Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2011 October 26

= October 26 =

Is this a genuine North Korean philosophy textbook?
I found this textbook on Archive.org which claims to be a North Korean textbook criticizing the "bourgeois" philosophies of Freud, Darwin, James and Sartre. http://www.archive.org/details/GuidingLightOfDestiny

It is also hosted at the U of Oregon Asia library http://e-asia.uoregon.edu/taxonomy/term/589

However doing an extensive google and worldcat search I haven't found any evidence that such a work was ever published in North Korea by the Foreign Languages Publishing House. Can anyone familiar with the topic, determine whether this book is genuine or fraudulent?

--Gary123 (talk) 01:52, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * It looks authentic. Do note that North Korean publisher wouldn't coordinate with ISBN or list books in int'l library system. --Soman (talk) 05:50, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * The publishing house is real; the LoC records has over 500 items published in English by them (though only a handful in recent years). A number of the other works posted by this user match up with recorded books issued by the same publishing house under the same titles, which seems to support the likelihood of it being authentic - it certainly looks plausible, in terms of production style. Shimgray | talk | 12:48, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I read a few pages of it, seems too weird to be fake. The first sections contain a bizarre mix of hardline Marxism and strange versions of Greek myths with the characters and locations all mixed up.  -- Daniel  15:22, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

Tahitians in Hawaiian
Does anybody know of any distint demographical population of Tahitians living in Hawaii today and how many? Distinct from a general term such as Pacific Islanders or Others.--KAVEBEAR (talk) 02:03, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * I do remember reading somewhere about modern day Tahitians in Hawaii, but the article on Hawaii says nothing and I am not well-versed in the subject. μηδείς (talk) 00:58, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

friends and similarities
It's understood Yu-Na Kim and Mao Asada are good friends despite being rivals. But I was wondering if Mai Asada is also good friends with Yu-Na Kim. Anyone know?24.90.204.234 (talk) 05:20, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

What sub-penny stocks are the most promising and why?
Some penny stocks out there that are currently trading at $0.0099 or lower that also DTC eligible are promising to invest into. Which ones would you suppose are, and why so? How likely is a failure-event to happen with the stocks you mention? Thanks, --70.179.174.63 (talk) 09:50, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * As with a number of your questions, this one starts with a questionable premise. Why do you believe any of them are 'promising to invest into'? As you were told list time (Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2011 August 28), one of the reasons why they are trading so low is because the market thinks a failure-event is fairly likely and investing in them is definitely not a sound strategy. As our article says, the big 'advantage' to 'investors' for penny stocks is they are easy to manipulate. In any case, no one is likely to provide advice on specific stocks on the RD, as they shouldn't and as we've told you countless times, there is no get rick quick scheme we can provide you. Nil Einne (talk) 10:24, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure who added the first fact tag but since I provided a direct link to the last time the OP asked, it was fairly silly. As for the second fact tag, I'm not going to dig thru the countless times the OP has asked about ways to make money quickly. Edit: See it was the OP . I've attempted to help you here and below and several other times because despite the fact you often seem to ignore our advice because I've believed you genuinely want help. If you are to continue to deny, as you did with that Indian braces/orthodontist question, you are the same person as the one who asked a very similar question before using an IP belonging to the same ISP and geolocating to the same area (admitedly seemingly the wrong area here but both IPs do that) which in this specific case disappeared from wikipedia not long before your IP above appeared, and who tends to often ask related questions revealing similar information, I have no choice but to conclude you don't genuinely want help. Nil Einne (talk) 05:08, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

We are neither licensed nor qualified to give financial advice. DOR (HK) (talk) 03:57, 27 October 2011 (UTC)


 * For the record, the original poster may have been prompted to research this question because of the disheartening surge of penny stock web advertisements that I have noticed on major websites over the last couple of months, promising that there's a guy who has made a fortune so you may be able to, too. To the original poster:  Penny stocks lose almost all investors all of their money; they are businesses who are likely to fail, and on top of that, penny stocks are pretty easily manipulated, as seen in the film Boiler Room.  Comet Tuttle (talk) 05:25, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

