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November 1

The French Encyclopedia

The date is was created and its hisorical impotance.

If you're referring to the famous 18th century work, see our article Encyclopédie. --DannyZ 02:03, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Druids V.S. Columbus

Many say Christopher Columbus Discoverd'America..... I would rather think that The Druids were here first. Christopher Columbus didn't step on this land, he landed in Cuba I think. So, in either case, who was here first, Columbus, or the Druids?

Nobody with a reasonable grasp of history believes that Columbus discovered America. He never even set foot on what is now called "America". He got as far as the Caribbean. JackofOz 01:51, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Their religious affiliation is actually quite controversial, and it probably wasn't Druidism, but perhaps one of Kennewick Man's ancestors discovered North America. Maybe the Ainu?--Joel 02:04, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

You might be thinking of the Vikings, who made it to what is now the East Coast of Canada and the Northern US. Apparently they didn't think much of it, since they left after a while and didn't bother telling anyone in Europe about it. They likely thought it was just another big island, like Greenland. Columbus is usually given the credit for first letting Europeans know there was something worth exploring, which led rapidly to European colonization of the Americas. StuRat 05:27, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Mixing up druids and vikings is like mixing up monks and astronauts. Although druids and vikings were both sort of northern european, they were separated by more than a thousand years, a completely different culture and civilization, completely different social purposes, mobility, etc... alteripse 11:55, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I agree, but can't think of what other Northern European explorers who landed in the New World, the asker may have meant, if not Vikings. StuRat 17:34, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I wasn't criticizing your answer, because I also guessed that Vikings must have been who the enquirer had in mind, just expressing amazement that anyone could confuse the two. alteripse 01:47, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
We have an article on the subject: see Pre-Columbian_trans-oceanic_contact and particularly Pre-Columbian_trans-oceanic_contact#Legendary_trips or Brendan for the Irish monk who just possibly may have visited America in the 6th century.-gadfium 18:43, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

smoking twins treated like gods by south east asian village

Can any one tell me the names and country of the 2 brothers, I think they were twins, who were treated like gods in their rural village in South East Asia? They were young brothers who smoked cigars or cigarettes. They had an explosive adult following, who exalted them to god-like status some where in south east Asia. They were in the news well over 5 years ago.

    • You rock. Thank you! :)

Rosa Parks question.

Who was the standing 'white man' on the Montgomery AL bus, that caused driver J.F. Blake to ask Rosa Parks to give up her bus seat in 1955? That is the one missing piece from the extraordinarily detailed info on Rosa Parks. --68.167.206.213 02:46, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

five phillars of Islam

The date is was created and its hisorical impotance.

You might take a look at our articles on Five Pillars of Islam and History of Islam. Also, this article might be helpful. -- DannyZ 03:15, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

is Absolutism one of these??

a political theory developed in England a theory of papal supremacy absence of any constitutional check on royal power

I don't like any of them, too simplistic. I suppose what you're really after is absolute monarchy, which may or may not be the same as political absolutism. The best asnswer is definitely the last. It did not originate from England, though the term may have, around the time of Thomas Hobbes (a proponent). Doesn't have to do with papal authoity, really. But only in the strictest sense would you say it cannot have a constitution. Historically, most non-absolute monarchies have had no constitution either. Dmcdevit·t 07:27, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Events

I am looking for current events that occurred in my fathers lifetime starting with 1935 through the present in increments of every 10 years (example - price of gas, cost of a stamp, current President, etc.)

Thank you

Have a look at 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s. It won't have prices, but you will find some events. Someone else may have an idea where to look for prices.. Like here? [1] - 04:57, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

also, learn to use google; this is where you should come after you used google, asking about specifics of what you could find. 19:31, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

What is the Forbidden city

Dates and historical importance??? Please help?

See Forbidden city (don't worry, the article isn't forbidden). StuRat 09:06, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Canada: History

I read your page about Canada, but still have some questions.

1. Since when Canada is called Canada?

1791 the words Upper Canada and Lower Canada were mentioned. 1840 the word Province of Canada was mentioned.

2. What is the meaning of the word Canada?

3. How old is Canada? Since which year we count?

I believe the country gained independence from England in 1867. StuRat 09:03, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you.

  1. It's hard to say exactly as there are contradictory accounts of the origin of the name. It was first officially used in 1791 when Upper and Lower Canada were created, but it's clear that the name had some currency before that.
  2. There are contradictory accounts, but the most widely cited one is that it was a Huron or Haudenosaunee word picked up by Jacques Cartier in the mid 16th century. Apparently, Cartier got to some native village, grabbed the first native he found and asked, in clear, slow, loud French "Comment est-ce que vous appellez ce pays?" while pointing at the village. To which the native, not knowing French and assuming this hairy honky weirdo was a bit on the thick side, answers in clear, slow, loud Huron or Haudenosaunee "Village, you idiot, it's a VIL-LA-GE". Cartier presumed this was the name of the country and that's what he told his bosses in France. Alternately, the story occasionally circulates that it's Abenaki for "Go away, you hoser!", and that Cartier came upon the name in more or less the same manner as described above.
  3. Most Canadians count from 1867, because the modern institutions of the Canadian federal government have some continuity with those established in the British North America Act. When Canada became independent is a harder question to answer. It has enjoyed a codified legal existence as a semi-autonomous entity since 1791; the Union of Canada - the first unitary government to use that name - dates to 1840. The current institutions date to 1867. Canada did not have an independent foreign policy - usually one of the requirements for sovereignty - until 1909. Its status as an independent realm was not really fixed until the Statute of Westminster in 1931. There was no such thing as a Canadian citizen - one of the other requirements for sovereignty - until 1947. And, provinces could still challenge the constitutionality of Canadian laws before the Privy Council in London until the Constitution Act of 1982.
--Diderot 10:42, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

See also Canada's name. Ground Zero | t 14:47, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I wonder how many North American placenames come from similar misunderstandings. Supposedly Tejas is from the Caddo word for friend. I suppose that westerners had frightened them enough that when some stopped to ask the Caddo what they called themselves they responded with friend. — Laura Scudder | Talk 16:19, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

It's really very hard to say. So few of those first contact stories survive, and so many Native Americans used very prosaic names for places anyway. The two groups I know fairly well gave almost everything a descriptive or, at any rate, boring name. But in other cases, its hard to say if they really used that name or if it was a misunderstanding because even their modern descendants don't know. The languages are lost, or undocumented, or full of names they adopted back from Europeans.
Generally, no matter how dumb they sound, Algonquian names documented after 1750 are probably reliable because by then hundreds of French traders spoke Algonquian languages fluently and didn't make dumb mistakes. But I wonder occasionally about Dene names. "Yukon" for example - "big river" - I can just see some Gwitchin telling an early beaver trader, "Dude, that's a big river!" --Diderot 17:57, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Does Michael Moore run the political activist web site moveon.com?

You mean MoveOn.org? No, he does not, though he and the site certainly have complimentary viewpoints. Garrett Albright 15:11, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Meyer Lansky

As Meyer Lansky was not Italian, what role did he play in organized crime? Did he head a crime family or comparable organization?

Try reading the Meyer Lansky article. His crime business is detailed rather well. Kainaw 18:55, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Normally, I try not to pick on the premises of questions, but... do you really think only Italians are capable of forming criminal gangs? -- Jmabel | Talk 02:55, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Kibbutz Hama'apil

I worked on a kibbutz in Israel from mid-December 1971 to early May 1972. I think the spelling I've given is the correct one. The kibbutz was inland from Hadera, but is not listed in Wikipedia's "List of Kibbutzim", nor is it found in Google or Google Earth. Does anyone know if it still exists? Has it undergone a name change? It was small, only 500 residents, but at the time, was fairly wealthy. Thanks.

There was a Kibbutz named Hama'apil - famous for volleyball in the 70s. Kainaw 20:03, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
It still exists, albeit not as a communistic enterprise. See [2]. -- Mwalcoff 23:47, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The Protestant and Catholic reformations

the Protestant and Catholic reformations. Who were the leaders of the Protestant Reformation? How did their doctrines differ from those of the Catholic Church? Why were they successful? Discuss the responses of the Catholic church. What impact did these events have on non-European societies?

See the articles on the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, and do your own homework. —Charles P. (Mirv) 20:12, 1 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

November 2

name Mexico

Who, when, where first name New Spain by the name Mexico ?

