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May 22

OPEC/economics question

I've just read in an article that: "with oil at $200 a barrel, OPEC could potentially buy Bank of America in one month worth of production, Apple computers in a week and General Motors in just three days." Is that true? Thanks for information.--AlexSuricata (talk) 00:53, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

According to OPEC, they produce 30,451,000 barrels of oil a day. At $200 a barrel, that's $6,090,200,000 (six billion) a day. I'm not exactly sure how you would define "buying". Maybe how much it would cost to buy a majority share? I wouldn't know how to determine that. Paragon12321 (talk) 04:06, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Also, that assumes that the 200$/barrel prices are pure profit; one of the most common arguments for high gas prices is that oil companies require them to continue exploration, extraction, and development which are very costly. --Haemo (talk) 09:24, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

According to bloomberg.com, General Motors' market cap was $10.7billion, so it would take two days (assuming demand doesn't decrease). Note also that the number of days (only) doubles if the oil price is $100 and here's a frightening headline: Oil Rises Above $135 as OPEC Says It's Powerless to Stop Rally. Zain Ebrahim (talk) 14:32, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

youtube etc

there are many pirate copies of many songs posted in youtube. Even though we may not get into legal trouble by watching those videos, will we get bad karma and because of that suffer in the next birth or later in this birth? Or is it that music piracy is not a big sin? or is it a big sin? how do music owners think? do music companies and music artists serious about piracy? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.92.126.55 (talk) 00:59, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

That's a lot of questions. The answers to the first few questions depend which religion, if you have one at all, you believe in and your interpretation of its rules. I'd need more information to answer those. As for the last two, the RIAA takes piracy very seriously. However, they tend to focus on the pirates, not the people watching them. Paragon12321 (talk) 03:56, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I don't know if it qualifies as bad karma, but this is my experience: listening to illegal copies of music has often resulted in getting interested in something I didn't know before and, in the long run, buying a lot of music I would not have bought otherwise. So I'm not consumed by guilt. DAVID ŠENEK 09:08, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

If you make decisions that are simply based on fear of suffering as a result of "getting" bad karma, isn't that a sign you've already got bad karma?--Wetman (talk) 18:59, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

In the UAE you would be executed if you publicly say "I'm gay"?

My brother is homosexual and I am really worried. He will go to the UAE; he will not publicly say he's gay but many of his co-workers know it. I don't know all of them and I'm afraid... perhaps; one of them is a bad person and reports him to the Justice. I have read that being homosexual in the UAE is punishable by death. My question is: In the UAE is illegal... being homosexual.. or ..being homosexual and have homosexual sex?. I hope you understand me. Maru-Spanish (talk) 01:59, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I think I get it. According to LGBT rights in United Arab Emirates, it seems like the law says sodomy, actual sex, not just homosexuality. From what I can tell, it depends from Emirate to Emirate, but sodomy can technically carry the death penalty. However, it seems that this may just be a mistranslation of the Arabic law. It can definitely get jail time. In countries like these, the best defense is discretion. I wish the best for your brother. Paragon12321 (talk) 03:51, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Something related to this actually happened; it was on 20/20, and here is a news story. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:29, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

::Does UAE law apply to foreign workers? Julia Rossi (talk) 07:30, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

This must have been an edcon – only just now read adam's article. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:12, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

If you say "I'm gay", you'd probably get weird stares. Not many people there understand English.--Goon Noot (talk) 23:51, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

No. Over 80% of the Emerati population are non-citizen foreigners, most of whom use English as a lingua franca. Law enforcement officers particularly will be versed in English. Ninebucks (talk) 22:48, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Murder?

I was just reading Quintinshill rail crash, specifically the part about how the signalmen could have been charged in either England or Scotland. What if events went the other direction? If I shot someone in England, and they staggered across the border into Scotland before expiring, would I be guilty of anything beyond "unlawful discharge of a firearm"? --Serie (talk) 09:15, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

You could be charged with all kinds of offences, including murder, although without knowing exactly what happened we can't say that you would be, or even that you did anything unlawful. One potential crime clearly lies wholly within England. However, "unlawful discharge of a firearm" is a US offense, not an English one. Xn4 10:11, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Ah, but did you shoot him with an arrow, and was he a Scot? [1] Gwinva (talk) 22:16, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

i Want an 3 page article on topic 'Birds-Feathered Friends,

59.94.152.253 (talk) 09:15, 22 May 2008 (UTC)please ans it i have to put it down in my Project File ,any how within 2 days... i cant find it in Wiki.... It should include details about

1-Birds Human Relations in early as well as in modern century

2-Man opininion on Birds

3-their migration

4-Birds feeds

5-Birds Baths

6-Bird Lovers ex:Salim ali from India

7-Their Development

8-Mans love towards them

Thats allll...

Please! ans my ques. within 2 days otherwise i would be beaten by my Teacher for not completing my Homework!!

Sweet questions. I love birds. However, we can't do your homework for you, although we can give you a few pointers. Have a look at our articles on ornithology (the scientific study of birds) and birdwatching, they might help. However, your teacher would also not be very happy if you copy parts of those articles exactly as they appear here into your project file. You should read the articles, follow the links, find as much information as you can and write the answers in your own words. Good luck, --Richardrj ^{talk email} 09:23, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

A couple of more things to look at Domestication, Domestic animal, Hunting, Game (food), Falconry, Cormorant fishing, Pigeon keeping, Peafowl, Dinosaur, Feather. It helps to know that birds are sometimes called "fowl". Busted! at least Bird migration Bird bath and Bird food you could have found right off. For your last question just sit yourself down and think of all the birds in stories, cartoons, movies, songs, video games and on TV. That alone should get you at least a full page.71.236.23.111 (talk) 20:19, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

You should also be aware that, unless your teacher is quite stupid, she will know if you copy your homework from the internet, and you will not get credit for it. Instead, read the articles, take notes about the information you can use, and then write your own article. The process of doing that will help you learn much more, which is the ultimate goal of being in school, right? -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 11:20, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Nineteenth Century China

Does anyone know if the Empress Dowager Cixi and her son Tongzhi attempted any major programme of reform in response to Western inroads? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.77.35.53 (talk) 09:51, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I know little about them, but please see Empress Dowager Cixi (pictured) and our article Tongzhi Emperor, which says "Tongzhi attempted political reform in the period of the Tongzhi Restoration". If we follow the link to that we read "The restoration, however, which applied "practical knowledge" while reaffirming the old mentality, was not a genuine program of modernization". The source of that statement seems to be Wright, Mary Clabaugh, The Last Stand of Chinese Conservatism: The T'ung-Chih Restoration, 1862 -1874 (Stanford, CA, Stanford University Press, 1957), which you might like to get hold of. Xn4 11:01, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

IIRC there's a good chapter on it in the Cambridge History of China vol 10. (maybe by Wright) A snippet at google for Wright's book is "The major thesis of this book is that not only a dynasty but also a civilization which had appeared to have collapsed was revived to last for another 60 years by the extraordinary efforts of extraordinary men in the 1860's. This was the T'ung-Chih Restoration.." It is very hard to overstate the cataclysmic effects of the Taiping rebellion and other catastrophes of the time, not just western inroads, so something extraordinary was needed to recover from them. Not too sure about that statement above; searching for mentality in Wright at googlebooks yields nothing, but it I think it is roughly right. (It is quoted from here[2] Again, iirc, it coincided with some economic modernization - the introduction of a few more modern capitalistic enterprises like steamship companies, this modernization was only in isolated sectors and took time, but eventually took root. [3] is another web reference. John Z (talk) 11:49, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

How many generals in German Army in 1939

Does anybody know the number of generals in German Army as of 1939 ? I know the number of generals who disagreed with mass murder made by German army in 1939 is alledgedly known, I need to know the full number of generals in the Army as a whole to compare. --Molobo (talk) 10:40, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

All I could find was this site. No count of all the generals and no indication it covers all of them...but it gives an idea of the approximate number. I'd say around 150-200 on the site. Fribbler (talk) 11:39, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Secular schools

Are there any members of the HMC that are explicitly secular? If so, which ones? Tiddly pop (talk) 10:52, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Careful, your first link leads to a disambiguation page. I assume you are referring to the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 11:00, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

One which comes to mind is Sevenoaks School, which claims to be the oldest secular school in the UK, but the full concept of secular education isn't really possible here as it is in some other countries. You might like to look more closely at the overseas members of the HMC. Xn4 11:13, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

What is the largest number for a monarch/Pope in history?

