Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 June 27

= June 27 =

When was the last time the UK Labour Party finished 5th (or worse) in a By-election?
Which they just have in the Henley by-election, 2008. Willy turner (talk) 01:23, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

The last time it happened to one of the (current) major political parties was 1976 - but as this blog (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/06/henley_analysis.html) points out that was neither labour, nor was it at a time when the Liberals were doing very well. I suspect you'll hear about it via that Guardian-blog during the day if you keep checking it, but otherwise i'm not sure. But it's a long time ago. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.221.133.226 (talk) 09:25, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I'll hazard a guess that it's never happened before. Perhaps the Daily Telegraph will have the answer for us in a day or two. Xn4  17:58, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Newsnight just said that if anyone knows the last time it happened "could they please let us know". Bearing in mind they will have had a team of researchers who had all day to find out, I presume this means it's never happened before. Perhaps when the Labour party had just been founded? Willy turner (talk) 21:44, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * The Labour Movement had some pretty disastrous showings at elections. However, they were the movement which preceded the actual Labour Party, so I doubt that they've ever done this badly.-- Neo  Nerd  22:07, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * The question's about the Labour Party. Going back to its early years (let's say from 1900 to 1920) it didn't fight every constituency, nor even every by-election. Indeed, to see five candidates at a by-election before the Second World War would have been unusual. Xn4  00:31, 28 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Yes, the question is about the party, but if the party have never done that badly before 2008, then it wouldn't be stretching things to provide an example of when the movement did do worse.89.240.131.227 (talk) 12:48, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Korean War deaths
What estimates are there of total Korean deaths during the Korean War (the article does not appear to be helpful AFAICT, listing only "millions" as the number of civilian deaths)? This site appears to give a rundown of several estimates, are there any others, and how does the reliability of the various sources compare? How does this compare to the population of Korea before the war? --58.28.72.2 (talk) 04:45, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * This site lists total Korean population in 1950 to be 30,316,911 (North at 9,471,140 and South at 20,845,771).--droptone (talk) 12:28, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

sorry Coudlnt' get an anwsoer on entertainment
Is 大戲, or Cantonese opera, in A flat Major?68.148.164.166 (talk) 05:32, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I know that I saw this question with at least one answer attached to it, perhaps on the entertainment desk. The short answer was No, since it uses a different scale. Several Times (talk) 15:04, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Geography
What are the differences and similarities between fold and block mountains? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Invisiblebug590 (talk • contribs) 07:09, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Have you read our articles on fold mountains and fault-block mountains? They are fairly clear.--Shantavira|feed me 07:38, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Poverty
I'm trying to find stats on poverty/homelessness in Boston. Has it been declining or rising? And how does it rank against other US cities? Please link sources. Thank you. 71.174.16.91 (talk) 14:27, 27 June 2008 (UTC)Sola
 * Here's a little something: a 2006 article about homelessness in Boston. Fribbler (talk) 14:33, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Novel written by a female American Indian
Maybe 10 to 12 years ago a book was written by a female American Indian that described how she died, but came back to life, and how beautiful the experience was. My wife is going batty trying to remembere the name of this true story. Can you help? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.3.135.130 (talk) 16:10, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * The true story of someone dying and coming back to life? Forgive my skepticism, but are you sure it is not a work of fiction?  Plasticup  T / C  18:50, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, Christians believe Jesus died and came back to life. I guess that is fiction too? Whose to say the Indian's story isn't true. --Ghostexorcist (talk) 18:54, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I was just trying to be helpful - a lot of people would put tales of reincarnation in the Fiction section of their bookstore. If you are looking for an excuse to proselytize I am not going to enable you.  Plasticup  T / C  19:04, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I'm an atheist. I just thought it was ironic that the Indian's story ran parallel with that of Christ and you suggested it was fiction. --Ghostexorcist (talk) 19:26, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Plenty of people consider the Bible to be fictitious, but it has attained a special status in our societies that keeps it out of the Fiction section. Surely you have noticed that the Bible is considered to be an exception to many many rules. This unidentifiable tale of reincarnation has clearly not attained such a special status.  Plasticup  T / C  19:57, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * True. But everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. --Ghostexorcist (talk) 20:11, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I am not criticizing his beliefs, I am simply suggesting that the owner of a bookstore might file it under fiction. That it is fiction is probably a matter of fact, but no matter what the truth is he is free to believe whatever he wants.  Plasticup  T / C  21:14, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
 * People, since the question was clearly not about the Bible I think this discussion may have run its course. DJ Clayworth (talk) 21:19, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

How does the story Roweena Teena and Tot and the Runaway Turkey end?
I am trying to find out the storyline from a favorite childhood book, Roweena Teena and Tot and the Runaway Turkey, written by Fannie Blumberg in 1936. I would love to find a copy to buy at a reasonable price as well. 71.170.2.44 (talk) 16:13, 27 June 2008 (UTC)JaneDianne
 * Can't find the ending but you can buy it here. It's not cheap, as it's an antique book at this stage. Fribbler (talk) 16:17, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

