Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 October 17

= October 17 =

Fire Alarm
Some friends and I are

pulling a fire alarm I live in the USA. I hope this doesn't fall under the "legal advice" umbrella. We were way happy

Plato's and Aristotle's schools
I can't remember what their schools were called. I believe Plato's was Academia, or something with the word "academic" present, while Aristotle's was an "l" word, I think. Does anyone know to what I am referring? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.16.88.147 (talk) 09:22, 17 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Correct, you mean Lyceum. PMajer (talk) 10:24, 17 October 2008 (UTC)


 * And the Platonic Academy. Adam Bishop (talk) 17:45, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Prediction in the Social Science
Are there any studies out there about the prediction's precision of social scientists? I am principally interested in economists, but other links are welcome. --Mr.K. (talk) 12:26, 17 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Forecasting has some interesting comments about accuracy, but it is very technical. You might also look at prediction market, and (masochists only) econometrics. DOR (HK) (talk) 06:11, 22 October 2008 (UTC)

India Today
I remember that India Today had two articles: one about the stats of Indian couple and sex like for example which couple prefer to be at the top? man or woman? and another about kids acting like big people for example a little girl a manicure in a style that a woman would get. Where are those articles? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.204.74.206 (talk) 16:43, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Um have you tried ? It has a search function but only goes back to August 2007. If the article goes further back you can try the 'old format' . Doesn't appear to be a search but you could try Google (most of the 'old format' archives appear to be at ). I briefly searched but could find an article about what your referring to, if you knew the date at least roughly, it would be easier Nil Einne (talk) 07:26, 18 October 2008 (UTC)

Sueing for Peace
What does it mean to "sue for peace"? I mean, it doesn't mean a nation actually files a lawsuit in a court or something. I'm just curious as to where this phrase comes from. 12.10.248.51 (talk) 17:50, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Sue for peace has some information. Tomdobb (talk) 17:53, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
 * The relevant sense of sue is "to make petition for," which is older than the legal usage (and from which that usage developed). Deor (talk) 19:36, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
 * It means "I give up. Please stop hitting me." It is an appeal for more favorable terms than an Unconditional surrender. Edison (talk) 03:10, 18 October 2008 (UTC)
 * It's also sometimes used when there's a stalemate so neither party is in a position to force a surrender and one party decides they'd rather not waste resources on a pointless conflict. --Tango (talk) 17:50, 18 October 2008 (UTC)

Subsidized Housing
Under what administrations was subsidized housing created and/or modified. What were the circumstances that may have affected these occurrences? While references are made as to years these things were done, I want to know what administrations, etc., were involved. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.215.154.234 (talk) 17:54, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
 * It would help if you could be more specific. Are you referring to subsidized housing in the U.S. and if so do you mean on a federal, state or municipal level? At any rate, subsidized housing should give you a start. Tomdobb (talk) 17:57, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
 * At the US Federal level, that would be the Carter, Clinton, and Bush administrations. See Community Reinvestment Act. Wrad (talk) 20:04, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

That would be the administration of Sir Alexander Grantham (1947-57), and is covered in public housing estates. :-) DOR (HK) (talk) 06:19, 22 October 2008 (UTC)