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The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.
Re: Do the IBM Watson videos with the different robots still exist, or are they gone?
Over a decade ago, I once saw some videos that featured several fictional robots that were each interested in doing something that Watson could already do. In each video, one of the robots was interviewed. For example, one video showed a robot talking about how it wants to help improve air quality in Beijing, to which the interviewer responds that Beijing's smog problem is "a bit more complicated than that". In another video, another robot talks about how "Back in my day, vacuum tubes were" and I forget the rest of what it said, but I hope you get the idea. – MrPersonHumanGuy (talk) 15:36, 1 May 2024 (UTC)
Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus. Relisting comment: I've seen this done with RfD discussions, so I don't see why I shouldn't try to do a similar thing with my unanswered Reference Desk question. (though I can see how this would be annoying if someone were to continuously repeat questions that have already received plenty of responses) Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, ~~~~
If no one can answer my question at the moment, then I need to know that. Total silence isn't always a helpful way to get that point across.
My best guess is that nobody else scrolling through this page was familiar with the particular videos I was trying to describe. – MrPersonHumanGuy (talk) 21:20, 9 June 2024 (UTC)
It is, however, not more than a guess. I guess that nobody who saw this question knows for certain that nobody who saw this question can answer it, so no one of us can reply, "No one here can answer your question." One might reply, "Perhaps nobody seeing this question can answer it." This might be added to any question that has gone unanswered. A bot might even automatically add this to any question when it is posted, so we don't need to do this. --Lambiam 07:07, 10 June 2024 (UTC)
I thought the question was odd. I don't recall ever seeing these videos, and for the most part, I keep on top of some of this stuff (I take a few months off from popular culture and media every year for my own health, so I do end up missing some things). Was this video only seen in China? Viriditas (talk) 20:05, 10 June 2024 (UTC)
I'm not sure how any RefDesk editor can be expected to know that other editors don't know the answer to a question. Alansplodge (talk) 11:53, 12 June 2024 (UTC)
We are discouraged from guessing, speculating, and other forms of shooting the breeze. Even an editor stating that they do not know the answer is of no value to an OP, who is interested only in hearing from those who do know the answer. So if nobody who's seen the question knows the answer, silence is what the OP is going to get. Another possibility is that someone who's seen the question does have the answer or at least some pertinent information, but has neither the time nor the interest in providing same, and is either assuming that some other editor will come along soon and help the OP out, or perhaps doesn't care either way. In no case are they going to actually type: "I have the answer/some relevant information but do not have the time or interest in providing them", because if they could type that, they could just as easily have provided the answer itself. So, again, silence is what the OP is going to be getting. So, an assumption that silence always means that nobody who's seen the question knows the answer, is not justified. A bot might usefully say: "Your question has not attracted any answers so far. This may be for a range of reasons, including but not limited to: Nobody who has seen the question knows the answer." -- Jack of Oz 21:09, 17 June 2024 (UTC)
It could have been. Digital displays were common by then. I doubt you'll find a reference for such a trivial question. Shantavira|feed me 08:20, 10 June 2024 (UTC)
By 1980, digital watches were cheap enough that anyone could buy one. I got my first one in 1979. By 1983, they were so common and cheap that they began coming out with digital watches that also had games on them like PacMan. So, not only could he have had a digital watch, he could have had a digital watch with a soccer game built into it. 75.136.148.8 (talk) 15:11, 10 June 2024 (UTC)
Zooming in on some of the better images, it looks a bit like a Swatch, which was launched in the spring of that year, but it's hard to be certain. Alansplodge (talk) 18:15, 10 June 2024 (UTC)reply
It looks like an analog watch to me. If I were a referee I would not like a digital display without seconds pointer that rounds off to the nearest whole minute and I get too much real soccer to need more pretend soccer game.Philvoids (talk) 10:16, 12 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I agree it's analogue. It is much quicker and easier to read an analogue watch. It's difficult enough to keep an eye on the action at the same time as timekeeping. Shantavira|feed me 10:53, 12 June 2024 (UTC)reply
"It is much quicker and easier to read an analogue watch" Wouldn't that vary from person to person? --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 18:49, 12 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Why do you assume that a digital watch wouldn't indicate seconds? I had a digital watch back then that could show hours, minutes, and seconds. And could also display the date or function as a stopwatch. (Not to mention that it could also transform into a toy robot.) --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 18:48, 12 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I made no such categorical assumption and like not the provocative Straw man questioning. As a referee watching the conduct of 22 soccer players I would be merely irritated by a watch that keeps flashing ..53 54 55 56 57 58.. seconds, that threatens to turn into a toy robot or that shows phases of the Moon, whether you could buy such watches in 1983 or not. Philvoids (talk) 08:46, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