You know, like Louis XVIII? John XXIII? I think these are the largest, at least that I could find, but does anyone know a larger one?209.244.30.221 (talk) 14:01, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

List of popes suggests that John XXIII is indeed the largest number for popes. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 14:07, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Apparently Henry LXXII, Prince of Reuss-Lobenstein-Ebersdorf wins. ---Sluzzelin talk 14:28, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

But note that that family has their own peculiar numbering system which does not indicate 72 previous reigning princes named Henry. Rmhermen (talk) 14:48, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

That is true. Heinrich LXXII's father was Heinrich LI Reuß zu Ebersdorf. From father to son they skipped twenty Henrys. And it was also at number twenty where the popes decided to skip a John. There never was a Pope John XX. ---Sluzzelin talk 16:10, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

These are hilarious. Can you offer a reason why? AndyJones (talk) 21:14, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

No reason, no rhyme for the odd customs of Reuß, but the article on Reuss Junior Line has a bit more on their numbering method and its unusual results. "For example, the sons of Prince Heinrich LXVII Reuss of Schleiz were, in order, Heinrich V, Heinrich VIII, Heinrich XI, Heinrich XIV, and Heinrich XVI." ---Sluzzelin talk 09:43, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

By the way, the article on "the number" you are asking about is monarchical ordinal. It doesn't have any records listed though. ---Sluzzelin talk 16:36, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I agree that the Reuß example is misleading. To slightly rephrase the question (though this might not be what 209.224 is looking for at all): Which name appears most often in one monarchic line, followed by a different ordinal number, but only counting those rulers who really appear in that line. (In the papal contest, John would still win with 21 popes and 1 Antipope.---Sluzzelin talk 16:53, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I'll throw in the Kings Louis of France. 17 uncontested kings (I think), plus Louis XVII who died at the age of 10, was imprisoned, and never reigned, and Louis XIX who arguably was king for twenty minutes. "Louis XX" redirects to Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou who is not king. Still, every single one of the twenty Louis can be accounted for. ---Sluzzelin talk 17:09, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks to all for answering.209.244.30.221 (talk) 13:31, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

David Ricardo

How many children did he have? MilkFloat 14:03, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Eight, according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. They included three sons, of whom Osman Ricardo and another David Ricardo became members of parliament, while the third, Mortimer Ricardo, served as an officer in the Life Guards and was a deputy lieutenant for Oxfordshire. Xn4 14:25, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

(after ec - guessing it is eight now!) Right, I had a poke around and found this. It's an obituary from the time of his death and says he was survived by seven children but with a note that says one daughter had died a few years earlier and I'm not sure if that's included in the figure, or in addition to it. Fribbler (talk) 14:28, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

It should be 8, I wouldn't expect them to include a child that had died years earlier as one of those having survived him. That's 8 that we know of, but there is always a slight possibility that there were more people don't know about.HS7 (talk) 19:37, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, cads and bounders all of them back then (twirls moustache) :-)! Plus they may have excluded infant deaths, common at the time. Fribbler (talk) 22:36, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

North Yemen

Why is it that North Yemen was called North Yemen, despite the fact that it is clearly no further north than South Yemen - in fact, the northern-most point of South Yemen is several degrees of latitude further up than North Yemen! Why on earth was this case, and wouldn't the distinction of East/West Yemen made much more sense? Ninebucks (talk) 16:56, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I think historically "South Yemen" was connected to the port of Aden, and the long eastward extension was more Hadhramaut than Yemen. The Hadhramaut page even says it extends eastward from "Yemen (proper)". There's also something about Hadhramaut was annexed by South Yemen in 1967. Pfly (talk) 18:04, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I can see two possible reasons: first, the border between the two countries was more nearly east-west than north-south, so it made more sense to describe South Yemen as being on the south side of the border than on the east side. And second, almost all of the population of South Yemen was in its southern part, which is not true for North Yemen. (But, admittedly, almost all of the population of South Yemen was also east of North Yemen's).

Here's a good map showing where the cities are, with an inset in the bottom left corner shows the shape of the former border.

--Anonymous, 17:24 UTC, May 22, 2008, edited later to restore chunk deleted by accident

Check on copyright status of a song?

Where can I see if a song is copyrighted or public domain? And where do I go to license a copyrighted song -- or pay royalties -- or however that works in the music business? Specifically I'm looking for some Christmas music. --70.167.58.6 (talk) 21:53, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Checking whether something is in the public domain is not a terribly easy thing to do—in part because one does not have to register it as being copyrighted. So the goal is to figure out if it is in the public domain, not whether it is copyrighted—if it cannot be unequivocally determined in the public domain, it must be assumed it is copyrighted.

First thing: you need to figure out when the song was first published in one form or another. See this table to see how that is relevant. You can check for copyright renewals in the US Copyright Office here, but the time span you can search for online is limited.

In any case, if you determine it to be copyrighted, you have to figure out who you can license it from. If it is a fairly popular piece usually that means a music syndicate like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.

Hope that helps! If at all in doubt, hire a professional trained in IP law to make determinations. What I have outlined above is a basic search approach, and is not at all exhaustive. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 23:56, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your help. Wouldn't it be great if there was an internet site that would do all these things? --70.167.58.6 (talk) 21:59, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Calle Ocho artwork

Does anyone know who painted Calle Ocho? I can't find it so far using google. Spencer^T♦C 23:17, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Googling "Calle Ocho" painting (without the italics) gave me this [4] as the second hit. It's an oil by Ronni Bogaev, done in 1980. If this is not the painting you are looking for, a description of the one you want would be helpful as many painitngs will have the same name. Think of the thousands entitled "Peggy's Cove" for example. ៛ Bielle (talk) 01:42, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

That's it, thanks! Spencer^T♦C 10:51, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

You are welcome. ៛ Bielle (talk) 13:47, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

May 23

Who is KANZO?

I have a series of photos I took of a large Japanese jar; see Image:Imari_Jar_DES.jpg. I'd like to upload the series to Wikimedia Commons, but I'm lost for real information on the artist, listed in the display as KANZO. The image page has pretty much all the information the card on the display (cropped out of the picture) had. Is there enough information here to figure out who made this jar and when they died? Or that the jar itself is old enough that the maker surely died before 1908 or 1938?--Prosfilaes (talk) 00:11, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Could it be that 'kanzo' isn't the artists name? Fribbler (talk) 11:36, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Possibly; [5] has almost the exact text displayed in the library, and it's properly cased for a name there, but it could have been mistranslated somewhere along the way. On the other hand, Kanzo is a Japanese name and it isn't impossible that it really is a name. Either way, the jar isn't old enough to claim a PD-Old on that basis alone.--Prosfilaes (talk) 23:04, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

The three jewels

What is the significance of going for refuge in the Buddha the Dharma and the Sangha in buddhism? According to my understanding taking refuge in the buddha means expressing gratitude for his teaching, taking refuge in the dharma means practicing the buddha's teachings and taking refuge in the Sangha is important as this is how the dharma is spread and passed on. I have already read the article on the three jewels but it's not really what I'm looking for. If anyone could give some reasons why else the refuges are important to buddhists that would be great. Richie1001 (talk) 10:34, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

I suppose you have also read the articles on Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha? I'm not quite sure what you're asking as the three refuges are the three ideals of Buddhism, so they are a prerequisite, and "Buddhism" wouldn't exist without them. You might even say that the Three Jewels are Buddhism. Going for Refuge is the primary act of commitment for all Buddhists. Taking refuge in the Buddha is rather more than expressing gratitude; it means taking that ideal as one to which you aspire, in order to become an ideal human being, embodying the perfection of wisdom and commpassion. As well as practising the teachings, taking refuge in the Dharma means studying and deepening one's understanding not only of the Buddha's teachings but of your own experience and the Four Noble Truths. As for the sangha, in the context of the Three Jewels, this means the Aryasangha: the company of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (both historical and "archetypal") and the teachers in their lineage, rather than simply one's fellow Buddhists.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 11:10, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for the reply - your information on the buddha was especially helpful. Perhaps I haven't explained myself properly - what i meant to ask was simply why do buddhists take refuge in the buddha the dharma and the sangha? How does it help them? Regards,Richie1001 (talk) 12:55, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Because it engenders commitment and direction. Although we like to think of ourselves as rational beings, ultimately we all go where our emotions and instincts lead us. Buddhists try to refine and direct those emotions and instincts through "Going for Refuge" to the Three Jewels. "Refuge" is a literal translation of "sarana" but IMO it's not a very good metaphor as it can suggest not facing up to reality, whereas facing up to reality is precisely what Buddhism claims to do, whereas our emotions and instincts often make us want to hide from reality.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 16:29, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Arab league

Is this the first that the Arab League ever got a shia muslim as a speaker of Arab Parliament? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.30.202.29 (talk) 14:59, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

As of a couple of weeks ago, the Arab parliament had only ever had one speaker, namely Muhammed Jasim Al-Saqr, and I can find nothing to indicate this has changed since. I don't know his religion, but whatever it is, he's the first. Algebraist 15:15, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

U.S. and Michigan child custody laws

Greetings. Might you be so kind as to provide me with links to useful legal resources in the United States, specifically Michigan? I was wondering about the rights of a child near age of majority who wishes to change her custody arrangements. I understand your disclaimer regarding legal advice but hope you'll still be able to help me.

