because it trying to connect to my initial broken instance.
I started with the command line but NODEOS started showing dirty every time I tried to start it (even with --replay-blockchain)
Am I doing something wrong or is there something I can do to recover these instances or at least delete them?  I would like to avoid this happening in the future.
Answer: try the telegram channel were the eos studio representatives are hanging out
https://t.me/blackide
or the eos developers telegram channel
https://t.me/joinchat/0uhWYfXVpPlkNTA1


Using whole eggs versus egg whites only

Question: I have a recipe that is originally a white cake so uses only egg whites. There is a cake mix involved but other added ingredients such as sour cream and more flour but I'm making a chocolate version and want to add whole eggs. Will this alter the consistency of the cake or just make it richer
Comment: related: https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/34848, https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/14214/, https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/32511
Answer: Extra yolks means more fat which gives the cake ultra moistness! Add the amount of eggs called for in the recipe but add two extra egg yolks.It adds density, fat and most importantly, extra flavor to your mix. Only adding egg whites and not adding the yolks to the cake makes the cake fluffy and whiter!

Using whole eggs versus egg whites only


What's the difference between three of cups and three cups?

Question: Is there a significant difference between two expressions?
Is it okay to use the former in the context like "I found the three of Holy Treasures"?
I've never heard the former in everyday contexts and I'm not sure if it's gramatically right or wrong. Unlike the phrases like three of us, three of them, or three of hearts as in playing cards, it rather sounds unfamiliar to me.
I want to know if it's possible to use the phrase like "three of somethings" and if so how it's different from just "three something."
Comment: _Three of Cups_ immediately brings to mind a [Tarot card](https://www.keen.com/articles/tarot/3-of-cups-tarot-card), though I know nothing about the Tarot.
Answer: Cups is a suit in the Tarot deck. The three of cups is a particular card in the tarot deck - the third card in the suit of cups.
The Three of Holy Treasures could be a reference to a non-traditional tarot deck - there are thousands of variations of decks - see facade.com for reference. In that case, 'Holy Treasures' would be the name of a suit in such a different deck, and we would be talking about the third card in that suit.
People make up all kinds of suit names and card names and publish their own tarot decks, the suits and cards can have all kinds of different mames, like stars, globes, holy treasures, planets, rainbows - whatever!
The classic tarot deck is referred to as 'Rider-Waite' and was published in 1910. Have a look if you are interested in finding out the 'classic' tarot suit names.
Three cups would just mean three cups - like 'three cups sat on the shelf'. Three treasures would mean just three treasures - 'the wise men brought three treasures to Jesus'.  This would be nothing to do with tarot - just talking about regular items.
If you were playing normal cards you could say 'three clubs' meaning any three cards from the suit of clubs. Like 'the man was dealt three clubs'. This would normally be in the context of the cards you hold in your hand. This is less likely in tarot - these days, tarot cards are laid on the table in a spread - a planned out arrangement - not dealt in 'hands'.
Hope that helps!
Answer: There's a significant different between the two, and they are not interchangeable.
The phrase "three of cups" is used specifically in the context of tarot cards, where "cups" is a suit, in the same way that clubs is a suit in a deck of normal playing cards. It's the same expression as "the five of diamonds". Outside of this usage, I can't think of any other meanings the phrase could possibly have.
You might say something like "three of the cups", however. For instance, if there were ten cups on a supermarket shelf, and someone asked how many of them you were going to buy, you could say "I'm going to buy three of the cups". But saying "I'm going to buy three of cups" would be incorrect. Interestingly, you could say "I'm going to buy three of them", which is a similar but distinct version of the phrase.


Why does Bilaam change Balak's request when talking to Hashem?

Question: In Parshat Balak, Balak tells Bilaam that הִנֵּה עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם הִנֵּה כִסָּה אֶת עֵין הָאָרֶץ, however, when Bilaam is repeating this to Hashem, he says הִנֵּה הָעָם הַיֹּצֵא מִמִּצְרַיִם וַיְכַס אֶת עֵין הָאָרֶץ. Bilaam is calling Bnei Yisrael the nation as oppose to what Balak said, which is just a nation. Rashi gives explanations for all the other differences between the wording of Balak and the wording of Bilaam, but he doesn't mention the reason for this subtle change. Why does Bilaam say this?
Comment: What other meforshim besides Rashi did you look at?
Comment: @ezra I mentioned rashi because he goes out of his way to mention every single differnce except for this one
Comment: It sounds to me like Balak says "There's a nation who came out of Egypt recently. You heard of 'em?" and Bilam says "Ya that nation that came up from Egypt. Sure." Bilam is confirming his familiarity with the identity of the specific nation in question.
Answer: UPDATE
Rav Moshe Feinstein in Darash Moshe said that Balak thought that this was like any other people who had broken free and was now searching for a place to conquer and call home. As a result, he wanted to keep them away from his area as once they settled somewhere, they would assimilate and be a normal nation.
Bil'am knew that as we have it in the haggada, the Bnai Yisrael would never forget what Hashem had done and could wind up affecting all the rest of the world. This was something he definitely did not want to happen

ORIGINAL
According to Rav Hirsch, Balak said the main situation was not that this was a particular people, but that a people who had been completely submerged in the power of the Egyptian Empire had wrested themselves free and were now going to completely destroy the surrounding nations (even if they are not going to attack Moav directly).
Balak 22:5

הִנֵּה עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם The repetition of הִנֵּה shows that with
  עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם a separate thought is given for his
  consideration. The fact that עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם, that a mass of
  people politically and socially submerged in the power and nationality
  of Egypt could go out of Egypt as a socially united people to freedom
  and independence, marks this people as something unique. And it is to
  the cause which could have effected this remarkable unheard-of event
  which your mind must concentrate on, if you are willing to help my
  purpose to be achieved.

On the other hand, Bil'am knew who they were and what was occurring as a result of Hashem's specific will. He knew that it was not some random people showing the breakout from Egypt, but was the people, the specific people that Hashem had taken out גוי מקרב גוי and the answer to Balak's request as asked would be Tell Balak not to worry, they are moving at my explicit command and will not invade you. Bil'am, on the other hand wanted to see them destroyed and actually tried to get Balak to fight them. As Rashi says on Balak 22:11

curse it: Heb. קָבָה לּי. [This expression used by Balaam] is stronger than
  אָרָה לּי [used by Balak in verse 6], for it specifies
  and details [the curse]- [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 5, Num. Rabbah 20:9]
and drive it out: of the world. Balak said only, "and I will drive him
  out of the land" (verse 6). [His intention was:] I want only to
  get them away from me, but Balaam hated them more than did Balak. —
  [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 5, Num. Rabbah 20:9]

Thus, Bil'am referred to this people in order to avoid any possibility of it being someone or something other than Bnai Yisrael as well as to avoid the possibility of being told to reassure Balak that they would not invade Moav and would not need to be fought off.
Answer: Malbim (Numbers 22:5) explains that Bil'am's description of "the nation" is more natural, since the Jewish people and their exploits were well known. Balak, on the other hand, tried to downplay Israel's fame and greatness, referring to them as merely "a nation", so that Bil'am wouldn't be discouraged from confronting them.
Alternatively, perhaps the changes are inconsequential. Perhaps, for example, Bil'am didn't remember the exact wording. That the changes are inconsequential is implied by the Akedat Yitshak (Shaar 82) who writes that Bilam and Balak said the exact same thing:

ויאמר בלעם וכו' הנה העם היוצא ממצרים וגו'. עם היות שהמאמרים הללו הן הן דברי בלק


I'm a transgender considering converting to Islam for boyfriend

Question: My boyfriend is muslim. We dated for 2 years and I complete my post op about 3 months ago and am now a complete woman now. About 2 months ago he says he cannot be with me anymore because I'm not muslim. So now need to know how to convert fully to Islam. I was raised as a Baptist. Thank you.
Comment: Islam will be the best decision of your life, no doubt. But, accept it only as the path to know and please your creator, not for another person's sake. So, take your time to understand & ingest the basic ideas of Islam, first.
Answer: First, congratulations on your surgery!
Technically, to become a Muslim you only need to sincerely believe in God (Allah, as the one true God) and his messenger, the Prophet Mohammad, and attest to this by saying the shahada.  That's the easy part---you then need to become a good Muslim (establishing prayer, doing good deeds, reading the Qur'an, and so on), a considerable lifelong commitment.  Consequently, it is discouraged to rush into converting to Islam.
Some points that might be relevant to your situation:

Islam is relatively accepting of transgender people.  However, while you will mostly be accepted as a woman in Islam, there are expectations on how to behave as a Muslim woman, and you won't be exempt from these; are you prepared to accept these?  Trans people tend to have feminist views, which can clash with the role of Muslim women in Islam.
While there are gay Muslims, Islam tends to be unaccepting of gay people.  Even if you're not lesbian/bisexual/pansexual yourself, most trans people have gay friends.  How will converting to Islam affect your relationship with them?
Did you know that Muslims don't traditionally have boyfriends/girlfriends?  So, after you convert to Islam, he still can't be your boyfriend (if he wants to be devout).  Would you be prepared to get married?  Are you aware of the role of a Muslim wife?
Will you be prepared to observe veil (hijab)?  Note that it's a lot harder to be "passable" when hiding your lady bits.  (Facial feminization surgery can help with this.)
Intersectionality.  You will face discrimination unique to transgender Muslims.  Islam is against altering God's creation, and thus some Muslims will use your surgery against you.  Some vocal Muslims believe that LGBT people should be executed, and members of the LGBT community will bring this up in conversation with you.