As it turns out we have an article on Mexico that answers exactly that, although it was Mexico long before it was anything Spain. — mendel ☎ 00:32, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
You might also be interested in our List of country name etymologies. Thryduulf 00:39, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Help With the Federalist Papers

I am writing a paper, here is an exerpt:

FDR’s frustration that the judiciary was proving a major hindrance to the executive office’s attempts to solve pressing public problems by striking down crucial pieces of New Deal legislation is understandable, but his court packing scheme was preposterous. FDR was making massive changes to national economics in an attempt to remedy The Great Depression. If these changes were in the best interest of the nation is completely irrelevant, because the executive office does not have the authority to make them. A critical component of New Deal legislation involved transferring significant economic power from the legislative to the executive office. Perhaps the most notable example is the National Industrial Recovery Act, which gave the executive office the power to set working hours, wages and codes to ensure “fair competition.” This is clearly a violation of the separation of powers.

Can anyone point me to specific federalist papers that would pertain/defend my argument?

Federalist Paper #51 talks about separation of powers and checks and balances. Hermione1980 01:05, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

World War Two

Did Communism threaten America's internal security after World War Two? 

                       68.232.242.40 01:20, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. Especially after Ethel and Julius Rosenberg gave the Soviet Union the secret of the nuclear bomb. StuRat 01:52, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
They were hardcore communists, but I doubt they had access to nuclear bomb secrets. The circumstances and accuracy of the trial is rather fuzzy. They were executed hastily too, as the result of the growth of HUAC and McCarthyism. Much of the internal security fears (bomb drills under tables and so on) were a great way to frighten people, but didn't really have large reason to be scared. The anti-communist movies, many in the form of sci-fi done at the time also contributed to mass hysteria about the USSR. The focus on science education coupled with the space race was very convincing to many people; Americans feared that the Soviets would create a Moon base and use it as a "death star." No joke. This all contributed to internal security "issues", but many of them unfounded. The growth of American communism could have been put down even if the government condoned it, simply by nationalist individuals with nothing better to do.--Screwball23 talk 04:55, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Anti-communism also threatened America's internal security during those years. alteripse 02:02, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Whereas I would simply say, "no". There may have been a real external security threat, especially in the Khrushchev era, which seems to me to be the last time the Soviet Union was something other than a sclerotic empire waiting to die, but there was never a real internal security threat to speak of, and it was largely a trumped-up matter. -- Jmabel | Talk 05:46, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Closed session

What exactly is a closed session? - Ta bu shi da yu 02:44, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

If this is in reference to the U.S. Senate, it's a secret session...non-public deliberations. See [3]. - Nunh-huh 03:14, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Do they/can they/have they had them in Australia? --Ballchef 13:30, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Not that I'm aware of. Some Senate committees meet or are briefed in camera (in a closed session), but I've never heard of the entire Australian Senate doing so. -- Canley 02:45, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Can senators leak information from the session? Do senators hold a security clearance? Are there laws regarding keeping closed-session information closed? Ojw 18:58, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
From the Senate Manual, I gather that all the senators can be told classified information, but if they leak it, they're subject to prosecution. Revealing non-classified information from a closed session appears to be against Senate rules but not illegal. -- Mwalcoff 22:50, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Part of Rule 29, which Rule 21 specifies is cross-applicable, specifies that "Any Senator, officer, or employee of the Senate who shall disclose the secret or confidential business or proceedings of the Senate, including the business and proceedings of the committees, subcommittees, and offices of the Senate, shall be liable, if a Senator, to suffer expulsion from the body; and if an officer or employee, to dismissal from the service of the Senate, and to punishment for contempt." Superm401 | Talk 23:53, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

aleister crowley

i was just wondering if anyone knew what the sigillum sanctum fraternitatis a.a. is. im sure it pertains to aleister crowley because i found it on a symbol in a book about his magick but was unable to find anything about it in the book. i was also wondering if anyone knew what the symbol meant. it can be found at: http://www.tothal.com/galerija/image.asp?id_albuma=2&id_slike=146 thank you. -madir

You're probably looking for an explanation of the symbols? If not, "Sigillum sanctum fraternitatis" is just Latin for "Sign of the Holy Brotherhood" and the "A∴A∴" stand for "ASTRVM ARGETNEVM" or "Silver Star". There are books about it [4] - Nunh-huh 05:57, 2 November 2005 (UTC) As for the symbology, without knowing anything other than looking at it, you have a seven-pointed star, each point corresponding to a ltter in the word "BABYLON", probably as the Mother of Mysteries, and a mandorla (vesica piscis), some crosses and a lot of "7"'s in the center. The specifics of why they are there are probably not discernable without reading Crowley (and possibly not even then<g>). - Nunh-huh 06:11, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Is the Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom an African baobob tree (Adansonia digitata)?

--Tessa

It's a fourteen story sculpture made of concrete and fiberglass. I think they do say it's modeled in part on a baobab. “It is not a particular species of tree,” said the park’s chief designer, Joe Rohde. “It’s something like a baobab … It’s something like a ficus or a banyan tree with all those twisted roots coming down the side.” - Nunh-huh 05:58, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

gov. arnold schwarzenegger

see Arnold Schwarzenegger, and read the instructions at the top of this page. This is not a search engine, you need to ask specific questions to get a specific answer. Thryduulf 10:42, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

buffalo soldiers

The article doesn't specify, were the original/early "buffalo soldiers" slaves? Were they forced to partake in wars? --Ballchef 13:52, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Look at the dates. The unit was formed in 1865 at the end of the Civil War. The good guys won. No more slaves. Besides, no modern army has had fighting units made up of slaves who were "forced to partake" so to speak. There are several examples of armies recruiting volunteer units made up of slaves, generally by promising them freedom if they won. An example was the British army during the American Revolution. I think the Confederates actually had a few small units made up of slave volunteers but I don't know what inducements they used. The Union army had several large units made up of ex-slaves and colored volunteers who distinguished themselves at Fort Wagner and other battles. alteripse 16:08, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

So does the bob marley song have any basis? the song says: "taken from the homeland... Fighting on arrival/fighting for survival" --Ballchef 02:06, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Marley, a Rastafarian, would view the black population of America as essentially largely still enslaved down to his own time. -- Jmabel | Talk 05:48, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

History Help

Where are some good resources for finding quotes and articles on how the Africans and/or Asians felt when Europeans invaded their region between 1450 to 1750 CE??

I bet Africa would be difficult here; Asia in general should not be, but I don't know my way around the literature. The first obvious question: what Asian languages do you read, or are you going to have to find everything in translation? -- Jmabel | Talk 05:52, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

winning a court case involving a SPEEDING TICKET

How can I win a speeding ticket case. I was given a speeding ticket by the CHP in California and am going to court to fight it. How can I improve my chances of winning?

Find a lawyer experienced in traffic violations. I would start by calling one of those guys who enhances the reputation of his profession by advertising on billboards that he can get you off a DUI charge. He will know the technicalities or the tactics that work in your area. I think if a traffic violation goes to court in most states, you win mainly if the issuing officer doesn't show up. Of course you can always fall back on proving that you weren't going that fast or that his method of timing you was grossly inaccurate, but I am guessing you won't be able to do that. I am also assuming the stakes are higher for you than the cost of a speeding ticket, or it would be far cheaper to pay it than to engage a lawyer. alteripse 16:22, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