The story line is as follows: The 3 girls go to visit their grandparents and are there for Thanksgiving. They ask to invite a neighbor boy name Rastus to eat with them but their grandmother says no. She is angry at Rastus because his goat had gotten into her garden and eaten up all of the lettuce and red cabbage. The turkey the grandparents have been raising for the dinner escapes one night during a bad storm that blows the pen's gate open. The 3 girls and their grandfather look and find the turkey in a tree but can't climb the tree to get him. They then ask Rastus to help them catch the turkey. The turkey flies out of the tree and starts to run. They all run after the turkey but Rastus is the only one who can catch up to the turkey and capture him. In gratitude for his capture of the turkey, Grandmammy forgives him for the goat incident and invites him for Thanksgiving. The last lines of the story are as follows:"So the next day when Grandmammy and Grandpappy Green and the three little girls sat down to their good Thanksgiving dinner Rastus was there. Because Rastus was there Rowena and Teena beamed with delight. But Tot clapped her little brown hands. Then she pointed to the big roasted turkey which Grandpappy was just going to carve and said, 'Turkey-Turkey-Turkey, I'm glad you ran away because now Rastus can help us eat you up!'"

Barrack Obama
Did Barrack Obama ever have the Engish name Harry and it was later changed to Barrack Hussein?

It was in an emailed editorial I received this week, and I don't know the reliabilty of the source.MLK1330 (talk) 17:47, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * He was known by the nickname "Barry" as a child... AnonMoos (talk) 18:59, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * As AM says, he went by "Barry" for a while, but it is certainly not the case that he gave himself the middle name "Hussein". I get the impression he's wanted to be prez his whole life, so he probably would have chosen something more like "Jefferson".  --Sean 19:11, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * He inherited the given name "Barack Hussein" from his father. --Allen (talk) 19:13, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Be aware that anybody who is trying to get you to decide the next leader of the country based on their name is deliberately trying to avoid rational argument with you, and is hoping that you'll go along with the most basest of prejudices, avoiding all real issues. It is no different than someone saying "Don't vote for McCain because he has an Irish name, and thus he probably will do whatever the Pope says." Total nonsense, and a purposeful attempt to hoodwink you. Be suspicious—have a GOOD reason for picking your candidate, whoever you pick. This stuff is important. --74.223.170.187 (talk) 02:17, 28 June 2008 (UTC)


 * People can't be blamed for the names that were given to them, but on the other hand, Gary Hart raised suspicions among some over the fact that he changed his name from "Hartpence" at age 25-26... AnonMoos (talk) 03:45, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Why would that raise suspicions? He just did it because he didn't like the sound of his surname. And fair enough.  If I had a surname like "Hartpence", I'd probably be tempted to change it too. --Richardrj talkemail 06:38, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
 * For a number of people who thought Gary Hart was shallow and slick, his changing his name and then sort of trying to conceal it confirmed their views of him... AnonMoos (talk) 21:50, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Hartpence isn't that bad. Imagine if Hal Linden had gone into politics. --NellieBly (talk) 19:00, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
 * That would have been interesting, though with a name like that, the public could easily see why it was changed. Spencer  T♦C 23:51, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
 * From the moment Gary Hart entered the public arena, his birth name was publicised and I'm not aware he ever tried to conceal it (but then, why would anyone ever introduce themselves by saying "Hi, I'm Gary Hart, but I was born Gary Hartpence"?). He fell by the wayside for other reasons.  --  JackofOz (talk) 02:32, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

That Vishnu temple
Know that famous and giant temple to the Hindu god Vishnu with those golden rocket-ship like towers on it? The one that is now a buddaisst (o disrespect,just don't know how to spell it) shrine? I can't find the article on it.

PS Why in the Vishnu article Info-box does it list Vishnu's "planet"? Is Vishnu an alien? Tutthoth-Ankhre (talk) 19:14, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Angkor Wat? I don't know if the towers used to be covered in gold, but they certainly aren't now.  --Allen (talk) 19:58, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Also, I don't know the answer to your second question, but googling for "Vaikuntha planet" seems to turn up some promising links. --Allen (talk) 20:07, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Or even pressing this link Vaikuntha ... it's the planet where he lives? (like heaven - does that make jesus a spaceman??)87.102.86.73 (talk) 20:27, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I think it may be a mis-use of the "planet" field in the info-box. Other deities like Varuna, Bṛhaspati, Chandra, Surya, and Budha list the astrological planet which they are associated with (Venus, Jupiter, the Moon, the Sun, etc.), not where they live. -- 128.104.112.147 (talk) 00:13, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes, Angkor Wat! The service here is quick and effective! Tutthoth-Ankhre (talk) 23:31, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Can a 15 year old be sentenced to life imprisonment in the UK?
and if the answer is 'yes'. Is it for life? or it's a "life imprisonment". 190.49.100.145 (talk) 19:53, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes, if they are found to have commited a murder, with full knowledge of the act and consequences. Life imprisonment is in fact the only sentence available to the judge in cases of murder. This odes not specify how long it is untill parole is offered, however. In cases of children, they could be paroled afer only 8-10 years. However, a life sentence could really mean life, as it did for Dr Harold Shipman, before he killed himself.-- Neo  Nerd  22:05, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * In English law a minor is usually sentenced "to be detained At Her Majesty's Pleasure" rather than to Life imprisonment. In both cases the judge at the trial can recommend a minimum period before parole is granted. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 10:28, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Accessible/Newcomer's Classical Music
Hello,