OK, now that I've clarified where this question is coming from, here it is again: if the Federal Reserve was abolished, what effect would it have on the money supply? My educated guess as a non-expert is that it would greatly decrease the money supply -- is that correct? 2601:646:8082:BA0:E19D:4C11:C950:1DA8 (talk) 03:44, 11 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Money is not created by the Federal Reserve, which is a system, but by banks providing credit to customers. I assume that "abolishing the Federal Reserve" also removes the banking regulation and supervision assigned by law to the Federal Reserve, and thereby the capital requirement that is meant to ensure that banks do not overextend the credits granted and remain solvent, that is, can honour their obligations to depositors. As the brakes are removed, the immediate effect is most likely a huge influx of newly created, easy money. The FDIC will be unable to keep providing deposit insurance, which depends on the assumption that the banks are regulated. Some banks will fail spectacularly and take others with them, and as depositors see their deposits are not safe they will want to see cash – bank runs will ensue. As banks go serially belly up and the economy contracts to a depression that becomes world-wide, the money that was abundantly available will dry up. --Lambiam 05:50, 11 June 2024 (UTC)reply
The abolition of the Fed would only arise under extreme political circumstances that cannot be ignored in favor of a purely economic answer, except in some fantasy world. In that world, the author would decide what would make a good story. In the real world, the most likely outcome would be a combination of hoarding and skyrocketing inflation, arising from a comprehensive loss of faith in both institutions and the currency. DOR (ex-HK) (talk) 17:08, 11 June 2024 (UTC)reply
There are people who actually advocate the idea. Which is better, to ignore them, because they live in a fantasy world, or explain why this is maybe not the best idea, as long as the economy is still based on money? --Lambiam 19:22, 11 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Sorry for the late reply (I was busy with other political stuff which mainly had to do with defending Israel and denouncing Hamas sympathizers as the terrorists they are) -- yes, I'm asking this question because me and my followers want to formulate an argument against abolishing the Fed and in favor of keeping it, but we want to make an argument based on national security considerations rather than purely economic ones! (And for how the money supply affects national security, see Balance of trade and Autarky, first and foremost!) 2601:646:8082:BA0:180E:97CC:ADFB:D01C (talk) 08:45, 16 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Hi, I'm looking for tarot decks by renowned illustrators to print. Hebrew letter inclusion a plus.
Temerarius (talk) 15:12, 12 June 2024 (UTC)reply
There are loads of images on Commons that are identified as being "Tarot". The image quality varies a lot, but it's a free option to start your search. Matt Deres (talk) 19:55, 12 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Enemies with wallrunning in single-player first-person shootersedit
I already saw the scrapped Pilot AI for Titanfall 2 single-player campaign many times and I wonder why that such thing were cut from TF|2 campaign and are there other first-person shooter single-player games where players have wallrunning ability and there are also enemies that have same abilities as you including wallrunning (much like the Evolved from Prototype 2 has similar set of abilities to the player)? And what is most difficult part for wallrunning in enemy AI to implement in a hypothetical singleplayer campaign of third Titanfall installment? 2001:448A:3070:E47D:A9C7:4A5A:80E5:29EF (talk) 11:14, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
ISO 7010 gives standards for signs. It includes prohibition signs (red border circles, most with a diagonal strikeout); Warning signs (red border triangles); Mandatory signs (blue circles); and emergency signs. Is there a standard for "Permissive signs"? (Eg the oppositite of "No dogs" being "Dogs are permitted" rather than "Dogs are required"? -- SGBailey (talk) 17:04, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
ISO 7010 does not explicitly use the term "permissive signs", it does standardize a category of green "safe condition" signs that convey permitted or allowed actions. These signs typically have a green background with a white symbol or text. The design principles for these permissive symbols are outlined in ISO 3864-3,12 --136.54.106.120 (talk) 20:44, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
A green-background sign of a person showering does not mean "Showering permitted here", just like a sign EXIT does not mean one is granted permission to leave. These signs are meant to facilitate safety actions in case of emergency situations. Using signs that are similar in design to convey permitted or allowed actions not related to safety will dilute the intended signalling function of the ISO 7010 standard. --Lambiam 06:47, 14 June 2024 (UTC)reply
