Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 April 5

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April 5

policy record

Our local bus service has installed multiple cameras on it buses. No one informed me or asked my opinion before the installation. I sit there with the occasional thought that I'm being watched, but I prefer the reduced commotion on the bus and fewer rowdy patrons.

Google has camera vans for Google Maps Street View that have covered about 95 percent of every street in about 30+ major cities. You can log onto Google maps and see a panoramic, 360 degree view at about 10 foot intervals from the street. The last set was taken just before I mowed the lawn in Dec 2007, but future updates are scheduled. Contracts to mount cameras on garbage trucks for twice a week updates or on mail trucks for updates once a day are planned.

Under these circumstances I have a friend from out of town who visits and rides the bus to look for places to live. He brings his camera with him to make an album to show his family no different than any tourist. At the local transit center, however, he is told he can not take pictures while standing on the transit center property because of 9/11, but it is perfectly okay for him to step over to the sidewalk and take all the pictures he wants. The transit center manager says the reason is government orders. The transit authority telephone complaint desk says it is orders from George W Bush.

Is there a record of any such policy or is the transit authority merely using 9/11 as an excuse to avoid video or photographic evidence other than its own? 71.100.173.69 (talk) 04:27, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I do not believe that the President of the United States has the authority to order local transit centers not to allow the taking of pictures from transit center property. It is possible that this was a recommendation from Homeland Security.  --Lambiam 10:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Where can I find a record of any such recommendation? 71.100.173.69 (talk) 11:07, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

This may be of interest: [1]. Your friend should ask the transit center manager to provide the policy in writing with a citation of the applicable law. --Nricardo (talk) 00:31, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks very much for this link. I've asked the transit authority for the information. 71.100.173.69 (talk) 14:58, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Islamic versus Jewish perception of the law

Currently the impression I have of the difference between Islamic perception of law and Jewish perception of law in general is that the Jewish perception is that in public or private the law applies whereas the Islamic perception is that the law only applies in public. Is this impression correct? 71.100.173.69 (talk) 04:43, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Do you mean religious prescriptions? Then I think that in general the impression is not correct. With Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset, whether in public or in private. Furthermore, there is no such thing thing as the Islamic perception and the Jewish perception; some are more mainstream than others, but there are no generally recognized central authorities.  --Lambiam 21:20, April 5, 2008 (UTC)

Non Aligned Movement

Whatever happened to the Non-Aligned Movement? It seems to have disappeared altogether from public view? Topseyturvey (talk) 05:37, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

It seems to me that its influence hinged on playing off the democratic First World and the communist Second. When the latter lost the Cold War, the U.S. no longer had a pressing need to cater to it. Non-Aligned Movement also says it fractured when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Clarityfiend (talk) 06:34, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, no more Cold War, no more rationale for non-alignment. However, there is still an echo of the old order, I suppose, in Hugo Chavez's invocations of 'democratic socialism' and 'anti-imperialism'. I think the delightful Senor Chavez sees himself as the new champion of the downtrodden, standing, as he does, against the advance of American-led globalisation, in a fashion that might just have been recognised by those who attended the Bandung Conference all those years ago. Ah; bless him! Clio the Muse (talk) 23:31, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Nowadays the Non-Aligned Movement is effectively just another "G" grouping, like the G77 etc. etc. -- and it's far from being the most influential or successful "G" grouping either... AnonMoos (talk) 13:07, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Portuguese in East Africa

Is their any comaprison to be made between the sixteenth century Portuguese voyages to East Africa and the exploits of people like Cortes and Pizarro in the Americas? Topseyturvey (talk) 05:51, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

A difference is that Cortez and Pizarro conducted invasions by land of large empires in a totally "New World", while the Portuguese were setting up a rival maritime trading system within an ancient pre-existing one in the Indian Ocean. A similarity, perhaps, is that both the Spanish and Portuguese would have been lost without local help. Pfly (talk) 17:45, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The other important difference was the exploits of the Conquistadors were largely free-enterprise and buccaneering, having little in the way of direct financial support from the Spanish Crown, whereas the Portuguese monarchs were closely involved from the start in the African voyages. Theirs was the pursuit of profit. Even the pirate cruises of Tristão da Cunha and Afonso de Albuquerque in 1506-7, which plundered the African coast, and ravaged northern Madagascar, had a clear commercial purpose.

