Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 September 28

= September 28 =

Would Burma(Myanmar) launch a war against Bangladesh or India?
Would Burma, military junta governed country, launch a war against India to take over the Northeast India to gain the huge oil reserve and minerals over there? Would Burma launch a war against Bangladesh for territorial expansion in the future? 72.136.110.93 (talk) 07:29, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Burma might be insane, but remember, India is a member of a very exclusive club. I think they're safe for now, and I think Burma is keeping itself busy enough with cleaning up after the cyclone. 83.250.202.36 (talk) 07:40, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * If Burma were to launch such a war, international criticism towards the nation would be pretty overwhelming. Moreover, given the relatively poor capabilities of its military, it's hard to image Burma successfully holding and occupying such territory. (For a somewhat related scenario, see Sino-Vietnamese War)--Dpr (talk) 10:21, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I think this is quite unlikely although as with all things, obviously not impossible. The Myanmar military regime may be despicable, but they've appeared mostly inward focused, with only limited concern of the outside world and have never shown any sign of expantionist tendencies. Plus while they may have a bit of an odd world-view, I've never seen any sign they're insane, as they would have be to invade India Nil Einne (talk) 17:35, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * If Burma got control of the oil in the Northeast India, the Burmese could make their country rich. I doubt that India would use their atomic bomb just for a foreign invasion of its Northeast. Yes, the Indian army is big but it doesn't mean they are excellent fighters. 72.136.110.93 (talk) 22:30, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * One word: Iraq.  The Americans are sitting on a freaking goldmine and even they can't do crap with it until they can hold the country in peace.  Infrastructure to support oil exploration is highly susceptible to attack - especially by air.  Crap, someone throws a match in the wrong place and it will blow up, yah know? --mboverload @  22:52, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * The Indian army doesn't need excellent fighters. They just need better soldiers then the Myanmar regime. And given that the Indian army has at least been involved in recent battles and are at an ever state of readiness due to Kashmir, and that the Myanmar regime, as with most military dictatorships is probably full of people who joined for the life-style and their primary focus is on controlling a largely unarmed population, I think we can safely conclude the Indian army would be a lot better then the Myanmar one. Also, it's no point being resource rich if no one wants to trade with you. Not to mention most of those at the top already appear to have a decent lifestyle and invading India is liable to risk that lifestyle and their lives for little extra benefit, making their regime's existance even more at risk and potentially opening the way for an internal rebellion... Nil Einne (talk) 09:26, 29 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I wrote a highly detailed response but after looking at the geography you only would need one answer: Would never happen. To get to Northern India from Burma would be like 600 miles through multiple countries. They have absolutely no way to accomplish such a thing. There would be no supply line - which means game over for any Army hoping to occupy any piece of land.  In Iraq the Americans have aircraft carriers, friendly nations, massive transport aircraft, and a lack of any (real) force attempting to cut off supplies.  Burma has 0 of those things. India has aircraft that can do bombing runs to destroy the seat of power in Burma and they couldn't do anything to prevent it.  It is logistically_utterly_impossible. --mboverload @  22:38, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * To get to Northern India from Burma is not like 600 miles. Why would the Burmese want Northen India? Burma would be interested in Assam only because the place has oil. Assam lies in Northeastern India and it is close to Burma. Burma has a navy and an air force. Read Myanmar Air Force.72.136.110.93 (talk) 03:29, 29 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Indian Air Force Sorry about my confusion about the geographic location you were discussing. I thought you literally meant the most northern point of India. --mboverload @  05:12, 29 September 2008 (UTC)--mboverload @  05:12, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

The questions isn't "would" but "can", and the answer is "no." Burma has no offensive capability, except the ability to be oh-so-offensive to common sense. DOR (HK) (talk) 02:31, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

Stock markets/securities listing
Are the terms "secondary board" and "secondary market" synonymous? If so, are NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX, etc. all secondary markets? Is there an actual "primary market" that tangibly exists, or is this merely a subset of NASDAQ, NYSE, etc.'s functions? Thank you for all your help!