It depends. If you were given it by an officer with a radar gun, you may be able to prove he was mistaken. If it was taken by an automatic camera, you have no chance, unless the image shows you going at less than the speed limit. Of course, you could try to find some lawyer who could argue that you have the God -given right, engraved in the constitution by your fore-fathers to speed, but this probably goes against the skills of even the best (or worst, depending on your viewpoint) lawyer. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 17:18, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
A few weeks a go there was a case in Australia where a lawyer argued that a speed camera could never guarantee that the car it had captured was speeding (something to do with the technology) and the client got off. If it was a speed camera, then I'll dig up the news story for you.--Commander Keane 18:18, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
You are extremely unlikely to get off if the officer turns up. The court will likely accept the officer's testamony over yours. Spin the wheel if you like, but also be aware that you can sometimes call the court and bargain with them. They will sometimes give you a discount on the fine in return for not turning up (it costs them a lot if you do turn up). Trollderella 20:39, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
In the UK, roads near speed cameras are marked with rows of lines 1 foot apart. These show the distance the car travelled in the time between the camera photos (generally 0.5 to 0.25 of a second). Therefore, from this the speed can be calculated. I don't know if California use the same system, but if they do, your case has no chance. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 20:44, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
This case turned on the verification procedures that ensured that the picture taken was actually taken at the time mentioned and that the vehicle was actually travelling at the speed claimed; for one thing, the hash algorithm they used was one that is theoretically vulnerable to attack. However, the main reason that the guy won his case was that the police couldn't organise an expert in the speed camera to explain why the ticket was indeed valid to turn up to the court. My honest opinion based on the limited evidence in the public domain were that the vulnerabilities discussed were highly unlikely to have made any difference, and if the police had have got an expert to turn up the charges would have suceeded. --Robert Merkel 02:43, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Isn't there a case in the UK that is going to the EU Court of Human rights about about speed cameras? IIRC it hinges on all that they show is that the car is travelling that fast, and not who was driving. UK law gives the right not to be forced to give testamony against yourself, so the state cannot prove who was driving the car. Trollderella 21:05, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Whilst I am not a lawyer, I believe the terminology for this defence argument is "playing silly buggers"... ;-) Shimgray | talk | 00:54, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Well, even in the UK, you are presumed innocent, at least in theory, and the state has not proved that you were driving. It's not that silly. Trollderella 16:10, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I think you're referring to a form that police send to the registered owner of a vehicle that was photographed by a speed camera, asking them to supply the name and address of the person driving the vehicle at that time. Some people refused, on the grounds that they couldn't be forced to give evidence against themselves (there's a paragraph about it near the bottom of Speed camera).
According to that article, their argument succeeded when they used it in court, but was thrown out by another court. It's not entirely clear why that second court thought that the Human Rights Act didn't apply.
In the UK, current theory on speed cameras is that
  • You can demand a calibration certificate for the camera that was valid on the date concerned, and if one isn't available, then the camera can't prove that its estimate of your speed is correct
  • Certain types of speed measurement equipment are intrinsically unreliable or inaccurate, or have features which leave them open to police interference, or generally can't be proven to be completely infallible.
  • For example it was demonstrated recently (on UK TV) that handheld laser detectors can give a higher or lower speed if the person using it so desires, by moving the point of measurement across the car. It wouldn't be possible to prove in court whether this technique was used or not, and software that's supposed to detect it happening can be trivially fooled, so data from handheld speed guns is very suspicious.
  • You can demand the photographs showing the car passing two points 0.5 seconds apart and calculate the speed yourself (then ask for proof that the camera's clock was correct)
  • You can say that you weren't driving, or that you're not going to say who was driving and
  • A numberplate identical to your own might have been attached to another car of the same type/colour -- plenty of people have received speeding tickets showing their numberplate attached to someone else's car. (Car cloning)
Of course, neither Wikipedia nor I give legal advice; usual disclaimers apply.
Ojw 19:25, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
  • By the way, in California at least: if it is a speed camera, if you can plausibly argue that it wasn't you doing the speeding at the time (I don't know what kind of evidence they'd have about this), that is, if someone else was driving your car, they can't give you a ticket. Tickets are issued to people, not vehicles. At least, that's what a California lawyer I know once told me. --Fastfission 03:49, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
  • A good thing to do is to keep asking for date changes so that you annoy the cop and make him not want to show up. Broken S 02:40, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I don't see why they don't make the cameras face the other way. That way, you could get a snap of who was driving as well! :-) smurrayinchester(Penny for the Guy?), (The Guy) 16:39, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Not all states in the US require plates on the front of cars, only the back. — Laura Scudder | Talk 20:55, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Poem

In Marco Bellocchio's movie L'ora di religione (Il sorriso di mia madre) a young woman, played by Chiara Conti, recites a poem. I would like to find it. She says it is translated from the Russian, and every stanza ends with words like "non è basta" ("it is not enough") or "ma tutto questo non basta" ("but all that is not enough"). Any ideas what poem this could be? David Sneek 17:29, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Found it! But now I'd like to find an English translation... David Sneek 17:49, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry about all this. I had been googling for half an hour before I asked here, but somehow my searches only became effective afterwards... If anyone wants to read it: [5] David


Gang of 500

What is the Gang of 500? (Read about it in The Note.)

Hopefully, this page should be of help. It says that the Gang of 500 is "the 500 people whose decisions matter to the political news and campaign narrative we get from the major media." - Akamad 19:35, 2 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

November 3

What's the title of this movie?

A made-for-TV movie from the 1970s about a morning radio talk show host who takes a call from a despondent teenage girl who threatens suicide (she has pills). He spends most of the movie trying to talk her out of it, but she is on the edge of going through with it. At the end of the show another caller reports that the girl has been found by authorities - can't tell if she's alive or dead - then the station cuts away to a news break over the objections of the host. He leaves the studio thoroughly pissed; I'm not sure if she lives, or if he quits his job. - anon

The best place to get an answer to a question like this is on IMDB's "I need to know" board at http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000001/threads/ Jooler 02:03, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I remember this movie. Specifically the talk-show host gets the suicidal call, and treats the caller with disdain. After she rings off another caller calls in and says the suicide threat sounds genuine. The host spends the rest of his show calling out to get his listeners to help find her, while persuading his boss to let him stay on the air to finish the job. Unfortunately I remember the plot better than the title. DJ Clayworth 18:11, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

History

Who was the Athenian General who set a trap for Xerxes army and his navy

Check out the Greco-Persian Wars. You might be thinking of the Battle of Salamis. — Laura Scudder | Talk 01:11, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

comment

I couldn't find a place to make a comment so I am writing here: This site is unbelievable. What an incredible job you've all done. Amazing. Just amazing. Greg Sandell Marquette, MI

You too can join in making this site even better, see Wikipedia and Introduction. Akamad 02:37, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

who is the female singer who sings a song about jesus coming to bring Lazarus back to life?

Does anyone know this Christian song? It is a very pretty song by a female singer. It is about Jesus coming to see Lazarus who was sick and dies before Jesus gets there. Part of the lyrics read: "although he was 2 days late he was not late at all..." I would love to find out who the singer is and the title of the song. -- unsigned

Please read the rules at the top. We never email, and advise against posting email adresses here. -- Ec5618 02:27, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
The lyrics aren't quite the same, but this sounds a lot like "Four Days Late" by Karen Peck and New River. The last line of the chorus is "And isn't it great, when He's four days late, He's still on time". Full lyrics here... -- Canley 02:40, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

magic trick-crazy man's handcuffs

There is a magic trick I saw with two rubberbands that seem to pass through each other-it is close up magic and someone told me that it is called "crazy Man's handcuffs" can you tellme how it works? I cant find it anywhere

    • It's generally considered very poor form for those who know how magic tricks work to reveal it to those who don't. If you're interested simply out of curiosity, then keep puzzling - as AllanHainey says above the magic's all gone once you know. If on the other hand you're interested in learning it to perform, then you'd be better off asking on a website for magicians. Also, a lot of magic tricks are very heavily copyrighted and protected by their creators. Noodhoog 18:55, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Assorted international politics questions (take II)

I'm reposting the unanswered questions down here.

1. What happened to  Cape Verde's plans to introduce the €?
2. What happened to  Cape Verde's bid to join the Template:EUn? The last time I heard about it was sometime this spring, when a former Portuguese president launched a campaign for CV's membership in the EU...
3. What's the latest news on  Andorra's monetary agreement with the Template:EUn regarding the official introduction of the € and the minting of Andorran euro coins? They've been negotiating for over a year now...
4. After the successful referendum on unification in Kamchatka Oblast and Permyakia, what's the date on which Kamchatka Krai will come into existence? This seems to suggest 1 January 2007, just like the Krasnoyarsk Krai merger, but it's not definite, is it?
5. How strong is the Great Timor movement in West Timor to unite with  Timor-Leste?
6. When will  Timor-Leste introduce its own currency? I doubt they're planning to use the USD for too long, or are they?