(Original image source: unknown for sure; maybe here.)

I found http://newmuslims.com/ helpful as a new Muslim.
And, maybe you won't like it if I ask this, but just in case it's important...

Your boyfriend broke up with you while you were 1-month post-op?  Is it possible that your boyfriend desires to be with a man, but was with you because Islam is against homosexuality?  And now you're post-op, he no longer wants you?  (Why now?  Why does he now care about being a devout Muslim when he didn't before?)
Surgical painkillers are strong and can be hallucinogenic.  They take time to clear out of your system.  Are you sure you're thinking straight right now?


How many miles to repack bearings or replace on recumbent

Question: I have a Sun EZ-1 Super Cruzer recumbent.  It is the low end bike.  It is beginning to be harder to pedal.  Got at least 5,000 miles on it and never bearings have never been repacked or replaced.  Wondering if it time.  Also where can I get parts?  Normally Sun only works through dealers.
Comment: Have you replaced the chain, chainrings, idler, and cassette? Recumbents have a very long chainline that often drags low to the ground. You could use the occasion to see how much resistance there is in the "bottom" bracket (pedal assembly) and the rear cassette.
Comment: The other side, the long chain is often 3x longer and so goes around 3x less often.  That's 3x less wear on the chain, but the normal amount of wear on the cassette and chainring.
Comment: I generally figure 10-20K miles for wheel and crank bearings, unless they are subjected to a lot of bad conditions (including power washing).
Answer: Bearings need repacking and ball replacement when the wheel isn't running smoothly, or has crunchiness when rolling.
So it could be time to redo the bearings.  Depending on what system the wheels use, it could be as little as a $5 packet of bearings and 5c worth of grease.
Sealed bearings are even easier - if they feel bad/rattly/noisy, they need replacing.
Specific to your bike, there's probably dirt and wear all over, so fixing one thing might not restore it to original performance.  Consider giving the entire transmission a clean, check the chain for wear, check the tyre's air pressure and that there is no brake rub.


Honda Lawnmower Flywheel Key Sheared?

Question: My Honda HRR2168VKA (self-propelled walk behind) lawnmower shakes violently when I start it up. I immediately turn it off. Is this a sign that I sheared the flywheel key or bent the crankshaft? Could it be something else? Is a bent crankshaft repairable? How do I tell if the crankshaft is bent?
Answer: Have a look underneath.  There are several failure modes which could cause strong shaking:

A cutting blade is broken, missing, or bent
A rock, scrap metal, lead weight, or other miscellany is attached to the blade
The crankshaft is bent
The crankshaft bearing or housing is cracked

A close look should be able to rule out and identify the problem, the last being the most difficult.

How do I tell if the crankshaft is bent?

Using your hand, turn the blade at least one half rotation and watch to see if its path is level.  Be sure the engine cannot start by disconnecting the spark plug and having the throttle at its full stop position.
Comment: I bent the crankshaft. Turned it by hand and I could see that the bolt on the blade moved out of plane.
Comment: I would imagine a bent crankshaft would not be economical to repair; finding a used engine might be best.
Answer: Usually if the blade hits a solid enough object (tree stump, etc.) the purpose of the flywheel key is to shear enough that the mower will not start at all; so wallyk's answer is highly likely to cover all other causes.  I worked at a rental store that rented lawn mowers and I would have to replace a flywheel key about once a month. When the key was even slightly sheared it would not start. (Better to rent a mower to mow a field than to ruin your own mower it seems.)
Comment: Worst case scenario, you hire a local farmer that has a tractor with a mower attachment like what the highway dept. uses to mow the sides of roads with and let them go to town. They can withstand much more abuse than a lawn tractor.

Honda Lawnmower Flywheel Key Sheared?


What is the Islamic point of view about taking balance as loan in cell phones? Does that count in interest?

Question: When we take loans, a particular network provides us loans but then they deduct more credit after we recharge. What is the Islamic point of view about taking balance as loan in cell phones? Does that count in interest?
Comment: It's not a loan. The telecom company is selling you a service at a premium price in return for late payment. (Source: a fatwa I read recently in Arabic but can't remember the source)
Answer: From the moment I started reading the Quran and taking an interest in following Islam and the Prophet (saws) I stopped using that "loan" services. If the operator had debited the same amount as was credited there I would see no problem. Mainly because of this ayat:

Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection]
  except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That
  is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has
  permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an
  admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his
  affair rests with Allah . But whoever returns to [dealing in interest
  or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide
  eternally therein. 2|275

Whether or not to follow the recommendation is a choice that the person should make, but by following the recommendation the financial benefit will be entirely yours. And I noticed that benefit from the moment I stopped doing it.


Miller columns vs tree view

Question: I am developing a navigation system for an intranet application I am building and I have access to good tree and MillerColumn components. Has anyone else got any expereinces they could share with me on choosing one over the other
Answer: Most users come from Windows and are more familiar with tree controls than Miller columns, so for a public website's navigation you should use a tree (or menu bar for horizontal layout) in preference.
If most of the users on your intranet are on Windows, use trees.  If most are on Macs, you have a case for using Miller columns, but read on...
Miller columns become space inefficient or fiddly to use unless the nodes of the tree have similar degree.  On a website with many pages, I'm thinking of a site hosting lots of technical documentation here, if you try to fix that problem, you end up structuring your navigation to fit the control's needs, rather than to fit the information's natural structure. That makes it hard to maintain as requirements change.  Trees and menus are more forgiving of variation in the degree of each node.
Comment: can you refer or cite any sources?
Comment: @James, you said "you end up structuring your navigation to fit the control's needs,"  Can you elaborate?  I don't find that to be the case at all since Miller columns and TreeViews can easily host the exact same data.  ...unless you are referring to widths of items, not the hierarchy itself.
Comment: @MarqueIV Say each column is tall enough to accommodate 15 items without scrolling.  A node that has a fan out of three will waste space.  Meanwhile you will have to scroll on a node that has 17 descendants.  So although Miller columns can host the exact same data as a tree view, Miller columns use space best when the fan out (degree) of all the nodes are similar.
Comment: True, but that to me is a benefit. Having blank areas isn't always a bad thing.  That's what white space in advertising is all about.  It lets the eyes focus and gain spatial context.  MCs also let you see more data at the same time as well.  In your example you would see the first fifteen items across *several* levels at once.  That's not possible in a treeview as you're scrolling up and down like mad.  If you also mark which items are selected and use them to pre-select them the next time those children are shown, you can quickly jump back to entire previous branches where a TV can't.
Comment: Not saying you're wrong. Just sharing some other benefits of MCs that TVs don't have.  I personally love them, especially with deep data with lots of items at each level.
Comment: If you are using responsive miller column, it does not take that much space. We (on our company) have been debating which one to use and finally we decided to use miller column because of its efficiency and good luck. Most of the libs on the web were not responsive so we implemented our own jquery plugin check it out here. https://github.com/dsharew/responsive-miller-column

Miller columns vs tree view


Is this a pun or a metaphor 'I had and wasn't a perambulator'?

Question: This is excerpted from the author Max Beerbohm's essay Going Out for a Walk:

It is a fact that not once in all my life have I gone out for a walk. I have been taken out for walks; but that is another matter. Even while I trotted prattling by my nurse's side I regretted the good old days when I had, and wasn't, a perambulator.

I looked up the word perambulator in the dictionary(American Heritage and Oxford), and found it means a pram, a baby carriage. And I also looked up perambulate, and it means walk or travel around. So I wonder if the last sentence I had, and wasn't, a perambulator is a pun: the author had a pram but he wasn't a great walker when he was a baby. Otherwise it would be weird to me that the author said he wasn't a baby carriage. Am I right about this?

Edit:
I find this review(please click if you are interested) of 'Going Out for a Walk' on the internet.
And it says:

Beerbohm begins by stating that he is an inveterate opponent of the
  habit of walking. Even when he was a toddler, he used to regret the
  good old days when he was an infant. He didn't have to walk then,
  since he had a perambulator. He wasn't a pram and so nobody would ever
  forcefully take him out for a walk.