Thank you, Kalai Eljahn (talk) 15:04, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Michigan Courts site on child custody. Michigan legislature: Child Custody Act of 1970. Legal aid groups in Michigan (cos you really need legal advice). WikiJedits (talk) 15:20, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

A starter for 10...http://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/libraries/selfhelp.cfm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.221.133.226 (talk) 15:20, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

fostering

Does Wikipedia have an article on fostering, as in the historical arrangements of sending your children to be raised in a relative's or other family? Every search I try is taking me back to foster care, an article that is solely about a present-day system for children in state care. Thank you for any pointers! WikiJedits (talk) 15:14, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

This is a guess: Fosterage. Zain Ebrahim (talk) 15:21, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you Zain, that is the idea I meant. That article really needs work, though! I will start by making disambig links to each (foster care and fosterage) from the other. I've had trouble figuring out a brief disambiguation wording; if anyone would like to improve it please do. WikiJedits (talk) 18:47, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Identity documents in the United States

"The de facto official identification card for adults in all states is the driver's license"

What if a U.S. citizen doesn't have a driver's license how can he/she prove his/her age? 18 years-old girl want to do porn, what does she show as a proof of age? 21 years-old person want to buy a beer, what does he show as a proof of age? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.166.221.213 (talk) 16:08, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

A passport would do. You already have found the article that explains identity documents in the United States; presumably, any one of them would do if the bartender accepts them as proof of your identity. In other words, if it looks real and official, has your date of birth and your photograph, and especially if it's a type of a document the bartender is familiar with -- say, a student ID from the local college -- it'll probably do the trick. -- Captain Disdain (talk) 16:26, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Does every U.S. citizen have a passport? What about porn? (section 2257) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.166.221.213 (talk) 18:19, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

No, only about 20% of U.S. citizens have passports -- as explained in the very article you link to in the beginning of your post here. You should go and read it before you ask any more questions about this, because it explains how this works pretty well.

As for porn, it's not unreasonable to tell a young wannabe porn actor or actress that if they want to do this job, they need to have valid ID before it'll happen. I doubt many legitimate producers are going to want to take any chances with that stuff, since nobody wants to become a child pornographer by accident. Traci Lords taught that industry a pretty hard lesson. -- Captain Disdain (talk) 20:11, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

If you don't have a driver's license, you might have a state-issued identity card instead. --Carnildo (talk) 20:02, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, if you need an ID, you can go to your local Department of Motor Vehicles office and ask for a state ID card instead of a driver's license. There will be a small fee. It will be a state verified piece of identification though which will show your birth date. Dismas|^(talk) 20:05, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

If you don't have a state-issued photo ID, you can't board a plane. Corvus cornix_talk 20:11, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

There are lots of people who don't have driver's licenses—especially those who live in big cities that don't require driving (I know a lot of people born and raised in New York who don't know how to drive). Needless to say there are many other avenues for them to get official identification (for all sorts of things other than porn, usually). --98.217.8.46 (talk) 21:24, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Trying to find a Greek sculpture

Yo I have this greek sculpture on my mind but can't think of the name or the sculptor. I think it's a 4th century or Hellenistic work. It depicts a male athelete, nude, and a woman, clothed (barely, clinging drapery), leaning on the guy's shoulder and chillaxin. 76.106.103.106 (talk) 17:54, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Maybe Orestes and Electra in Naples, [6]? DAVID ŠENEK 18:06, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

That's it. Thank you! 76.106.103.106 (talk) 18:07, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

"Chillaxin"? ៛ Bielle (talk) 21:21, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Chillaxin = destressing with the aid of a finely honed cryogenic scalpel as used by yuppie lumber jacks in the suburban back yards of Ontario. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 21:51, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

From wiktionary: Blend of chill out and relax (see here for the purported coiner). Zain Ebrahim (talk) 21:57, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

and -in' (ing) – coolio? Julia Rossi (talk) 09:25, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks to the neoligic whizzes here. It seems a tautology as you can't "chill out" unless you are "relaxed", and you can't "relax" unless you are "chilled out". And, ZooM, as always, I want a hit of whatever you are smoking. :-) ៛ Bielle (talk) 14:52, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Category for "Monotony"

I was thinking of starting a stub on the common meaning of "monontony" as "repetitive and tedious". But I don't really know what category that would fall under. It's not a feeling like boredom. Would it be a psychological concept? Is there a higher level concept that I haven't found? I think having this is a page that might come in handy for links. Thanks for any help. 71.236.23.111 (talk) 18:26, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Well, I think it works within psychological and physical labour frameworks. A monotonous job is not simply boring, but requires the repetition of some menial task(s). Maybe something from manual labour could get worked in, though the concepts are not necessarily related per se - a monotonous job could just as easily be non-physical. Before starting the article, try to have something in there that goes beyond a dictionary definition, or the article will be deleted per WP:DICDEF. Matt Deres (talk) 18:50, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Keep in mind that simple dictionary definitions are not allowed on Wikipedia. They are for Wiktionary, if anywhere. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 21:26, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

I wasn't thinking of just putting in a definition. I already have at least one OSHA quote and I bet they're not the only ones that wrote about it. I had just hoped that there was something like "Freud" or an existing psychological definition. There should be something in that kind of literature that links definitions for boredom and monotony. I guess I'll just start it off and see if s.o. finds some more bones. --71.236.23.111 (talk) 23:35, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

What poem am I thinking of?

I seem to remember a poem that contains the line: CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN, YOUR PHYSICIAN DESERVES A LAUGH

I thought it was Ogden Nash, but I can't find the lines in any of my Nash books. Let me know if you come up with the title/author.

YES!! I just found it...the poem is called, "MS Found in A Quagmire" whew.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Franelizabeth18 (talk• contribs) 21:40, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

ok, found it....poem is titled "MS Found in A Quagmire". whew, i feel better! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.173.121.178 (talk) 22:10, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Do you have the link? Julia Rossi (talk) 09:23, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

No link to the poem, but here is its ref: Ogden Nash, Poetry, "Ms. found in a quagmire," The New Yorker, October 31, 1942, p. 65, and here is a link to how it may be obtained. SaundersW (talk) 09:39, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Saunders, Julia Rossi (talk) 09:52, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

May 24

knowledge of candidates

It seems that the trend is to leave absolutely no rock unturned when it comes to a piece of knowledge about a political candidate with some very good consequences for the voters such as Cindy McCain releasing her taxes. Is there any way I can find how rampant grade inflation is at the colleges and universities attended by Barack Obama since Harvard is one university that has a long history of notoriety for grade inflation and giving the world by any standard graduates who consider themselves to be elite? 71.100.10.54 (talk) 04:01, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Stuart Rojstaczer's analysis at gradeinflation.com doesn't suggest anything unusual about Harvard's grade inflation in nationwide comparison. According to the scatterplot, the change in GPA at Harvard is close to, but even a bit below the average of 0.146 per decade. And Columbia is in the group of American universities with the lowest grade inflation. ---Sluzzelin talk 05:57, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Now what about grade inflation for the classes? 71.100.10.54 (talk) 12:01, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Who cares? Whether or not Harvard has grade inflation does not indicate whether or not Barack Obama was helped by it or didn't deserve whatever grades he got. Your approach is logically flawed and shows some ignorance of how grade inflation works: just because someone gets an A- at a school with grade inflation does not mean they necessarily got it because of grade inflation. There's no way, barring talking to individual teachers, for you to know anything about that from looking at a transcript. That's the problem with grade inflation, incidentally: you can't distinguish, from a transcript, between genuinely great students and pretty good students. Bad students are usually still pretty easy to spot, based on their class position and because they're still going to get B+s. (I say this as someone who has done a lot of grading at Harvard, and really hates the grade inflation there. In my experience at Harvard all grade inflation really does is increase the number of A-s and B+s, and makes the lowest grades hover around B-. It does not increase the number of As on the whole, those are still reserved for a small percentage.) Additionally, Obama was at Harvard Law School, not Harvard College, where things like grading are totally different (it is a different institution, from the point of view of grading and administration—all of the difference Harvard institutions, like the College, the Law School, the Graduate School, the Medical School, and the School of Government, are pretty autonomous and have their own policies, grading structures, course requirements, etc.; Harvard University is a bunch of different institutions with the same name). When people say Harvard has grade inflation, they usually mean the College. Keep that in mind if you do decide to pursue this fairly silly investigation! --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 17:49, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

LOL... First it's not my approach but the approach of the vast majority of employment offices, which BTW some are so easy to fool that even the Pretender would be amazed, although most employers do care. Same for professors, whether at Harvard or not, especially in the humanities. Second, you make a good point about various divisions at Harvard being autonomous which is one of the reasons you do have to scrutinize. Amazingly computer science at Harvard is probably still at the top, in addition to law. Unfortunately even at Harvard no one has yet brought the two together by publishing the law in the form of a truth or decision table or polychotomous key. For this reason Harvard and many elite law schools are in danger of dropping to the bottom of the list just as the US is in danger of getting caught with it's pants down for not doing the same. It is surely something Barack Obama has failed to do while in the US Senate and will continue to fail to do whether elected or not. So much for Barack Obama's attendance at Harvard Law School. Perhaps grade inflation is reserved only for those who remain fast asleep. The problem in reference to my question, however, may be how what are called "sympathy" students are graded, i.e., students who have freckles for instance. Third, what is in fact silly is how some people are simply incapable of being serious for any length of time and when life gets over their heads they simply shut down, giggle and feel silly. To such persons everything that requires concentration for more than 2 seconds is silly, but I suppose you will think this analysis silly as well. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 03:10, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