 * The primary market is the market on which a stock is traded for the first time. For example, if XYZ corp issues 100,000 shares of stock in an IPO (initial public offering), the stock is not sold on the stock exchange because there is no public information about XYZ corp (buyers have no information by which to gauge the appropriate price to pay). To determine the fair market value of the stock requires that analysts delve into the XYZ's financial statements in great detail. In practice, XYZ corp and its investors will line up a group of investment banks to purchase the stock. Once the stock deal is done, the investment banks will turn around and sell the stock on the stock exchange (the secondary market) for a profit. Thereafter, any time one of those shares of XYZ stock is traded, it is traded on the secondary market. Wikiant (talk) 12:08, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Many traders, when they say "primary market", mean the market in which the stock trades in the largest quantity. So in theory the primary market could change every day for any stock. In practise, liquidity attracts liquidity, so it is fairly stable. --Lgriot (talk) 01:58, 29 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Are you talking about dual listed stocks? --Tango (talk) 02:05, 29 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Dual or more. Nokia is listed a good 10 times in the world. And nearly every ECN in the US quotes citigroup. --Lgriot (talk) 00:37, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Ritualistic (celtic) oath involving blood
The person in question slits their wrist (usually using a dagger), then dripping blood onto a body and then making the oath. I think it may be a ritual of celtic origin. Does anyone have any information on this? Does wikipedia have an article on this? I didn't find blood oath very helpful. Thanks! --217.227.122.22 (talk) 12:37, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * The article is Blood brother; not sure that it's more Celtic than it is anything else... AnonMoos (talk) 21:19, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Buying full scale crown jewel replicas
Where can I purchase full scale English/British crown jewel replicas, and at what price? Is this even possible, since taking photos of the crown jewels is, (to my knowledge) illegal in Britain. Links are very welcome...thankyou. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.227.122.22 (talk) 13:47, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Taking photos of crown jewel replicas is illegal? What about taking photos of the real thing? Nil Einne (talk) 17:32, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * That's what I meant, I have corrected the post. --217.227.85.232 (talk) 18:57, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I imagine that there are companies out there who would be willing to fulfill your wishes for a suitable price, but it may not be a standard off-the-shelf item... AnonMoos (talk) 21:16, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Here's a [commercial link] to a crowd that displays a replica of the crown jewels. Making a good replica would be very expensive. Dmcq (talk) 22:47, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I remember acting as part-time guide for a travelling exhibition of crown jewel replicas. Can't tell you if such things still exist. DJ Clayworth (talk) 17:14, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Religion regarding cosmic powers?
My friend told me of an ideal he had read somewhere which eschews the existence of God as a supreme being but acknowledges that there may be cosmic powers which control the cosmos. Is there really any religious ideal that percieves Supreme powers thus?Leif edling (talk) 17:00, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Well that's a pretty vague description. But there are lots of religions that believe the cosmos is sort of self-governing at a metaphysical level without a personified, anthropomorphic god. See e.g. some forms of deism, or pantheism. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 18:11, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * There's always Capitalism, characterized by deeply held beliefs in mysterious yet almighty, unseen hands (with fingers often coated in butter). --- OtherDave (talk) 18:27, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Aside from Adam Smith's invisible hand, there is that of the Gaia theory rocking this beautiful blue cradle. BrainyBabe (talk) 20:54, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * A vague version of Taoism? Itsmejudith (talk) 21:53, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * I think he's asking if any religions believe that we live in a Matrix/Video game, which is completely possible. As far as I know no religions are built around this possibility. Directed "Cosmic powers" require some sort of intelligence, which would require a supreme being.--mboverload @  22:50, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * While this is isn't a very good match for the concept you're looking for, many people I know who call themselves agnostic believes precisely this: that there's obviously no old dude sitting in a cloud lording over people, but that there may be a sort of ruling force over the cosmos. A Starmaker, if you will. (I love that book) 90.235.17.83 (talk) 15:31, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

Please identify the author of this poem?
Down a wandering path I have travelled, Where the setting sun Lies upon the ground. The tracks are hard and dry Smothered with The weather's wear, My mind did move With them that had Before me seen, Trodding down the ground A track for me to follow, Leaving marks for others A sign for them to follow. 78.146.233.40 (talk) 22:00, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I don't know the author, but it comes from this marker. Perhaps you can make out the author from the photo. --  k a i n a w &trade; 22:39, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I zoomed in on the photo, the marker looks like it says 'David Dudgeon', at least it looks more like that than anything else, but google doesn't know anything about a poet by this name. Maybe this will sound familiar to someone. Alexius  Horatius 22:49, 28 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Cool. That solves it.  David Dudgeon is a Belfast artist and poet.  Looking up his poetry, that marker was designed and named "Tracks."  Then, I found this stating that the poem on "Tracks" is his own. --  k a i n a w &trade; 03:50, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Descriptions of Christian Artwork
I am wondering if anyone knows where I can find, either on Wikipedia or from some other website, a collection of popular Christian artwork along with detailed descriptions of each piece of artwork. I feel like something like this should be in a portal somewhere in Wikipedia, but I was unable to find it.

Thanks, phatcatholic (talk) 23:11, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Wikimedia Commons has a large collection of Christian art, but the descriptions aren't very detailed, but they should give you titles of the work, artist, and source, so you can always google for more information. But note only free licensed artwork will be presented on Commons or Wikipedia (although Wikipedia has a limited "fair use" exception). Gwinva (talk) 00:34, 29 September 2008 (UTC)


 * There's http://www.artbible.net/ (a semi-disorganized site seemingly always under construction, but with interesting Biblical illustrations and Biblical-themed artworks down through the ages...). AnonMoos (talk) 02:54, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

WHEN A WRITING INSPIRES AN IMAGE OF ART

For the outstanding work done by Wiki on the "biblical works of arts" should be improved. I propose that we add to each picture its main biblical origin. This work should be facilitated by the one done on my site (www.artbible.net ) but even better and with more precision than Rolf Staerk here: http://www.biblical-art.com/index.htm.

And what is true for the Judeo-Christian bible should also be paintings inspired by Greek literature or otherwise. Each image should be accompanied by a sequence of the inspiring literature.