Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2006 August 25

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Vietnam

How does Vietnam view The United States 30+ years after the Vietnam war?

I once heard they are a very forgiving people and want the past to remain the past. DirkvdM 09:09, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

You mean every one of them has the same opinion? ColourBurst 22:42, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

No, and I suppose those I heard it from didn't mean that either. DirkvdM 09:58, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Planet

Is Pluto a plantet??? What is a planet

Pluto has just been reclassified from planet to dwarf planet. JackofOz 02:38, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

But does anybody else agree with me that "dwarf planet" is a dumb bit of terminology? It suggests a body that's smaller than most planets, but is still considered a planet. In fact, it doesn't meet the new definition of planet at all, so using that word in the title is bound to confuse everybody. JackofOz 02:48, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

To JackofOz: no, I don't think the term "dwarf planet" would confuse anybody. It's perfectly clear: a body that's similar to a planet, but is too small to be one.

Devil's advocates would say: A Danish pastry is one type of pastry, rock music is a type of music, a wrist watch is a watch - so why is a dwarf planet not a planet? JackofOz 04:40, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Is JackofOz an ofOz? Ok, that was silly. Is a hired hand a hand? Is an hourglass a glass? Is a red dwarf a dwarf? That said (or asked) I agree that especially scientific language should be perfectly logical, or a least come as close to it as possible. If it is something of a completely new kind (it isn't an asteroid either) then there should be a completely new name. DirkvdM 09:17, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Yes, an hourglass is a glass. - Samsara (talk • contribs) 16:23, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Yes, a red dwarf is a dwarf! Rmhermen 23:57, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Only when it is a Detroit frog. DirkvdM 08:48, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Dirk, your final conclusion is exactly my argument. I predict that, because of this ill thought out naming, we will now get umpteen questions here about whether Pluto is a special kind of planet or not any kind of planet. JackofOz 05:16, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

To the questioner: a planet is a celestial body that is in orbit around the Sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. So basically, if it's round, orbits a star, and is considerably larger than anything around it, it's a planet. --Bowlhover 04:26, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

That is just what they were debating, with that definition, you need to add at least two more objects besides Pluto to the planet list. They added caveats about the orbit that excluded Pluto and the other two objects. Nowimnthing 13:29, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

No, that is the definition adopted. The "clears the neighborhood part" is the part that Pluto and the others failed. Rmhermen 23:59, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

The definition proposed before this one would require 4 objects (Pluto, Charon, Ceres, 2003 UB313) to be added to the planet list. That definition didn't have the "cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit" part. --Bowlhover 05:41, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Daniel Wayne Douglas

Where can I find everything there is to know about Daniel Wayne Douglas?

Daniel Wayne Douglas doesn't exist.Can we have some more specifics as to which particular Daniel Wayne Douglas you have in mind? Lemon martini 08:41, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Judging by the colour of your signature you don't exist either, so which particular Lemon martini gave that answer? DirkvdM 09:20, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

It must be the person mentioned here. --Lambiam^Talk 15:53, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

That is the Daniel Wayne Douglas I am trying to learn about. The one who was somehow involved in the assassination of President Kennedy. His name was mentioned in a police report and he was put on trial for crimes in Memphis after confessing to them in the police station(Douglas entered the station under no legal obligation or influence and was said to have been roaming about for some twenty minutes all the while holding a bag of "checks"). Douglas was tried and found not guilty for both the crimes that he confessed to but was a susupect in the murder of a police officer that occured in the very recent past(no more than two hours) about a mile and a half away from the police station. Douglas was found not guilty for this murder as well. The murderer of the officer was Lee Harvey Oswald who was already in custody. Daniel Wayne Douglas is believed to have served in the United States Marines. If anyone can direct me to more information about Daniel Wayne Douglas I would greatly appreciate it as his information is difficult to come by.

Ahh the obscurities the conspiracy people will reach... Daniel Wayne Douglas was a 19 year old car thief who was unlucky enough to have been picked up near the scene of the J. D. Tippit shooting and housed in the same jail (but different floor) as Oswald. You won't find him here or anywhere else not because of cover-ups, but because he is not notable. Nowimnthing 18:40, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

I strongly believe you are incorrect. Perhaps you overread the fact that he was not found guilty of car theft, and his name appeared in a letter that the C.I.A. eventually aquired including the name of a Mexican named "Duglas", is it coincidence that our Douglas happens to be from Memphis(Mexico) and named Douglas(Duglas)- I think not. Furthermore, Douglas was not "...picked up...", he entered the police station out of free will. You are certainly entitled to your opinion as I am mine, however, before you come to any conclusions you may want to collect a little more information.