The reviewer thinks Beerbohm compared himself to a pram(perambulator), i.e. Beerbohm didn't have to be pushed around like a pram. So pram is understood as a metaphor.
Then I am confused. What does the author really mean by saying 'I wasn't a perambulator?
Does he mean:
1) when he was a baby, he was not someone who perambulates?
or
2) when he was a baby, he didn't have to be forcefully taken out for a walk like people did with a pram?
Answer: This is a zeugma: "I had" refers to the meaning of "perambulator" as a baby carriage (from which te word "pram" is derived"). "I was" refers to its meaning of "someone who walks".
Answer: I'm not sure if it's technically a pun or just some wordplay, but you are definitely interpreting it correctly, yes.


Can i pray in just a night gown at home?

Question: Can I pray wearing just a nightgown without wearing any underwear, as long as the nightgown and head covering covers the awrat?
Answer: As long as any clothing satisfies conditions of dress for salah, there is no issue.
For details you may see here.
Answer: A women can pray salah in a nightie without wearing any underwear. Hazrat Umm Salma asked Prophet (pbhu) whether a woman cray pray salah wearing just 'khimar' (headscarf) and shirt without wearing "izar" (which translates to payjama as well as underwear). The Prophet (pbuh) replied yes, the shirt should reaches to the length so that it covers upper part of her feet. [1]


Changed behavior in handoff between CiviContribut and PayPal

Question: We're encountering a problematic changed behavior in the CiviContribute module when it hands an online contribution over to PayPal Standard for payment.
The purchase description used to be like this:
Online Contribution: Sponsor a Child
which made it very easy for our treasurer to assign the payment accordingly.
The purchase description now appears like this:
1092-4219-Sponsor a Chil
where the first number is the contact ID and the second is Civi's internal  contribution ID -- neither of which is very useful to the treasurer.  Meanwhile the purchase purpose is truncated making it harder to figure out where to assign the payment in the back end accounting.
We are running Civi 4.7.14 in a Wordpress CMS.  It looks like the changed behavior might have begun when we upgraded from 4.6.X to 4.7.14.
Questions:
a.  Is this a "feature" or a "bug"?
b.  Is there a setting or template that we can adjust to get back to the original behavior or otherwise control the product description that is handed to PayPal?
Answer: It's documented and resolved in JIRA
https://issues.civicrm.org/jira/browse/CRM-19863


Can I install carpet in the attic?

Question: I'm planning on adding a plywood floor to part of my attic. I have some old carpet that I'm thinking about laying on top of the plywood. Is this a bad idea?
Comment: One thing to consider is that if there is ever somehow carpet but no subfloor underneath, someone/thing may fall through the roof. This would only be a problem if the carpet and/or subfloor can move independently, and there is some area of the attic that you're not putting subfloor on.
Comment: What do you plan to do with the attic space once it has a floor?
Comment: I'm just going to use it for storage space.
Answer: It's not too unusual. The carpet will collect some dust and possibly insulation, and might have problems if it ever gets wet from a roof leak. On the plus side, the carpet will act as a little insulation and is quieter and cooler in the summer to walk on.
Comment: On the downside, old carpet will probably encourage fungal growth in an attic space, which isn't great if you store books, clothes, and stuff like that up there. The insulating properties would be negligible, so I would suggest using purpose-made material on that front.
Comment: Good point. I live in Oklahoma where attic temperatures get well over 120, which dries out any fungus or mold. Other areas might not have the dry heat for that.
Comment: I can assure you *many* other areas are different. Not least, the UK, where I hail from! :)

Can I install carpet in the attic?


Which would be the most rigid?

Question: I'm trying to resolve a theoretical problem.
If I have 2 steel boxes made from the same gauge steel (3mm stainless steel) & one is 7 meters by 2 meters by 2 meters & the other is say 30% smaller in length / width / height, which would be the more ridgid?
I would expect the smaller box but just want to confirm with a professional. :)
Thanks for helping!
Comment: Make a prototype out of any old household stuff to get an intuitive feel for how stiffness changes with size!
Comment: kamran and I give opposite answers, and I've realized it's because there's a doubt about how you intend to load this. Is it meant to work as, for example, a water tank, having to handle lateral forces (i.e. water pressure)? Or is meant to work like a beam, supported on two ends and handling vertical loads? If the former (water tank), then kamran's answer is correct. If the latter (beam), mine is.
Comment: Wow!  interesting outcomes to what I thought was a simple question, so Wasabi answering your query about function, in theory, I would be putting four wheels on it & a solid mass inside as a load & it would be moved over uneven terrain.
Answer: yes, the smaller one is stronger and stiffer.
Generally, a beam stiffness is   $\frac{48EI}{L^3}$ for a simply supported beam with a unit load at the center of the span. most other supports and loadings share the same denominator with EI multiplied by different constants on top.
We can find similar equations in a plate stiffness.
the key concept is the denominator has L to the cube.
That implies by increasing any of the dimensions of the plate we reduce its stiffness by cube power.
Edit
After @Wasibi's misunderstanding of the question and mistaking the fact that OP wanted to use the same thickness. 3mm, stainless steel in both cases I repeat my answer is the correct answer, and @Wasabi, unfortunately, has given the wrong answer.
Just to clarify it to OP.
Comment: Hey, thankyou for such a quick answer! :)
Comment: You forgot that $I$ has dimension $L^4$. Changing the cross-section dimensions will therefore usually have a larger impact than the reduction in span.
Answer: It depends on the specific dimensions of the different parts.
@kamran's answer has the correct stiffness equation of $\dfrac{k\cdot EI}{\ell^3}$ (where $k$ depends on the loading and boundary conditions). We must note that $\ell$ is raised to the third power and is therefore very influential.
But we must not forget about the moment of inertia $I$, which has dimension $L^4$. For example, a rectangular beam has moment of inertia $I = \dfrac{bh^3}{12}$. So if you had a rectangular beam, it's stiffness would be equal to
$$K_{orig} = \dfrac{k\cdot Ebh^3}{\ell^3}$$
If you reduced everything by 70%, you'd get
$$K_{shrink} = \dfrac{k\cdot E\cdot 0.7b\cdot (0.7h)^3}{(0.7\ell)^3} = 0.7K_{orig}$$
However, you aren't dealing with a rectangular beam, but a box section. In this case, the moment of inertia is equal to
$$I = \dfrac{bh^3-(b-2t)(h-2t)^3}{12}$$
If you were shrinking all the dimensions equally by 70%, then the end result would be the same as for rectangular sections: a 70% reduction in stiffness. However, you've said that the thickness of the boxes will be the same in both cases.
In this case, whether the bigger or smaller beam will be stiffer depends on the proportion of $t$ to $b$ and $h$. I used Wolfram Alpha to get the value for $t$ at which the deflections will be equal, but it's so ugly I can't be bothered to copy it over here. Suffice to say, you can't assume that the normal or reduced box-beam will be necessarily stiffer, you need to do the math to check for your specific dimensions.
For the record, using the dimensions given, we get the following moments of inertia:
$$\begin{align}
I_{2000x2000x3} &= 1.5928e+10\text{ mm}^4 \\
I_{1400x1400x3} &= 5.4528e+09\text{ mm}^4 \approx 0.342 I_{2000x2000x3}
\end{align}$$
Looking at the stiffnesses and hiding $E$ within the $k$ constant (since it doesn't matter for this analysis):
$$\begin{align}
K_{2000x2000x3} &= \dfrac{k\cdot I}{\ell^3} \\
&= \dfrac{k \cdot I_{2000x2000x3}}{\ell^3} \\
K_{1400x1400x3} &= \dfrac{k\cdot I}{(0.7\ell)^3} \\
&= \dfrac{k \cdot I_{1400x1400x3}}{(0.7\ell)^3} \\
&= \dfrac{k \cdot 0.342I_{2000x2000x3}}{(0.7\ell)^3} \\
&= \dfrac{0.342}{0.7^3}\dfrac{k \cdot I_{2000x2000x3}}{\ell^3} \\
&= 0.998\dfrac{k \cdot I_{2000x2000x3}}{\ell^3} \\
&= 0.998K_{2000x2000x3} \\
\end{align}$$
So both beams are almost exactly the same stiffness, but the bigger beam would be a tiny bit stiffer with the dimensions given.
Comment: Oh, ok. But as you yourself have said many times at the end of the day the difference between an engineer and a computer is judgment. We cant have paper-thin beams crumbling on us by crushing or wrinkling into explosive collapse.
Comment: I did not forget. it seems you did not read OP.s question carefully. He says "using the same gauge# 3mm  stainless steel. He meant changing the length and with of the plat not its thickness.
Comment: @kamran the OP says "30% smaller in length / width / height". I admit I'm understanding that as "length and width and height". And he seems to be talking about a box-section (of 2m height and width and 3mm thickness), not a flat plate.
Comment: he means the length, width, height of the cube, not the plate. Read the question one more time carefully pleas.
Comment: @kamran I'm having trouble what you mean by "plate" in this case. As I understand it, the OP is talking about two boxes, both of which have 3mm-thick walls. One box is 2x2x7m in size and the other is 1.4x1.4x4.9m. The smaller box therefore has a smaller span in any direction, but also has a smaller cross-section. What are you understanding?
Comment: 3mm/2000mm is too thin to handle the box as a beam. By plate I mean if somebody is trying to use this box as a water container or as a shipping container. Utilities where out of plane forces are involved. Besides if we want to use beam I strength, it is done differently. we simply subtract the I of the box by the I of the interior void.
Comment: @kamran which is exactly how I calculated my box inertia: inertia of the box $(bh^3)$ minus inertia of the void $(b-2t)(h-2t)^3$. And while I agree that using such a large beam with such thin walls sounds really weird, I simply took that as a beginner mistake from the OP. Indeed, the correct answer depends on the OP's intended loading configuration. If more in-plane, then my answer is correct. If out-of-plane (water container, as you said), then yours is. I've commented on the OP for clarification.
Comment: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/107426/discussion-between-wasabi-and-kamran).