In free countries, at least, the lack of a warning or prohibiting sign would imply permission. ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 21:10, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
However there are some situations - buildings, locations - where a sign could contradict assumptions, saying something like "photography permitted", "firearms permitted on premises", "designated smoking area", or "nude beach". Just in case anybody was being too meek. Card Zero (talk) 22:06, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
In those cases, there is no lack of a sign. I'm reminded of an old story: A guy's looking for a parking space. He sees a bunch of parked cars. He asks a cop, "Can I park there?" The cop says, "No." The guy says, "What about those others?" The cop says, "They didn't ask." ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 22:49, 13 June 2024 (UTC)reply
In the Highway Code, rectangular blue signs convey information. The signs you see on the approaches to roundabouts are rectangular - blue for motorways, green for primary routes, white for local routes. See 3. 2A00:23D0:492:6301:40F:D36D:A5E5:18CB (talk) 15:13, 14 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Thinking of traffic signs in Europe (which are either basedon ISO or the other way around), that's the rule's the same here. If it's not prohibited by law or sign, it's allowed. There are only a few signs/signage that specifically mean allowed. For example, you can cross the street on a zebra crossing or a green light or you can just keep walking on your side. Or there's a square blue sign for recommended speed (I've only ever seen it painted on the pavement in city downtowns in situations where it's useless). There are also yellow lanes here marked for example BUS TAXI, which means that buses and taxis can drive there and no one else, but buses and taxis can obviously drive in other lanes too.
Of all signs except like stop signs these are the most ignored. People cross streets on red or walk next to zebra crossings, ignore recommended speeds in cars. Regular cars take shortcuts on taxi lanes and even public transport only lanes. Even ubers and similar drivers don't know that not all yellow lanes are for taxis (at least the 5-6 I've asked). Prohibitions and requirements seem to work better unless you just don't care (none of this creates noticeable problems in traffic as much as people bitch about it). 31.217.10.156 (talk) 00:38, 18 June 2024 (UTC)reply
ISO 7001 includes a sign for "smoking allowed". It doesn't seem to have one for "dogs allowed". PF 015: Smoking area or smoking allowedAlmostReadytoFly (talk) 14:07, 17 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Smoking allowed is the image on a square white borderless sign (judging by looking at the image on this page). So maybe dogs are permitted would be the dog image on a white borderless square sign? -- SGBailey (talk) 19:27, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Welcome. What is your question? RudolfRed (talk) 17:52, 15 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Yes, sorry I was not precise. If you look towards 12 o'clock in the picture (upwards) there seems to be something that looks like an electronic scoreboard, that's my impression. Or maybe it actually wasn't there and still needed to be installed? Because you can't really see much. Thank you.
This British manufacturer says that their wooden cutlery is made "from natural Birch Wood that is fully sustainable and FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified". According to this, China, Vietnam and Russia are the leading exporters of birch, with Germany being the leading EU exporter, although their output seems to be in the form of decorative veneers. Alansplodge (talk) 20:28, 18 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Why doesn't the "film template" include a section on age ratings or sequels and prequels?edit
~ ~ ~
This is a question that has been on my mind for several years. It would also be interesting to include sequels and prequels for navigation, and age classifications for added security.
Has there ever been a time when these details were included?
The earliest discussion I've found of prequels and sequels in the infobox was WT:WikiProject Film/Archive 1#Movie sequels in the infobox .. in 2005, but there was no resolution. I'm guessing both of these questions have been discussed many times since: please search the archives of that WikiProject talk page. ColinFine (talk) 21:13, 20 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Age ratings can change over time, and will tend to vary from region to region. Wikipedia is not censored for content, so I wonder what "added security" you're referring to? ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 01:06, 21 June 2024 (UTC)reply
You don't say which template, so I am going by {{Infobox film}}. That documention page explains why that infobox does not include the film's rating, and suggests that information should be in the article body instead. There is also a link to the discussion where prequels and sequels were removed from this infobox in 2011. RudolfRed (talk) 03:44, 21 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I have a copy of J K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone printed in 1997 and another edition "published in September 2014". The penultimate leaf of the later volume includes this information:
There are other fractional platforms at King's Cross station (try seven and a half for a trip to wizard-only villages in Europe).