It is also true that whereas Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro set out to establish territorial empires, this was not the Portuguese intention, at least to begin with. Given the fortunes to be made by commerce and free-booting alone, the Portuguese at first very little point in going to the expense and trouble of large-scale conquest. However, the 1560s saw a major shift in priorities, in part explained by the growing influence of the Jesuits, who believed that territorial domination was the one sure way of advancing their mission in Africa. The Portuguese crown was also impressed by the Spanish discovery of important silver deposits in Mexico. Gold was known to be mined in central Africa, and the Portuguese suspected that silver might also be present. The new conquistador spirit was also encouraged by the growing hunger for territory and office for the adventures-the fidalgo- who travelled to the existing bases in the Indian Ocean. The result of all these pressures was a series of major expeditions in both east and west Africa, comparable in every way with those of the Castilian conquerors.

In 1556 Baltasar Lobo de Sousa was made Captain-General of Madagascar, with the right to conquer and hold the islands off its coast. His grant also included the African coastline as far south as the Cape of Good Hope. Little came of this, though the crown a dispatched fresh expedition in 1569, with the aim of conquering the mines of Monomotapa. Another royal army was sent to the Congo in 1571, the same year that Paulo Dias de Novais, the Portuguese Cortes, entered into a contract for the conquest of Angola. His exploits were mirrored in the east by Francisco Barreto, 'Conqueror of the Mines' and the Pizarrro, it might be said, to Novais' Cortes, who advance with an army into the highlands of Mozambique in search of gold. It was these expeditions that laid the foundations for the lengthy Portuguese presence in both east and west Africa, though, in the end, it cost more, and produced less, than the Spanish conquests in the Americas. Clio the Muse (talk)

Cromwell and Prince Rupert

waht were the factors that made Oliver Cromwell a better commander than Prince Rupert? Why was Tom Fairfax given command of the new model army and not Cromwell? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Archie Gabriel (talk • contribs) 07:15, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

What were the factors that drew you here instead of your school library for these answers? FreeMorpheme (talk) 08:16, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

It would help you to understand why Oliver Cromwell was a better cavalry commander than Prince Rupert, Archie, if you examine the Battle of Edgehill, the Battle of Marston Moor and the Battle of Naseby in some detail. Rupert was a bold commander, with heaps of cavalier dash and élan; but his tactic was, in essence, one throw only. His cavalry charges carried all before them, but his squadrons lost all discipline and cohesion in the process, making further intervention impossible in battles that were far from over. Cromwell, in contrast, retained tight control over his men, enabling him at both of the latter battles to wheel round back into combat after driving off the enemy to his front.

Sir Thomas Fairfax was given command of the New Model Army because Cromwell, a Member of Parliament, was ineligible under the terms of the Self-Denying Ordinance. He was given command of the cavalry by special Parliamentary dispensation, and eventually took over full command in 1650, when Fairfax, opposed to the invasion of Scotland, resigned. Clio the Muse (talk) 00:46, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

You're too nice, Clio. FreeMorpheme (talk) 16:09, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I can only try! Clio the Muse (talk) 23:26, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

This is extremely confusing

If Andrew Chan was sentenced to death, why doesn't his article say that he is dead? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 07:46, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Because he may not have been executed yet? People are often imprisoned ("on death row") for a long time after being sentenced to death, due to appeals and clemency procedures. Sandstein (talk) 08:01, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The Bali Nine article goes into the current sentences of these defendants. Chan remains under death penalty after his appeal. Rmhermen (talk) 14:37, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

creativity

is there a significant relationship between creativity and academic achievement? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.88.252.28 (talk) 08:33, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Just as a facile response, I would suspect the answer to be no, there'd be a low correlation. Academia is all writing in a particular style, following conventions, staying withing the boundaries of good sense, inquiring along certainly lines of thought that are not damaging to the Establishment. Creativity needs divine, often mad, inspiration, room to grow and breathe, and has no sacred cows, like Professor Werneke and his tenured position at $100k per annum. Vranak (talk) 14:53, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Academia is full of status loving weasels. It is much more about polishing an image. It is a social accomplishment rather than an intellectual. WikiWiking (talk) 15:48, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Social, intellectual, spiritual: all same thing (ego). Vranak (talk) 20:39, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

See also similar question on the languages desk here[2]. Julia Rossi (talk) 04:42, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

the most cruel statement

which is the most cruel statement in english literature? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.88.252.28 (talk) 08:42, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Well, there's the 'cruel to be kind' line in Hamlet that Hamlet uses to justify being horrible to Ophelia so that she won't be sad when the story comes to its murderous conclusion. Turns out he drives her to suicide by this technique, so its legitimacy is certainly in doubt. Vranak (talk) 14:45, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

"Thank God!" - Brenda Last's statement in Evelyn Waugh's novel, A Handful of Dust, when she realises that the 'John' who has just died is not her lover, but her son. Rhinoracer (talk) 18:48, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

...and what's that bit from George Orwell's '1984' about a boot stamping on a human face forever?

