Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2009 March 29

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March 29

Going through customs when arriving on the USA, x-rays and metals.

I've been planning a vacation on the US this year, and I'm going to be visiting this friend of mine. I'm hoping to bring with me a couple of sculptures as gifts, but I'm worried about how they will go through customs. The sculptures will be made out of a steel wire skeleton, tin foil for padding and a layer of epoxy on top of it for the final hard crust. I've been wondering what kind of problems that could be at customs.

I suppose one could hide drugs and other crap inside a sculpture in such a fashion, and the densely packed tin foil might look very suspiciously opaque on the x-rays... I don't know much about that, but I do know that I don't want these guys cracking open my handcraft in an unsuccessful search for cocaine or something of the sort. That'd be absolutely terrible!

So, can anyone shed any light on this sort of thing? I have no idea where else to look for this info. There may be better ways to bring it with me, I suppose, but I don't know them. Either way, if there's a huge risk involved, I might even make them entirely of epoxy, or just cast them in some sort of resin (which would be a waste of money and time, since they're supposed to be unique).

Any information on this is much appreciated. Cheers! — Kieff | Talk 04:43, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

The obvious place to look is here [1], the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Support page, but curiously in the 665 'frequently asked questions' there is nothing that comes close to you query. I would suggest accessing this site and placing your query there. When it comes to interfacing with the Customs Department in any country it is much better to get your information from the most reliable source, which may not be some random passing strangers. Richard Avery (talk) 08:28, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

You might also call your local airport and ask how their security will treat you, and if you should reserve extra time for the security check, if they have any packing instructions (they may want to unwrap the objects easily), etc.

Once upon a time I took a small server computer on a plane. Security took me to a back room, where they vacuumed air and dust from inside the computer, and fed the stuff to a chemical analyzer to look for traces of anything nasty. This was pre-9/11 though, I don't know if they would allow that at all any more...

Or you could just FedEx the sculptures. Those guys know what to do. 88.112.62.225 (talk) 11:57, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

Yeah - I agree 100%. They are going to treat these objects with the greatest possible suspicion - at the very least, you can expect to be held up in customs for HOURS while they decide what to do - I would be quite surprised if your sculptures made it through customs intact. FedEx is the answer...no question. SteveBaker (talk) 14:44, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

A few people advised checking with your local (non-US) security, but I can pretty much guarantee that they won't know the answer. Airport security puts a very low value on the detection of drugs. As a security screener once told me, "drugs don't blow up planes". They leave the narcotics work for the foreign customs agency because really, if the drugs are leaving their country it's not their problem. As for slipping it in under the radar, I suggest shipping it independent of your flight. The US government doesn't have the capability to search every piece of cargo, and unless they have reason to suspect the sender/recipient the chances of it even being looked at are very low. Alternatively, you could just break a leg. Plasticup ^T/C 17:02, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

What a complete dumbass to do that. --Whip it! ^{Now whip it good!} 23:38, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

It certainly is a good idea to get in contact with the customs and security areas at your point of entry. It might be possible to let them know in advance that you're travelling with an item that they will consider suspicious. With advance notice and a description of the items you're bringing through (what's in it, how it's constructed, etc.), they are more likely to know how to test it, etc. They may also tell you that it won't be possible to bring it through because of the risk, but at least you'll know in advance. Depending on the sculpture, you might get it under the radar, but it is a risk you would have to calculate. Steewi (talk) 23:59, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

I doubt it. If they X-ray it and find balls of scrunched-up tinfoil - they'll certainly want to know what's scrunched up inside - and they'll destroy the sculpture to find that out if they have to. And there is no way they'll offer special testing services if you simply call in advance! SteveBaker (talk) 00:44, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

Thinking of becoming a self employed debt collector

I have recently been made redundant from my Control Control (Debt Collection) job, which I held for the past 10 years.

I am now thinking of becoming a self employed debt collector. Do you think it is a good idea, taking into consideration the recession etc?

Ideally, I would not like to come face to face with the customer(s) and would prefer to do the collection from home, using the telephone, reminder letters, email and fax etc.