On the concourse yesterday I looked down the length of platforms 7 and 8 but didn't spot anything unusual. Do the books make reference to fractional platforms other than 9 3/4, where it was business as usual yesterday? 89.240.112.24 (talk) 12:41, 22 June 2024 (UTC)reply
These platforms have been closed as a result of BREXIT! Even wizards can't handle the confusion... Try gate 7 1/2 at London City Airport for hourly departures of quddiches to the Black Forest and other destinations. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 14:04, 22 June 2024 (UTC)reply
The publication of the Harry Potter novels, and especially their unexpected popularity leading to much Muggle curiosity about wizard affairs, caused great consternation at the Ministry of Magic. As a result, major changes have been made to those processes revealed by J. K. Rowling so that the Muggle world would not learn more. I find the recent reappearance of a steam locomotive, of a type that was last seen in 1965, very significant, and its supposed back story most suspicious. I mean, who - in this ecological day and age - is going to build a brand new coal-guzzling museum piece? However, to go any further would be WP:SPECULATION. See also JKR's Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide for further information on London King's Cross. -- Verbarson talkedits 22:20, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
There is a theory I rarely see discussed, that attributes the lack of democracy in modern China and Russia, and the emphasis on violence and brutality, as part of the cultural inheritance of Genghis Khan that neither country has ever been able to shake. Is there an element of truth to this, that helps explain the continuing tradition of autocracy in that region, or is this a kind of pseudohistory? Viriditas (talk) 00:32, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I cannot see how this can be discussed without breaching "We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate." 01:48, 23 June 2024 (UTC)
If there are history textbooks that address the idea, we could legitimately point to them and even summarise their theses. Something akin to it is utilised in the background setting of Donald Kingsbury's 1986 near-future science fiction novel The Moon Goddess and the Son, so it's been around for a while. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 151.227.226.178 (talk) 02:05, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I think I found part of the answer attributed to historian Moshe Gammer. Katherine A. Maximick at the University of Victoria cites Gammer, writing "The Mongol conquest has been accused of disrupting the development of Russian culture and society, and the Mongols and Tatars blamed for Russia's backwardness compared to the rest of Europe." Is this considered a legitimate historical explanation? Yes or no? And do historians say the same for China? Or to put it another way, if the Mongol invasions and conquests didn't occur, how different would the world look today, particularly in regards to China and Russia, and their relationship with Europe and the west? Or to put it yet another way, can we point to Genghis Khan as the cause of our current geopolitical predicament? Viriditas (talk) 02:16, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
The article about Khan says he's reviled in Russia. Meanwhile, today's featured article leads to an article about the Komagata Maru incident, which was barely a century ago. Were the brutal British colonialists also influenced by Khan? ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 02:18, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Sorry, not following you. Surprisingly, there are current academic books and papers out there that blame British Imperialism for just about everything. Viriditas (talk) 02:22, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
In general, autocracy and brutality have been the norm throughout history. Democracy is exceptional. ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 02:45, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I’m aware. The question is why? Viriditas (talk) 03:02, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
The rule of law is supposed to act as a check on autocracy and brutality. Viriditas (talk) 03:46, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
The key word here is "supposed". --Lambiam 07:56, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
In China, Genghis Khan is often seen as the creator of China as a unified nation, even though the Song dynasty was only conquered after his death. In any case, the view is generally positive. --Lambiam 08:11, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I have never seen that expressed in any Chinese source. Nor – until today, right at the top of this thread – that anything (actual, supposed, or imputed) about modern China originated with Genghis Khan. Folly Mox (talk) 11:49, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
There’s some info over at Poetry of Mao Zedong lending weight to what Lambiam was saying, but these may be older ideas from another generation: "Genghis Khan, whom the Chinese celebrate as the founder of the Yuan dynasty despite him never personally conquering China.” FWIW, Mao apparently killed more people in China than Khan. Viriditas (talk) 12:18, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Did the Mongol conquest disrupt China’s development? Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty in 1271. Without that, there would have been a different development that likely would have excluded Zheng He’s exploratory voyages and the incorporation of Mongolia into the empire. The Yuan was a time of great literary and artistic progress, as well as contact with Western, south Asian, and Middle Eastern empires. Religious diversity flourished, and China’s advances in science out-ran those of other parts of the world for several centuries. Hence, the short answer would appear to be no. DOR (ex-HK) (talk) 00:39, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Thank you. I have several followup questions:
Zheng He was originally Muslim. Given the history of Islam in China, how is it that they have swung in the opposite direction, to the now-prevalent, anti-Islam attitudes? Is this more of a reaction to political Islam and its associated threats, or something else? Also, from a non-Chinese POV, how are the threats of political Islam all that different from the threats of the Chinese Communist Party in the 20th century? Don't both ideologies use the same kind of violence and brutality to achieve their goals? From where I stand, they seem almost identical in their means and methods.