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." - Akamad (talk) 00:45, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

As I recall, there's cruelty aplenty in the Jacobean plays of John Webster and of Cyril Tourneur.

Heh, I'm beginning to warm to this topic...eh... eh... Rhinoracer (talk) 18:53, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Looking to something modern, David Eldridge's play Festen (Celebration) has the line that makes the whole audience gasp. When the father (Helge) is accused by his son of incest, the son plaintively asks "Why? Why would you do this to your children?" And Helge answers, "Because you were good for nothing else." I can't find the source for the exact line. I did see the play at the Lyric Theatre in London about 4 years ago. That may be good enough for the Ref Desk. :-) ៛ Bielle (talk) 19:43, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Tessman to Brack, final scene of Hedda Gabler: "Shot herself in the temple! Fancy that!". Corvus cornix_talk 22:34, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

That's easy: Pinkie's bequest to Rose in Brighton Rock. Her pain, the death of her beliefs, and her comforting delusions of love, which Graham Greene only leaves us to imagine, are just too terrible to contemplate. Clio the Muse (talk) 00:54, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Persecution of Kosovo Serbs

How serious was persecution of Kosovo Serbs by Albanians in the Second World War? Is this why Serbs fear rule by independent Kosovo? Stefan Dusan (talk) 10:53, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

After the Italian annexation of the region in 1941, Stefan, the local Albanian community was given a virtual free-hand to pursue their vendetta against the Serbs. Thousands of were killed, and Orthodox churches burnt, in a wave of serious 'ethnic cleansing'. Some 20,000 people managed to flee to Serbia itself, followed by a further 10,000 in 1944. The hostility between the Serbs and Albanians is clearly of long-standing, and obviously has a bearing on present-day attitudes. It is a pity, though, that the world seems to have lost sight of the fact that the Serbs are also victims. Clio the Muse (talk) 01:05, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Ustase race policy

Did the Nazis decree the racial policy of Ustase Croatia? Stefan Dusan (talk) 10:57, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The Axis powers may have brought Ante Pavelic and the Ustase to power, but they did not set the regime’s racial agenda. It was, of its own volition, the most savagely intolerant in Europe, excepting only Nazi Germany itself. Its aim was to create an ethnically pure Croatia, in which Serbs-the chief enemy-, Jews and Gypsies would have no place. On 17 April 1941, the very day that Yugoslavia surrendered, the Ustase began their attacks on the Serbs. In June Mile Budak, Pavelic's Minister of Education, announced that of Croatia's Serb population of 1.9 million one third would be deported, one third converted to Catholicism, and thus Croatianised, and one third killed. The killing was carried out by militia forces, and in places like the Jasenovac extermination camp. Clio the Muse (talk) 01:23, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Speech

What is the most moving and important political speech in history? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.148.38.69 (talk) 12:50, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I don't think it's possible to classify any single speech as been the most important, but here are a list of some of the most important: [3]. - Akamad (talk) 13:36, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Moving and important are not necessarily parallel characteristics of a speech.

In terms of converts and considering the extent and the longevity of its effects, I would put the Sermon on the Mount as number one. Of course, it may not be a political speech in the narrow sense but it has been published (and still is) in a bestseller. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:27, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

There is, as far as I am concerned, nothing to equal the simple power of the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln's beautiful words, their rhythm and their pulse, transform mere politics into poetry; into eternal values.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Clio the Muse (talk) 01:34, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Almost any of Churchill's war time speeches would qualify.--Artjo (talk) 06:35, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