Why is Fox News so popular?
Whenever I hear about Fox News, it is always cited as being "unfair and unbalanced" with a right wing bias in its reporting. (This is, of course, partially due to the fact that I live in Norway where the media is more liberal than its US counterpart, and secondly due to the news sources I choose.) However, the article on Fox News states that Americans find it to factual in its reporting. Even 43% of democrats find its reporting to be accurate. So, my question is: Given that Fox News is frequently criticised for being right wing and biased, why is it still viewed so favourably by Americans, Democrats included? V85 (talk) 11:19, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * It might be important to distinguish its "news" programs (which seemed to be fair-and-balanced the last time I looked) vs. its "commentary" programs (which are typically right-leaning). ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 14:08, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * It's probably also important to distinguish between "Accurate" and "balanced". You can create a very strong bias simply by picking and choosing which stories to run. APL (talk) 16:08, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Some people like it because it justifies their own views. Other people watch it because it goes against their views and they are addicted to the adrenaline rush they get when they get angry with some talking head on the television. -- k a i n a w &trade; 14:19, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Because the other cable news channels (CNN and MSNBC) are boring. Hot Stop talk-contribs 14:31, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Those who watch it because it goes against there own views and they get an adrenaline rush don't seem to think it through. If they stopped watching what they thought was right wing rubbish then the channel would lose viewers and therefore money through advertising. If there were a sizable amount of people who thought this way perhaps there would be less of Murdochs views on television. I personally would not watch a channel that constantly pushed their own views so much that other views did not get a look in. Carson101 (talk) 14:33, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I can't speak for others, but ... I watch Fox news precisely because it is biased towards the conservative viewpoint. It is a counter weight to those media outlets that are biased towards the liberal viewpoint. By watching multiple news channels, representing multiple political viewpoints, I get a more complete picture of all sides of political/social issues. Which better allows me to form an informed political opinion of my own. Blueboar (talk) 14:48, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Hmmm. I've yet to encounter any mainstream media outlet is the US that is biased towards a "liberal" (i.e. left) viewpoint. From this side of the pond, the core of the US political spectrum stretches from right-of-center to "you gotta be kidding me" cave men. I'd call Noam Chomsky an inconvenient centrist over here ;-). --Stephan Schulz (talk) 15:24, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * It's a matter of perspective. In general, the political center in Europe skews more to towards the left than the center in the States. ie, positions that are considered "liberal" in the US may not be seen as "liberal" in Europe. Thus, while the majority of American networks (MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS etc.) may not seem "liberal" to a European, they are seen as being biased towards the liberal from an American viewpoint.  However... Fox is really the only news outlet that presents the American conservative viewpoint.  That means it is the only network you can go to if you want to understand that viewpoint.  Hence its popularity. Blueboar (talk) 15:56, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * For what it's worth, I am American, and I find that all of the US networks have a rightwing bias, in that none of them seriously question a political economic system skewed toward power for large corporations and wealthy individuals. Hardly any US network ever presents a truly socialist perspective, except occasionally to deride it.  The farthest voices to the left that are taken seriously would be considered right of center in any other country. Marco polo (talk) 16:11, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I endorse Marco polo's statements above. Comet Tuttle (talk) 05:21, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I wouldn't overestimate how popular TV news is generally, except for the half-hour evening news programs (and even those are not watched all that much). During the day, most people are not watching TV, and if they are they're mostly watching entertainment. During the evening, more people watch TV, but again overwhelmingly it's entertainment programs. The half-hour nightly news is most people's limit, if they even watch that. Media pundits and political professionals have Fox and CNN and MSNBC etc. on all the time, and material that these networks feature seeps into the more general discourse to some extent, but the actual viewership is quite small. Herostratus (talk) 16:21, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * It depends truly on your view of "left". In the U.S., any policy in which the government is going to take over and handle an issue is commonly seen as "left". Any policy in which the private sector is going to take over and handle an issue is commonly seen as "right". Support for government health care is left. Support for commercial health care is right. Support for increasing government regulations on power companies is left. Support for deregulating power companies is right. It is much more a big vs. small government topic - which is radically different than the view of left and right outside of the United States. Perhaps there should be a wholly different pair of words to define it. -- k a i n a w &trade; 16:21, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Economically, yes. However, the right tends to be pro-government-control on social issues.  In your parlance: support for government control of who gets to be married = right, while support for private decisions over who marries who = left.  And any of a number of other issues.  -- Jayron  32  16:57, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Two other key issues are the military and government support for certain kinds of business. The right in the U.S. tends to support expensive military interventions overseas even though they increase the share of GDP going to government.  The right tends to support tax breaks and subsidies for certain kinds of business, particularly oil companies.  The left tends to oppose such interventions and the spending they entail.  Put another way, the right tends to support a larger role for the U.S. government supporting certain kinds of corporations, in people's bedrooms, in other people's countries, in fact in any area other than intervening in the economy to protect the environment or to help the less advantaged.  The left tends to support a smaller role for the U.S. government in people's bedrooms, supporting big business, and in other people's countries, but a larger role in such areas as protecting the environment and helping the disadvantaged.  Marco polo (talk) 18:13, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Responding to your original question, I don't think that Fox News is viewed favorably by most Americans. It has a substantial group of partisans, mostly Republican.  A minority (43%) of Democrats apparently feels that its reporting is accurate.  This may mean no more than that they think its statements of facts are indeed factual.  It does not necessarily mean that 43% of Democrats think that Fox News is balanced in its selection of the facts it reports.  I think most Americans recognize that Fox has an agenda.  Many, probably most, Americans avoid it for that reason.  Marco polo (talk) 18:20, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Are you kiddin me? Glenn, Icecold Coulter, The Newt, Michelle Maglalang Malkin, Shannety, Scientology Susteren, Billy Reilly, what more do you want?! Facts? It's not Comedy Central! DS Belgium (talk) 20:10, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Rather more prosaically, a US friend of mine claims that Fox has considerably fewer, and considerably shorter, ad breaks than CNN and its other competitors. That would suggest that CNN is expected to pay its own way, but FN is subsidised by the rest of the Fox family. I know that Fox' UK cousin Sky News is heavily subsidised, the continuation of which was a factor in the (finally abortive) discussions regarding NI fully acquiring Sky.  Personally I can't help but observe that, at least for Sky News, they seem to have a news anchor (and sports anchor) hiring policy that's largely based on looks rather than journalistic quality. Put together that would suggest that humans have a low attention span and like pictures of pretty girls. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 20:38, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I didn't get all of that. I was busy looking at pictures of pretty girls... Oooh, what's that... -- Jayron  32  23:02, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Is this discussion starting to remind people of a discussion about Univision which incidentally evidentally RM once considered buying Nil Einne (talk) 13:57, 31 October 2011 (UTC)