Looking at the Yuan dynasty, we see that western medicine was opposed. This doesn't sound like "great progress". It also looks like religious diversity wasn't exactly flourishing as much as we are told. Islamic and Jewish practices were banned, Buddhism was upheld as the state religion, particularly the more superstitious and mystical form of Tibetan Buddhism, rather than the more philosophical and secular variants that were known. The class system was promoted, with ethnic minorities being treated terribly, with class being centered around concepts related to submission. This is the opposite of the western, democratic, egalitarian tradition. Viriditas (talk) 21:49, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
What is the best way for me to get signatures for a petition?edit
I made a petition a while ago to bring a US business over to the UK. I am annoyed, as I can’t seem to figure out how to get people to sign it. It’s driving me crazy, and I’ve been in danger for getting into trouble for spam. How on earth am I meant to do this? I don’t have many friends on social media, and I am not very good at using it. How do I reach out to people? Thank you. Pablothepenguin (talk) 18:24, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
You need to know your audience. Where would you most likely find the people who would sign your petition? See market research. Viriditas (talk) 19:37, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
For the background to this question, see here. --Viennese Waltz 21:23, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Ok, that was very helpful. Pablothepenguin, now that I have more information about your problem, there is good news and bad news. The bad news first: give up on the idea of petition for this, as you are using a butter knife to try and bring down a dinosaur. It's not the right tool for the job. Now for the good news: you sound like just the person who is a self-starter and willing to run their own business. You know what you want to do, but now all you need is a roadmap to make it happen. First thing you are going to need is a business plan. Your town will also have resources to help you, such as small-business associations, etc. In my specific area, there are yearly stipends available for certain kinds of businesses, but they usually aren't very much. For example, my state is trying to promote farming by offering land and cash, but it's pretty tough because you have to move and start from scratch. Anyway, there are also business incubator communities that you will want to join and get to know people in the network. I know, you said you aren't good face to face, but this is a way for you to learn. As for social media, check out the incredible, worldwide success of a young baker like Kitty Tait at the Orange Bakery. She's a hero to a lot of people, and you might want to check her out and her community online. I find her story inspirational. Those are the kinds of people you can learn from here. Viriditas (talk) 21:39, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
You sound too much like a shill. Could someone please direct me to a more reliable source of information? Pablothepenguin (talk) 21:50, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
For courtesy, you can find the petition here: www.change.org/MenchiesUK Pablothepenguin (talk) 21:52, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Yes, I'm shilling for Big Bread in the UK. All the way from Hawaii. Good luck with your future endeavors. Viriditas (talk) 21:53, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I wasn’t talking about that, I was talking bout all the nonsense about running my own business. Pablothepenguin (talk) 21:58, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
What part of it is nonsense? It's the same advice you were given in the other discussion. Reach out to the business community and network with them. Have a great day! Viriditas (talk) 22:01, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
But I can’t do that. I’m too busy being poor and I don’t understand business technobabble. Pablothepenguin (talk) 22:03, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Great. That's an opportunity for you to start learning. Recognize your flaws and deficiencies, and move forward by addressing them. Welcome to the business world. Viriditas (talk) 22:05, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Why are you so keen on me getting into business? I’m not trying to start my own business you know, I just want to address an injustice in my country. One that offends me so greatly, I can’t even focus on my normal work. Pablothepenguin (talk) 22:07, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
When you perceive that there is a lack of something and someone needs to do something, you are very often the best person for the job. Congratulations on your new position as CEO. Viriditas (talk) 22:11, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I do need to raise awareness of this issue. It is eating at me and I’m not very happy these days because of it. Pablothepenguin (talk) 22:14, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Well, to get back to Kitty Tait up above, you might want to check out her book Breadsong. She was in the same boat as you until she started baking. Viriditas (talk) 22:19, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
And before I forget, check out the inspirational story of Katie Fahey, one woman who changed the entire state of Michigan. You can do this. Viriditas (talk) 22:29, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Thank you very much for the positive comments. I really do appreciate them. For the sake of clarity, I will remind you that I see a great injustice in the world that breaks my brain. How can it be that there are tonnes of self-serve froyo places in the US, but I always have to ask a complete stranger to serve me in my locale? That’s the problem. Pablothepenguin (talk) 22:41, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I do not know a lot about online petitions, but I do know something about franchising. I think it is doubtful that an online petition would make a difference. Have you been in touch with the company? Your first step (and perhaps you have already taken this) should be to reach out to the company to let them know that there is interest in the UK, and particularly in your area, in being able to patronize their outlets. Moving into a new country is a big and expensive decision, and learning that there is already interest is reassuring.