The above fact tag added by me. User:Zoe|(talk) 02:26, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

One of the Chinese TV series synopsis

Dear All in Wikimedia.org,

I need your kind help and attention for above matter. I’m one of the Chinese TV Series’ fan. Now one series that airs in our country and all in Chinese language. I have tried to enqruie all website such as Yesasia, SPCnet but have no reply yet.I have been some of your web about chinese tv series & it's perfect! So, pls. do a four and spare some of your time for me to find out about this series. Here is the plot that I’ve been watching. The main actress(name-Kyone Shuang Yin, sorry! I don’t know how to pronounce in Chinese) Acts in two roles as mother and daughter. She works in a hotel(owned by the main actor-Lan Tong Chang) in order to pay back the money that she borrowed for her mother’s hospital fee(mother has cancer & she seems to have that illness too).That hospital also owned by Tong Chang. The supporting actor(Lwi Shin) loves SY and works in a newspapers publishing. The other girl(Mike Lei Lei) who loves LS works in the same hotel with SY and always tricky and cunning to SY. Another one(Kyin Wai Wai) who thinks to love TC, woeks at a reporter, later on fall in love with Lai Yi,(who is neighbour & like a brother to SY) a traffic policeman. But TC & SY loves each other deeply but SY thinks she has cancer & pretend she does not love TC. The significant thing in the series is mother has blue scarf with butterfly embroidery and SY has butterfly tattooed at her ankle. Some of the reflesh sences show SY’s mother, TC’s mother & father & LS’s mother has involved with each other in some how. But I cannot catch & clear yet. That’s all I’ve watched it. It hasn’t finished yet & I cannot wait & too curious to know what will happen at the ending. Will TC & SY have a happy ending? I wish they have as I love SY & TC & think they are a perfect couple & match each other.

Will be very appreciated if you could reply by this email add;(email removed to prevent spam) or pls. advise me where/which website can I search for that series review.

Thanks in advance.

Nyar Nyar

Roman -> Greek Gods, but no shared names?

Being aware that Roman and Greek Gods are closely analogous, I just read the article on Roman mythology, which explains that existing early Roman Gods were given Greek attributes when the Romans conquered Greece (roughly speaking). I'm still no wiser, however, about why, to the best of my knowledge, not a single name of a Greek God was introduced into Roman mythology. Was it the case that the Romans had so many Gods they could find a close enough match for each Greek one, or that they did not "import" Gods they had no early Roman match for? - Samsara (talk • contribs) 11:24, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

They imported Apollo, didn't they? Adam Bishop 15:34, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Likewise Bacchus and Pluto. Although known primarily as, respectively, Dionysos and Hades in Greek mythology, the "Roman" names are actually Greek alternative names ("Bakkhos", "Ploutōn") transliterated to Latin. --Lambiam^Talk 15:41, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Is it considered accidental that the alternative chosen by the Romans was less used by Greeks, or is this deliberate choice on the part of the Romans, or did perhaps Greeks use the alternative the Romans had not adopted in order to differentiate themselves and their mythology? (I think they believed the Romans to be less educated.) - Samsara (talk • contribs) 15:52, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

• but Pluto now is a dwarf god--- hotclaws**==(82.138.214.1 15:01, 26 August 2006 (UTC))

right + privilege?

Is there a legal term that covers exactly both right and privilege? -- Toytoy 11:31, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, "term" would be it, wouldn't it? - Samsara (talk • contribs) 11:52, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

There is a term for 'right', but I don't remember offhand what it is. Anchoress 11:59, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

A prerogative is a right or privilege that comes with a position, such as the franking privilege for US Congressmen. BTW, this belongs on the Language Ref Desk. StuRat 10:53, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

The question was for a legal definition, not a linguistic one, so I don't see why it shouldn't be asked here. The legal term for "right" is "right". In any case, there couldn't be a single term to encompass both of these concepts, as the two terms are generally meant to contrast two different notions. Loomis 11:00, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

