Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2006 September 8

=September 8=

Religious Icons
have a group of over 30 large religious icons and need to have them identified. Can anyone help? I have photos and could make them available.

Respectfully,

carole 67.102.17.26 00:04, 8 September 2006 (UTC)carole


 * Can you post a link to the pictures? Rentwa 06:16, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Lawful Execution?
If a man is convicted of a crime, given the death penalty, exhausts all appeals and is scheduled for execution, but breaks out of prison only to be shot dead on the street 2 weeks later by someone who recognized him from the news story about his trial, can the shooter be convicted of murder?

We will also assume that the shooter in question did not have to kill the convict and could actually have reported him to the police in a timely fashion and held him until their arrival. -Razma Dreizehn


 * It would seem that the killer was not sanctioned although the killing was. Rentwa 06:18, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * The short answer is: "yes". The same applies to mercy killings in which the "victim" is suffering immensely from a terminal disease, with death being imminent. Details may differ according to local laws, but basically, if the law does not have specific clauses excepting such cases, they will be crimes according to the general rules. --Lambiam Talk 06:38, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * (Edit conflict) Although it may seem absurd, some countries who enforce capital punishment strive to use 'more humane' methods of execution than shooting and have laws reflecting this. More importantly, the state owns the monopoly on law-enforcement. No citizen has the right to arbitrarily take the law in his hands. Yes, I think this person can expect criminal prosecution, though I have no idea what the exact charges would be. ---Sluzzelin 06:39, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * The charge would be murder, although there is a good chance of jury nullification in a case like this. StuRat 07:15, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * If there is a jury. I wonder if a judge would take these circumstances into account. As Sluzzelin pointed out, the state has (or should have) a monopoly on violence. I wonder if whether the killer knew about the comviction would even make a difference. Then again, in such an uncivilised country (where the death penalty still exists) one can never know. DirkvdM 07:39, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * I'm not certain that the charge would be murder. Since the deceased would be a death row prison inmate on the run from the law, it ought to be fairly easy to demonstrate a "reasonable man" argument that the shooter felt threatened by the convict's presence.  Depending on the specific circumstances it might even be deemed justifiable homicide - perhaps if the shooter were a convenience store clerk who had survived three previous armed robberies, recognized the escaped prisoner in the store, and believed the escapee were reaching for a weapon.  I suspect the law would view that more kindly than a shooter who shot the escapee in the back as the convict walked across a public street. Durova