Thanks for any information you might be able to contribute! File:Austria flag large.png ナイトスタリオン ✉ 12:30, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Pink = Feminine

The following question has been copied from Talk:Pink:

does anyone know why pink should be regarded as a feminine colour? where does this symbolism originate from? --Cap 01:52, 13 Sep 2004 (UTC)

--TantalumTelluride 14:39, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

My guess is that pink is associated with feminism because it is a common color for flowers, symbols of natural beauty. Then again, there are some less beautiful pink things in nature, such as the tongues of many animals and the rear ends of some primates, etc. This is purely a guess; does anyone have anything else to add? --TantalumTelluride 14:39, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Pink used to be a boy's color - a watered down red (which was a man's color). Girls wore the dainty blue. There are many references to this in the not-so-distant past.
"At one point pink was considered more of a boy's color, (as a watered-down red, which is a fierce color) and blue was more for girls. The associate of pink with bold, dramatic red clearly affected its use for boys. An American newspaper in 1914 advised mothers, "If you like the color note on the little one's garments, use pink for the boy and blue for the girl, if you are a follower of convention." [The Sunday Sentinal, March 29, 1914.]
"There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl." [Ladies Home Journal, June, 1918]
Pink as a feminine color didn't show up in catalogs until the 50s. I've read opinions that this was influenced by Germany. I don't see how Nazi choices in colors could have any influence on Americans. As for color choices, they are arbitrary. In China, white is for mourning and red is for purity. Wearing a white wedding gown in China then takes on a whole new meaning (perhaps more honest). Kainaw 14:51, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I don't see how you can use the term "Nazi" as synonymous with the term "German". Valiantis 14:01, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I believe that I made it clear I was referring to Germany before 1950, also known as Nazi Germany. Are you trying to rewrite history and erase any mention of Nazi Germany? Kainaw 20:27, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Um... the Nazi party was the governing body of Germany until 1945. a) that means half the decade before 1950 was pretty Nazi-free; b) matters of fashion in clothing tend to be due to the populace, most of whom (history records) weren't Nazis, rather than the government. Using the term "Nazi" for "German" is unduly inflammatory, even if in a geopolitical sense it may have been accurate for that general timeframe, and is generally discouraged. Shimgray | talk | 00:21, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Wouldn't it be a hell of a lot easier if you assumed that I knew what I was talking about? The opinions that I briefly mentioned were that since the Nazi government used blue for men and pink for women during the Holocaust, the tradition carried over into the rest of the world after WWII. As I stated in my original post, I do not agree with that opinion. Kainaw 14:40, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Alternately, before getting very angry that people are complaining about your use of language, you might want to check that you're clear what that language is. You mentioned nothing about the Holocaust initially; a reference to "German choices" immediately segued to "Nazi" without explaining if that was because the holocaust bureaucracy used colour-coded indicators or if it was the hot new style of Spring '37 in Munich. To a user who didn't know what you knew, it did look like you were using the two synonymously; no information was presented to indicate otherwise, and it's (sadly) a very common thing in the English-speaking world.
But more to the point - what was the use of colours during the Holocaust, anyway? I was aware of coloured symbols for specific groups - Nazi concentration camp badges has a pretty exhaustive list - but wasn't aware of any general use of male-female distinction other than segregating them (although, as 99% of photographs are black-and-white...). Given the shortage of cloth and dyes during wartime, dressing people in coloured clothing sounds like something that would have been dropped by the beginning of the forties. Shimgray | talk | 15:09, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
(After edit conflict with Shimgray's last post). You didn't actually state any of that in your original comment which merely said "I've read opinions that this [pink as a feminine color] was influenced by Germany". Do you have a source for the Nazi regime using blue for men and pink for women "during the Holocaust"? In what way did they use it? Is there evidence that this was a novel use, rather than an established use in Germany? I appreciate that you said you don't agree with this opinion, but as you raised it as a possible explanation, I'd be grateful if you could flesh out the point. Valiantis 15:16, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I am in no way an expert on the Holocaust. That is why I've tried to avoid the topic all together. I actually dislike the topic because I had a Jewish history teacher in high school. For "Western History 1500-present", we learned that everything was fine until the beginning of the Holocaust and nothing has happened since. So, I displace my dislike of that teacher to the whole topic of the Holocaust.
What I read is that males were marked with blue and women with pink when entering the camps. Then, they were assigned symbols. Gay men were given a pink triangle (because they were feminine). I disagree with the assumption that this influenced American's taste in clothing colors. I did a quick google to see if I could turn up anything and I found a rather exhaustive thread that begins with the two passages that I copied and pasted into my original post. I wish I found this first so I could just add a link to it. It contains a lot of quotes from others (some conflict with one another). [6] Kainaw 16:37, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your response. To summarise what's in the Google Answers page you link to, pink was already associated in Germany with femininity by the 1930s and this is why the Nazi regime made gay men wear pink triangles as they (questionably) associated homosexuality with effeminacy. This page doesn't state anywhere that the Nazi regime itself used pink to denote women and blue to denote men; I think you've (mis)read between the lines. The symbols the Nazis used are delineated in detail in the WP article Shimgray already mentioned. What is particularly bizarre about the quote used in the Google Answers page is that it states in Germany (and other Catholic countries) blue was associated with the Virgin Mary (i.e. feminine), there follows an ellipsis, and then the quote continues with the info about pink being perceived as feminine by the 1930s in Germany. This is of course directly contradictory to the start of the quote; it would appear that the explanation of the shift in Germany was included in the omitted part of the quote. Valiantis 18:47, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Chinese bribes don't wear red to symbolize purity, but to represent vitality and vivaciousness. --Menchi 14:45, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

macedonia during alexander's reign?

On websites you can read all about Alexander III the Greats conquest and such but never does it tell me what life was like during his reign in the places he conquered and in Macedonia. So my question is what was life like in Macedonia and the places Alexander conquered?81.179.231.227 19:50, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Every couple of decades someone publishes a new version of "everyday life in ancient greece". Just check Amazon for the latest. I know greece and macedonia were not the same place, but I doubt that "what life was like during his reign" was much different. Macedonia was even more rural than greece and did not have cities with the size and history of Athens, but for most people, life was much the same regardless of who ruled. alteripse 00:09, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Flemish artist AD. ADRIAENSSENS

Does anybody know this 20 th century Flemish artist and if so, where to find his paintings ? I'm not sure if the name is written correctly...

Interview with the Vampire

I've been reading Interview With The Vampire lately, and I'd be interested if there's a name for the odd literary technique it uses - the entire story is told as direct speech, direct quotes of the titular vampire telling his story to the boy who's listening. e.g The vampire said "I did this, then that, and said 'something else'". It's not a frame story, is it? Sum0 22:22, 3 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

November 4

History

Hey, Does anybody know Where some good resources for finding quotes and articles on how the Africans and/or Asians felt when Europeans invaded their region between 1450 to 1750 CE?? Please help me find this information, i could guess what they thought easily, but I need proof for school.

You won't find much googling for "European invasion of Africa". The powers (England, France, Spain, and Holland) were not interested in invading land. They were colonizing land. The Americas and Australia were invaded (the local people were kicked off their land and replaced by Europeans). Africa and Asia were colonized. The local people were put to work to produce goods for sale in Europe. Of course, I am being very general, but you need to understand the difference between colonizing land and taking over land. As for what they thought, most people were very poor. They went from being worked to death by a local landowner to being worked to death by a foreign landowner. They probably hated it both ways. Kainaw 00:21, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Remember that attitudes probably varied. For example the British East India Company was invited into India by one of the existing rulers. Merchants and others probably welcomed the foreigners who could provide them with new trading oppotunities. Initially there was almost certainly a degree of cooperation with the new arrivals. DJ Clayworth 17:18, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Did Hitler himself ever kill anyone?