I disagree. Questions asking for a word, be it a legal term, and any other term, belong on the Language Ref Desk. StuRat 22:13, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Stu, you're a computer programmer. You deal in computer "languages" such as C+ (I studied C+ a long time ago, however it's been a long time so unfortunatly I've forgotten the whole "C+" language). If I were to ask you what a particular C+ term means, would that belong on the language RefDesk or on the new one designed for "Computer/IT" questions? "Legalese" is similar to a computer programming language as its definitions often have nothing to do with its common sense English usage. One example is the term "person". In English a person is a human being, whereas in "legalese" a corporation is classified as a "person". There are a tonne of other examples. I'd think a question about "legalese" would be more apropriate on the Humanities RefDesk than on the Languages RefDesk, just as a question about a certain C+ term would be more appropriate at the "Computers/IT" RefDesk rather than the basic "Languages" RefDesk. Loomis 03:00, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

There is such a thing as technical jargon, true, typically in highly scientific areas, but this doesn't include legal terms. Linguists would be well acquainted with many legal terms, especially the Latin terms, unless they are non compos mentis. :-) StuRat 04:30, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Should you proceed on this course of gross misrepresentation, I should warn you, I may be forced file, in a court of competent jurisdiction, a writ of quo warranto, demanding several affiants to provided detailed sworn oathes as, to wit; whether or not your relationship with that person you describe as your employer is indeed your employer or indeed your principal; to wit; should counsel for such aforementioned principal allege that you are indeed not one of its agents, nor a subcontractor, and should the court; to wit; refuse to grant the requested relief demanded by the writ of quo warranto, as; to wit; the said writ has no application to this cause as you have not, nor have you ever, alleged; to wit; that you have or have ever held any public office, my application would likely fail as having no basis in law or in fact, and further; to wit; as being both frivolous and capricious. The court may further, in camera, in its pro ad hoc capacity as arbiter of courtroom decorum, reprimand me for being a complete and utter moron, and, to wit; proclaim myself to be in contempt of court and, as such, require me to spend twenty-four (24) hours in county jail hanging upside-down by my big toes and being fed nothing but carrots and a select variety of overly ripe and particulary malodorous French cheeses.

However, should I succeed in appeal in convincing the Court of Appeals of Michigan as to the bona fides of my application, viz.; should the court agree that there has been clear and palpable error in the jugement of the court below, it may grant my application for a writ of mandamus ordering the judgment of the court below to be quashed, and, pending the result of a trial de novo, and pending a per saltum appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, grant me an interlocutory injunction prohibiting said defendant ==STURAT== from appearing within 100 yards of any ==TACO BELL==, ==KFC== or ==PIZZA HUT== franchise within these here United States of America, as well, prohibiting said defendant from wearing any vestment, apparel or accessory bearing the ==NIKE "SWOOSH"== insignia, as well as from consuming, wearing or displaying any product coloured, or resembling the colour ==BLUE==.

So ordered. All the above with costs. :--) Loomis 21:01, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

"Whereas the party of the first party and the party of the second part did party at the party held by the party of the third part, resulting in the conception of the party of the fourth part; the party of the first part and the party of the second part having hence parted; it is our contention that the party of the third part, shall be held liable, in full or in part, for the support of the party of the fourth part". :-) StuRat 00:16, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

MEL GIBSON

Hi, another one of them "do you consider it" question. Do you think Australians still consider Mel Gibson an AUSTRALIAN although he doesn't live in Australia. PS> I am Australian. THANKS Jon

Well, if you're an Australian, you tell us! --bmk

Nick Cave is a similar case - Australian by birth, but not living there much. Personally, I'd say both Cave and Gibson were Aussies, but then I'm not Australian. Jack? --Richardrj 14:01, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

But Mel was born in the US, not Oz. User:Zoe|(talk) 02:27, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

I think Nick Cave is a different case. He was born here and has always been an Australian who, like many Aussie celebrities, chooses to live elesewhere for most of the time. There is no issue about his Australian-ness. But Mel was born in the US, and only lived in Australia from age 12. Apparently he has never become an Australian citizen - which I must say was a surprise to me when I checked out our article. Ever since the early days of his career, he has always been described in Australia as "an Australian actor" (of American heritage), because here is where he spent much of his formative years, and here is where he did his acting studies (at NIDA), and here is where his career started. When he won his Oscar for Braveheart, he was hailed as "the latest Aussie success at the Oscars". Also, I believe his mother is Australian-born (although our article makes no mention of that). When Aussie celebrities behave themselves overseas, we claim them as our own; but when they're naughty (eg. Errol Flynn, Russell Crowe, et al), we're more than happy to disown them. I guess it's undisputably true to say that Mel Gibson is Australian by association, but whether the Aussie man in the street would regard him as an Aussie, particularly after his most recent unpleasantness, is another question. How's that for a sit-on-the-fence answer? JackofOz 05:02, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