I read a study once that argued that Fox News doesn't turn people into Republicans; rather, it attracts people who already are Republicans. The Fox News viewership is overwhelmingly Republican, or at least far more Republican than Democratic. Fox viewers watch it because they agree with it. I don't think Fox News is viewed favorably by a majority. In 2010, Sacred Heard University did a survey in which Fox News ranked highest when people were asked which TV news source they trusted the most. It also ranked highest when they asked people which TV news source they trusted the least. Clearly, Fox News is very polarizing, and people either love it or hate it. Incidentally, another poll found most moderates and the vast majority of liberals distrusted Fox News. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:27, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

You don't watch Fox News. You monitor it.Greg Bard (talk) 00:43, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Aren't you required to make air quotes with your fingers whenever you say the second word of that channel's name? -- Jayron  32  01:02, 27 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Xenophobic populism is surprisingly effective in the U.S. because the majority of socially conservative Christians believe there is a supernatural conspiracy by Satan to control and sway the minds of the powerful. Ordinary libertarian-leaning citizens similarly believe in a conspiracy by the powerful to restrict their rights (by, for example, concentrating wealth and restricting the liberty of the middle and lower classes.) Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, and the FNC staff are adept at playing to all these fears in ways that benefit the ruling elite who buy their advertising time and thus pay their bills. For more information, please see fair.org. Dualus (talk) 23:34, 27 October 2011 (UTC)