I can't seem to find the answer to this anywhere. I know he obviously killed many, many, MANY people indirectly, but did he ever do it single-handedly? --Impaciente 00:51, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

He did serve in the front lines during WWI, being wounded and IIRC taking a couple of prisoners. He was a messenger not a combat infantryman, however, and so it's not likely he killed anyone in combat. There are rumours that he killed Geli Raubal (his niece, believed to have committed suicide), but these are probably nothing more than rumours - as you might expect, pretty much anything that can be imagined about Hitler's history has been rumoured to be seedier than it actually was. Other than this (and his own suicide), I don't believe there's much indication he did. Shimgray | talk | 01:14, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Legally, yes. Laws consider the person who orders killings just as guilty, perhaps even more guilty, than those who carry out the orders. So, whether he actually pulled the trigger doesn't much matter. StuRat 02:01, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, under Geman law at the time, his actions were completely legal. However, Impaciente specifically said "single-handedly". No one here is doubting that he was responsible for the deaths of millions, or whether his actions were unethical. I too, however, am interested in learning the answer to the actual question asked(discounting himself). Superm401 | Talk 02:16, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I wasn't talking about laws made by the NAZIs. Obviously those who make the laws may make them so that their actions are legal. I was talking about international laws, such as those used in the Nuremberg trials against the surviving NAZIs. I'm also interested in if he killed anyone personally, but just wanted to point out that it would have been irrelevant, had Hitler ever gone on trial. StuRat 20:42, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
There were really no international laws against it either. The Nuremberg trials weren't really based on any law or treaties that existed before the Holocaust, something that made the convictions controversial. However, I think the Nuremberg trials were mostly just. Superm401 | Talk 02:57, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Text art

What do you call the art that is produced just through the use of text? Theshibboleth 02:18, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Ascii art. I think it's very impressive myself, especially when produced without a special program. Superm401 | Talk 02:20, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
And before ascii art was typewriter art, like these by Paul Smith, which are more impressive still! — mendel ☎    #    23:59, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Australian Government

I was wondering if anyone can tell me how much the Australian Government spends in total per year on schools in Australia ( both private and public).Thanks Ali K

The Australian Government's budget site states that:
"The $1 billion Investing in Our Schools Programme will directly assist schools throughout Australia over the five years to 2008-09. $700 million in new funding will be injected into state and territory schools throughout Australia to help repair, replace or install new items critical to the schools’ overall infrastructure needs. A total of $300 million in new funding will be provided over the same period to Catholic and independent schools through the Block Grant Authorities."
I hope that's what you are looking for. I would also imagine that more money comes in from the state governments. Akamad 10:34, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
For a total figure, you should go through the budget papers, not only for the federal government, but the state governments (if you want that information too) for instance, the Victorian government's budget paper 3 for 2005-6 has figures for the Victorian Department of Education and Training (you can download it from this page). Most funding for government schools comes from the states, rather than the federal government.--Robert Merkel 12:43, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
The federal government gives each state a sizeable portion of their budget for education, though. When looking for the total spending you need to ensure you don't count the federal grants twice. The total of the spending from the states should be the most reliable sum, as it incorporates the federal spending. Natgoo 22:03, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Cambodian Civil War: Concequences.

Hi,

we are making a site, and we need te know some information of the Concequences of the Cambodian Civil War. We really need this information for our Site, because else we are are going to fail for this Class... If you have any information, can you please send it to (email removed)? if you don't know what war we mean, the one with Pol Pot, about 1967 to 1975. our site is at the moment not yet really online, because we want to have it finished first. If we are ready, you can visit us at http://www.freewebs.com/theshadowsofwar/ We really want to thank you because we used a lot of information of Wikipedia.

Greetings,

Joris Engbers en Johnny Gabraail

Egyptian weather forecast

Ever since watching the scorchio sketches I always wondered whether countries like Egypt broadcast regular weather forecasts, or whether such things would be completely redundant? Shantavira 10:26, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed they do. See: Egypt], South Africa and Zimbabwe for example. I don't see why they shouldn't anyway. Surprisingly, Africa gets weather other than 'Scorchio'. smurrayinchester(Penny for the Guy?), (The Guy) 13:18, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Indians

How is the Richest Indian

Very comfortable, I'm sure. Nelson Ricardo 11:42, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
And How High is a Chinaman. If you mean WHO is the "richest man in India", Googling the phrase suggests it's Azim Hasham PremjiShantavira 12:38, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
According to Forbes. See Azim Premji. He makes cooking oil and software. smurrayinchester(Penny for the Guy?), (The Guy) 13:01, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Seems like a perfectly standard combination. :-) Akamad 13:26, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
They might also mean "who is the richest Native American ?". StuRat 16:12, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

or it might be somebodies i dea of a joke considering the native americnas in some areas said "how" for hello

Six Degrees to Kevin Bacon

I've just read the article and done a websearch, but does anyone know of any article or interview where Kevin Bacon makes any comment on the game he's given his name to?

He spoofed the game in a commercial, see Kevin Bacon. David Sneek 12:22, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
On an interview I saw on television a long time ago, he stated that at first he was offended. He took it as "who is this Kevin Bacon guy and why does he have any right to be in movies?" Then, he realized that the game works because he has been in so many films. Kainaw 18:47, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
"Bacon says, 'I am the only [actor] with a game! And I have to admit, I dig that.'" [7] The link isn't a full interview, but I found it by a search using "dig" because I remembered reading or hearing a longer piece with that comment from him. JamesMLane 02:52, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Ozzy osborne

Which witch did ozzy osborne sing about in 1980?

Do you mean Aleister Crowley? It was in 1981 (on Blizzard of Ozz and Crowley isn't really a witch. Kainaw 20:43, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Sherman Antitrust and Sherman Silver Purchace Act

Does anyone know if the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was supported by the same person who supported the Sherman Antitrust Act, John Sherman?--ViolinGirl 15:36, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it was: [8]. And the Sherman tank was named for his brother, General William Tecumseh Sherman. Now I am wondering if Sherman Hemsley and Mr. Peabody "and his boy Sherman" were named after them, too. StuRat 17:21, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks so much! I appreciate your help.--ViolinGirl 18:07, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
You're welcome. StuRat 20:35, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

indian economy

did mixed economy bring about any development & progressin india?how?

Read the top of this page: Do your own homework. Kainaw 20:48, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The socalist polcies subscribed to are now seen as barriers to development

That is probably the majority view. Nonetheless, if you want to look at where they seem to have had some positive effect, at least on things like literacy and mortality, you might look for information on Kerala. I suspect that there are other regions where something similar could be said, this is the one I most know about. -- Jmabel | Talk 06:01, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Indian history

In which ways did the socio_religious reform movements contribute to the rise of nationalism in india?

The text book you have for that class should be of help. Akamad 00:05, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Astrid Lindgren

I am wanting to find out which languages was the book Karlsson on the Roof by Astrid Lindgren translated into? Many thanks, Mona

This site claims it has been translated into 76 languages. If you scroll down to the "Did You Know" section on the page, they go through some of the languages. Akamad 05:17, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

How does Europe generally feel about cosmetic surgery?

How do Europeans generally feel about plastic surgery? Perhaps breast augmentation more specifically. And France More specifically.

Thank you for your answers.

I think I heard on TV recently something about French women have more breast reduction surgery than surgery to increase size. But I'm not sure if that's statistically true. As for Europeans in general... well in the UK it's pretty much accepted as something some people do. Sum0 22:06, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I find it interesting that you phrased the question like this, since cultural and ethical standards are not as homogenous in the Template:EUn as they are in the  United States... But I suppose you weren't aware of it. ::shrugs:: Anyway, I'd say that it's "generally" not regarded as scandalous, but still noteworthy. It's definitely not common-place, though. File:Austria flag large.png ナイトスタリオン ✉ 23:19, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
As against the culturally homogeneous United States?? Have you ever travelled in the U.S.? Just to stick with one ethnicity, the U.S. produced both Colin Powell and Malcolm X. Does that really sound homogeneous? Or maybe those terribly similar white Protestant leaders William Sloane Coffin and Pat Robertson? Or those terribly similar cities Boston, Massachusetts and Honolulu, Hawaii? Get real. -- Jmabel | Talk 06:21, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, compared with Europe, the US is culturally homogeneous. For a start virtually everyone in the US speaks as first language one of two languages (English and Spanish). Go and look at how many languages are spoken in Europe. Elected officials in Europe (not just candidates) range from the openly racist to the openly Communist. Food, religion, sports, television - compared with the US Europe is extremely diverse in all those areas. And finally there are still some places in Europe (though not many) where you can't find a Macdonalds. Need I say more. DJ Clayworth 18:16, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

politics

Why can't people look up the complete unabridged copy of the Patriot Act as it was voted upon? It is not even recognized on any search engine I have found. RMH From Alaska

The text of the Patroit Act is here (PDF file). -- 70.27.57.22 22:54, 4 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

frwebgate.access.gpo.gov is a table of contents you can't get into. at least w/ my average comp. program. location [70.27.57.22] claims not to exist. or mabye I'm not understanding it. Please help me if I'm wrong.