Please advice if that would be a profitable business area & what things I need to take into consideration when starting up.

Finally, how would I be able to get a list of customers to chase payment from? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.12.214.68 (talk) 08:17, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

Be aware that in many locations there are laws against debt collector harassment, which can include things like contacting their employer or relatives in an attempt to get payment. When you were working for a company, they would take on the job of defending anyone who ran afoul of the law, but you would have to make your own arrangements now. Also, if you use your home phone number, street address, and e-mail address, you can expect to get some abuse via those media. You could formerly leave the job behind when you go home, but not any more. StuRat (talk) 13:35, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

So far as I know - in the UK you need to be licenced... or work for a criminal!! But I don't think you can really expect not to have to face up to some very unpleasant people and situations.86.197.174.237 (talk) 15:19, 29 March 2009 (UTC)DT

I wonder if there is a professional association that could help. RJFJR (talk) 16:14, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Yes there is. Our article on debt collector (a redirect to debt collection) has an external link for *ACA International, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. RJFJR (talk) 16:18, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

What type of collecting do you want to do? Collecting person to person is fairly easy if you don't mind doing some illegal threatening. Person collecting from a corporation is difficult if you aren't a lawyer. Corporation collecting from a person isn't bad, but you have to adhere very closely to your customer's collection rules. Corporation to corporation, ie wholesaler collecting from retailor, is probably the least stressful because the retailer wants to keep ordering from the wholesaler. To switch from one mode to another has a learning curve which can best be climbed by working for a company using that mode for a while. Phil_burnstein (talk) 06:39, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

Do you know his name??

I'm looking for the name of a famous philosopher who speculated that nothing can be proven. I can't remember much about him other than he experienced lots of lucid dreams which made him believe that he could never truly know if he was dreaming or awake, and he questioned existence and truth. He's from before the 19th century I think. Many many thanks Teliccts3 (talk) 09:56, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

See Dream argument, probably René Descartes but I might just have dreamt that. Actually I don't remember any of my dreams so it might just be a false memory. Is this really a way to learn anything abut the world? Dmcq (talk) 10:37, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

Yes that's the one, thank you Teliccts3 (talk) 11:05, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

I think I think therefore I might be. Phil_burnstein (talk) 07:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

Multiple flowers on a single Sunflower stem?

Wild sunflowers has been growing on my frontyard for the past three years. This year we have one that has 10 flowers on a single stem is this unusaul? Is there a scientific explanation for this?

FYI. I screen phone call if leaving message please mention sunflower. I will be unswering/returning call if you do.

Thank you?

—Preceding unsigned comment added by TNHS1959 (talk • contribs) 17:52, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

I've deleted your number, we're not going to call you. If you want an answer you'll have to check back here. Adam Bishop (talk) 17:56, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

There are many sunflower varieties, do you know which you have ? StuRat (talk) 18:11, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

The USDA NRCS says "Unlike domestic varieties, wild sunflowers typically bear multiple flower heads per plant." (source), so no, it's not unusual. I imagine the scientific explanation involves cultivated sunflowers being selectively bred to have the desirable single-flower configuration. --Sean 15:02, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

help with finding info on a website

I'm in my mid 20's with a well paying job and want to go to law school someday. could someone direct me to a website that has info. on how I can use a 529 or other strategies to save for my own college expenses, not my progeny's ? Thanks, JIM 173.30.14.113 (talk) 20:45, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

A Google search for 529 leads to a wealth of information. However, using your own savings through a 529 plan is not your only option. There are numerous grant and student loan programs out there. I suggest you contact your local college's admissions or financial assistance office and they will likely direct you to information and college financial planning seminars that would give you far more guidance than we could give you here. -- Tcncv (talk) 22:51, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

I happen to be listening to the education portion of Obama's internet town hall right now. Something tells me that education savings and grant programs are going to look very different in the next year.NByz (talk) 00:36, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

Move to a country with affordable public education? --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 04:17, 30 March 2009 (UTC)