No, willfully ignorant is the term I'd use. You clearly don't understand the methodological problem (which would apply if it was Obama, Clinton, McCain, even Bush—you can't infer application of grade inflation in a specific case from the fact that it exists in a general case; all it means is that grades are an unreliable metric of achievement, not that they indicate a lack of achievement), and don't care, most likely because you are determined to be intellectually dishonest from the get-go. But anyway, good luck with your work! --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 15:00, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

"Where there is smoke there is fire," is not a saying I manufactured and Obama is spewing more smoke than a pine forest after a burst of lightning. Just like neighborhood kids who break the law and risk injury by playing in the street only for the thrill, instead of promoting perfection of the law; which I would expect from a graduate of Columbia and Harvard, we get promises to acquiesce on almost every controversy in stalemate. Its definitely not the position of someone who did not fall asleep and who paid attention in classes. Where there is smoke there is fire, but from your point of view I imagine that is just silly, silly, silly. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 17:31, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

For someone who goes to great pains to try sound logical, your lack of critical reasoning is rather obvious. Anyway, it is clear that interacting with you, much less helping you, is pointless. --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 20:41, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Its not very logical that I would try to be illogical unless it was for the purpose of Reductio ad absurdum, but then I have no particular desire to interact with you and from past experience I know it is not your intent to help others but rather only yourself. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 17:31, 25 May 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.100.8.192 (talk)

You r question seems to focus on whether Obama's academic credentials are valid. The reference desk is more for answering factual questions, and yours has been answered- grade inflation at Harvard isn't a good reason to doubt any specific person's academic credentials. Because your primary motivation is to know more and to judge Obama correctly, you are now happy to have learned that you were mistaken in your impression that his qualifications were lacking. Your correct response is, "Thank you, Reference Desk!" On behalf of the Reference Desk, I answer your further comments with, "You're welcome, Knowledge Seeker!" -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 15:53, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Pinching and Dreams

Sitting on my computer at midnight, I think of a lot of stupid things, this time, I wondered, since when have people thought of pinching one's arm to discover whether they are dreaming? As in, how long does this tradition date back? I'd like to read a good article that discusses these superstitions and how long they have been practiced, I am asking specifically about the pinching one, but I'm generally interested and this has gotten me thinking about superstitions and how long ago they came to existence. Does anybody know of anything (accessible online) that discusses this? Oh, and if nobody can make heads or tails of my comment, I'll try to repeat it tomorrow... The Dominator^Talk_Edits 05:43, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately I didn't find anything on the origins of the "Pinch me, I am dreaming" cliché. I don't think this is a superstition though, it just symbolizes a crude reality testing technique. The article on lucid dream might interest you. ---Sluzzelin talk 06:26, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Interesting article, doesn't answer my question, but pretty cool, answered a lot of questions I had before, like the sleep paralysis thing. If you were to guess, how far back would you say the dream- reality check techniques go? Like, do you think people made these connections in Ancient to Medieval times, or is it more of a recent thing (i.e. after some scientific study on dreams was done)? The Dominator^Talk_Edits 06:37, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

An interesting book on this subject is 'Dreams and History: The Interpretation of Dreams from Ancient Greece to Modern Psychoanalysis' (edited by Daniel Pick and Lyndal Roper). Dreams fascinated the ancients as much as they fascinate us today; you mention the Medieval period - have you heard of Piers Plowman? The universal quality of dreams means that it was a heavily written about subject in both science and poetry long before the appearance of the Romantic poets and, later, Freud. Yours, Lord Foppington (talk) 12:21, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Who are these chicks?

Kennedy, Gorbi, and their ladies

Who are these three chicks with the two dudes? The one in the center, from what I remember of her, looks like Mrs. Gorbachov. I'm venturing a guess that the one on the left is Kennedy's current wife, Vicky Reggie. Though I have no idea who the surprised (appalled?) chick on the right is. Dismas|^(talk) 14:33, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

The one in the middle is, as you say, Raisa Gorbachyova. I'm working on the others. PeterSymonds (talk) 14:48, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

My guess is that the woman standing next to Kennedy is his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the woman in yellow is his sister Patricia Kennedy Lawford. ---Sluzzelin talk 15:37, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Seconded. --Milkbreath (talk) 15:45, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, all! Dismas|^(talk) 16:48, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

That picture must date from the early 1990s? For a woman in her seventies, Eunice Kennedy was looking very well! Xn4 13:44, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Identify font?

[7], [8], [9], [10]: anyone know it? Thanks! —TreasuryTag—t—c 16:44, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Optima. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 17:19, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Great! Thanks. —TreasuryTag—t—c 17:21, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

art style

What's the name of that Soviet-style art where people are all very blocky looking, from posters? Not Socialist Realism as I understand it. Somewhat Cubist but not abstract. More like this or this (sorry that one downloads automatically) this (which is not actually Soviet), or this WPA poster or this one? --98.217.8.46 (talk) 18:18, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

In the absence of a qualified graphic design historian I'll have a stab at being helpful! Constructivism (art) was that great early Soviet art movement that had significant influence world wide and in the later USSR, even after falling from official favour. I think in your examples and Soviet posters generally we also see the influence of various art movements such as Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism, functionalism and so on. If I had to name the style though, I'd say Art Deco; the all embracing style between the wars that incorporated all sorts of influences to create a machine age aesthetic that tended towards geometric forms. Poster art in particular also tended towards the simple and direct as that suited the medium, the message and printed format. These sites on Art Deco [11] and Soviet [12] poster design have a good little overview. Mhicaoidh (talk) 00:09, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Rumour painted full of tongues

Hi Wikipedia person.

I came across the phrase, Rumour painted full of tongues, in a novel, my interest was piqued and this phrase caused me to enquire further .

Wikipedia informed me that it came from Shakespeare's Henry 4th part 2, the introduction.

Then I went to the Greek/Roman myth area and found Rumour, a figure - robe - painted with tongues holding or blowing a pipe.

Virgil speaks of tongues in the Aeniad.(rumour) Ovid's House of fame mentions FAMA ( rumour)

I wonder if there is any more specific reference to this ROBE, what it was, style, colour and if there is any pictorial imagery existing.

Many Thanks

allegorical ken —Preceding unsigned comment added by Allegorical ken (talk • contribs) 19:06, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Rumour was a common figure in Jacobean masques; cf. Campion's Masque of Squires, 1613, with its Rumour 'in a skin coat full of winged tongues, and over it an antic robe; on his head a cap like a tongue, with a large pair of wings in it'. Halliday, F. E. (1952). "Rumour." A Shakespeare companion 1550-1950. p. 561. OCLC 26369297

Rumour painted full of tongues gives us a Prologue to one of the parts of Henry the fourth; and, says Dr. Dodd, Shakespeare had doubtless a view to either Virgil or Ovid in their description of Fame. But why so? Stephen Hawes, in his Pastime of Pleasure, had long before exhibited her in the same manner,

A goodly Lady envyroned about With tongues of fyre; --

and so had Sir Thomas More in one of his Pageants,

Fame I am called, mervayle you nothing Though with tonges I am compassed all rounde;

not to mention her elaborate Portrait by Chaucer, in the Boke of Fame; and by John Higgins, one of the Assistants in the Mirour for Magistrates, in his Legend of King Albanacte. Farmer, Richard. " An Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare: Addressed to Joseph Cradock, Esq.1767"

—eric 23:47, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Plato and Buddhism

I've read a few studies into the similarities between Plato's ideas and Buddhism. Was there a contact between ancient Greece and the Far East at the time of Plato? Is it possible that Plato was aware of the existence of Buddhism? Aecis^Brievenbus 21:13, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Buddha lived and taught before 400 BC, some years before Plato's birth in about 428 BC. Alexander's famous conquest of Persia and India took place 333-326 BC, a generation after Plato's death in 348 BC. And I believe it wasn't really until Asoka's reign (273 BC to 232 BC) that Buddhism became widely spread/known. However, Buddha drew on thoughts that could also be found in other teachings in his time, and you can be sure there were contacts between India and Greece long before Alexander. There's some discussion of this in Silk Road, see also Royal Road. I can't answer your second question, hopefully someone else will. WikiJedits (talk) 00:55, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

author

who wrote "Naked in the Islands"? I had thought that it was David Sedaris?71.196.82.214 (talk) 21:43, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

He did write Naked (book),a collection of essays including "Naked". Is that what you are looking for? There are a couple of books called "The Naked Island" by Bryna Wasserman and Russell Braddon but I cant find any "Naked in the Islands". Mhicaoidh (talk) 22:39, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

May 25

Maronite Christians

Is Lebanon the Arab nation that has Maronite population? and are French and English names the ones that Arab Christians in Bilad al-Sham keep because of their former colonizers? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 02:00, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

See our article Maronite Church. Under the heading 'Population', it even deals with your question about given names. Xn4 10:57, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Date pronunciation

Now, we say something like 'its the first of June, 2008'. How did people say the date when Queen Elizabeth Tudor I reigned England? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.221.225.139 (talk) 02:48, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

In the time of Queen Elizabeth I, it wasn't very often necessary to speak a date, so people were a little more formal and would usually have said "...the first day of June". If someone needed to identify a year, it might not have been done with the year AD, so we see "...in the year of our Lord 1560" or else some other form, such as one with the regnal year. There's some evidence that years AD were spoken in full - "one thousand, five hundred and sixty". This old-fashioned approach survives in some legal and other formal documents. When George W. Bush proclaimed a National Day of Prayer in 2006, his proclamation ends "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth." Xn4 10:38, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Elizabeth I seems to have been smack bang in the middle of the calendar reform (Pope Gregory XIII). Since there also was religious to and fro, the Gregorian calendar might not have been in use everywhere. You'd have to check not only how someone would say the date, but what date they'd say. --Lisa4edit (talk) 04:17, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

As it says in the Gregorian calendar article, that calendar didn't replace the Julian one in Britain until 1752. --Anonymous, 08:59 UTC, May 26, 2008.