 * It depends on the circumstances, obviously, but in any case the question of the victim's being previously sentenced to death would not, by itself, make any non-sanctioned killing the equivalent of the state-sanctioned killing. --Fastfission 18:16, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * It depends on the local laws. Some places may have laws where it is legal. Apparently some places have laws where anyone can kill a "fleeing felon", including some U.S. states. Rmhermen 22:37, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * 1) Your question is invalid in that it ignores jurisdiction. What is legal in one place may be illegal in another. So there is no one answer for the entire world.
 * 2) Legally, the answer depends upon whether or not the jurisdiction recognizes the concept of outlawry. If it does, then the escapee has the same rights as a rabid dog - none. This is the idea behind "Wanted - Dead or Alive." If not, then the killer is subject to whatever criminal penalties would apply if he'd shot and killed anyone else. It would now depend on what, if anything, the local prosecutor decided to charge him with, and, as mentioned above, what a jury would be willing to buy. B00P 03:23, 9 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Depends on the country. .-. --Proficient 06:04, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Diversity 2
As a follow-up to a question hereabove, which region the size of a small country (roughly 100.000 km2) would be the most diverse in the world? That can be in terms of culture or nature or both. DirkvdM 08:01, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Fascinating question. Does it have to be defined as a region (politically, culturally, geographically), or can it be any continuous piece of map of approximately this size?(not counting absurd examples of two separate regions connected by a thread of land that spans half the world)---Sluzzelin 08:12, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Linguistically, Nepal is impressive with 102 languages (147,181 km²), Papua has 862 languages spread over 462,840 km². From a study by Daniel Nettle ---Sluzzelin 09:09, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Also, Costa Rica is a remarkably diverse country climatically and biologically. Its area is a little over 50,000km². Batmanand | Talk 13:30, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * The density of dots on Ethnologue's language map is a good indicator of linguistic diversity. By this measure, the most linguistically diverse regions are Papua  (New Guinea), Melanesia, the Philippines, parts of Indonesia, parts of mainland Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, parts of East and West Africa, and the Mexican state of Oaxaca.  However, in some of these regions (West Africa's forest belt, parts of East Africa, highland Papua (New Guinea), Oaxaca, Philippines, Melanesia), peoples speaking different languages may inhabit geographically similar territories and may have broad cultural similarities.  I would argue that the regions of greatest cultural diversity combine geographic diversity with linguistic diversity.  In these regions, peoples speaking different languages inhabit different local environments and often have different ways of life.  The regions of greatest cultural and geographic diversity are parts of East Africa, the Himalayas, from northern Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, and highland Southeast Asia.  In these regions, the valley floor is often densely populated by one ethnic group, while surrounding highlands are occupied by a diverse array of "hill peoples."  Nepal is especially impressive in this regard. Laos is only slightly less so, with 82 languages in 230,000 km². Marco polo 15:19, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Yeah, I suppose geographic variation and boundaries (rivers and mountains) are the most determining factor in cultural diversity. At least until recently. Modern technology has made migration across those borders easier (without conquering, which usually decreasses diversity). So maybe it's better to start by looking at geographic boundaries. Mountains are the most important here, I suppose, and that would explain Nepal. As for rivers separating peoples, the Amazon basin might be a good choice. It is also the kind of habitat in which humans can easily survive (once they've learned how to), so there will be people in every km2 (right?). But that would also mean a small natural variation. Maybe if you combine the two, at the edge of a mountain range, with lots of rivers streaming out (such as Nepal). Borneo also has lots of rivers, but more variation in altitude, but the peoples there have learned to navigate the rivers quite well (that's an understatement), so the cultures grew closer together. Hmmm, it seems to be a bit more complicated than I thought. DirkvdM 11:44, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharaff
12:02, 8 September 2006 (UTC)202.61.40.69In your page on Pakistan's President Pervez Musharaff you have mentioned under his Family background that "General Musharraf's parents came from an educated middle class Kunjer family and both were college-educated".

Now the word Kunjer is a rude word in URDU as well as all the local languages in Pakistan, I am curious as to what was your source to this line on his family ?

A quick response would be much appreciated

Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharaff

Regards

Khawar Mehdi

(Email removed to protect from spam spider transformers from zordon)
 * That was vandalism. Thanks for reporting it. I have now fixed the article and I'm looking into the author who added it. - Mgm|(talk) 12:55, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Indeed. Articles are frequently vandalized, but lesser visited/articles that have to do with other countries but the USA might not be watched as well as other articles. --Proficient 06:06, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

John Steinbeck novella or screenplay of Lifeboat
Greetings. I understand that this may be outside of the scope of Wikipedia. I was wondering is anyone can help me to find a copy of the actual novella or screenplay that John Steinbeck wrote for Lifeboat, the Alfred Hitchcock movie. Thank you. Lynne L. Waldron. --72.240.124.54 12:20, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * According to this, it's an unpublished manuscript; you need access to a Steinbeck research center. For example, the Steinbeck Library in Salinas, CA almost certainly would have a copy. --jpgordon&#8711;&#8710;&#8711;&#8710; 15:35, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Nothing is outside the scope of Wikipedia. It's a general encyclopedia, so "contains information on all branches of knowledge". How dare you suggest this is beyond us? Well, this specific bit was beyond, me but that's not the point. :) DirkvdM 11:49, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