Evidence of that interest will help your case. But an online petition is not very good evidence, since an online petition can be signed from anywhere. That said, if the company tells you that there is a particular kind of evidence they are looking for, you might be able to act on that. John M Baker (talk) 22:49, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I’ve just done that. I hope I can make a difference here. My sanity depends on it. My will to live is still just fine, but I sometimes worry it will weaken if I don’t see change soon. Pablothepenguin (talk) 22:56, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
You should consider opening up your own froyo shop. Where I live, they do very well, provided there are tourists to buy them. And that's really what it comes down to for you as well. In business, this is called "foot traffic" (also geographic location). Combine these metrics with a good product and experience, and you have the recipe for success. Based on what John M. Baker said, you could contact the company and go from there. My guess is that they may want to hire you to help open a store. BTW, I kind of like "Ride or Die Froyo" as a potential name for a new business. It's catchy, memorable, and attracts a younger customer base. Just my two cents... Viriditas (talk) 23:01, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
It is hard, I’ve got a lot of other projects to work on. Projects, such as becoming a fine music producer, composing songs for commercial and kids’ entertainment, and sorting out my living arrangements. I am a very sensitive person, who just can’t stand the idea of the ice cream machine being locked away in a staff only area. Pablothepenguin (talk) 23:04, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
What was the company's response when you reached out to them? John M Baker (talk) 23:12, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I’ve only just sent to them. It will be a while yet for a response. Pablothepenguin (talk) 23:13, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Well, I would not waste time on a Change.org petition. Are there local bulletin boards in your area that neighbors can use to connect? I'm thinking of something like Nextdoor. You could try posting something about the advantages of this kind of frozen yogurt shop and see if you get any responses. If several people post that, yes, they would love to see something like this, giving their own reasons and experiences, you could let the company know about that, so they could tell that it is not just one enthusiast's views. If the response is less positive, no need to bring the discussion to the company's attention. John M Baker (talk) 23:22, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Best thing I found is local Facebook pages. Pablothepenguin (talk) 23:43, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
It seems like it can’t hurt to post something there. Probably best to be clear that this is not something you want to start (you have other vocational goals - no need to jump immediately into what they are), but something you want to see and patronize. John M Baker (talk) 23:53, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
BTW, in case you haven't heard of it, one of the most interesting hyper-small business, ice cream success stories in recent years is CVT Soft Serve. It's surprising they don't have their own article. Keep in mind, they are your antagonists, as they are vociferously anti-froyo, but it's important to be aware of their business model.4 Frankly, it's fascinating, so take some time to explore their website. They started with a simple food truck (you should seriously consider this), and have expanded to frozen products in the supermarket freezer aisle, and full-service machines. They also do major catering events. Their success is due to diversification into multiple revenue streams. Viriditas (talk) 23:14, 23 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I think that a petition to Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is unlikely to help in bringing Menchie's to the UK. Who you need to convince are potential franchisees, not the franchisor. One reason people may not sign your petition is that they are not familiar with Menchie's and do not know why they should take your word for how great it is. But even if ten thousand people sign it, potential franchisees will not be aware of it. --Lambiam 05:12, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Thank you for your insights here. Now, I just need to track down potential franchisees. Any advice for that? Pablothepenguin (talk) 17:11, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
You were given advice on that back in February, in the discussion I linked to above. We seem to be going round in circles here. --Viennese Waltz 18:11, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Where are the franchisees? Why can’t anyone on this huge wiki tell me where on earth these people can be found? The February post didn’t manage to figure this out, so could you please think hard about this? Could someone please find me some business contacts in Scotland and England? That’s all I ask for. Pablothepenguin (talk) 18:41, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Where are the potential franchisees? That's exactly what the franchisor would like to know. Existing franchisees, of course, it presumably knows about in detail. But there is no way of knowing for sure which motivated individuals may come forward and be willing to act as franchisees.