Shigechiyo

Are there any Shigechiyos other than Shigechiyo Izumi? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 07:19, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Any at all? Almost certainly. But any other well-known ones? - none that are well-known in the West, afaik. There are probably other Shigechiyos who are notable in Japan but unknown in the West. -- JackofOz (talk) 09:53, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

A search of the Japanese Wikipedia only turns up two others, one a fictional character and the other a band member (which could easily be a pseudonym). Neither has an article of their own. Searching on 栄千代, the only other spelling of "Shigechiyo" listed in ENAMDICT, only turns up an entry in a long list of siblings of a feudal lord. None of the three articles has a counterpart in any other Wikipedia. It's surprising because Shigechiyo sounds like an "ordinary" Japanese given name. Its components shige- and -chiyo both appear in a lot of other names. -- BenRG (talk) 13:28, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

This Asiaweek article discusses an interior designer called Suzuki Shigechiyo - not especially famous, but they do exist. I'm not certain whether that's in Western (First name, Surname) or Eastern (Surname, First name) order, though. Laïka 21:40, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

W

Are there any real people named Wario or Waluigi? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 07:19, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Here's one [13]--Lisa4edit (talk) 08:32, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

If Barr were to carry the state of Georgia..

Given the completely hypothetical situation that Bob Barr or any other third party candidate carry all of Georgia's/any other state's electoral votes and leave the two main party candidates under the threshold of 270, what happens in that case, it gets thrown into the House just like if it were a 269-269 tie?

AlmostCrimes (talk) 08:49, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes. The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. (from the twelfth amendment) Algebraist 09:05, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

But the weird thing is that each state delegation in the House gets one vote, rather than a simple vote of all members of the House. It's quite possible that a Democratic-controlled House could vote for the GOP candidate over a Democratic candidate who wins the popular vote. That no one has replaced these arcane rules with something more sensible is another dangerous manifestation of our Founding Father hero-worship. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 21:01, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Soapbox much?Edison (talk) 15:25, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Barr does not have to get the electoral votes from any state to sway the outcome of the election. If Barr on the Libertarian Party ticket gets 3 to 7 % of the votes(per present polls, before he has even campaigned), and if those votes predominantly draw people who would otherwise have voted Republican, it could make the difference in states which are traditionally close such as Ohio and Florida. An ill-layed out "butterfly ballot" made a difference for Bush in Florida in 2000. Edison (talk) 15:25, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

If Barr's people carry Georgia, and they happen to hold the margin of national victory, they would certainly know about that situation long before the electoral college actually casts its ballots. There would be a very strong incentive for them to make a deal with one of the major party candidates, perhaps the one that would fare more poorly in a House vote.--Pharos (talk) 05:20, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

If electors were pledged to Barr, but via a deal cast their votes for, say, McCain or Obama, they would be cosidered "faithless electors" and would possibly be subject to getting the cold shoulder from members of their own party. In some state they might be subject to legal consequences, But their votes would likely be counted and decisive.There have been at least 17 such faithless electors whose presidential votes still counted. Edison (talk) 07:11, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

AFTER AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

After the end of the US Civil War,what was the most widespread crime/illegality? It was not about slaves, KKK, organized crime, gambling,drinkink,theft, lynching. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kleop (talk • contribs) 09:04, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like a trick question, Kleop? In any event, crime and 'illegality' aren't the same thing - see civil law. May we know, are you asking about crime or not? Xn4 13:40, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Even if we knew, the answer could only show the "most reported crime". The notation of the 1870 census said that some states reported every little offense, while others reported very selectively. The time period "after the American Civil War" is also called "reconstruction era. This question seems to have made the rounds on most Q&A boards. Where did you get it from? Is this from some trivia game or out of someone's history book? I'd go with Xn4 it's probably some trick. --Lisa4edit (talk) 04:01, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Is the correct answer sodomy? Aecis^Brievenbus 11:04, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

playing musical instruments without looking

[note: I transferred this from the language desk, where I'd placed it by mistake. Apologies if it still shows up there somehow, because I have now removed it.]

Hi, when either playing or learning a musical instrument, is it better to look at the instrument, or to play "blindfold" (ie. by not looking)? Are there different schools of thought on this, or is it not really discussed by musicians? 203.221.126.247 (talk) 12:36, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

• Well, if you're reading music, it's a lot easier to follow your part if you're looking at the music rather than at the instrument. And in any case, it's a sign of skill with the instrument that you don't need to look at it. Depends on the instrument, of course; a trumpet player generally knows where his three fingers are without looking, while an organist probably needs to be watching his instrument a lot. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 14:51, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

I see organists playing the hell out of the pedalboard with their feet without ever taking their eyes off the music. They do glance when changing the stops on the organ. Skilled keyboard musicians generally do not seem to need to see their hands, except perhaps when they are moving an octave or two. Clarinettists, flute players and sax players, trombonists and valve brass players do not generally look at their fingers while playing. Proprioception rather than vision seems to be the key. That may be part of why it takes time to learn to play these instruments well. Edison (talk) 19:06, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Will organists usually look when switching manuals? --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 19:13, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

There are pros and cons to each. If you are learning a piece you might have to keep an eye on the sheet music. As I see it there are two general ways to memorize a piece and no longer need to look at the sheet music. One is muscle memory -- if you play it over and over enough times you will start to find your fingers going to the right places on their own. Then you can stop looking at the music and look at your fingers if you want. There are downsides to relying on muscle memory though -- not least of which is that muscle memory can get derailed in a relatively unrecoverable way. Another approach is to spent some time analyzing the music and getting to know its harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, etc, patterns, and practicing memorizing those patterns. This has the benefit of allowing better recovery when you lose your place or concentration, because you understand the reasons behind the unfolding changes, not just the muscle memory. Of course the two approaches can work together, with muscle memory and rational understanding reinforcing one another. It can take a lot of effort to memorize music and no longer need to even have the sheet music in front of you, but I for one think it is far better to play without the sheet music, and with a rational understanding of why the notes follow one after another, supplemented by muscle memory, than it is to be distracted from the music making by the need to glance at the music now and then. None of this is to say you need to look at your fingers. A memorized piece can be played while staring at the ceiling if you want. Pfly (talk) 09:14, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

An organist may be playing a different organ from the one he usually plays, and motor memory or proprioception would lead him to bang his hands against framework where the keyboard isn't if he did not look at where to place the hands. The spacing of keys may also differ on different keyboards, and the arrangement of stops will differ greatly between instruments. As for memorization, that is totally impractical when severl differrent hymns must be played each week, as well as new preludes, postludes, offertories, and perhaps choral accompaniments. I doubt that anyone in a chorch is disturbed by the organist using music. Even so they may practice for hours if something complexis to be played. They may have it "semi-memorized" but still use music and have someone standing by them to turn the page when they give a little nod of the head. Memorizing the music would work and might be expected for a concert or recital. Edison (talk) 15:19, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

As a non-native speaker, I confess to be somewhat puzzled:

user:Edison reports of virtuosi playing their organ with their feet...

user:jpgordon suggest to look at the staff and to ignore the instrument...

user:Pfly says, and I quote, "if you play it over and over enough times you will start to find your fingers going to the right places on their own"...

user:Edison, again, states "an organist may be playing a different organ from the one he usually plays"...

And what about: "it's a sign of skill with the instrument that you don't need to look at it" or "muscle memory can get derailed in a relatively unrecoverable way" or even "a memorized piece can be played while staring at the ceiling if you want"?