 * OMG: how many biases against Americans are in Dualus' post? Quest09 (talk) 00:30, 28 October 2011 (UTC)
 * "Why do I hate America?"? I'm an American. What do you think is biased? Dualus (talk) 02:21, 28 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Please see also Noam Chomsky. Dualus (talk) 06:50, 31 October 2011 (UTC)

As job rejection is a guaranteed constant, are there ANY other "ways in?"
The economy may be shared by everyone, but I have a set of disorders (AS/SPD) and haven't worked since July 2009 (which was a temp job), so that make me harder to employ. A critical friend says that I wouldn't win any cases in which I suspect an employer detecting a disability, as a reason to reject me. (At least the university's attorney is free.)

My therapist promises that internships would increase the chances of future employment, but with a 2.3 GPA, how hard is it to land an internship in the first place?

With an 85 on the ASVAB, I could put that on my resume, but medication alone disqualifies me from any branch of the military.

Institutionalization is potentially free, but only if my Healthconnect (a subsidiary of Medicaid) makes it so. With my case, would they cover it? (Doubtful, IMHO.)

From Sallie Mae alone, the monthlies would be $557.15 at the current level of what I owe them. My rent is $350 before utilities. My SSI is $674/month. What sum does that make? A pretty horrid outlook!

I have some rough drafts of future planned novels, but how much does it cost to apply to publish them? What is the rejection rate? Even if my books ARE published (which is a long shot at this juncture), what are the royalty rates? (1% of the book price per book, or 1% of the net-only profits? That's a guess though.)

SRS promises to make "incentives" to employers to hire me once I graduate. Therefore, they can influence them; make it easier for them to hire me, but can't force them. (That gives some hope, but I still feel shaky over this.)

Failing all that, my only safety net is to defer loans by continuing college in some form (by at least 6 credit-hours per semester.) This may take on more loans, but would this beat not leaving enough for rent, compounding interest and/or surcharges for late payments and default fees? (Seems to in the present.)

There are allegations that Sallie Mae could still track me down if I flee the country (though AFAIK, garnishments can only happen to bank accounts in the same nation as the garnishers.) This is to say nothing of the compounding that would continue. (If I left school with $90k in debt, and left the nation for 25 years without payment, excluding late and other default fees, the total owed would be over a half-million dollars. {$616,362.77, assuming an average of 8% interest.}) I would only flee with the objective that I pay them back under my own terms, therefore not being squeezed tighter than I'm comfortable with.