For moving speeches, David Lange's still making an impression[4] and [5] versus Jerry Falwell Oxford Union debate 1985. I liked it too, though I guess Falwell was a handy foil.Julia Rossi (talk) 10:08, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I will throw my vote in with Clio on the Gettysburg Address, but she failed to point out one of the greatest things about it - its length. Earlier in the day, Edward Everett gave a 13,607-word speech, going for two hours, which to me sounds very much like what happens when you tell any politician to make a speech. Lincoln then stood up, said less than 300 words, and within a couple of minutes he was done. Most of what he said would have been covered by Everett already. And yet, years later, it is Lincoln's "dedicatory remarks" that are still being quoted, still being alluded to in such other monumental works as I Have a Dream, still upheld as an example of the power of well-chosen words. Confusing Manifestation(Say hi!) 04:46, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Brazil

Pardon for not asking a more pointed question; the reference desk has been so helpful I've grown to rely on a lot generally!: I'm more or less tagging along to Brazil this summer, going with my girlfriend who wants to WWOOF around the country for a month or so. I want to know if there are any particularly interesting social phenomena--forgive the awkward phrasing--taking place in Brazil now. I'm interested in social/political theory and anthropology and was looking for anything that might be relevant. I've tried searching around for things without much luck, and I don't know anyone particularly knowledgeable about Brazil, so I'd very much appreciate any advice or direction. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.232.160.116 (talk) 13:41, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The MST is the "largest social movement in Latin America". DAVID ŠENEK 14:10, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

(1) A quick google for brazil + "social movement" gives leads for children's rights, mental health, AIDS, and hunger, as well as the landlessness mentioned above. (2) Your girlfriend's WWOOF contacts are likely to be in contact with interesting things going on. You can try approaching them before your arrival, by email, phone or letter (with international reply coupons). If you have to go via the national or regional co-ordinators, remember that they are volunteers: donations to the organisation are not likely to be refused. (3) Are there any Brazilians where you live now? If not a community centre, then perhaps a restaurant? Go there at a quiet time and explain that you are doing research and would like to talk to people who can point you in the right direction. Buy drinks. Leave flyers. (4) Find Wikipedia articles that are relevant to your quest, and portals and projects too, and look at which editors have contributed recently and knowledgeably. Leave a brief polite note on their talk page explaining what you are seeking and ask them if you might email them with a more focussed query. (5) Contact any organisations (your university, union, place of worship, service organisation, pressure group, charity, etc.) of which you are already a member and ask for their Brazilian contacts or parallel organisations. Good luck! BrainyBabe (talk) 22:43, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

British awards to French and Belgium Cities

I am seeking a list of British military decorations to French and Belgium cities in World War 1.

Note 2 in the article “Conspicuous Gallantry Cross” use to state, until I updated the article, that the award to the Royal Irish Regiment "is the first time this medal has been collectively awarded to a military unit, and only the third occasion that such a collective award has been bestowed (the others being the 1942 George Cross to Malta and the 1999 George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary)". The statement that this is the third occasion that such a collective award has been bestowed ignores awards of British military decorations to French and Belgium cities in World War 1. I do not have a complete list (I would appreciate one if someone does) but Ypres and Verdun were awarded the Military Cross and Dunkirk, which was a major naval base for the British in World War 1, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. For the Military Cross award to the City of Verdun see http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E07E0DB1F31E733A05757C1A96F9C946796D6CF Anthony Staunton (talk) 14:58, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Verb: to truffle

Is it possible to use the word "truffle" as a verb, as in: "Sean truffled down the pancakes" or similar? In my family is it well a word that we use in such a manner. ----Seans Potato Business 15:11, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The OED does not recognize any such definition. The verbs they mention are the ones you would expect given the root meaning of the word. I have never personally heard this "truffle" of yours, but I don't get out much these days. I also can't think of a similar word that it might be a variant of. A few synonyms are gobble, scarf, and wolf. --Milkbreath (talk) 15:34, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Another thought: the French word truffer can mean something like "to stuff", "to overfill". --Milkbreath (talk) 15:40, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm thinking of how pigs stereotypically snort and gobble and snoffle and scoff their food. Pigs are used to sniff out truffles, and even though they don't get to eat them, being highly valued commercial products reserved for humans, I can see how "truffle" might have come to mean the actions of pigs. If that applies to your family, please accept this as my inability to accept your hypothetical invitation to come over and have a meal.  :) -- JackofOz (talk) 23:55, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Burning heretics

Why was burning introduced in England in the fifteenth century as a punishment for heresy when it had not been the practice before this?81.152.108.51 (talk) 15:42, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Why? Because Henry IV, a usurper, needed all the support he could get, especially from the church. The Church was worried by Lollardy; Henry was worried by rivalry. Thus it was that an alliance was formed between Church and State. It was through this door that De heretico comburendo made its entry into the law of England. Clio the Muse (talk) 02:05, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Eastern front in the first world war