Should this all not be on the Entertainment Desk, or, preferably, below the said item of referential furniture? --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 21:41, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

The entertainment desk deals with music so it could be moved there. I do not routinely monitor the Entertainment Desk. Try moving question there and see what answers are added. A side note: are you unaware that there is a row of pedals near the floor on a pipe organ called the pedalboard or Pedal keyboard that are played exclusively with the feet? You might find Pipe organ informative. Edison (talk) 02:10, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

knowing the law

While the courts may hold that "...ignorance of the law is no excuse..." all branches of government have failed to publish the law in the form of a truth or decision table or polychotomous key, yet this is mandatory for anyone wanting to comply fully with the law. So what is the favorite excuse in current use not to publish the law in a manner that puts everyone on the same page with the judge (assuming of course that judges are not likewise ignorant of the law)? 71.100.169.132 (talk) 13:43, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

The law is not published in such a form because it would become redundant almost immediately. If you want to read the law, your local library should have copies of statutes. Lawyers and judges use specialized databases, which are complex, to say the least. Before you undertake any risky activity, you should read up on the law, which to be honest is not that hard. --NeoNerd 19:13, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

There are several meanings for the word redundancy. If you are referring to a race condition where several cases are resolved at the same time, that might add a condition or a state to the law then a race condition is not applicable because the new conditions or condition states are not automatically incorporated into the law immediately but only after a panel of judges reaches a majority conclusion so that a race condition does not exist. If you are referring the word redundant in its more common sense of repetition such as redundant laws then you know nothing of logic or how truth and decision tables or polychotomous keys work. In fact such classification would naturally be online since it is dynamic. All the more reason why persons can not be expected to uphold the law without the law being classified according to the conditions upon which it is based. As for the reason it is not already online I suspect that is because, the law is a trade secret and the public process a business owned and operated by the legal profession. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 22:30, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Legal theory has a rich history to it. It came long before decision tables and polychotomous keys. It does not change its form or its methods just based on the whim of someone who does not implement it. It is designed to give wiggle room and negotiation. It is designed to be used by human beings in a certain cultural context. If you don't understand that, you will never understand how the law works. If you attempt to force your own way of reasoning upon the world, rather than understand the way the world works under its own accord, you will never understand the world. Just a tip. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 04:59, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Construction has a rich history that predates law. The Pyramids were built with human labor. We still use human labor to build buildings but we also incorporate machines to do the heavy lifting and to make the work easier for us. Only elitists would deprive the lay person of the benefit of the application of such tools. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 17:49, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you, 98. That basically sums up my point of view. I would also ask you to be polite, 71 and adhere to civility guidelines. I suspect that your question was more of an attempt to bait people rather than to actually ask something. You are also incorrect in stating that a panel of judges is needed to change the law. One judge can do that, as soon as they make a decision. Obiter comments can change the law. --NeoNerd 14:56, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Where I come from case law is published like statutes are published. While one judge may decide to incorporate a new condition or a new state of a condition into his decision about the case the decision to publish that new condition or new state of an existing condition is not determined by that one judge alone but by a panel of judges.

As for baiting rather than asking something... after clicking on "Help" in the sidebar and "Humanities" in the body of links, start a new topic by clicking on "ask a new question by clicking here." At the top of the edit box you will see the title "Editing Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities (comment)" and not "Editing Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities (question)".

However, I've finally come to realize that the Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities is not manned by the contributors of Wikipedia articles but rather by pre-freshman volunteers who lack answers to such questions and are not qualified to respond to them anyway. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 17:49, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

If you're dissatisfied with the sensible answers to your inane questions, please don't feel obligated to stay. --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 20:43, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Not to worry. Its why we have developed many more resources than the Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities desk, for honest students to use. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 22:16, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

See the essay "What is a troll?" Edison (talk) 02:15, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Fed backed real estate scam?

Currently the Fed is buying up the Mortgage businesses as they all are falling thus you have a consolidation of land (real wealth) in the hands of the Central Banks. They are exchanging their worthless currency backed by nothing for real American assets at bargain basement prices. Is the Fed helping us or stealing us? GoingOnTracks (talk) 14:29, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Strictly speaking, the Fed isn't buying anything, they are lending money against (possibly very risky) collateral. I can understand your point of view though, the Fed is not supposed to be a pawnbroker for irresponsible bankers. Unfortunately the alternative is even worse. If they would let those banks fail, every business in America would have a hard time getting loans and finding investors, which would certainly result in a major recession. Maybe the best option would be to simply nationalize banks that can't survive without a government bail out - but that would go completely against official "free market" ideology. DAVID ŠENEK 16:16, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Well, but if this lending is risky, wouldn't that means that in many many cases the property will end at the hands of the Fed?

The Fed is not supposed to be "a pawnbroker for irresponsible bankers", but it is helping irresponsible bankers survive. So in a few years will these "irresponsible bankers" make a mess again? GoingOnTracks (talk) 17:31, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

That is why many people have called for better regulation of the mortgage business. DAVID ŠENEK 08:32, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Establishment of a British nationality

When was a British nationality established? Was it directly after the Union of 1707? Or rather in 1801? --217.227.126.161 (talk) 16:56, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

I don't think it ever was. Many people here still consider themselves English or Scotish or Welsh, rather than British. And a nationality can't just appear suddenly, it has to develop. The British nation was created in 1707 though.HS7 (talk) 20:40, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

HS7, I think you are using a different definition of nationality from the questioner (See the Nationality article for more on the difference.) As to the question I don't think the answer is clear. As our article on British nationality law notes: "Until 1914 British nationality law was largely uncodified." Rmhermen (talk) 01:36, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Escape to Palestine

hey i just want to know about the girl that escaped from the usa to palestine to see someone i think his name is (abed alla) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.86.24.122 (talk) 17:17, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Could you give us a bit more information? i.e when did it happen; was it in the news; have you any more details on the story? Fribbler (talk) 23:16, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

I think the anon is thinking of Katherine Lester, who ran away at 16 from Michigan to the West Bank to be with a guy she met on the Internet. Our article on her was deleted. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:51, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Ah, looks like it, alright. Now we have the name, the anon can work on the 509,000 ghits I got :-) ; might even be a decent article to be made.... Fribbler (talk) 23:58, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Watergate's meaning

Why was watergate so devastating for nixon? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.142.197.23 (talk) 19:15, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Basically, it showed that he'd directly and willfully lied to the nation, had attempted to cover up the break-in and of course, had broken into his rival's HQ.--NeoNerd 19:21, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

According to our article on the Watergate scandal, the investigation triggered by the Watergate burglaries "revealed the immense scope of crimes and abuses, which included campaign fraud, political espionage and sabotage, illegal break-ins, improper tax audits, murder, illegal wiretapping on a massive scale, and a secret slush fund laundered in Mexico to pay those who conducted these operations". Gandalf61 (talk) 20:24, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Can anyone verify that statement? - except for that line, none of the articles Richard Nixon, Watergate scandal or White House horrors mention any murder. Who was murdered? Rmhermen (talk) 01:32, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

No one was murdered. Don't trust everything you read on Wikipedia. ;-) --98.217.8.46 (talk) 04:50, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Nixon's supporters derided the Watergate caper as a "two bit burglary in which nothing whatsoever was taken." If the arrestees had copped a plea of burglary (perhaps claiming they just wanted to steal office equipment) or even if some low level planners had taken responsibility, Nixon could probably have finished his term in office. It was the coverup that did him in. The "smoking gun" which cost him the support of Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives was proof he had conspired to cover up involvement of his administration in the burglary. Edison (talk) 15:12, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

let fools contend

Which poem by Alexander Pope contains the three words "let fools contend"? ----Seans Potato Business 20:41, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Apparently the quote is actually: "For Forms of Government let fools contest; whatever is best administered is best." Source. Can't find anything to say where he wrote that, though. · AndonicO ^Engage. 20:45, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

"Essay on Man" : "For Forms of Government, let Fools contest; Whate’er is best Administered is best." --Wetman (talk) 20:50, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

May 26

Model and methodology

Moved from the Help Desk. PeterSymonds (talk) 08:34, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
difference between a model and methodology —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.16.176.66 (talk) 07:09, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

a model is an organized way to think about something. A methodology is an organized way to do something. (Caveat: a "computer model" can be exectued. executing the model is a methodology.) -Arch dude (talk) 22:43, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Or, a model is a pattern or example for thinking about something; methodology, a system of methods and a method is a set of procedures, an organised way or steps to do something. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:18, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I do not agree with the last bit of the parenthetical remark; running a computer simulation does not a methodology make. The term "model" is rather general and can mean many things, depending on context. In most cases it is a simplified or more abstract representation of something concrete that is more complicated. If done right, you can answer questions about the more complex thing by studying the model.

In most cases when people use the term "methodology", they mean an organized set of methods for tackling some class of problems: Dating methodology, System Development Methodology, Value Measuring Methodology, and so on. See also Methodology.  --Lambiam 00:28, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Tenth century Byzantine policy to the caliphate

What were the major battles of the 950s between Byzantium and Sayf ad-Dawla? There doesn't seem to be anything specific on it... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.77.35.53 (talk) 08:47, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

The most specific article we have is Byzantine-Arab Wars (780–1180), which discusses battles with Sayf al-Daula. Adam Bishop (talk) 12:21, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

SARS morbidity rates

Canada and HK, to my surprise had a higher death rate than China and Singapore. I expected Canada is the most developed of these countries to have a higher survival rate, and China (as an LEDC)to have a lower death rate, and Singapore as an NIC to be somewhere in between. Is there any reason why this isn't the case? I'm thinking that China has a far larger "sample" so its death rate there is a somewhat more reliable picture of Sars? 79.72.197.227 (talk) 12:24, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

In order to have an opinion, how would one adjust for the varying credibilities of official figures? --Wetman (talk) 16:26, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

What about age-adjustment? Most diseases kill the elderly more, and populations may have different average ages.John Z (talk) 03:19, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I think the figures are credible, they are from the WHO... but age! Yes! Age! Fantastic, Canada has an ageing population! (My IP's probably changed, but it's still me haha) 79.78.65.89 (talk) 11:01, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Organised crime