I do, but that's because I associate the actor with his early film roles, and these were in movies that were very Australian - Summer City, Gallipoli and Mad Max, even Tim. I think of Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky and Frank Dunne before William Wallace and until that association changes, he'll be an Australian actor. Natgoo 10:29, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

I Can't Enjoy My Tea

In the 1984 song by Rockwell, Somebody's Watching Me, when the artist proclaims that [he] can't enjoy [his] tea, is he referring to the drink made by infusing these dried leaves or buds in hot water, or the main evening meal, irrespective of whether tea is drunk with it? --Username132 (talk) 15:36, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

As Rockwell was from the United States, I'd have to guess that the song is referring to the beverage, as we do not use that word for the evening meal here. --LarryMac 15:39, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

(edit conf) I'm not familiar with the song, but tea can also refer to dried cannabis leaves. - Samsara (talk • contribs) 15:41, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Which would work well with a song about paranoia, since that is one of the well-known possible side-effects of smoking pot. --Fastfission 03:33, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Actually, since Rockwell is African-American, the likelihood is that he's referring to Iced tea and is just upset he can't sit down and enjoy his nice cool beverage without paranoia. pschemp | talk 18:27, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

No no no, it's Texas tea. Oil, that is. (OK, I always thought it was just the regular old hot brewed beverage, really. But I have no way of knowing.) —Bunchofgrapes (talk) 03:47, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

West African Tree Carving?

While living in Lagos, Nigeria from 1990-1993, I uncovered an owl-like face carved under the bark of a tree. I am sure that it wasn't a natural occurance, but rather a distinctly carved symbol that had been covered by bark. I have been puzzled by what this might represent ever since, and was wondering if anyone might know something about African tree carvings? ––24.5.194.181 16:19, 25 August 2006 (UTC)K22B

It might very well just represent an owl. :-) StuRat 20:35, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

People often look for something magical behind things done by other cultures. Like rock paintings. It is assumed that they were made by shaman to assure good hunting or something. My guess is they just liked to draw pictures. Or burrying the dead is seen as a belief in an afterlife. I'd say they buried their dead because they stank and attracted predators. DirkvdM 08:55, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Dead things attract scavengers, not predators. And I suppose they were buried with figurines because those figurines were really ugly and that was the best way to get rid of them ? :-) StuRat 10:48, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Something like that. They were the personal possessions of the deceased and nobody else wanted them. :) Of course people can grieve over the dead, but that doensn't mean they believe in an afterlife. What dead things attract depends in part on how long they've been dead. A hungry wolf will certainly go for a fresh dead human. DirkvdM 10:05, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Monument

http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=15ps4.png

That the Wallace Monument..or am I mistaken...as I think the Wallace monument is more pointed on top.

No, it isn't. (Did you check Wallace Monument?) –Mysid^(t) 19:10, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Which it is then?

It could be Garrett Mountain, which is apparently perched on a mountaintop. Anchoress 02:07, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Speed limit on a bike

Does the speed limit count if you're on a bicycle? It probably does, but how do I know how fast I'm going when I'm on a bike? Do I need to install a speedometer on my bike? Or am I supposed to just guess? Or do you go so slow on a bike that I don't need to worry about a speed limit? --Jonathan ^talk 20:45, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Are there cars passing you? If so you are going slower than them. Adam Bishop 21:29, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

All the motorcycles have speedometers. If you are going on pedalled bicycle, you may never reach the speed limit. Moreover, in most of the countries, bicycles do not have to follow a speed limit. In case of third world countries like India, even Mobikes do not have to follow speed limits as the Police do not have instruments that can check the speed of bikes. (I usually go across interceptors at the speed of over 120 KMPH, when the speed limit of cars is just about 60)--nids 21:38, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