Try this site. - Akamad 04:55, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I still don't think this is what I am looking for. What I want to see is the patriot act as it was voted on ( the complete unabridged copy ), w/o the editing I so often run into. every citizen should w/ the simplest means be able to read the exact document our represenatives read. in this copy i still see there have been items stricken, but I will continue to read. If you come across a more exact doc. please show. thank you for all the help

I assumed that this was the complete version that was voted on. But if you are unsure, perhaps it is best to write to your representative and ask him/her. Akamad 02:20, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
What makes you think parts have been stricken? Superm401 | Talk 03:01, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

take sec. 104 for example. this reads section 2332e of title 18 of the united states code (50 U.S.C. 1702) is amended... by striking 2332c and inserting 2332a and by striking 'chemical'. this is in the begining if the act and still does not actually tell what the new way is. And if every congressman and senator had to do their homework it would have taken longer than fourty-three days to pass it. especially since it supposedly wasn't even written until 9-12-01 but as I said mabye I'm wrong. And asking my state rep is a good idea.

That doesn't mean the Patriot Act is being modified. It means an existing law is being changed by the Patriot Act. I agree that is a bit complicated. The "secret" to the quick passage was that some (perhaps most or all) senators didn't actually read it in full. They got staff and colleagues to summarize it and passed it on their advice. Superm401 | Talk 19:21, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Unfortunately, that's the way Congress works. In most state legislatures, the bills show the existing statutory language that's being changed. Not in Congress. You have to actually go back to the statutes and compare every section. The Congressional Research Services prepares summaries of each section, and the members may get summaries from their party caucus. But Superm401 is right -- it's highly unlikely that most members read the entire bill before voting on it. They rarely do; members of Congress are very busy people and vote on hundreds of pieces of legislation every year. -- Mwalcoff 22:39, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

November 5

Da Vinci Sleeping Schedule

It's been claimed by many (most notably on a Seinfeld episode) that Leonardo Da Vinci slept only 15 minutes every few hours. Is there any truth to this legend? if not, any idea the origin of the legend? --Alecmconroy 00:09, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

It's called Polyphasic Sleep.
True-- but is there any evidence Da Vinci slept that way?Alecmconroy 22:11, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
No idea on Leonardo, but Thomas Edison did. -- Jmabel | Talk 06:26, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The 3/5 Compromise

Where did the "3/5" figure come from in the infamous Three-Fifths Compromise? Was it simply a random number or was it calculated from something?

This is the first time I have heard of this, but I suspect it has to do with the following: Notice 3/5 = 0.6 ~ 1/e. Now, where does this number come from? Let's use an example.
Suppose you are on a game show, and there are N rooms, all lined up on a wall. You are told that behind each room is a monetary prize, each of a different value. You can open a door at a time, and every time you open a door, you must decide whether to keep the prize or move on to another door. Assuming you want to find the room with the largest value, what's the best strategy to do this? (By default, you keep the prize in the last door).
First, find the number N/e. Let's call this number X. Open the first X doors, and keep track of the largest value within these doors. Then, keep opening doors until you find the next one with the highest value, and keep that one. Approximately 1/e ~ 60% you will find the largest prize. --HappyCamper 03:03, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I suspect the question is about the U.S. government: that is, the decision at the Constitutional Convention reckoning slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of taxation and representation. The compromise was between Northern states and Southern states and is part of the Constitution. ("Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.") That said, I have no idea how they came up with it except dickering. - Nunh-huh 03:35, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
According to this account, the three-fifths ratio had been kicking around for a few years, having been proposed as an amendment to the Articles of Confederation. Of course, that merely pushes the question back in time. The ratio was used for apportioning state-by-state taxes (back in those days before a federal income tax), so the compromise may have been based partly on a rough estimate of the economic productivity of a slave as opposed to a free person. JamesMLane 05:08, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, I really doubt that. The North didn't want slaves to be counted at all, while the South wanted them to be fully counted (and were willing to accept the additional tax burden this would cause). The South got the best of this deal -- the 3/5 compromise gave them sufficient power in Congress and the Electoral College that in 12 of the first 16 elections, a Southern slave owner won. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 05:23, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]


Hmm...silly me. This is after all the humanities subpage of the RD. :-) --HappyCamper 05:01, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]


World`s oldest book

What is the oldest book ever written?

This article claims the oldest existing multipage book to be over 2500 years old. Written in the extinct Etruscan language. It is a small manuscript which "contains six bound sheets of 24 carat gold, with illustrations of a horse-rider, a mermaid, a harp and soldiers." - Akamad 04:51, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Note that the claim is using "book" to mean flat sheets of (gold) paper bound on one side. So, it is ignoring scrolls and tablets. I would like to know what the oldest written book/scroll/tablet/etc... is. I know engravings in buildings (like the pyramids) are old, but you can't carry a pyramid around. Kainaw 16:51, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
According to this site [9] the earliest writting is a clay tablet found in Pakinstan, dating back 5500 years.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is in tablet form (take one daily) and is therefore portable, c. 4000 years old, and crucially; worth reading. MeltBanana 23:53, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I've read that the I Ching is possibly 5000 years old (with major changes over the years), but I don't know if that's even halfway accurate. Any clarification? Ashibaka (tock) 06:13, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Heavy Metal in Scandanavia

In searching through WP, I seem to find a disproportionate number of heavy metal bands from Scandanavian countries. Am I wrong about this, or is heavy metal really popular there? If so, why? I read heavy metal music, but it didn't even mention Northern Europe; it mainly focused on the U.S. and England. What gives? Meelar (talk) 07:03, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The Scandinavian metal bands tend to be sub-genre bands, try death metal and black metal. If you feel the heavy metal music page needs to be less focussed on the US and the UK, be bold! Natgoo 12:21, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, just found Scandinavian death metal through death metal. Thanks! As for the fixing, I know very little about heavy metal; wouldn't really feel competent making major changes. Best, Meelar (talk) 16:20, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

melanie hampshire

Whatever became of Melanie Hampshire, 1960s UK fashion model, and contemporary of Jean Shrimpton et al?

Melanie appeared on the cover of Vogue and various other periodicals.

Along with others, she appeared in Antonioni's 'Blow Up'.

La Academia mexican television show

is this show a franchise? e.g. of the Star Academy, Operacion Triunfo or Pop Idol formats? or is it wholly original? seems nobody knows the facts, i guessed Star Academy originally, and added it to the articles, but now see it spawned its own international spin-off shows so does that mean its actually original? Niz 10:58, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Four Fingers

I was recently made to alter one of my projects for the Japanese market because the characters had four fingers which is apparently a no no over there. What do the Japanese have against four fingers? I was thinking it had to do with the dragon claw thing or the yakuza pinky chopping deal.

Also, when cartoons such as the Simpsons or Mickey Mouse are brought to Japan do they get an extra finger?

Yubitsume may indeed be a factor, but it might not be the only one. More likely, whoever is making you do the alteration is wanting to make your work look less foreign, as pretty must all humanoid comic/cartoon characters created in Japan have all five fingers. An extra finger is not added to American cartoon characters. Garrett Albright 12:38, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Four is a bad number in China and Japan because the word for it (sounds like "say") is a homonym with "death". (Chinese and Japanese are unreleated languages, but Japanese borrowed a lot of Chinese words nonetheless, and the superstition came with them.) Table place settings are sold only in sets of five; used-good shops are full of sets of four whose owners quit using them after one piece was broken; and restaurant tables are never pre-set for four, only three, until a party of four arrives (you see this in some Japanese restaurants in North America, too). But of course, cars have four doors and the year has four seasons and they seem to have no problem with that, so the question I'd ask is: did your project actually test poorly with Japanese audiences, or did some self-appointed localization expert grace you with their wisdom? Sharkford 20:07, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know about Chinese, but the Japanese word for "four" is actually pronounced as "shi" (or "yon," but "shi" is the one that sounds like death.) Garrett Albright 03:23, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
for more on the four-fingered salute in Japan, see [10]. The most famous four-fingered cartoon character is, of course, Mickey Mouse; no adjustment was made in the number of fingers when he is used in Hong Kong Disneyland [11], so perhaps Japan doesn't mind so much anymore. See also [12] and [13] for a discussion of simulated four finger characters in Japan. - Nunh-huh 04:33, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

i need an email address for the adelphi theatre and theatre royal drury lane bcoz i need a work experience placement for arts management and cant get an adress could you help?