Video Needed - Cordell Hull addresses Congress on UN 1943
I am a producer working at KET the state owned PBS Network in Lexington, KY. I am trying to find the soucre for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9f/Ohullco002v1.mov - a video clip of Cordell Hull to use in a broadcast program (not for sale or distribution beyond the statewide broadcast). I need to locate a source from which I can obtain a broadcast quaility copy. Any information would be helpful. Program airs Nov. 11. Editing date Nov. 3

Thanks,

Jim Piston
 * [Edit] The movie was apparently taken from this Britannica web page. freshofftheufo  ΓΛĿЌ  13:32, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

What Language...
What Language should I learn if I was going to denmark? Also, can you suggest a good exchange student association/club in Raleigh, NC, that arranges exchange students to denmark?

Thank you all in advance, Mythicallava


 * The official language of Denmark and its commonly spoken language is Danish. If you are a secondary school student, you might try YFU, though I cannot speak for the quality of their programs.  If you are a university student, the easiest way would be if your university had an exchange program with a Danish university.  Failing that, some Danish universities may have exchange programs for independent foreign students.  Wikipedia has a list of universities in Denmark.  Marco polo 17:49, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Like Marco said. Danish. It's not just a pastry, it's a language too. On the other hand, though I've never been to Denmark, I would strongly imagine that pretty much everyone there has a significant proficiency in English. What school do you go to? Loomis 11:56, 9 September 2006 (UTC)


 * After edit conflict:
 * Since you ask here, I suppose you're not going there for a long time (else you would have done more research). Danish isn't widely spoken outside Denmark, but English and German are also rather well understood in Denmark. Btw, which NC? DirkvdM 12:01, 9 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina. -- Mwalcoff 00:29, 10 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Stupid me for not knowing that. DirkvdM 07:37, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

About Hermann Claussen
I was wondering if these Hermann Claussen's are the same person?

1.Hermann Claussen was the first to climb Tronador on 29 January 1934 in solitary after several attempts.

2.of the united states entered according to congress in the year 1868 by hermann claussen in the clerks office of the district court for the southern district of new york designed and engraved by hermann claussen


 * Probably not. If we assume that Claussen was at least 20 in 1868, then that would make him at least 86 by 1934. I find it unlikely that an 86 year old today—much less in 1934, hardly a time of great geriatric care—would be able to climb a mountain in solitary after several attempts. Even if you made him only 12 in 1868 (which seems ridiculous), he would be 78 by 1934—not exactly peak mountain climbing time for most people. --Fastfission 18:39, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Which U.S. State has only one court on the state level?


 * It doesn't say that. It says it is the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, meaning it is a United States district court, a federal court. --Fastfission 19:36, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

President William McKinley
As a resident of Canton, Ohio, the hometown of McKinley, I will be visiting Buffalo, New York this fall. Where exactly in present-day Buffalo is the site of his assassination in 1901? Is there some marker or memorial? Can someone provide a photograph? Angela