There needs to be another "way in" to having a steady income in order to keep me above water with the student loans. Are there possibly jobs that do not require interviews anywhere that may take me in? (Where would you suggest?) Other than that, what would those other ways be? Thank you, --70.179.174.63 (talk) 11:51, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Since you forsee problems getting a job in the future and haven't yet graduated may I suggest trying hard for internships (even the best students often face a few rejections and ultimately you don't know if you can get one until you try), including when you have to go for a interview, and concentrating on improving you improving your GPA may be two of your most important tasks? About the internship, there must be help for this at your university but at a guess as with seeking a job it may help if you concentrate on your strengths. E.g. if you are resonably comfortable speaking or writing Hindi or Mandarin, are there any internships where this may be of use? Of course I don't mean you should ignore personal development in other areas, it sounds like you are already getting help learning to best cope with your disability but from what you've said you may also want to learn how to write a decent resume and to improve your interview skills (i.e. job seeking skills) and perhaps personal confidence (it sounds like you're convinced you're never going to get a job which may not help) and people skills (as has been said before if people keep holding 'grudges' consider whether it is entirely their fault). The good news is you can probably get help with these at university for close to free.
 * Other stuff like worrying about changing your IP (and whatever caused you to need to change it), earning money off eBay, trading in penny stocks, frankly any get-rich quick schemes, and also trying to convince people of the wonders of washlets likely should take a back-burner as they don't sound particularly important if you feel you're struggling at university or in life in general.
 * There's nothing wrong with thinking rationally about your future but you probably should abandon the idea of running away. Not because of whether or not someone can come after you for your student loan, but because if you're a recent graduate without much money and without a brillant record and can't get a job in the US, there's little reason to think you have any chance of legally working in (not counting working holidays and stuff like that) or migrating to another country unless you can get or already have citizenship by birth or descent.
 * Nil Einne (talk) 15:06, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * It's not a very good source of decent money, but at a site like Elance at least you can bid on jobs using proof of your degree, some proficiency tests they administer, and whatever you say to potential buyers. I have no idea if this actually works, though. Wnt (talk) 17:41, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * In my limited experience with elance, it seems like the majority of the jobs go to contractors from countries where the pay rates are much lower, at rates about 1/10th what an American contractor would expect. I assume many of them are probably competent, but some of them are clearly scams. (Some of them bid on every single contract, even ones that are technically impossible to complete.)
 * Not to discourage anyone from trying. Some people claim to have had better luck than me. APL (talk) 19:39, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * One thing to try is Coffee and Power, Philip Rosedale's new venture. I think it hasn't quite taken off yet, but at least keep watch on it, because it may get fairly big. For all that, the real thing that will get you a job is connections. In Australia (I think everywhere) there is a saying, "it's not what you know, it's who you know", and trust me, unless you are in a boomtime, this is not at all facetious. If you can manage it, start anything freelance, for any fee, to get your name out there, and find out what you are good at - I took up part-time tutoring, and it nearly led to a teaching career (but that's another story). I have a minor disability, and I had trouble finding a way in, so I can appreciate at least a little how hard it is. Generally, at least in Australia, government jobs are more secure and less fickle when it comes to people with disabilitites, but I don't know anything about the US government as an employer. Good luck. It&#39;s been emotional (talk) 19:54, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * A company made news this year (example article) by saying it specifically wants to hire software testers who have Asperger's. Here's another article about the same startup, and that led me to the jobs4autism website, which seems to point to many resources.  But I have to strongly recommend that you use your university's career counselors on this one.  It is their job to specifically help you.  They will be able to help you a thousand times more significantly than your Internet searches and questions here on the Reference Desk.  Comet Tuttle (talk) 05:18, 27 October 2011 (UTC)


 * I agree with Comet Tuttle, but let me say this. You might want to focus on developing a skill or skills that will enable you to make money without working for an employer.  I have known some people make decent bucks (enough to live modestly on) just taking care of people's lawns and gardens, or cleaning their windows and rain gutters.  If you are handy with tools, there's always a need for general home repairs/cleanup, possibly starting in your own neighborhood (put flyers on people's doors with your phone number/email address).  Or if you have some artistic talent, that might be another path to self-sufficiency if you can find a niche market for your creativity (I have heard of people who make a living painting murals or stencils in people's homes, or by catering/cake baking).  And of course some people have found ways to make money just by running some kind of internet site or business, though from what I've seen, programs like Google AdSense don't really work well.  On the other hand, some people have come up with improbable ideas and prospered with them:  see this amusing website, which has gotten the author not one but two book deals so far.  Whatever you do, I really wouldn't advise racking up a mountain of student loan debt:  it just keeps getting bigger and bigger with interest and late charges piled on, you can't get rid of it through bankruptcy, and it could well hang over you for all the rest of your life, making life that much harder for you - if you do find a steady job, they can and will garnish your wages, taking a sizeable chunk out of every paycheck.  Nor can you run away from it:  it costs more money than you think to emigrate to another country, a lot more than just the airfare, and in any case, any country that's nice to live in is going to screen you first to ensure that you don't end up on the welfare rolls there.  So do some brainstorming with friends, counselors, and family, and think seriously about finding a line of work that you can do independently, would be my best and strongest advice.  Good luck to you.  Textorus (talk) 12:14, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

What community colleges offer the cheapest online courses per credit-hour?
At least for a Kansas resident?