Try searching on www.google.co.uk AllanHainey 09:01, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The Four Humours in Relation to Shakespeare's Plays

I know that the four humours were a major piece of Elizabethan Society. I was just wondering if anyone could find quotes or specific instances of the four humour in Shakespeare's plays.

You may not find them all together, but references to the theory abound in Shakespeare's works (see [14] for one exposition). Hamlet's melancholy is probably the best-known instance; you can search for other examples easily enough. —Charles P. (Mirv) 18:21, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Legality of posting song lyrics

(This question was returned from the archive due to an ongoing question)

I was wondering if it is legal to post song lyrics on to a web site without express permission from the copyright owner. I thought that maybe it would be considered fair use under the U.S. Copyright Law. I plan to use it on a wiki that would be a free resource for music. It would be much more complete if lyrics could be posted. If you know this please respond.

Thank you, Shardsofmetal [ Talk | Contribs ] 17:45, 1 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

  • Contemporary song lyrics are almost all copyrighted, and posting without permission is a copyright violation. Extensive quotation would almost certainly not have a fair use defense. -- Jmabel | Talk 19:33, 1 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]
  • I know of a website hosted here in the UK that had extensive Bonzo Dog Band lyrics that later had to remove them. I'm certain it didn't actually go to court, but I'm sure the law is there to enforce such requests. At any rate, there are already SO MANY lyrics sites out there, it would be great if you could use wiki technology for something more original. --bodnotbod 00:35, 3 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]


Would it be legal if the page that links to the page displays the record label? Also, the site would be educational, because it would display more than just lyrics. The site isn't intended to be based around lyrics, and it isn't a big deal if we can't display lyrics, however it would be an additional resource the site could provide if it is legal.

Thank You, Shardsofmetal [ Talk | Contribs ] 03:30, 8 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

  • Short answer: reproducing the lyrics of entire songs is probably not fair use in almost any context. If you were doing a sustained criticism or analysis of them, maybe, but even then, maybe not. A huge part of fair use is the amount of the work used — in the case of song lyrics, this means that quoting them in their entirety is likely not fair use. See our page on fair use for more information. Whether you link to the record label means nothing, though being educationcal can help in a fair use claim (but such would only be one part of the larger equation). However if you are quoting them in their entirety, it is still likely not fair use. --Fastfission 02:42, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Just wondering, do most lyrics sites get permission from the record labels to post lyrics, or do they just do it illegally?

Illegally, I believe. Superm401 | Talk 04:32, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
How many songs are involved? If it is only the odd one or two I suggest you contact the publisher explaining what you would like to do and why. If it is educational (and especially if they think they might get some free publicity) they might well give you permission for free or for a modest fee. They are more likely to grant permission if you are not proposing to use the entire lyric. That's how it works in book publishing anyway. Shantavira 12:22, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you everybody for your help. You have all been real helpful. Thanks again, Shardsofmetal [ Talk | Contribs ] 15:13, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Having been a big fan of the books as a youngster, I recently read one of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels for the first time in many years, and hugely enjoyed it. It led me to thinking about the real-life examples of British army officers during the Napoleonic Wars who had been promoted from the ranks, something which was by all accounts an extremely rare occurrence, and when it did happen they rarely went very far. I definitely remember Cornwell being interviewed on BBC Radio 2 a few years back and mentioning that he had found one example of such an officer who had, like Sharpe, become a Lieutenant-Colonel by the time of the Battle of Waterloo, but I'd be interested in finding out more about officers who came up from the ranks. I've tried searching online, but obviously it's tricky as a lot of internet searches for this sort of thing simply bring you to Sharpe websites. So basically, can anyone recommend any decent books / webpages that give any coverage to real-life officers who were promoted from the ranks in the British army during this period? Many thanks in advance. Angmering 21:35, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The book Redcoat (Richard Holmes, 2002, not the Cornwell novel of the same name) is a pretty good non-expert book on the army of the 1750-1850 period; there's a couple of interesting passages on "ranker officers" (summary: there were a lot more subalterns and so forth promoted from the ranks than previously thought; in 1756 two regiments alone promoted seven NCOs to officer rank between them), and some short summaries of individual officers given as examples. There's also an excellent long bibliography, and some directly cited references, which should keep you going if you want to drill down further. Shimgray | talk | 22:04, 5 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

November 6

Photographers who have photographed dynamic laser imagery with an analog camera

Over twenty-five years ago from 1979-80 American photographer/artist Carl E. 'Djinn' Lewis with an analog Canon F1 (and no flash) ‘captured’ light illusions, twenty by forty foot jissereau (freeform) laser projections. These images, created by laserist Robert Mueller who played the argon-krypton laser like a piano, were refractions of the particulate matter with each hue changing in all aspects, configuration, hue, saturation, intensity, et al. Is there any one else documented as having done this?

Peter Jackson

I saw an interview with Peter Jackson concerning his new King Kong movie. Jackson has lost a lot of weight. Does anybody know if it's the result of dieting, or has he had surgery? User:Zoe|(talk) 05:04, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The answer is all there in the Peter Jackson article. Happy reading. Cheers JackofOz 07:57, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Duh. I should have read that first. Thanks, Jack. User:Zoe|(talk) 07:58, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Felt made of wood

Why is the felt made of wool from the family's animals?

I have no idea what you're asking. Could to rephrase the question? And please read the rules at the top. -- Ec5618 09:17, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
See our article on felt. Felt making predates weaving and knitting as it requires very little equipment. Shantavira 12:29, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Has the UK derogated from article 5 of the ECHR

I know in the past the UK has derogated from article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights as is permissable in times of emergency - for internment during some Northern Ireland stuff. But what I want to know is if we are currently derogated (derogatised? derogatificated?) from article 5 and if the government has publicly considered doing so if we are not currently - for all this 90 days detention without trial business. Thanks. --81.154.236.221 16:48, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I believe we are still opted out from article 5, though the legallity of that opt out is doubtful since 2004 when the Law Lords ruled that the act of detaining foreign nationals without trial was illegal under the act.[15]. I haven't heard a great deal about the ECHR in this debate so presumably the Gov just intends to ignore it until there is a challenge. Not sure whether it would specifically prevent the UK from holding suspects without trial either as in France I believe they can hold them for up to 2 years without charge for terrorism offences. Hopefully it'll be defeated in the Commons (& if not it certainly will be in the Lords) though. AllanHainey 16:15, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Common Japanese names

What is the most common Japanese given name? It may seem obvious but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.-- XenoNeon 17:16, 6 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Please see article Japanese name. Grumpy Troll (talk) 19:55, 6 November 2005 (UTC).[reply]

The article doesn't note Taro Watanabe, the common placeholder name ("Joe Schmo"). Ashibaka (tock) 06:15, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

history of performing arts in miami, florida,1900-1980

seeking knowledge of pro-mozart society and successors to university of miami symphony which ended its perfomances in 1962

147th. US Army Airways Communication Service

Do you have any information on a radio/radar staion operated by the United States Army Airways Communication Service on Mount Alutom on Guam during WWII?

My father supervised 9 men at this station. I have pictures my father took.

Randy Clarke [email removed]

Not much luck finding anything this detailed. Reasonable starting place might be Battle of Guam. Also, consider Google search for "Mount Alutom". Perhpas an article on your father's division needs to be written?—Gaff ταλκ 00:38, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

settlers and rennies

Could you please tell me, how to play Rennies and Settlers? It is very important, I would be grateful for an answer )

Rennies & Settlers are 2 types of indigestion tablets, don't know how you play them though.

November 7

Humanities: Historic Occupations - Web Weaver

While I was doing genealogical research I discovered a number of people in the eighteenth and ninetheenth centuries have their occupation defined as "Web Weaver".

I am unable to determine what this occupation is, although I assume it something to do with textiles. Searches on Wiki and Google result in definitions which relate either to the Internet or to spiders!

-- Lawrence A Davidson

The original meaning of web is any woven fabric; specifically a whole piece of cloth in process of being woven or after it comes from the loom (OED), so a web weaver is a weaver of whole pieces of cloth (on an industrial scale rather than weaving individual items). Shantavira 10:46, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

ANCIENT AUSTRALIA

What time period did the ancient australian aboriginals populate australia?

The article on Indigenous Australians states that they first arrived 40 000 - 50 000 years ago. Akamad 02:54, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

How did muezzins call out the adhan in the past?

