Easy Questions?

[Swatopluk]

But why then, if we very clearly know that the object is there, we so often look past it several times?
Example: a certain book/CD/DVD on a shelf with a plainly visible and readable title. I often search long and without success, although the thing is on the exact shelf were I remembered it to be.
Occasionally the same happens with words in a thesaurus/dictionary.

[pieces o nine]

I'm guessing it has to do with the par of the brain that can't read street signs or building numbers if music is on in the car...

[Sibling DavidH]

Now here's a question which seems to be related: This morning the eye doc said my previously repaired eye is full of floaters.  I know it was, immediately after the op, but I haven't seen any for two weeks or more.  I have to suppose my brain is 'tuning them out', but how can it do that with objects which are constantly moving and changing shape?

[pieces o nine]

Because you never focus on them, so your brain learns to ignore them? If I 'think' floaters, I can see them; otherwise, I don't either.

[Griffin NoName]

Try reading Oliver Sacks "Hallucinations" ~

[Griffin NoName]

Not really science............. but can one copyright one's signature?

[Swatopluk]

I'd say yes. There are signatures that are trademarks, e.g. that of Walt Disney.

http://www.sjmrra.com/disney/images/disney_signature.gif

[Griffin NoName]

 But trademarks aren't the same as copyright. 

[Swatopluk]

But it means that only the holder may use them, so legal protection is possible. What specific kind is beyond my expertise.

[Aggie]

I need some research and/or statistics help on this one:

How do I figure out what percentage of a country's population has a net worth of less than $0? IOW, how many people have more debts than assets?

I'm interested in Canada specifically, but in principal it should be similar to figure it out for other countries.
StatsCan provides some decent data (from 2005) but bases it on "family units":
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/13f0026m/13f0026m2006001-eng.pdf#page=7&zoom=auto,0,73

AFAIK, this leaves out singles and therefore likely is biased to present a rosier picture than might be actually true.  I'd expect young singles in their 20's and older single divorcees to be more likely to have a negative net worth, but the statistics appear to exclude these groups.  There's good political reasons to focus on family groups (and probably better source data), but it doesn't give me an accurate number of how many people have less than zero.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I found some tidbits for the US (and a calculator that confirms what I suspected: I do fall in the negative net worth category).

[Griffin NoName]

I know my net worth - it is beyond rubies

I just worked out in 2014 I should be £136 p.a. better off due to today's budget by the man who's name cannot be said out loud. In reality I will be losing a lot more than that from cuts not mentioned in this budget, which will come into effect also in 2014. Like about £4,000 p.a. - no idea how I shall manage when that happens.

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Why aren't tissues (paper handkerchiefs) coloured?

[Griffin NoName]

Why aren't tissues (paper handkerchiefs) coloured?

Some are, but tend to be pastels.

What''s with this around here where one has to answer one's own questions?


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I have a gold ring set with three tiny gems. I say gold, but I don't think real gold by the price. Last week I moved it to a finger next to a finger with a silver (or other silver looking metal). Now the gold ring looks silver, and not nearly so pretty. I imagine the two metals reacted with each other. Is there any way I can turn it back into gold (or rather whatever not real gold it was) ?

[Aggie]

It's likely that the ring had a thin electroplated layer of gold over it, and has worn off from rubbing against the other ring, assuming it's only that part of it (?).  It might need to be replated.

Oh, and me paper handkerchiefs tend to be coloured, but only after use. 

[Opsa]

It's simple, really. Just become Catholic and take it to Lourdes.