I read in a discussion on U Tube that the eastern front in the first world war was much more mobile than in the west, and that there was no trench warfare. Is this true? Evan Bates —Preceding unsigned comment added by Evan Bates (talk • contribs) 16:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes. The larger areas and smaller armies involved meant that any attempt to establish trench lines could be flanked. Trenches defending specific areas (like cities) or for specific battles could appear, but the years-long stalemate of the western front never developed. --Carnildo (talk) 21:00, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, this is wrong, Carnildo. Evan, following the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes and the Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive in 1915, the Russians abandoned the Polish salient, establishing a front to the east with a full system of entrenchments on exactly the same basis as those in the West. And thus it was that the Eastern Front remained largely static over huge sectors, until the collapse of 1917. Clio the Muse (talk) 01:55, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

National languages in Punjab Pakistan

According to your article "Punjab(Pakistan)", it says the main languages are Urdu, Punjabi, Hindko, Saraiki, Pashto and Baloch. I read the article Hindko before and it says that two districts speak Hindko in Punjab, but what about Saraiki, Pashto and Baloch? Which districts in Punjab speak Saraki? Which districts in Punjab speak Pashto? and which districts in Punjab speak Baloch? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 18:56, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

National languages in Balochistan Pakistan

In your article Balochistan (Paksitan), it says that the main languages are Balochi, Urdu, Pashto and Brahui, but the questions are which districts in Balochistan speak Pashto, which districts in Balochistan speak Brahui? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 19:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The articles on the specific languages (Saraiki, Pashto, Baloch and Brahui) have some information on that. Pashto has a map with distributions of the two Iranian languages, Pashto and Balochi. The article on the Baloch people includes a map showing the areas where they live. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 19:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

National languages in North-West Frontier Province

In your article North-West Frontier Province, is says the main languages are Pashto, Khowar, Urdu, Hindko and Persian. In the article Hindko, it says that six districts speak the language in N.W.F.P, but what about Khowar and Persian? Which districts speak Kowar and which districts speak Persian? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 19:16, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

National languages in SIndh

In your articles Sindh, it says that the main languages are Urdu, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki, and English and Sindhi. Which districts speak Pashto? Which districts speak Balochi? and which districts speak Saraiki? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 19:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Dr. Tahir-ul Qadri

Does anybody know if Dr.Tahir-ul Qadri ever speak Punjabi or gave a lecture in Punjabi? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 19:24, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

All Souls

Could anyone tell me the name of the essay in which Joseph Addison, the eighteenth century English writer, says that native Americans believe that all creatures, animate and inanimate, have souls? Thank you. J T Bloom (talk) 19:40, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

That is from The Spectator No.56 (Friday, 4 May, 1717) - 'The Americans believe that all Creatures have Souls, not only Men and Women, but Brutes, Vegetables, nay even the most inanimate things, as Stocks and Stones. They believe the same of all the Works of Art, as of Knives, Boats, Looking-glasses: And that as any of these things perish, their Souls go into another World, which is inhabited by the Ghosts of Men and Women. For this Reason they always place by the Corpse of their dead Friend a Bow and Arrows, that he may make use of the Souls of them in the other World, as he did of their wooden Bodies in this.' Lord Foppington (talk) 22:53, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The essay is known as The Vision of Marraton. Clio the Muse (talk) 02:57, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

You can find a it here: [6] Lord Foppington (talk) 11:43, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Thank you both for that information. I'm developing an interest in English essays of the eighteenth and ninetenth centuries, dealing with factual and semi-factual topics; with ideas, social practices, moods, events and cultural attitudes. Can you recommend any work along these lines after Addison? J T Bloom (talk) 12:16, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

There are so many, J T. I would suggest that you have a look at the work of Charles Lamb and William Hazlitt, who happens to be my personal favourite! Reader! Have you ever seen a fight? If not, you have a pleasure to come. You do, indeed, have a pleasure to come! Clio the Muse (talk)