 * Starting at William McKinley, you can read the section about his assassination, which occurred at the Pan-American Exposition. You will also find a link to the McKinley Monument.  The Pan-Am Expo article has a picture showing the Temple of Music, outside of which the assassination took place.  I have not verified whether this building is still in existence, this page indicates that the buildings were not meant to be permanent "To this day, residents of the various neighborhoods developed after the Pan-American was finally cleared away still find traces of plaster when digging in their gardens." ....  I do not know whether the Monument is anywhere close to where the Temple of Music stood.  --LarryMac 20:16, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * According to a message here, it's in the median of Fordham Drive, near Lincoln Parkway, near Buffalo State University. -- Mwalcoff 22:58, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * In the Temple of Music by the Tower of Light between the Fountain of Abundance and the Court of Lilies at the great Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo..... the folk who run this web site may be able to tell you if you drop them a line at the e-mail address on that page. They also show the fairgrounds with an overlay of the current streets on this page. It looks like most of the Temple of Music lies beneath Fordham street, east of Lincoln Parkway. Looking at the area with Google Earth, it seems to be completely residential with no evidence of any monument. - Nunh-huh 23:30, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Use of surname in Russia
In English you can nickname someone by just using their surname: so John Smith becomes informally known by his friends just as Smith rather than John, etc. Do Russians do the same thing with Russian surnames, e.g Ivan Kuznetsov is just informally known as Kuznetsov? Sum0 23:02, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * From reading Russian novels, I was under the impression that friends would call "Ivan Fedorovich Kuznetsov" "Ivan Fedorovich", while intimates would call him Vanya. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:15, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * It's no more done in Russian than it is in English to refer to someone by their surname alone. In my part of the English-speaking world, referring to someone you know by their surname would not be regarded as a nickname.  It would even be seen as disrespectful unless it was clearly done for humorous intent.  Public figures are different.  JackofOz 23:21, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
 * It's the same in Russian. Referring to someone you know by their surname may be occasionally seen as disrespectful, especially in their presence. First names are normally used without patronimics. Patronimics are used primarily to denote respect, as when speaking to an elderly person or your chief. -- Ghirla -трёп-  10:16, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
 * In the US, it's considered a sign of familiarity among "the boys" to refer to each other by their last names. Like on football teams, military units, etc.  User:Zoe|(talk) 02:18, 9 September 2006 (UTC)


 * As long as we are ignoring that the question was about what the Russians do, let me add that in the south of the Netherlands it is common for friends to call each other by their last name (not as a nickname). In the north this would be thought of as an odd thing to do, even unfriendly. DirkvdM 12:05, 9 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Yeh were I live my freinds and I often refer to each other by there surnames or nicknames derived from their surnames. But we wouldnt do it to someone we didnt know well enough, as if you did it to someone you didnt know, the implication would be you are speaking down to them. But among freinds its a sign of familiraity. Philc TECI 16:48, 9 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Heh, well this question went off-topic pretty quickly (sounds like my best bet is to flick through The Brothers Karamazov and see how it's done in "real life"), but I'd like to agree that at least where I live (the UK, though I can't speak for everyone) it's common for people to informally refer to male (rarely women, if ever) friends (including me) by their surname, though you'd never use it in a formal setting/to a stranger/your superior. Sum0 19:48, 9 September 2006 (UTC)


 * At least until WWII, British (and I think American) male friends and and colleagues would ordinarily address and refer to each other by surname alone. (Consider Holmes and Watson). Now it would mostly be felt to be rude. Traditionally Russians would eddress each other by first name and patronymic: I'm not sure that surnames were ever much used in that sort of context. ColinFine 22:42, 10 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Certainly at my school, most boys are called by their surname; its useful when there's half a dozen Dans or Joes to instead call them "Smith" or "Jones" or "Murphy". Incidently, the surname is then normally completely mutilated until you barely tell what it used to be; "Smith" becomes "Smazza" or "Smizzy", while Jones could become "Jonesy", "Jozza" or "Jaz". smurrayinch e ster(User), (Talk) 17:23, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

What are the different ways for numbering the succession of noble titles?
The situation is this: 2 wp. editors are planning to merge Henry Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham and Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham. The two are the same person beyond doubt; however, the literature numbers them differently. The older literature appears to favor eight, while the newer favors eleven. The editors suspect that the difference may relate to when the title entered the Brooke family, but so far have been unable to confirm this hunch.

Any help would be much appreciated; apologies if this is not the right forum for the question.Jlittlet 23:48, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * This is a barony by writ of summons, and so it's not all that peculiar that different enumerations exist, because such summonses were only later held to create hereditary baronies. So no one kept very close track; it wouldn't be unusual for someone now held to be a baron to have lived and died in ignorance of that fact. Perhaps it would be best to simply adopt the number used at Baron Cobham, while recognizing that they are artificial. - Nunh-huh 23:51, 8 September 2006 (UTC) (One explanation may be that people have added together the different creations of the barony in coming up with the figure 11.).


 * Thanks!Jlittlet 01:09, 9 September 2006 (UTC)