Have any attorneys that represent gangsters, members of organized crime or the Mafia attended Columbia University or Harvard Law School? 71.100.169.132 (talk) 23:19, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Edward Hayes at a push (Columbia University). Looking at the article, while he was to represent persons accused of mafia involvement, he's not exactly your typical "mob lawyer". Fribbler (talk) 18:42, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Let me guess—you are hoping to find a few from these particular universities in some sort of guilt-by-association with Barack Obama? Can't you see that's a little pathetic, not to mention illogical? Columbia University is one of the top undergraduate institutions in the United States; Harvard Law School is one of the top law schools. You're going to get a whole mix of people who have graduated from such institutions who went through all different walks of life. The same could be said of all elite institutions. --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 20:44, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Something to hide? Where better to hide than behind the Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities desk or perhaps one of those elitist institutions. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 22:20, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Feeding of ye Olde Norse dwarflets of the 71.100 Viking clan is, whilst not prohibited, not constructive. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 23:04, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Thought it was a legitimate question (though in hindsight, an odd one) initially. My cat-like ref-desk reflexes tend to lead me to answer any question I see....occasionally providng sustainance to the aforementioned sur le pont dwellers. Fribbler (talk) 23:12, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

It is very much a legitimate question and what you fail to realize when you go on these personal vendetta attacks is that by acting in this way you fail to provide responses to others who may have the same question. But I realize you guys are all into yourselves and do not care about others. So typical of lets see... preadolescence. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 23:18, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

I just don't see why anyone else would want to know the answer to the question. It's like asking "Has anyone from Eastern Denmark ever filed a dodgy tax return?". If you don't explain why you want to know it, then it looks like trolling when combined with your other questions. Fribbler (talk) 23:26, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

The reason for the question is that lots of people take things on face value, which I try not to do. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 23:37, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

(exdent) What is the face value that you believe people will take things on, in this regard? (Not a challenge; just a query)Fribbler (talk) 23:45, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

There are differences in degrees of respect one accords another on the basis of whether they went to school or not and if they did what school it might have been because various schools tend to acquire a certain reputation. For instance, while I would look for Berkley graduates to populate my radiation lab I would look for Harvard graduates to add to my legal staff. Eventually such reputations become the face value of which I speak that might require one to probe a bit deeper. Would you pick a mate on reputation alone? Maybe but my guess is that you might want to apply your own questions to determine if the reputation was correct. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 23:18, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Grand, so to summarise my research: there is no evidence that graduates of Columbia or Harvard Law School represented persons shown to be involved in organised crime. That's not to say it hasn't happened, but there is no sign of it. Fribbler (talk) 00:15, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Ah... and precisely why there is a reason to be concerned about taking a person's claim to be a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law school on face value, especially one who does not consider publication of the law in the form of a decision table or polychotomous key to be of any value. 71.100.169.132 (talk) 23:18, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

LOL. "Yes, my assumption is totally wrong, but that only proves it right, because after all, the law should be in the form of a decision table or a polychotomous key! Elementary my dear Watson, as long as I neglect to take my medication!" --98.217.8.46 (talk) 02:05, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Do you ever wonder if this guy is related to 65.163.etc on the Miscellaneous desk? Adam Bishop (talk) 07:45, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Nah, 65.163 isn't a troll. He's a perfectly harmless individual who is obsessed with UFOs, conspiracy theories and Fox News. This guy is something else. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 08:26, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

There's a basic assumption underlying your posts, 71.100, which is highly questionable. You seem to be saying that a lawyer who represents a mobster is somehow guilty of associating with the mob. This is nonsense. Anyone accused of a crime is entitled to legal representation; innocent until proven guilty, remember? Lawyer friends of mine have represented people accused of murder and rape in court. Does that mean their morals are questionable? Of course not. It's the lawyer's job to ensure that the accused gets treated fairly under the law. Until the verdict is handed down, no-one can say whether the accused is innocent or guilty. You may not like that, but it's a fundamental principle of the Anglo-Saxon legal tradition. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 08:33, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

You might have forgotten that he doesn't recognize the Anglo-Saxon legal tradition as legitimate since it doesn't involve a decision table or a polychotomous key (that is, he's a crank). --98.217.8.46 (talk) 22:23, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

It may be a fundamental principle of the legal system but "innocent until proven guilty" has never carried any weight in US elections. DJ Clayworth (talk) 17:27, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

May 27

"Back up our battleskies!"

There are a number of US anti-Japanese World War II posters which encourage people to support the war effort and have this phrase ("back up our battleskies!") at the bottom of them; this is one example. It's always accompanied by a particular cartoon, so it's all part of one campaign. My question for the collective intelligence of the reference desk: is a battlesky a thing, or is it just 'battle' with 'skies' added to be more endearing? — maestrosync ^talk — 00:06, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

It looks like "battleskies" is a coinage meaning skies where battles take place. Googling on "Back up our battleskies" took me here where we find out that the apparently meaningless phrase is actually the title of the Curtiss-Wright "morale song" of c. 1943. I was unable to identify the uniform the little guy is supposed to have on. --Milkbreath (talk) 01:16, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I think the uniform is Civilian Defense but couldn't find any pre-Cold War images to confirm that. Rmhermen (talk) 03:08, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Seems like a coinage by the aforementioned company from 1942 used from then until 1945 in the U.S. [14] , to make the point that "battleskies" are like battlefields. It also seems that "battleseas" [15] did not even get the limited usage that battleskies did. Edison (talk) 01:52, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Interesting—I'd never thought of the word like that. Thanks for the insights, everyone. — maestrosync ^talk — 09:05, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Paradox?

I have a house that must be re-painting before it can be let to tenants. For every day that it stays empty, I lose $40 in lost rent. On the other hand, every day I spent painting it costs me the equivalent of $200 in effort. If I postpone painting it for another day, I am therefore better off by $200-$40=$160. Why then should I ever start to do any work on the house? 80.0.110.30 (talk) 01:12, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

• 'Cause eventually you'll stop painting the house and start making money again? --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 01:16, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

• Just keep painting 'till you're a millionaire then find another house, do the same and become a multimillionaire! --hydnjo talk 01:46, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

The error is "If I postpone painting it for another day, I am therefore better off by $200-$40=$160." In fact you are worse off by $40. The $200 pertains to days that you do paint, not days that you might have painted.

This is essentially the same error that advertisers try to tempt you into making when they say "Regularly $100, on sale today for $80, save $20." You only save $20 by buying the item today if you were going to buy it anyway, not if you mmight have been going to buy it. --Anonymous, 04:39 UTC, May 27, 2008.

Since painting the house is mandatory if you want to rent it out, you're committed to painting it if you ever want any more rental income from the house. So the $200-a-day painting cost is a given, but it has a finite end. The $40 a day you get in rent will go on indefinitely as long as you keep on letting the house out. The alternative is not to paint the house, not to let it out ever again, and it just sits there gathering dust and earning you no income, ever. Which option seems the better one to you? If you considered the cost of petrol is too high, you might decide not to fill your gas tank when it runs dry. Fine, except that you've then got an asset you can't use, and it's just become a waste of space, not a vehicle for getting you anywhere. To get somewhere, you'll still have to spend money on a bus, taxi, train or whatever. -- JackofOz (talk) 06:43, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

This relates to another question I was thinking of asking - how can I make myself work harder and be less lazy? It may be related to the time-horizon one chooses - over one day, it is pointless to do the painting. Over five years, it makes sense. Perhaps we humans have inherited a short time horizon because in prehistory we had a high risk of dying, so a long time horizon was no good. The question then is, how do I lenghten my time horizon? 80.2.206.229 (talk) 13:26, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

• Do the math more often? The house painting pays for itself in 5 rental days for each day spent painting. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 16:15, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

The problem, from an economics point of view, is that you are confusing losses and investment. For a day spent doing nothing you are losing the opportunity to make $40. For a day spent painting you are not losing $200; you are spending $200 and increasing the value of your house by $200. Your balance sheet (if you had one) would not show a reduction in your assets of $200.

It would be worth leaving the house unpainted if you could do some other activity for the day which would make you enough money to get a $50 a day return on investing it, but that's a lot of money. DJ Clayworth (talk) 17:24, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

• Reminds me, though, of: "The more you study, the more you know. The more you know, the more you can forget. The more you can forget, the more you do forget. The more you forget, the less you know. The less you know, the more you need to study. So why study?" --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 18:34, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Foreign policy of Libya

Where can I find the foreign policy of Libya and how it stands on the issue on Iran nuclear issue? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.64.131.2 (talk) 01:24, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

See Foreign relations of Libya. Also there are a couple of sentences about Libya's relations with Iran in Iran-Arab relations. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 07:34, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

It did not help me a lot. I need more information on the foreign policy and the nuclear program in Iran. 76.64.131.2 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.64.131.245 (talk) 23:07, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Allusion too obscure?

"XXX is the Thomas Dewey of the twenty-first century."