Which would be the most rigid?


Hypersonic flow in Fluent

Question: I am working in my graduating project about the hypersonic flow, particularly the properties of the air behind a strong shock wave, I try to do a simulation for that process in Fluent but I don't know exactly if that it's possible in Fluent. Anyone who have an idea how to do that?
Answer: i wouldn't call this an answer yet - i assume the question you actually want to ask will require you to specify a lot more details.  is fluent capable of simulating hypersonic flow?  yes.  i'm sure you can find better literature, but comparisons have been done, so maybe that will be useful to you if you have more options than fluent.
personally, i'd advise you pay attention to the type of grid you plan to use, but i don't know what your geometry is like.  is it symmetric in any way?  blunt or sharp geometry/what kind of shock do you expect?  what metric are you most closely tracking?  something like peak magnitude of surface heating, location, or both?  what do you plan to do with chemical nonequilibrium?  'how' to do it depends on a lot of things; the list goes on and on...
EDIT:
i assume this is an academic exercise, so i'm guessing this problem is going to be in translational/rotational equilibrium and vibrational nonequilibrium...and that you understand you'll see some differences between your finite difference method and fluent's cell centered finite volume method.  i don't have specific experience with your zeldovitch chemical model (zel'dovich? as in 1d znd detonation model?), more so with models by kang & dunn or park.  at any rate, can you ask something more specific than 'how do you set up a hypersonic flow solution in fluent'?
Comment: @SamirOuchene i only added a bit because this community is more built around answering targeted questions that demonstrate research has been done, as opposed to broad, opened ended tutorials.  i think you'll have more success getting answers here if you ask specific questions.  if this is your first time using a package like fluent, you might be surprised how many knobs there are for you to dial-an-answer.

Hypersonic flow in Fluent


What is the most important thing to look for when buying a used trailer frame?

Question: I'm planning to build a camper. Saw some used trailer frames on craigslist. I'm concerned that I might buy a frame that I won't be able to use.
Answer: You need to consider  how much it will weigh. When built. Will you need just one axle? Or more.  Look for rust, cracks along the frame.  Look for  anything that might be bent.
Comment: Most of the ones from craiglist have rust on them like this one http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cargo-utility-trailer/london/trailer-frames-of-all-types-and-sizes/1253045934?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true       ------------ Would that be a problem?
Comment: @aboat depends on if it is just surface rust that you can sand of and paint over or deeper rust that needs to be cut out and replaced.
Comment: regarding the age of the trailer frame how old is too old? as a newbie how can i see deep rust without sanding? did sand before, but not enough to see a difference with the naked eye. I'm not sure whether the seller will let me sand it and see if it goes off in front of him.
Comment: The age isn't as important as how well it's been taken care of. If the seller won't let you check the extent of the rust, then there's no way of knowing just by looking just how deep it may go. You need to tap it with a small hammer, sand it, or use a wire brush on a cordless drill, or even grind it.
Answer: about, You'll want a frame that is free of rust through spots. Surface rust can be sanded and painted. Also, you'll also want to find out when the bearings and seals were replaced last. I don't know how large of a camper project your planning. Just be sure to get one big enough based on GVRW= Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The weight of the camper material plus the trailer weight, and then get a little higher GVWR, rating of the frame. Good Luck!
Comment: Are the bearings and seals important? After doing some research, I realized those are cheap and easy to replace. Did I misunderstand?


How to migrate InfoPath forms from SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016 Site

Question: I have a custom list in SP 2013 Publishing site and i created & published a new item InfoPath form to this list now i want to move this InfoPath form to SharePoint 2016 Publishing site.
Here i don't want to upgrade Sp2013 Content database but only InfoPath forms
I created a same custom list in SP 2016 Site also with same metadata & columns.
Answer: There are two other ways to migrate a custom list with its InfoPath form from SharePoint Server 2013 to SharePoint Server 2016 if you don't want to use database-attach method.
Export the list to a .cmp file via Central Administration -> Backup and Restore -> Export a site or list -> Select the List and Specify the destination for the export package -> Click Start Export.

Then copy the .cmp file to your SharePoint 2016 server and run the below command on your SharePoint 2016 server.
<code>Import-SPWeb <site collection url> -Path <the location of .cmp file>
</code>
The Fast and proper way to move a list is moving it with a third party tool like ShareGate and etc. The advantage with the third party tools is that they are very simple, and they work well.
Comment: http://www.sharepointjunkies.com/migrate-infopath-forms-sharepoint-2013-sharepoint-online/  I tried this solution and it worked for me.


Reaction forces in a structure

Question: I have the following structure, in which I am failing to calculate the two reactions: Cz (apparently vertical) and Dz, in the roller support of the beam. The beam length is 7.5 m, the reactions Az, Cx, and the momentum in C are calculated correctly. The distributed load replaced with concentrated on the first beam. Thank you in advance for advice and help.
Answer: The reasoning here is very similar to that in your previous question.
Start by noting that the structure can be separated into three different isostatic structures:

Where $F$ is obviously the sum of the reactions of the imaginary supports on the beams.
The left-hand side you've already solved. All that's left is the right hand side, and that's just as easy: $R = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 5.1 \sqrt{4.5^2+6^2} = 19.13\text{ kN}$.
And then with that you obviously know that the vertical reaction on the central column is equal to $19.13 + 14.28 = 33.43\text{ kN}$. The horizontal and moment reactions on that column you've already solved.
To check our work:

Reaction forces in a structure


How do I retrieve bitcoins sent to my email address through coinbase.com?

Question: I have sent bitcoins from coinbase to my email address but there on my email I just see an email that I have received BTC from Coinbase. How do I retrieve those bitcoins from my email to transfer them over to another wallet?
Answer: When sending Bitcoin from Coinbase.com to an email address, you are sending the Bitcoin to another Coinbase.com account linked to that email address. So for example, if you had a friend who has a Coinbase.com account and you wanted to send them Bitcoin, you could ask them for their Coinbase.com email address and then send the Bitcoin to that email address, where they would claim it on Coinbase.com. Reference
If you simply want to move Bitcoin outside of Coinbase.com to a Bitcoin wallet, you will need to send the Bitcoin to your public address.
Answer: Since you already receive the bitcoins in your
email all you have to do is click verify. Then
You should be lead right back to coin base.
Look at the one that says bitcoins and the amount you receive. You would then press
The sell button after clicking bitcoin then you would put in the amount you want to receive for instants you could say send from bitcoin to my bank account or credit card you used when signing up for coin base. For example you  could  put in 0.07. For your bitcoin and it will automatically show you the amount you will receive. Then hit the  sell bitcoins button
And you will immediately receive a confirmation of when your funds will be available.


Is there another word for 'sentence finisher' in English?