I am looking to start listening to classical music, but there's such a wide variety of types and endless amounts of compositions. Can anyone recommend a good, accessible starting point? I don't want to be driven away by an arrangement that is just to complex or not appealing to a newcomer. I have heard that George Lloyd's Symphony No. 5 is a good place to start, but I was wondering what everyone else thought. Thanks! Mike MAP91 (talk) 20:52, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * You might want to invest in a compilation album such as this one, which has lots of popular and accessible pieces. Also have a listen to Classic FM. --Richardrj talkemail 21:09, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I just put on classicfm, as per Richardrj's advice, and listened to 30 minutes of classicfm's political correspondent talking about Wendy Alexander. Is there a channel that plays just music, without DJ's, without news, without weather, without talking -- just music? Llamabr (talk) 14:08, 28 June 2008 (UTC)


 * It's a mindfield of different tastes but - peter and the wolf makes a good introduction to the different instruments.87.102.86.73 (talk) 21:40, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Personally, I would reccomend Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. I started here, and I loved it. You'll recognise a good deal of it, which is a help and I personally think that it's one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. :)-- Neo  Nerd  22:11, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I have found Bach's organ pieces, in their (apparent) simplicity, to be quite accessible. User:Krator (t c) 22:46, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * (ec, partial overlap with Krator's comment above) Well, as long as we're promoting personal favorites, I'll put in a word for Beethoven's Razumovsky Quartets. Seriously, though, you may find works like string quartets, works for solo instruments (Bach's keyboard works, Mozart's piano sonatas, etc.), and the like, less "complex" in that what's going on musically is easier for the untutored ear to pick up. In my younger days, I owned a multialbum set that surveyed the history of Western music from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century; perhaps your local library has something of the sort. Pick out something that appeals to you and start exploring the composer or period from there. Deor (talk) 23:03, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Beethoven's Third, Fifth and Sixth symphonies. A compilation of Mozart pieces, especially the operas. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and the Cello Suites. Vivaldi's Four Seasons and other works by Vivaldi. Elgar's Cello Concerto. Works by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Verdi's Requiem. A compilation of works by Saint-Saens. Handel's Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Itsmejudith (talk) 23:33, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Deor's idea of a historical survey is a good one. You have about 400 years of musical development to get to know, and if you think of it as a single style you'll just be confused and overwhelemed (as your question suggests). Read a bit about the main historical periods of Baroque, Classical, Romantic and (for want of a better word) Modern, and the composers that worked in each. They are very broad categories, but they're useful as a starting point. On another dimension, consider music by "instrumentation" - instrumental music (e.g. solo piano), chamber (e.g. string quartets), orchestral (e.g. symphonies), vocal, operatic, etc. In both dimensions you'll probably find you enjoy some more than others. That's fine: you don't have to like all of it all at once. Many people find that their musical taste changes as they grow older, or as circumstances change. There's a lot of great stuff there to discover - enjoy the journey! AndrewWTaylor (talk)


 * Thanks for all the help everyone! I will read about the various periods, and go from there.  I'll probably start with a sample of various types, as well as some solo piano pieces.  From what I've heard so far, I think I like the solos (piano most) as well as the orchestral work.  I do play Alto Sax in my school band, so I guess that trained my ears somewhat.  I'll start off the way everyone suggested: with a broad sample.  However, I will also pick a few solo works to start with, and then move onto some symphonies per your suggestions.  Thanks again! Mike MAP91 (talk) 13:23, 28 June 2008 (UTC)


 * With symphonies, I'd recommend not going straight to the pinnacle of Beethoven's 9th, but whetting your appetite with things like Mozart's 40th in G minor, Prokofiev's "Classical" Symphony (No. 1), Mendelssohn's "Scottish" and "Italian" symphonies, Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony (No. 6), or even his 5th in C minor (da-da-da-DAAAH). -- JackofOz (talk) 02:27, 29 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I found Classical Music for Dummies to be an excellent investment. It comes with a CD of extracts so that you can hear the pieces that the author is writing about. Gandalf61 (talk) 09:58, 30 June 2008 (UTC)