Even though it's to protect myself financially, I could still gain practical skills from these online courses.

I would intend to work while in college, and the easiest way to juggle the two would be with online-only classes. Possibly driving commercial vehicles long distances would be all the more reason to anyway. Thank you, --70.179.174.63 (talk) 11:51, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * The answer is almost certainly "Kansas community colleges" because otherwise you would have to pay out-of-state tuition at some other state's college, and that is usually waaay more than in-state tuition. Private online colleges have hefty tuition fees also.  If I were you, I'd start with my nearest community college and talk with an admissions counselor about fees and coursework.  But a caution:  online courses require a great deal of motivation and self-discipline, and some people find them more challenging than regular ones for that reason.  Textorus (talk) 19:12, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Given that the community colleges of Kansas vary in their pricing, in this case, which of them would offer the lowest prices for their online courses? --98.190.13.3 (talk) 06:17, 29 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Not necessarily. Some schools will waive out of state tuition for online students Georgia Perimeter College seems to be one example of a state community college with a large online campus, with tuition that is the same for in state and out of state students.  They list it at 99$ for credit hour, or usually 300$ per class.  See http://www.gpc.edu/online/content/how-much-will-it-cost. Llamabr (talk) 03:29, 29 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Great, thanks. Hopefully there will be no ancillary fees (like "privilege" fees and the like. I'll know where to find some low-priced E-textbooks therefore not worry about the overall costs so much after all.) I'll look into this one. However, if anyone knows of any other college that'll be even cheaper for me, please do post. --98.190.13.3 (talk) 06:17, 29 October 2011 (UTC)

A culture where only the corrupt rise to power (2nd try)
I'm trying to remember a term which consists of a surname (I think it starts with a "W", not quite sure though) and is followed by "law", "rule" or "principle" or something similar. It's a theory or an observation rather about the social dynamics in certain modern organizational or societal sectors whereby a climate of corruption and lawlessness has become so prominent that in order for anyone to rise to power in this climate they must themselves be willing to take part in the corruption. I know we have an article specifically discussing it, but I'm unable to recall its name or otherwise locate it.

In my previous attempt to find this term here on this page I got the following suggestions: "iron laws" and kleptocracy.

I'm reposting now, hoping someone this time around will know the key term. __meco (talk) 13:49, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Wasta? Flamarande (talk) 15:21, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton (he of the "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" remark) has a number of quotes at the bottom of his article that suggest he would have agreed with your premise, but left no body of work or any named law or rule that I could find. Bielle (talk) 15:27, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * This wouldn't be a name for a prevailing social milieu that is corrupt but baksheesh is one name for bribe. I stumbled upon this nice collection of quotes some of which are on-topic. I'll keep thinking. I like the question. Bus stop (talk) 15:49, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Still nobody has come up with the term. I suppose the guy who defined this state was either a sociologist or an economist. __meco (talk) 17:43, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Stab in the dark, on the "Sociologist" and "W" thing, but Max Weber spent a lot of his thought thinking about the legitimacy of the state with regard to how it behaves. Maybe a lead? -- Jayron  32  17:51, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * I think the individual is a contemporary figure. Also, I don't want to emphasize too strongly the name starting with 'w'. It could be another letter. __meco (talk) 19:55, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * We have Category:Political corruption in the United States and Category:Political corruption. Also William M. Tweed, Tammany Hall, and the article Political corruption. Bus stop (talk) 01:00, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

There is the word "kakistocracy", meaning government by the worst.--Rallette (talk) 05:46, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * And as to Acton's famous principle, Frank Herbert once refined it a bit: it's not so much that power corrupts, it's that power attracts the corruptible. But I don't know that anyone's ever called this "Herbert's Law" or anything like that.--Rallette (talk) 05:59, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * No, it's not "Herbert's Law" and it's not "kakistocracy". The term was used by a guest on the "Keiser Report" several months ago. That's where I learned it the first time before forgetting the name of it. __meco (talk) 07:49, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