Question: I am just interested in finding another word for sentence finisher in English, or basically someone who has a habit of cutting off another person's sentence and putting in their own statement.
Comment: The word for a person who is forever interrupting is *rude*.
Comment: That's true, but you can be rude for doing many different things. I am just looking for one that is for cutting people's sentences off.
Comment: You won't find it.
Comment: Why would you want "a single word"? It's quite clear when you use more than one word.
Comment: @tchrist - Curiosity I guess... and you always want more than one way to say something because it might be more appropriate in different settings.
Answer: There's "buttinsky", though that's really about getting into other people's business. Maybe you could repurpose it.
Answer: Since Merriam Webster defines "interrupter" (or "interruptor") as "one that interrupts" and, the same dictionary, defines "interrupt" (verb) as "to stop or hinder by breaking in 'interrupted the speaker with frequent questions'", you can use "interrupter" (or "interruptor").
Incidentally, you'll find the example sentence that Merriam Webster reports fits the case in the question.
To further illustrate its usage, consider "Interrupters might also just be excited or eager to make their point." (CBS NEWS)
Comment: Is interruptor specific enough? It would apply to any action that someone was undertaking, but not specifically to speech.
Answer: While not a single word, and without any history of use in this context, consider the term conversational usurper, where usurp means

to seize, take over, or appropriate (land, a throne, etc) without authority
Answer: I think you mean someone who appropriates your point. If you are making a point and another person breaks in to give his own interpretation of what you are trying to say, he has appropriated your point or your response. Often, the explanation used by an interrupter who takes over the sentence is not in keeping with what the speaker had in mind. That person has appropriated your argument and turned it to his own purpose. You see this in informal political debate sometimes.
Comment: Well, someone who finishes a sentence for someone else can either be saying exactly what the other person was trying to say (maybe they just want to get to the end) or something that the other person wasn't trying to say (which is what you are pointing out). It would be even better to distinguish between the two, but that would be just making things even more difficult.
Answer: Not a single-word answer but that's because there are none, excluding "interrupter" which kinda gets the message across.
to butt in
Verb phrase: butt in, to meddle in the affairs or intrude in the conversation of others; interfere: It was none of his concern, so he didn't butt in.
Macmillan defines butt in as: to join a conversation or activity without being asked to
Neologic solution: a "buttsome" or "buttical" person. (a shame these adjectives do not exist)


What would happen if I used a 3 speed fan control with a 4 speed fan?

Question: I have a 4-speed Hampton Bay ceiling fan. I want to use a wireless remote control.  I can only find wireless remote control kits that offer 3-speed settings.  If I use a 3-speed wireless remote control kit, will I lose one of the speed settings? Which setting would I lose?  Can I make any adjustments?
Answer: Your 4-speed fan only has four speeds simply because of the remote that it comes with. The fan by itself can work with any controller, as long as the controller is rated to work with ceiling fans.
If you're able to connect your new wireless remote to the existing fan (with no electrical snafus), your fan will happily work with the 3 speeds your remote comes with. It's harder to determine which setting you'll lose, though your highest speed will probably be the same. Individual settings are determined by a controller, and these can vary.
I don't believe you can make adjustments, unless you're willing to open the controller up and experiment with it (not the wireless remote, but the actual controller that sits in your fan's housing).
Do keep in mind, however, that you don't want to use a stepless dimmer with a ceiling fan. That can bring about a whole lot of humming (and more importantly, reduced life for your fan motor).
Answer: Although the speed of an induction motor can be continuously varied a bit with an SCR phase control circuit, such as used in a light dimmer, most multi-speed fan motors use tapped windings to provide different speeds in discrete steps.  The 4-speed motor will have four tap wires coming out of it, plus a common wire; the 3-speed control will have three tap wires, plus a common.  The three speeds you can achieve with the 4-speed fan will depend on which three of the four available taps you choose to connect to the controller.  Make sure you cap the unused motor tap or cover it with electrical tape to prevent it from shorting to any metal in the fan housing, as that wire will be energized when the motor is running.
Beware that some multi-speed induction motors may use combinations of taps to achieve intermediate speeds, instead of one tap per speed, in which case selecting the correct taps to wire to the controller may be a bit trickier.
Comment: I've never seen a wireless fan work the way you describe. The fan has two wires ( white and black) and the wireless receiver is attached to that and placed up in the ceiling box. The difference between a 3 and 4 speed fan is the wireless receiver you buy. I've never heard of a fan with different windings for different speeds.


User answers question but does not upvote question

Question: Is there any logical basis for the practice of a user answering a question but not upvoting the same question? It seems to me that if you answer a question, then it implies that you believe it meets the criteria for the site. So, why wouldn't you upvote it? Likewise, if you don't believe it meets the criteria, you wouldn't bother answering it, and you might also downvote it.
Comment: I am consistently amazed by the number of people who answer questions but don't upvote them.  99% of the time, if I'm going to spend my time answering a question, it's worthy of my upvote.  I sometimes think it's a lack of people choosing to be kind.  But answering a question is a sign of kindness, so I just don't get it.
Comment: @SimplyaChristian I think Caleb answered this correctly, so I will add my $.02 as a comment: I think those that haven't used this site much are still in "bloggerville" mode. The importance of the Site mechanics makes little difference to them. To those of us who have advanced in reputation, and are editing/correcting posts, the 'mechanics' are much more meaningful. Another question along the same topic is "Choosing the Best Answer". I have been guilty of not "choosing"-but for a different reason; my hope was there is a 'better' answer out there.
Comment: @Tau: I remember when I first joined, there was a bit of fog for me, too. I probably asked a few questions and never selected a best answer, and then someone informed me that I had many questions without selecting a best answer, and then I got to it. So, is that stat still available for everyone to see (i.e., questions asked without best answer selected)?
Comment: Sometimes I even answer questions that I believe deserve a downvote. Why do I answer them, you ask? Simply to gain reputation. If the OP finds my answer useful, why should I care if the question meets the criteria of this site or not.
Answer: Voting on questions has little or nothing to do with whether questions meet the criteria of the site. That consideration is more relevant to the Vote to Close mechanism. Posts that don't meet the criteria for the site should be closed—whether up-voted or down-voted.
The factors you consider when using each function of the site should be as logically separated as possible. Sometimes you may upvote questions you answer, sometimes you may even downvote them. As I recently brought up on the C.SE meta you might even vote to close and upvote a question or answer it and downvote it.
There are lots of factors that go into voting on questions, but the relative quality, perceived usefulness, and many other things might play into it. Meanwhile choosing to answer or not could include very different factors.
That's not to say that enough people vote on questions. Looking at the voting statistics it's pretty clear a lot of people are reading posts and even posting while barely ever voting. This isn't a good thing as the voting system works better the more people are active. The more people regularly up and down vote posts the more effective a system or ranking content it becomes. Personally I try to vote on every post I read one way or another. Sometimes for very mediocre posts with no great pluses and no stand out negatives I end up split between the pros and cons and end up figuring +1/-1 is no vote, but I always go through the quick mental exercise of figuring out what direction to vote and why.
Comment: Oops, that link was actually supposed to go to a post!
Comment: Agreed, I usually ask "Is this useful" and "Was effort put into it", that is, did they do prior research as they should. I've answered "dumb" questions before that I didn't feel the need to upvote. I've also answered intentionally controversial and badly phrased questions that may be soon closed (maybe my nature getting the best of me, just wanting to give it an objective treatment and show they didn't "get a rise" out of me, a scholarly "take that" if you will).
Answer: Are you asking this because I answered this question of yours without upvoting it?
You have edited it slightly since the time I answered (nothing of consequence), but I did not upvote it because I did not think it was good enough to merit an upvote (I also did not downvote it because I did not think it was bad enough to merit a downvote).
One reason I did not cast an upvote is because your question did seem somewhat silly. You quoted Matthew's and Mark's account, and then when Luke relates almost the exact same details of Jesus' baptism, such as

heaven opening
the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus as a dove
and a voice from heaven saying "You are my beloved Son..."

you seemed to convey that since Luke does not specifically write the word "John" in vv21-22, John could not have baptized Jesus and this was a different event.
Another reason was that Luke only mentions one person baptizing people in chapter 3: John. Verse 21 begins with "Now when all the people were baptized...", most of that chapter is focusing on John, and since you yourself quoted Matthew and Mark already, who else would Jesus have been baptized by?
It appeared that you were nitpicking, and this kind of nitpicking is actually a pet peeve of mine. I've also read some of your answers to other questions, and they are quite good and very detailed, and deal with complicated subject matter, and I do remembering thinking when I first read your question, "Why is this guy, of all people, asking this? He should be the one answering this type of question instead of asking it!"
All of these things taken together are why I did not upvote your question.
Comment: Thanks for the insight. As for the question being "silly," I'm not so sure I agree, as scholars have tackled the same question. For example, see *The Jailing of John and the Baptism of Jesus: Luke 3:19-21* ([JETS 36/4, 12/1993, 455-466](http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/36/36-4/36-4-pp455-466_JETS.pdf)). That article was the impetus for my question. I wanted to see if others reached the same conclusion as the author. (P.S. +1)


Replace material and texture with python in BGE

Question: I've a game project done with BGE and i've done a menu where the user can choose the character and the characters have only different material and texture.
I'm not able to change material and texture with python, i just know how to replace the mesh with logic bricks but i want to keep the mesh and the armature of the character.
Any advices?
Thanks for the help
Answer: UPBGE has a Replace Material API, but regular BGE does not. However, you can replace the material with a custom GLSL shader.
Changing textures is not doable, but you can replace the images used in a material. A simple python function that does this is:
<code>def show_picture(obj, path, mat_id=0, tex_id=0):
    '''Loads a picture into a texture'''
    prop_name = 'SHOW_PICTURE{}:{}'.format(mat_id, tex_id)
    if prop_name not in obj:
        tex = bge.texture.Texture(obj, mat_id, tex_id)
        obj[prop_name] = tex
    else:
        tex = obj[prop_name]
    raw = bge.texture.ImageFFmpeg(path)
    if raw.status == 0:
        # Error in loading image
        bge.log.error("Unable to load image at {}".format(path))
        raise ValueError("Unable to load image at {}".format(path))

    tex.source = raw
    tex.refresh(True)
</code>
Where tex_id is the texture slot of the image.