edit conflict

Depends on the country and state you are in. Most US states hold bikes to the same rules as cars, traveling on the right, stopping at stop signs, etc. I could see you possibly getting a ticket for doing something exceedingly reckless like coasting very fast down a hill with cars pulling out in front of you. But in most circumstances you will not be able to go much faster than the speed limit anyway, (avg bike speed is ~15 mph) so no worries. Nowimnthing 21:45, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Because of the speed bikes can easily be propelled to, and that the speed limits in almost all places are higher than this (unless you're in a 20mph zone, breaching it would be hard). A few years ago, our local policewoman noted her way of testing drivers on one section of road - she knew she cycled it at 27mph, it was a 30mph zone, so any cars overtaking her were either (a) speeding, or (b) driving dangerously by taking too long to overtake a bike. On a bike you shouldn't need to worry about speed limits. In a car, you should worry about smart cops on bikes :) --Mnemeson 00:25, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Unless you're Floyd Landis on a testosterone bender, it's pretty unlikely you'll be able to maintain more than 20 mph (32 km/h) for more than 20-30 seconds on a bicycle. If you're on some $39.95 mountain bike from Wal-Mart, you could probably halve that. But if you're interested in how fast you're going and (probably more importantly) how far you've travelled, you can fit a bicycle computer to your bicycle to tell you all that and more. I have one on my bicycle, mainly as a tripmeter. --Robert Merkel 08:36, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

On a street breaking the posted speed limit is all but impossible, but bike paths sometimes have their own rules. Where I come from there is the ridiculously low limit of 20 kph on some bike paths. This is very easy to exceed; however, it is also pretty much never enforced. - SimonP 02:44, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

My guess would be that it varies with the jurisdiction and the individual police officer. I do know cyclists who have gotten tickets (in 20 mph zones - school zones). Also, I know that in races like the Tour de France, cyclists can regulary reach speeds of 50 mph going downhill in the mountain sections. --Barista | a/k/a マイケル | T/C 04:39, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, once you bring up speeds that can be reached on a bicycle going downhill in the French Alps, you're opening up a whole new can of worms. My guess is that if one of those cyclists took a wrong turn and wound up flying off a cliff, even the 50 mph you mentioned would be exceeded. Yet I'm rather sure that at that point the cyclist wouldn't be all too concerned with the prospect of a speeding ticket. Loomis 20:02, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Okay, thank you for all the answers. --Jonathan ^talk 18:08, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

Essay topic

I've decided to be forced to write a 500 word essay recreating a situation in Benjahman Franklin's Autobiography from his brother's POV. Any help on deciding? — [Mac Davis] (talk)

Sounds like a homework question to me! :P

So what? He's not asking us to write it for him, he's asking for suggestions of which situation to choose. Sounds interesting to me, Mac, but I don't have any suggestions. Anchoress 01:22, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Have you look at the link for Benjamin Franklin? For The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin? For William Franklin? For Bifocals? For William Temple Franklin? For Franklin stove? For Franklin Institute? For Ben and Me? Read all of those first, and if you still have any questions, come back and ask. For Christ's sake this is not a search engine! Do your own homework! ;-) --Fastfission 03:27, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

If you are talking about his brother James Franklin, here's some relevant info from our Benjamin Franklin article:

"...at 12 he became an apprentice to his brother James, a printer. When Ben was 15, James created the 'New England Courant', the first truly independent newspaper in the colonies. While a printing apprentice, Franklin wrote under the pseudonym of 'Mrs. Silence Dogood' who was ostensibly a middle-aged widow. His brother and the Courant's readers did not initially know the real author. James was not impressed when he discovered his popular correspondent was his younger brother. Franklin left his apprenticeship without permission and in so doing became a fugitive."

That description makes me think of James as a stern, humorless, taskmaster, so you could write from that POV. StuRat 10:41, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Jeez, give the guy a break. HE'S NOT ASKING US TO DO HIS HOMEWORK! He's just asking for advice on what would be an interesting topic. Reading the articles would be a good start, but it's also nice to get some feedback. I suggest you pick a few that you find might be interesting, and then come back here where at least some of us would be glad to offer some feedback and act as a sounding board. Nothing wrong with that. Just one question: How can one decide to be forced to do something? :-) Loomis 16:12, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

You know, I was being sarcastic, hence the ":P" at the end of my post. Yes, he is not asking the normal "do my homework for me" sort of question. Nevertheless, given the silliness occurring on the RD these days I opted to make a silly post. If anyone was offended by it or didn't get the sarcasm, well tough beans!

Grab life by the beans. The "Silence Dogood" incident sounds intersting. Also when Ben and his friends create a scheme to get him out of jail. But you'll have to read the article for that ;) — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

A good sense of humour never offends me. It just wasn't clear that you were trying to be humourous. Also, I know this must have been said a million times here but PLEASE, sign your posts with 4~s. This is really getting out of hand. At some point I'd hope Wiki would find a way to only accept signed posts. Loomis 20:27, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

If I had 'decided to be forced' to write an essay, it would be on inherent contrdictions within statements. DJ Clayworth 14:34, 28 August 2006 (UTC)