To be sure, there are websites, franchise brokers, conventions, etc., that people considering becoming franchisees may use, so there actually are some ways to approach potential franchisees. But for you to do that on your own, effectively acting as a marketing manager for Menchie's, seems like a big task. And it won't even help if Menchie's is not yet ready to go into the UK market. That's why I suggested that you focus on approaching them for now. Let them do the heavy lifting of finding franchisees. John M Baker (talk) 21:08, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I don’t know for certain, but the fact that they’re doing fine in Canada speaks volumes. The UK seems like the next logical step in the progression. Culturally and economically, it is closer to the US than any other country in the world, excepting Canada and possibly certain Caribbean and Pacific Island countries. Certainly there is a lot of commonality when considering food. I note that the UK has always been a high ticket item for US food franchise people. It just makes sense. The fact that they have a couple of Middle Eastern locations tells us that distance is not likely to be an issue for them.
I do acknowledge that the business is still relatively young, what with some US food franchises dating back as far as the 1950s and possibly earlier. I also notice that most businesses that come to the UK from the US are generally 30 years old or more, so perhaps it just takes time. I really think the UK needs this, there isn’t a proper frozen dessert chain here, and that market gap should be filled. I am determined to do everything in my power to help this process along.
I’m sure Menchie’s could fit very well into the UK food scene, and I would imagine that places such as Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Liverpool and more would really enjoy such a thing. The main issue that a lot of countries have is getting the post-Covid economic turbulence out of the way. With the virus receding in our rear-view mirror, this will come soon, perhaps by 2026. The main signs of improvement will be sustained low inflation figures and national interest rates, which currently stand very high, being cut down.
I’m not pretending to understand the extremely complicated world of business and economics; all I can do is weigh in with my two cents. So, I will conclude by saying that getting Menchies in the UK by 2030 is my main priority, and I’m sure that could happen, I will also apologise for the extreme length of this post. Pablothepenguin (talk) 22:15, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Icelandic cod per part of fish and chips, recipe is sold in Iceland.edit
Per the talk page, and my "unsuccessful" attempt in adding Iceland under "Other countries", I decided to make a "valid point", and make a comment. In quote, "Last year, I took a trip to Iceland and only visited the Southern part of the country. Throughout my time there, I have noticed that restaurants and food trailers do in fact serve fish and chips, per part of the Icelandic cod. However, I highly recommend doing some deep searching for sources to prove this, unless you can spend some time yourself going to the country or do similar search results to find out this reliability. Also consider expanding into looking for more countries that house this recipe." So, I need some justification on this, and I'd like to know how hard it is to find a source for this matter. Ｍｏｄ ｃｒｅａｔｏｒ 🏡🗨📝 03:08, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I don't understand the use of the preposition per in "per part" and "per their Icelandic cod". --Lambiam 03:42, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Personal experience is never acceptable as a source for information in a Wikipedia article, but if you can find a reliable published source which verfifies your experience, you can of course add a summary of what that source says.
As for how hard it is to find a source: I guess that depends on whether the sources exist and how readily available. Most people start looking for sources by googling. Maybe somebody at WT:WikiProject Iceland can point you at a source. (The project is "not very active", but the talk page still gets some attention). ColinFine (talk) 09:43, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
How about this blog from an Icelandic travel agency or this from Iceland's self-proclaimed "biggest, best and most widely read English-language publication"? AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:18, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Blogs are almost never acceptable - only if the blogger is a recognised authority on the topic of the blog. But the Grapevine piece looks OK to me - it's got a byline, and the site has an editor-in-chief, and specifically says that it is not sponsored content. ColinFine (talk) 22:20, 24 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Miscellaneous Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia.
It looks like an analog watch to me. If I were a referee I would not like a digital display without seconds pointer that rounds off to the nearest whole minute and I get too much real soccer to need more pretend soccer game.Philvoids (talk) 10:16, 12 June 2024 (UTC)