Armenian troubles

what was cause of Armenian troubles in 1890s in Ottoman empire and how did government in Istanbul respond? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Enver M (talk • contribs) 20:13, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Are you referring to the Hamidian massacres of 1894-95? Or possibly the Armenian Genocide during World War I? --D. Monack | talk 21:35, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The Armenian diaspora, disappointed by the outcome of the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, responded by forming a variety of organisations aiming at the independence of territories in Eastern Anatolia, held by the Ottoman Empire. Two of these organisations, the Hunchak and the Dashnak, espoused violence as a means towards this end. Even Turkish reprisals were welcome as a way of securing international attention. Because of the disorders in the eastern provinces, Sultan Abdul Hamid II raised Hamidiye irregular cavalry from among the Kurds to police the area, generally adding to the murderous confusion. Clio the Muse (talk) 02:27, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Screw-guns

Rudyard Kipling's poem "Screw-Guns" is about the titular screw-guns, extremely portable artillery pieces. Does Wikipedia have articles on the actual weapons or military units involved? --Carnildo (talk) 20:15, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

RML 2.5 inch Mountain Gun.—eric 01:27, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I added a hatnote to screw gun. -Arch dude (talk) 23:03, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Is there a social science journal for undergraduate students?

Is there a journal of the social sciences (particularly political science) that publishes undergraduate student research/papers? If one (or many) exists, how does the submission and review process work?

Thank you.

Renbelcher (talk) 20:59, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, Renbelcher; I don't believe so; not in England, anyway. You should have a look at the submission process in some of the mainstream journals, usually to be found on the inside covers. Clio the Muse (talk) 02:59, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh, yes; I should add that it is a really bad idea to send in papers cold. In the first place you should write to the commissioning editor, outlining the details of your work. Clio the Muse (talk) 03:25, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Many university undergraduate societies put out such journals. At my alma mater the undergraduate history journal was, amusingly, Clio's Scroll. There were undergrad political science journals there too, I imagine it must be pretty common elsewhere as well. If you're an undergrad now, you might consider consulting with your local university department to see if they have recommendations. That's probably the only area you're going to find journals looking for specifically undergraduate work. --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 03:07, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

It is also the name of the Cambridge University History Society - 6k. She gets around, she does! Clio the Muse (talk) 03:25, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

If the paper is of sufficient quality, it should (ideally) not matter to an academic journal that the author happens to be a student. In this less than ideal world mediocre papers written by an established authority are more likely to be published than papers of the same quality authored by some unknown scholar.  --Lambiam 10:41, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

True enough. Though if one is going to try and get undergrad work published, it is usually important to run it by a professor in the field first and let them know if your intentions. They'll be able to say what sorts of things would need to be tightened up, fleshed out, added, etc. for it to be in the running. The main problem with undergraduate work is, of course, that undergraduates are not usually indoctrinated into the corpus of "important books and ideas" in a given discipline, and thus don't know how to adequately tie in their research with a preexisting set of concerns. In my experience, even very capable undergrads (at very fancy institutions) have not really learned how to write scholarly articles by the time they graduate (indeed, even very capable graduate students—myself included—need a little bit of practice at that before getting published). --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 14:26, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Also, the review (and revision) process is usually long enough that you'd need to have most of the paper worked out by sometime early in your junior year to have a hope of getting it accepted by the time you apply for grad schools which is an extremely high standard for most top undergraduates.--droptone (talk) 11:51, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Anglo Portuguese Alliance

Why did England and Portugal enter into a close alliance in 1386? Also is it true as your article on the Treaty of Windsor says that this is the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world? —Preceding unsigned comment added by H Bishop (talk • contribs) 22:44, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

They had long been important trading partners and had an interest in mutual action against the Kingdom of Castile, a dangerous political rival for Portugal and the focus of the regal ambitions of John of Gaunt, brother of Edward III and uncle of Richard II. The Portuguese were also able to offer naval assistance to the English in the continuing struggles of the Hundred Year's War. It was on this basis that the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was formed, confirmed in the Treaty of Windsor in 1386.

It would be truer to say that it is the longest lasting alliance in diplomatic history, H Bishop. The honour of being the oldest surely must go to the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France, first concluded in 1295. That particular bond was finally terminated in the sixteenth century. Clio the Muse (talk) 02:49, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

England and Portugal were also connected as far back as the 12th century, when English ships helped capture Lisbon, and an English monk became bishop of Lisbon. Adam Bishop (talk) 08:34, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

As Clio knows but must have mistyped, John of Gaunt was the son of Edward III, brother of Edward, the Black Prince, and Uncle of Richard II. 194.36.2.233 (talk) 17:22, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Yikes; what a silly error! Yes, of course she knows! Clio the Muse (talk) 01:57, 10 April 2008 (UTC)