Any relation between SQL Server Service Name and Instance Name?

Question: My SQL Server's instance name is SQLEXPRESS and SQL Server Service Name looks like MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS. Is there any relation between instance name and service name? I'm trying to check SQL Server Service Status by name and I wonder can SQL Server Service name be different on another computers?
Answer: Yes, the service name is always MSSQL$<Instance Name> for a named instance and MSSQLSERVER for a default instance. I don't believe either can be altered or overridden, nor can I think of any reason why you'd want to.
You can enumerate the installed instances on a server via the registry, using Powershell for example:
Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL'

Comment: +1 for the answer regarding instance names.  That being said, I do prefer not to use the registry directly in powershell unless there isn't another way.  For that part, I prefer the approach taken by @ThomasStringer.  Using WMI is definitely a more reliable approach.
Answer: Mark showed you a way to get this information directly from the registry, but another way to do this would be through WMI, consumed by PowerShell:
Get-WmiObject -ComputerName "YourDestinationServer" -Namespace "root\microsoft\sqlserver\computermanagement11" -Class "SqlService" |
    Where-Object {$_.SQLServiceType -eq 1} |
    Select-Object ServiceName, DisplayName,
        @{Name = "StateDesc"; Expression = {
            switch ($_.State) {
                1 { "Stopped" }
                2 { "Start Pending" }
                3 { "Stop Pending" }
                4 { "Running" }
                5 { "Continue Pending" }
                6 { "Pause Pending" }
                7 { "Paused" }
            }
        }}

The above command will give you the state of the SQL Server engine service(s) on a particular machine.
Comment: I can then assume that the following logic is correct then for named and unnamed instances as service name? svcname = instancename != string.Empty ? string.Format("MSSQL${0}", instancename) : "MSSQLSERVER";


Can't remember if one said Elokai Netzor or not?

Question: If someone says the individual's Shemona Esrei and they can't remember whether they said the conclusion (which the chazzan's repetition does not say beginning Elokai Netzor) are they still yotzei saying the individual's shemona esrei?
Comment: I don't have an explicit source but I'd venture to say he is still "yotzei". EN is not one of the berachot, it's a personal supplication which was appended to the SE but not as binding. At most, we find ([Yoma 53b](https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.53b.3?with=all⟨=bi)) that one who doesn't take leave of the King (by saying "oseh shalom") is disrespectful but his fulfillment of the SE is not voided.
Comment: Thats what I thought. I just wanted to make sure. "May the expressions of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor..." Since that is said twice one tends to forget if they space out if they said Elokei Netzor or not.
Comment: Also I am guessing since the person is "yotzei" a person shouldn't repeat Shemona Esrei again even if they wanted to as that would be a prayer in vain.
Answer: Yes. That is just a customary addition (see Berakhot 17a that records this as the practice of an individual rabbi). It is found in the Siddur of Rav Amram Gaon (ed. Harpenes Seder Tefilla). This work underwent some evolution, but its core is from the ninth century. It is also found in the Siddur of Rav Sa'adya Gaon from the early 10th century, (ed. Assaf pg. 19). Rashi (11th cent.) (Berakhot 29b s.v. Tahanunim) similarly indicates that it is a customary part of the liturgy. Similarly, see Mahzor Vitry (89).
It is not listed as one of the 18 blessings established in Megillah 17a, or the additional blessing added by Sh'muel HaKattan recorded in Berakhot 28b, which form the required prayer text (see Rambam's Hilkhot Tefilla 2:2).
Comment: The siddur underwent some evolution? No no no! The Rambam davened from an ArtScroll siddur, of course. ;P +1


Using GPL v3 for GitHub repo with no source code

Question: I am planning to create a GitHub repo containing a summary of commands to be used as a reference. Some of these commands with a combination of unique flags have been used in the source code of a GitHub project that uses GPL v3, which informed my repo. The command reference I am creating has some commands that are based on this repo. Can I still use GPL v3 even though my repo does not contain source code or is there a more relevant license for my case?
Comment: In such cases a CC is usually used. However nothing prevents you from using GPL for that.
Answer: The GPL defines the term Source Code as "the preferred format for making changes". This means that if your repository just contains some documentation files in a readily editable format (text, markdown, OpenOffice, MS Word, etc.) then those files count as their own source format.
Comment: So does this mean that GPL v3 would be an appropriate license to use in my case?
Comment: @synthesis, yes.


What does "white and pink" mean?

Question:
What does "white and pink" mean here? Is it like "black and white" as in "I have a cat. Its color is black and white" or are they actually two colors?
Comment: I think the correct answer would be "white with green" - since as a native speaker, I wouldn't see "white and pink" as a single colour (is -> singular), "white but pink" would be grammatically invalid, leaving only "white with green".
Comment: Can "black and white" be used as a single color?
Comment: "black and white" is more like adj as in *a black and white television*. Here the answer requires a noun word or phrase. But I might be wrong.
Answer: In direct answer to the question on your test paper:

Q. What's your favourite colour?
  A. My favourite colour is......

I would have to say the correct answer from your multiple choice is (c) white with green.
This is because the part of the answer that has been written for you only allows for one colour to be stated as your favourite.

"White but pink" is not something I have ever heard. It sounds more like indecision or an inability to describe a single colour properly.
"White and pink" are two colours.

It would not be unusual for someone to answer the question "what is your favourite colour?" with:

I like white and pink.

or

My two favourite colours are white and pink.

The question may assume you have one favourite but if you have two favourites or your preference is always for a colour combination then sure, answer with two! You just wouldn't phrase it as "my favourite colour is white and pink". Your test paper has already given you this part of the sentence, so your answer must be one colour. Likewise in your other example of the "black and white cat" a person may ask you what single colour your cat is, assuming it is a single colour such as black or white. This does not prevent you from answering correctly that it is "black and white".
"White with green" suggests a mix of colours, what some may describe as an "off-white" or a "very pale green", and this would be accepted as being a single colour.

What does “white and pink” mean?


Searching for Q's on SO that are in one of my favorite tags and unanswered

Question: I did some looking at the search help and tried out the options but nothing seemed to work. How do I found questions that are unanswered AND IN one of my favorite tags?
Answer: Click on the Unanswered tab, scroll down to you Favorite tags section, then click on the tag.  Example: https://stackoverflow.com/unanswered/tagged/java
If you want to see questions that have zero answers (as opposed to questions with no upvoted answers, which is what you get on the Unanswered tab) then you can use "answers:0" in the search box.  Example: answers:0 [java]
Comment: So is there no way to view unanswered questions that occur in any of my favorite tags? I don't want to target a single tag at a time. I want to see all unanswered Q's in any/all of my favorite tags.
Comment: @HK1: Yeah, if you click the Unanswered button there are four tabs at the top right.  Click the "my tags" tab. http://stackoverflow.com/unanswered/tagged/?tab=mytags
Comment: Thanks, that's what I needed. It does appear that the questions listed there actually do have answers, for the most part. Probably 95% of them already have answers.


Should our kitchen sink vent through the roof?

Question: Our kitchen sink vent pipe goes up through the ceiling but not through the roof, should it go through the roof?
Comment: Somebody here can probably quote the plumbing code, which might differ in your local area so you'll want to double-check. In general, from what I recall, vents penetrating the building must be higher than nearby windows and doors, or at least 10 feet away, and that type of thing. The idea is to prevent sewer gas from entering the dwelling. So I'm guessing that venting into the attic where you would just fill your attic with sewer gases probably isn't going to cut it. Sure, it's just the kitchen sink, but that drain is attached to the main one, and nasty gases could find their way up that vent.
Comment: Where in the world are you, as the rules can vary, along with acceptable remedies.
Answer: This is actually pretty easy to remedy given that you have decent attic access.  You just route vent to the main stack.  Might have to cut out main stack in attic, support it, add a T to connect vent and put the pieces back together.  That would be easy way to code compliance and could cost as little as $30-40.
Answer: If there is a main Vent stack in the house, then just route and connect it to it. Just be sure that you have your 1/4" per foot drop from end to end.   We routed all front of the house vents to a Main stack in the back of the house.   The only other issue you want to be aware of is the exit main stack should be as big as the sewer exit line. so if you have a 4" sewer, your stack should be at least 4".  If not you should be adding a new stack.  Leaking sewer gases in the Attic is not a good thing.  You can downsize the vent one size from the drain it is connected it. If combining, you would need to look up the code to get the proper sizing.


How to treat a magnolia with white fuzz on its leaves?