In Malaysia I happened to be a trip and I heard the adhan over a loudspeaker in the middle of a plantation in the jungle from a mosque at least 500-1,000 metres away. This sparked my curiosity about how it is done in the past. After all, I understand that in larger cities, it would be need to be heard by all (or most of the population) over a wide area in the middle of a bustling city in Saudi Arabia for example, before any type of electronics (or before Edison invented his phonograph, for that matter) allowed the use of amplification of the voice. The minaret is one thing, but is there a special vocal technique used by muezzins in aiding the carrying of the voice? I mean, I can't envision me calling out even at the top of say a building six-seven storeys high and someone 500 metres away hearing it clearly. -- Natalinasmpf 02:07, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Cities were geographically much smaller in the past. If you go to European cities you will often find landmarks (churches, etc) that used to be in a field on the edge of town and are now in the heart of the city. Not only were populations were much smaller in those days, but also the percentage of the population that lived in cities was much smaller than it is today. Urbanization, vast migrations of people leaving rural areas and moving into the cities, is a relatively modern phenomenon brought about by the industrial revolution. Before, most people were peasants in farms and only a relatively small number of tradespeople lived in cities. The automobile also contributed greatly to urban sprawl, the distances people routinely travel these days would have been completely impractical in earlier times. Most things would be within walking distance. Also, cities were considerably quieter in those days: there was plenty of talking and maybe yelling in marketplaces, but none of the pervasive modern hum of machinery (air conditioners, cars, etc) that drowns out faint faraway sounds. Finally there is undoubtedly a vocal technique to make voices carry farther. Opera singers are trained to sing loud enough not to need a microphone, it would be natural if the call to prayer also involved a certain amount of training and technique. And obviously a larger city could easily have a number of mosques, not just one... in earlier times when attendance at prayers was more or less mandatory for everyone, and architecture wasn't advanced enough to create today's very large buildings, the mosque itself would probably only be large enough to accommodate people from the local neighborhood anyway. -- Curps 05:10, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Rolling Stones Singles

The Wiki shows the Stones single Street Fighting Man being released with the same b-side(No Expectations) and at the same time US & UK. But the singles collection shows Surprise Surprise as the UK b side and released 2 years later July 1970. Anyone know the correct answer

Patricia Cornwell

Hi! I read somewhere that Patricia Cornwell does not sign on her books anymore. Is this true? This article also claims that this is the result of a signing incident at the Scranton Library in Madison, CT. Do you have any facts about this? Thank you very much.

Sailors, 1945

When did the Sailors come home, into NY Harbor, after V Day, 1945? I always see this in movies but can't find data to support names of ships, numbers of sailors, or exact dates of arrivals.

I appreciate your time.

Public reaction to the Apollo 11 moon landing

Can anyone provide any insight to the general public reaction to the Apollo 11 moon landing? Did this consume the mass media for the weeks and months to follow? Was this the kind of event that left an indelible lifelong memory of where you were when it happened? Thanks, Shawn 05:27, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I certainly remember where I was when it happened - sitting in primary school listening to it on the radio. I think it was one of those events where a large proportion of Western people would remember where they were when it happened - like the Sept 11 attacks (which I heard on the radio when I first woke up, and my first thought was it must be a "War of the Worlds"-like play). For Americans, the assassination of Kennedy would be another such event, although I'm not sure whether the rest of the world would have been as involved. Sputnik might possibly have been an earlier one.-gadfium 05:43, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
The general public reaction was that nearly all of the US population and many others around the world were glued to their television sets as the landing occurred. Yes it was an indelibly big deal. It was the major media event in the summer of 1969. alteripse 05:53, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Talking to my parents and teachers about that time, it was a huge deal here in Australia as well. One of my schoolteachers told us that he took photos of the television to record the event. I hope we land on Mars some time in my lifetime.--Robert Merkel 06:21, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
We have, many times. If you mean land a person on Mars, that could take a while, as manned missions cost many times more, and contribute less to science, than robotic missions (are those Mars rovers still going ?). If the cost comes down to a reasonable level, it might first be done as a publicity stunt, though. StuRat 19:12, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, the Mars rovers and the orbiters have been amazing (and the rovers are *still* going), and they're relatively cheap. But, considering the limitations of AI and the fact that Mars is many light-minutes away from earth, they have severe limitations. A small team of human geologists, even hampered by Martian conditions, could accomplish so much more than the rovers can. And if you want a publicity stunt, isn't that a much more impressive one than a half-built Skylab replacement, which costs a similar amount to keep going? --Robert Merkel 22:19, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
There's not a great deal of evidence that robotic missions contribute less to science -the debate is whether they're less cost-effective. Orbital work, obviously, is far better done robotically... but a day's work on one site for a rover could be done by a competent human geologist in about fifteen minutes. Shimgray | talk | 22:35, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

New Orleans Mint

Does anybody know if the New Orleans Mint has reopened yet?

It is operated by the LA State Museum. Their phone is 225-342-5414. Kainaw 16:12, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

50s Housewife Drug

I recall learning about some drug that was fairly common among housewives in the '50s. I think it had a color in its name. Something like Black Betties or something. I think they were downers. Am I just making this up? Thanks. --LV (Dark Mark) 15:44, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

You are probably referring to valium - which was described in a rather nice Rolling Stones song. Kainaw 16:03, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
That might have been what it was, but there was a specific "cute" name, not just the drug name. Any thoughts? --LV (Dark Mark) 17:01, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
The Rolling Stones song talks about "mother's little (yellow) helpers". See the lyrics here.
"A Rolling Stone gathers no moss...unless we're talking about Keith Richards." StuRat 18:39, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The 1950s saw the introduction of the first antipsychotic drugs categorized as "tranquilizers" like Thorazine and Milltown (meprobamate). Tricyclic antidepressants came next. Anxiolytic benzodiazepine agonists like Librium and Valium date only from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Before that, the principal sedatives were barbiturates like Seconal and Nembutal, which had been available for decades. I suspect it is a barbiturate you are thinking of, but don't remember the "street names". The whole idea of "street drugs" and recreational drug taking dates to the late 1960s and represents a different social setting and different interpretations and functions. alteripse 18:29, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Garibaldi

I am researching the life of my great great uncle Edward Hoare (fondly referred to as Edward the biscuit) who was born in Gloucester and fought with Garibaldi and was awarded a commendation scroll in 1861 for his services. All written in Italian and badly faded. I am very curious to know how this country gentleman from Siddington Gloucestershire joined the artillery and fought in the Italian Wars. Can anyone shed a light on this and perhaps let me know if there were many English soldiers fighting with Garibaldi and how they became involved. Are there any records anywhere of the men who fought? Sadly I feel he fell upon hard time after returning to England and was separated from his wife and children and died in 1885 of epilepsy and D T's in Thavies Inn House in Holborn and is buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery, I am currently attempting to locate his grave but have a funeral card of his burial. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Valerie Ryan (nee Hoare) valryan85a@aol.com

Religion

Dear Wikipedia I'am a new Muslim I have some question I woulk to ask about the muslim men. I hope you can help me .

Why some Muslim men wear their wedding ring in the right hand and some in the left but in the third finger?

See this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_finger#The_wedding_ring 68.166.50.142 21:07, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

King George III's insanity ?

Are the original doctor's notes concerning King George's insanity available for reading by the public? If so, can I acess them on the computer?

According to this article [16] there are written records still in existence in the Royal archives in Windsor in London. I could not find any transcription on the web and suspect you might not get easy access there. A book has been published (Ida Macalpine and Richard Hunter, George III and the Mad Business, 1969) that might be your best bet for finding a transcription or at least excerpts. alteripse 18:15, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Keep in mind that "doctors" at the time bore little resemblence to modern doctors. Most of their diagnoses were just wild guesses and their treatments were no better. StuRat 18:26, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Mythology

There is an African mythological creature that looks like a very short man who has such a large penis that he has to carry it around his shoulders. It was in a book I read a long time ago called keffir boy. I can’t remember what the creature is called. Does anyone know? Its is important to know that this book is mainly about a mans life during the apartheid not about mythology. The book only says the word (creatures name) ones and does not talk about what the creature is.

Sounds like a male fertility figurine. Female fertility figurines are shown with huge breasts and butt. StuRat 18:05, 7 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Totnes History

Internet advertising

I'd like to find a list of websites which sold the most online advertising in 2004.

President Eisenhower

What were price supports for agriculture and how were they affected in the 1950s?

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