I know Immanuel Wallerstein wrote a lot about corruption and modern politics, but I don't know that there was ever a 'law' named after him. I've never heard of that particular 'law' - closest I can think of is the Peter Principle - and it's the kind of thing I ought to be aware of if it exists. but… -- Ludwigs 2  17:04, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

Aithihyamala
Aithihyamala (ഐതിഹ്യമാല) is a book of mythology or folklore of Kerala written in Malayalam by Kottarathil Sankunni. In that book there is a chapter (16. Kaaladiyil Bhattathiri) in which sooryakaladi Bhattathiri is cursed (ശപിച്ചു) by a yakshi and a gandharva. But both said if he would go to thiruvaloor temple he won't die. My question is: Even though he went to the temple, his curse was not removed and he died; why? Anybody who read the book, please answer. --nijil (talk) 16:41, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Please see ഐതിഹ്യമാല/കാലടിയിൽ ഭട്ടതിരി source text. Dualus (talk) 00:28, 28 October 2011 (UTC)

Hiram Clarke Civic Club
How do I check if the Hiram Clarke Civic Club has a geographic boundary? I cannot find a website or an e-mail. The group is registered as the "Hiram Clarke Civic Club, Inc." in the state of Texas Thanks, WhisperToMe (talk) 18:45, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * What do you mean a "Geographic boundary"? Do you mean if they own land?  If they do, a local Recorder of deeds will have them on record.  You should be able to find (with some work) if they own land and what plots of land they own; the register of deeds or similar office should have public Plats which show who owns what land.  -- Jayron  32  18:56, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Not so much that it owns the land, but it has a service area.
 * An American homeowner's association has a geographic boundary of houses that it provides services to
 * WhisperToMe (talk) 20:53, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * You hadn't mentioned what kind of organization it was. If it is an HOA, then yes, it will have a defined service area.  Do you have a phone number for the organization?  You could contact them. -- Jayron  32  20:58, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I'll check Google Books. I hoped that such a thing would appear in print... WhisperToMe (talk) 01:42, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * http://www.houstontx.gov/cao/civicclubs.pdf gives the phone number (713) 729-3631 WhisperToMe (talk) 01:44, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * I tried calling the number, but I didn't get a response. It's okay as http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2003_3668949 tells me what the boundaries are.
 * Jayron, thank you for your help!
 * WhisperToMe (talk) 20:27, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

Actions against collaborators after WW2 in Western Europe
Are there any articles on that topic in enwiki, or any other language? All I find is nl:Repressie (België) about Flanders. Nothing on Wallonia, where more people received the death penalty. No article on the Netherlands.. DS Belgium (talk) 19:48, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * For France, we have an article on the "Épuration légale". The French Wikipedia has a bunch of articles about this. Adam Bishop (talk) 19:57, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * There is an omnibus article located at Collaboration with the Axis Powers during World War II which may lead you to more articles and/or references on any topics you are looking for. -- Jayron  32  20:01, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Legal purge in Norway after World War II __meco (talk) 20:06, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Where, indeed, Vidkun Quisling was executed. Related to Belgium, we have Victor Matthys and José Streel, both executed. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 20:11, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Good links, thanks, but I might have given the wrong impression talking about death sentences, I was mainly thinking about the "mob rule" so to speak, the extra-judicial actions. The dutch article about Flanders mentions it, people put in cages in the Antwerp zoo, women with their heads shaven, rape, etc. But it could well be that other countries haven't documented these as much, in Belgium it remained a hot topic because Flemish collaboration was in part related to the language problems. But thanks for your troubles everyone.  DS Belgium (talk) 21:03, 26 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Pursuit of Nazi collaborators talks about it, country by country. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:07, 27 October 2011 (UTC)