Suppose this is in an essay on XXX's electoral campaign. Would this allusion be too obscure for a Canadian adult audience? --Bowlhover (talk) 04:36, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I think that would probably be too obscure even for an American adult audience. (Personally, as a Canadian adult, I know the "Dewey defeats Truman" picture, but I did not know his first name was Thomas.) Adam Bishop (talk) 07:43, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

My first reaction was to assume this referred to the inventor of Dewey Decimal Classification, so I would say yes, it's too obscure. -- Beland (talk) 19:14, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

The context is what determines how well the allusion is understood. If your essay is about the fact that XXX has won lost an election that no one ever expected him to win lose, then the Dewey reference might be understood in Canada and the States. Otherwise, I'm with Beland, wondering what data classification system XXX has invented. ៛ Bielle (talk) 22:32, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Um, the headline was wrong. Dewey lost an election that no one expected him to lose. I don't think many people other than history or politics buffs would be expected know this now, but maybe a political article is directed to that type of person. Why not take a moment to remind people about who Dewey was and then make your analogy? --Anonymous, 00:30 UTC, May 28, 2008.

Relation

Is Colin Campbell Ross related to John Campbell Ross? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 07:39, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Australia

Why did Australia become a federation on a DISGUSTING date? A date where people would be busy celebrating the new century? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 09:56, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

The date was the first day of 1901. The public tends to celebrate new centuries/millennia in years ending with a double zero, not an oh-one, so the celebrations would have been long over. WikiJedits (talk) 12:39, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I think that's a recent social development. Back then, nobody would have considered 1 January 1900 to be the start of anything other than a new year. On the other hand, 1 January 1901 wasn't chosen as federation date because it was the start of the new century. The process of getting the colonies' agreement to federate took a number of years, and it finally reached fruition in 1900. The UK Parliament then had to introduce a law establishing Australia's constitution, which took some time, and Queen Victoria gave her assent in September 1900. 1 January was chosen as a suitable date for it to take effect, purely for administrative convenience, and the next available 1 January just happened to be the start of the new century, 1 January 1901. It was a nice coincidence for a new nation to be born on the first day of a new century, but it was still only a coincidence. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:06, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Re the social development: I just took that statement from the Millennium#Debate over millennium celebrations article I linked to - maybe it needs correcting. In the New York Times archive there are at least three accounts of celebrations (pdf files) on Dec. 31, 1899 - up to interpretation of course whether they are for a new century or really only a new year. The editorial one seems to be a century review, but that doesn't mean the celebrations were. BTW, also found this interesting page about Australia's 1901 commonwealth celebrations! WikiJedits (talk) 23:33, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Why is it disgusting? The start of the year seems like a good time to do big things, and the year 1901 itself is just the way it happened. (Incidentally, I don't think finding a date disgusting is a valid criterion for vandalising an article.) — maestrosync ^talk — 13:08, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Isn't this the same date that black slaves were originally made free after the American Civil War? (Or celebrated their freedom?) Don't diss the date, it makes a new start to God's Great garden Katana Geldar 23:04, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

The Aswan High Dam

Why did the Soviet Union help the Eygptians to build the Aswan High Dam? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.146.164.190 (talk) 11:10, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Cold War strategising, have a look at Gamal Abdel Nasser and Suez Crisis. Mhicaoidh (talk) 11:52, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

To cut a long story short: the US had stopped supporting this project a few years earlier. The USSR saw this dam as its entry into Egypt, as a way to win the support of Egypt. Because Nasser was popular in the Arab world, it was seen as a way to win the hearts and minds of Arab leaders. Aecis^Brievenbus 13:47, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

You might also check out the Non-Aligned Movement. Basically Egypt was one of many states that flirted with both of the major super powers as a way of trying to get the best of both worlds; they were better at it than most. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 00:58, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Longest post-presidential career?

I'm wondering which US President lived the longest after leaving office. Was it Herbert Hoover, at 31 years?Woden325 (talk) 16:42, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

According to our page List of United States Presidents by age, Gerald Ford had the longest retirement; however, Jimmy Carter will beat him sometime in the next three years. WikiJedits (talk) 17:14, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Hang on, no, you're right. I missed Hoover in that list. WikiJedits (talk) 17:16, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for. I was guessing based on this: Timeline of Presidents of the United States, but it's not nearly as precise. President Carter may well break Hoover's record, he's only a little over 4 years off. Woden325 (talk) 17:55, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Fundamentalist Mormon Women

Are fundamentalist Mormon women allowed to use hairspray63.215.26.209 (talk) 17:30, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I imagine "rules" would vary from sect to sect. A common theme, I would expect, is that they dress modestly and avoid vanity. So I would suspect that hairspray may be frowned upon in many of these communities. Friday (talk) 17:37, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

What are these architectural grids?

These days I see lots of grids hanging off the sides of new buildings, which look like pergolas, but are extensions of the roof and have no vegetation. Is there another term for such a thing? I had thought for a while that this was some sort of Asian-influenced architecture, but I assume pergolas are Roman? -- Beland (talk) 19:19, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

If they contain slats and louvres and aim to shade the building, then they are brise soleil. The illustrations in this article are a little atypical, more common is a grid over the whole face of the building, generally horizontal louvres to the south (in northern hemisphere) and vertical to the east and west, to deal with the varying altitude of the sun. There is an increase in this technique around the world as it's a passive, sustainable form of solar control as opposed to air conditioning. Slats and louvres are also fashionable at the moment compared to the tinted or reflective glass popular as solar control in the 80s. Mhicaoidh (talk) 00:51, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

If your grid is not just an extension of a roof, but covers the side of a skyscraper downtown, it might be a structure designed to prevent "street canyon" wind effects that might damage the building or knock pedestrians off their feet. There was a building in one of the cities I lived in, where they had to install structures on a new high-rise after passer-bys found it close to impossible to walk in the street in high wind conditions. --Lisa4edit (talk) 04:24, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Origins of credit card size?

I was curious if anyone knew the history of the size of credit cards? Why are they the size they are and not longer or shorter or square? The Credit Card entry does't seem to shine any light on this. Is it perhaps linked to the size of American business cards? If so, why are business cards the size they are? --70.167.58.6 (talk) 21:52, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Probably to fit in a wallet. I have Boy Scout merit badge cards from 1930–1940 that are a similar size. --—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 21:57, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

In mathematics, there is an animal called the golden ratio. It is a ratio of length to width that repeats throughout nature and which is (purported to be) attractive. Credit cards are sized according to that ratio. Note: The golden ratio is such that the short side / long side = long side / (short side + long side). Wikiant (talk) 22:19, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

But they aren't. It says here that the dimensions are 85.60 by 53.98 mm, and measuring my own credit and bank cards confirms that. The golden ratio would give 87.34 instead of 85.60 mm (or if the 85.60 was kept the same, 52.90 mm instead of 53.98).

Googling for that standard together with the word "rationale", I find that the question has been discussed on the Reference Desks at least twice previously, and nobody came up with a reason then for the specific size. --Anonymous, 00:50 UTC, May 28, 2008.

Don't know about proportions, but the scale relates to the human hand or palm in a general way. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:57, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Human features generally follow the golden ratio, so fashioning the card according to the average human palm would also give you the golden ratio. The measurements you give are only 2% off of the golden ratio -- close enough. Wikiant (talk) 02:17, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

It need not to be a rationale. Someone got to design a credit card. Cut a paper board and the others copied it. 217.168.3.246 (talk) 04:37, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Latin American nationalism

How come in the Americas, the Spanish-speaking countries don't have parties that deals with Latin American Nationalism like "Arab Nationalism"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.64.131.33 (talk) 23:31, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

May 28

Paul Nicklen Art

My son is doing a project for school and has a print out of Paul Nicklen's "A Brilliant Aurorae over Grey Mountains" painting. He has to have the name of the painting, artist name, and date of the painting. We obviously have the name of the painting and the artist. Can you tell me the date of the painting?

Thank you,

Sherman, TX —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.96.233.174 (talk) 01:36, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Hi Sherman, why not show your son how to search google for Paul Nicklen. The first hit is the photographer's website. Your son can send him an email to ask when he took the picture (it is a photograph, not a painting, as far as I can tell - is it one of these?). A few hits further down you can show your son Nicklen's official biography from National Geographic, which might help with the project too. WikiJedits (talk) 01:53, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

dominating force

who was the dominating force in WWII in terms of military might and effectiveness not necessarily in terms of number of men —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.98.97.66 (talk) 04:07, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

The Allies generally, and either the Soviet Union or the United States specifically, depending on your criteria. If you want a different scale, the tank and/or blitzkrieg tactics and the aircraft carrier would be good suggestions, much as trenches and the machine gun defined the Great War battlefield. — Lomn 04:38, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

The Atomic bomb. Edison (talk) 07:01, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

US Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

I've asked several people this, including Air Force public relations, and gotten no answer. What is the blue stone that is used at the center of the Distinguished Service Medal? Fonce Diablo (talk) 05:17, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

DHL company in Malaysia

How to explain the general environment of DHL company in Malaysia using the Pestel analysis and it`s competative environment using porter`s five forces. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.188.235.131 (talk) 05:18, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Have you see our pages PEST analysis and Porter 5 forces analysis? Look at the criteria and then find out how DHL matches those. --71.236.23.111 (talk) 09:29, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

My religion is between my god and me

I read the quote somewhere, but I can't remember who said it. At first I thought it was from Gandhi, but I can't find any site that attributed the quote to him. Can anyone help me identify who said it? Although now that I think about it, it could have been from an anonymous person. Anyway, your help in clarifying it would be appreciated. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.69.217.138 (talk) 08:13, 28 May 2008 (UTC)