Question: I can't find photos with similar problem in the internet. Therefore, I don't know how to treat this. Please help me, the tree looks worse each day.
Comment: looks a lot like mealybug to me.  If you can wipe it off then likely it is an insect,  how big is the tree?  where in the world is it?
Comment: @kevinsky oh, maybe you are right. I thought that it is mold\mildew and searched it. I am from Texas, USA. We bought this tree approximately 7 months ago. Thank you very much!
Comment: Send a better picture or two...this looks like leaf miner.  How did you plant this tree?  Sun or partial shade?  Fertilizer?  Looks healthy except for the white vining stuff.  Not powdery mildew...Leaf miners lay eggs under the epidermis.  The babies eat the leaf before they mature and fly away.  Need to know where you live and where you planted and how you planted this tree.  Catch problems early easy to correct.
Comment: @stormy Thank you for an answer. It is pretty sunny weather, I live in Texas, USA. No Fertilizer, only added a thing to make the ground more acidic. I am almost sure this is mealybug because I found few fuzzy white bugs with wings and several larvae.
Answer: Unfortunately, this is pretty hard to treat. In my experience you can combat this by spraying the plant with neem oil. Remove the leaves with the fuss and dispose of them in a plastic bag so they do not contaminate any other plants. Spray the tree once a week with the neem oil. Any leaves that are dead or yellowing prune off the tree. Then to strengthen the tree fertilize it to give it a fighting chance.
Comment: Wait, do not remove the leaves with the fuzz.  Just spray with neem.  Make sure you read the entire information packet a couple of times, okay?  Neem is all you need.  Remove dead leaves sure but do not remove any leaves with fuzz.  This is a normal little insect and not a pandemic.  Your tree needs all the photosynthesizing factories possible to make food for itself.  Fertilizer is a basic, it is not to be used for medicine.  If you've not fertilized time to consider doing so...Tree stakes work well.  Balanced NPK.  Spray your tree at night ONCE.  Check in a few weeks if a second spray needed
Comment: This is not hard to treat at all.  Spray at night not during the day, please.  For the bees!  Even if the info on the neem says safe for bees don't spray during the day.  A bee gets chemistry on its legs it takes it back to harm the entire hive.  Spray at night, UNDER the leaves and the trunk, stems branches, cover your eyes, face and arms if possible, take a bath right after.  Otherwise an effective, fairly safe pesticide...oh so Organic.
Comment: The reason why this is hard to treat is it spreads fast and easily meaning you have to constantly look after it. This is a pain if you own a greenhouse because instead of selling plants you are losing profits containing this pest. It is best to treat all bugs, fungi and diseases with respect and do remove the leaves that are infected this triggers the plant to produce more leaves and fuller branches which in return combats the disease this is a technique that can be read about in most gardening books. Other than that I agree with stormy


Are there any known aircraft (experimental, otherwise) with non-fixed vertical/horizontal stabilizers?

Question: Imagining contortions of the vertical/horizontal stabilizers and possible use cases for dodging or acrobatics, I was wondering if there were any known aircraft with such a design.
Comment: The XP-55 'Ascender', one is preserve at Kalamazoo, Mi, Air Zoo, had a fully moveable 'Canard' foreplane, not just the rear surfaces, but the whole of it.
Answer: The SR-71's rudders pivoted without any fixed leading edge, as shown:

Source

Source
The T-38 (along with many other supersonic jets of its era) had a pivoting horizontal stabilizer with no fixed leading edge:

Source
So yes, each of those features asked about can be found in production aircraft. It seems likely that some aircraft sometime even had both, although offhand I don't know which one.
Comment: For example, [Sukhoi Su-57](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-57) has both.
Answer: Many aircraft use an all-moving horizontal tail—with or without an elevator.
Fighter aircraft (F-15, F-22, F/A-18, etc.) often use an all-moving tail without elevators.  This gives superb control authority.  The tool can move at 'fast rate'—as the primary control surface.
Transport aircraft (B737, A320, etc.) often use an all-moving tail with an elevator.  In this case, the tail moves very slowly on a jackscrew—it is moved for trim, with faster rate control still accomplished with the elevator.
There is also a concept called a 'free wing'.  It mounts the wing on a bearing through the aerodynamic center.  The wing is free to pivot independent of the rest of the airframe.  I am unaware of any horizontal or vertical tail that operates in a free-wing type mode.
Answer: In the light aircraft world, plenty of designs use non fixed horizontal tails, called, "stabilators" or "all flying tails" when they first came out. With unpowered controls, you need a means of driving the surface to a particular angle for trim when not holding the stick, and a simple trim tab like you'd use on a regular elevator isn't enough. For that they use an anti-servo tab, whose range of motion relative to the stabilator can be varied by the trim control.
The anti-servo tab will drive the surface to a specific incidence and hold it there, to achieve a desired main wing trimmed angle of attack. Because of the way the tab is linked to the trim actuator, any displacement from that angle causes the tab to move in opposition to the main surface movement, driving it back to its trimmed angle. For example, if the tailing edge of the stabilator moves up from its trimmed angle, the anti-servo tab moves up relative to the trailing edge, providing an opposing (anti) aerodynamic servo restoring force that returns it to its trimmed state. Hence the name.
The anti-servo tab allows you to use the same one-piece all moving surface for stabilization, maneuvering, and trim with unpowered controls. Cessna Cardinals, and the Piper Cherokee line have such horizontal non-fixed tails, among others. Since the stabilizing surface is doing double duty as the maneuvering and trim surface, somewhat less surface area is required than a fixed stabilizer/elevator.
All moving vertical surfaces are less common in General Aviation aircraft, but what springs to mind are the Zenith and Robin designs, that use a one piece all moving rudder with no fixed stabilizer, or a very small one.
The Zeniths/Robins don't use anti-servo tabs to drive the rudder to a trimmed angle; for passive yaw stability, these airplanes rely on sufficient side area of the rear fuselage to keep the aerodynamic center of the fuselage far enough aft of the center of mass to maintain a passive weathervaning tendency.
Comment: Stabilators are great in that the control forces can be tuned by tab gearing & surface area, etc to get the stick force behaviour you want. One downside to them is a bit of hysteresis in the trim state. It results in a bit of a "band" in steady state trim, where the system will tolerate some fraction of a degree of AOA up for down at a given trim setting. When cruising for extended periods in smooth air, you might notice the plane sort of drifts up and down within a small range if you leave it alone. I found the Pipers did that, while my old Cardinal, which had a much larger surface, didn't.
Comment: Just solo'd in a Piper Archer PA28, which has a non-fixed horizontal tai!
Answer: I think fully-flying control surfaces are too common to merit a mention. Especially for supersonic airplanes they are de rigeur.
But there is one design which had a variable-sweep control surface: The Beech Starship. Here, the sweep of the canard surface could be adjusted. This helped to increase canard effectiveness in case of lowered wing flaps, but I doubt that the added weight of the sweeping mechanism could really be offset by any efficiency gain in cruise. Sweeping did, however, improve forward-down visibility.
Burt Rutan first built a 85%-scale model of the design and powered it with two PWC PT-6 turboprop engines, giving it spectacular flight performance. Once the final, much larger design was done and certified, the still two PT-6 only allowed for average performance, certainly not on the level of jets with which the Starship had to compete, and became a major (if forseeable) disappointment for Beech.

Drawing of the variable sweep canard in US patent 4,641,800.
In the end, after only 11 articles had been sold, Beech scrapped the whole program and destroyed all Starships they could get their hand on out of hatred.
Comment: @JohnK I don't know exactly how his wife is related to Raytheon management but that was the story when I visited Beechcraft to see how the Starship is built (they wrapped a mandril of the fuselage with carbon tape and then cut the perfectly fine fuselage in two to get the mandril out ...) and spoke to the engineers. Another line was "this is the only airplane where bending moment is nonzero already at the wingtips ...".
Comment: Yeah what a train wreck. Another fatal flaw not directly related to the canard itself but the pusher layout behind the wheels. Props get chewed to hell by whatever's on the runway (forget about non-paved), and the props can have corrosion issues from the carbon coating from the exhaust (not helped by rock dings that compromise the paint). The Piaggio has the same problems.
Comment: @JohnK This happens when management doesn't listen to the engineers. Since Rutan was the son-in-law of the Beech boss, any criticism was forbidden among the engineers. They even had to copy every construction error from Scaled Composites in the original. On the Starship, for example, one wing was half a percent thicker than the other because of sloppy construction at Scaled Composites.
Comment: I wasn't aware of Rutan having married into the Beech family and the resulting side effects.  Holy crap.
Answer: Burt Ratan's SpaceShipOne is a very odd duck that counts as having "a non-fixed... stabilizer," if you mean "relative to the fuselage," or "fixed", if you mean "relative to the tail boom."

The design features a unique "feathering" atmospheric reentry system where the rear half of the wing and the twin tail booms folds 70 degrees upward along a hinge running the length of the wing; this increases drag while retaining stability.

So while the individual stabilizers are fixed to the tail boom, the tail boom itself is not fixed to the fuselage, and therefore the stabilizers change their orientation relative to the fuselage.
Here it is in the "unfeathered" configuration:

Above image downloaded from Wikipedia.  By Elrondhubble, CC-BY-SA-3.0
And here it is in the "feathered" configuration:

Above image downloaded from Wikipedia.  By Chris857, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Answer: MacCready Gossamer Albatross had a canard surface controlled by servotabs that actually bank left and right the whole canard wing to induce directonal control or yaw. It was free about pitch axis too.
Freedom about this banking or roll axis for canard surface is not a common thing so this may be relevant to this question.
Here are hand drawings including description and materials used.

(source)

(source)
This video shows the canard behaviour.
Answer: The idea seems to have been around for a while. The Wright Flyer used wing warping.


Looking for Second Opinion on New Insulation in Attic

Question: I had someone come take a look at the attic yesterday to do an assessment. He uses the sprayable foam insulation and said that he would spray the ceiling of the attic rather than the floor (and remove the old insulation) and close up the two attic fan vent areas.  He called it a "ventless attic" and I've never heard of this before.  He claims it's safer and better for air circulation.  Has anyone ever heard of this?  Also, does it make sense to remove the old insulation or could it be kept there?  I worry about all the dust and debris it would leave behind upon removal.
Answer: What he's suggesting would be to make the attic inside the building envelope, therefore you'd be heating and cooling the attic along with the house.
You either need insulation at the attic floor or attic ceiling. One or the other is the building envelope. If you google some of the terms you can learn a lot.
If the house is a standard, single open roof I'd vote for keeping the insulation on the floor.
Maybe get a few more opinions?
Comment: warm attic means having to be careful to keep the actual roof cold , or you risk ice dams. Also means having to change how and if you vent the attic. Can be done but it's a distinctly different set of tradeoffs; generally makes sense only if you really want the attic to be heated/cooled space.
Comment: Couldn't one argue that this provides a poor solution in the winter?  When the heat is on the air will rise unfettered all the way to the attic ceiling rather than being insulated at the base and providing warmer conditions below the attic?


How do I enable USB debugging from TWRP

Question: After a series of idiotic events on my parts, I have ended up with full software wiped (including stock os) without USB debugging or any roms to flash. I am able to access TWRP but pretty much nothing else. If details on the events are needed to help, I will gladly disclose them. Immense thanks to anyone who attempts to help.
Comment: I also did not choose internal storage when wiping but chose all other options, but I think even that wiped anyway. I had miui (probably my best bet if I hadn't wiped) as my only flash able ROM.
Answer: Your concern right now should be to flash a working ROM in your device. That can be done easily using TWRP. Connect the device when booted into Twrp to PC, and the PC would see it in MTP mode. You can then copy flashable files to internal storage from PC. TWRP, in addition, comes with USB Debugging enabled, so you can do sideloading as well.
Alternatively, you may have to rely on some MI flashing tools, but I don't have an idea of how they work.
Regardless, if your OS is wiped out there is no point thinking about enabling USB Debugging there, because it cannot help you flashing a new ROM. ROM is flashed only via recovery or low-level boot environments, such as fastboot. Furthermore, the concept of USB Debugging assumes there exists a functioning OS (recovery or fully-fledged Android) which would receive the debugging commands. There exists no Android OS, so it is futile to think about USB Debugging.
Comment: Thank you so much. I just moved a rom back and will see how it turns out. All should go well!

How do I enable USB debugging from TWRP


Why Was Captain Witwicky Exploring The Antarctic?

Question: In Transformers (2007) Captain Witwicky is venturing about the Antarctic. I believe he states he's heading to the Antarctic Circle? On this voyage he stumbles upon Megatron frozen below the ice, but this was not the voyage goal. Why was he exploring the Antarctic to begin with?
Comment: I wouldn't say he stumbled upon Megatron, he fell through the ice by accident.
Comment: I thought he was trying to be the first person to the Arctic Circle?
Answer: Based on his lines in the movie, "That be the smell of treasure, lads.", he was leading an expedition to the arctic circle to look for fame and/or riches. That statement probably shouldn't be taken literal. Treasure probably means "what we've been looking for" which is probably anything scientifically significant which is why expeditions to exotic/remote places take place.
References:

Transformers Wiki
tfwiki

Another statement he made was, "We'll get to the Arctic first, lads! No sacrifice, no victory!" which also suggest a scientific expedition.
Some sources say he wasn't a real captin which would suggest he was leading a scientific expedition instead of a military mission. I'm looking for a solid reference to confirm this.


SOAP API addComment always sends Email

Question: I am using the SOAP API to interact with a Magento 126.96.36.199 installation.
I use the SOAP V2 method salesOrder.addComment to change the status of an existing sales order.
I call the method with all params (sessionid, orderIncrementId, status, comment, notify). I set the param 'notify' to false. But this seems to have no effect. After the call the status of my sales order has changed, I can see the comment in the salesorder comment section and I also see the additional information "Customer Not Notified".
But Magento sends an email anyway!
Why did that happen? Is this an expected behavior because I am changing the state of the sales order?
How can I avoid this behavior that magento sends an email to the customer even if I set the notify flag to false?
Answer: You say:

"I call the method with all params (sessionid, orderIncrementId, status, comment, notify). I set the param 'notify' to false. But this seems to have no effect."

You should set the param 'notify' to '0', not to false.

SOAP API addComment always sends Email


Does the low difficulty for my pool give my miners more guesses per block?

Question: I understand that my chances are better at winning the lottery are better than guessing a block, but humor me please.  If I have a pool with 2 miners will my miners offer more "guesses" at the block hash with a difficulty of 512 than they would with a difficulty of 1024?
Answer: The "difficulty" being given to miners by a pool is used for tracking if the miner is doing useful work that could possibly result in a block, paying out the miner accordingly. The number of attempts a second, the overall income, and the resulting probability of solving a block are unchanged.
Answer: No.
The difficulty roughly means your miners finding a single nonce that results in a block hash that starts with a certain number of zeros.
The Bitcoin network requires a very high difficulty. Of course, it is unlikely any of your miners will actually generate the hash that the Bitcoin network wants. So, instead, you sign up to a mining pool. However, the mining pool needs to gauge how much work your miner is doing. So it asks your miner to try and generate hashes but with a low difficulty threshold. Your miners report these hashes instead, which are easy enough that it will successfully generate them. The pool counts the number of these easier hashes that your miner submits to calculate how much work your miner did, and calculate your fair share of the block.
Lowering the difficulty doesn't change your hash rate. It just changes how often your miner reports proof of it doing work to the pool.
Just by random chance, one of these easy blocks of work will have enough zeros to fulfill the Bitcoin network's difficulty requirement. The pool will submit that one to the network to claim the block reward to distribute to the members of the pool.
Comment: I've got a single 9th/s miner in a private pool and playing with varDiff just for grins. I'm lost on what/how I should set my min/maxDiff values as.  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. @ieatpizza
Comment: I've seen D=H*2.3 (D-Diff, H-hash) as a way of determining max difficulty based on ASIC speed, can anyone confirm or deny this as useful?
Comment: It doesn't matter, it won't change your payout.
Comment: Great answer. I would just nit that mining is "progress-free", so perhaps "how often your miner reports its progress" should be rephrased, e.g. "how often your miner provides proof of doing work".


Is it more accurate to convert t-test statistic to pearson's r or means and SDs to cohen's d to pearson's r when extracting data for a meta-analysis?

Question: I am completing a meta analysis and the common metric I am using is pearson's r. For studies that report comparisons of means rather than correlations should I convert the t-test statistic the author has reported into r using the equations I have seen in many meta-analysis books, or is it more accurate to use the means and standard deviations they have reported in order to calculate cohen's d effect size and then convert this to pearson's r (also well established in the meta analysis literature)?
Answer: I would suggest using biserial correlation, which you can generate from the means and standard deviations.
Check out metafor::escalc(), specifically the argument measure = "RBIS". That will return a biserial correlation and a variance.
I received this advice from the R meta-analysis email list (https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-sig-meta-analysis), which is active and full of very smart people.
You can also check out "Estimation of the biserial correlation and its sampling variance for use in meta-analysis" by Jacobs & Viechtbauer (2017) in Research Synthesis Methods as a reference for this.
When I did a meta-analysis, I then transformed that biserial correlation using the standard r-to-z transformation and used the delta method to transform the variance. Example code for that variance transformation is:
zvar <- function(yi, vi) {
  vi/(1 - yi^2)^2
}

where yi is the biserial correlation and vi is the variance, both returned from metafor::escalc()
Comment: If the study does not report the mean and SD, is it then preferable to calculate r by converting the effect size they have reported (e.g. cohen's d to r) or to calculate r from a significance test value they have reported (e.g. from a t-test)?