Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2013 March 18

= March 18 =

"Freedom in Prison" by Roberto Assagioli
According to, just before his death Roberto Assagioli worked on an article entitled "Freedom in Prison". Does anyone know where I could find this article? --noosph e re 02:09, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * The original name is Libertà in prigione which returns many google hits in Italian. μηδείς (talk) 02:28, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Catholic celibacy
when and what was the reason for celibacy in the Catholic church — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.255.105.117 (talk) 03:45, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church. μηδείς (talk) 04:47, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Anthropomorphism versus therianthropomorphism
Are both concepts involved in the Furry fandom, or just the former? What's psychological reason for appealing to an individual? Is that even an apt question? Plasmic Physics (talk) 12:40, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * What is therianthropomorphism? --PlanetEditor (talk) 14:36, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * We have an article on therianthropy, believe it or not. Looie496 (talk) 16:56, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * In the same way that we have an article on Furry fandom. OsmanRF34 (talk) 19:45, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * The question is not apt for this RD. You should have posted in the entertaining RD. OsmanRF34 (talk) 19:45, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Why? Furry fandom is a sociological subject.  RNealK (talk) 22:09, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * The boundaries of the fandom are not precisely defined - the distiction the OP mentions is related to the "fan"/"lifestyler" (alt.fan.albedo/alt.horror.werewolves) distinction, but not identical with it. Therianthropy wouldn't be regarded as being outside the fandom, but some interest in anthropomorphic animals would probably be considered essential.  Someone who was solely into werewolves (therianthropy), or someone who was solely into real, non-anthropomorphic cats (like the guy in the hotel advert currently being discussed on RD/E) would probably not regard themselves as part of the "furry fandom" in its narrow sense.  See Furry fandom. Tevildo (talk) 00:55, 19 March 2013 (UTC)


 * This is a really weird subject I've had some experience with. Basically, "furries" describes a wide swath of people who enjoy the subject of "funny animals," or anthropomorphs. That can vary from someone who collects comics, to artists & writers, to folks who enjoy wearing mascot suits ("fursuits"), and those who do role-playing (online or offline).
 * Therianthropes, on the other hand, are a group of folks who believe they were born into the wrong body. It's akin to transgenderism, only therians believe their souls were meant for an animal body, not human. Some only go that far with it, "feeling the animal" as part of their personality; others feel they can mentally "shift" into thinking like the animal. They don't believe they can physically shapeshift, and treat it more like a spiritual/religious belief. Also most don't like to be called furries. There's some overlap (ie. a few furries are therians), but that's not the general case. &mdash;  The Hand That Feeds You :Bite 22:08, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

negative net worth
what percent of the united states population has a net worth of exactly $0 or less? 91.120.48.242 (talk) 14:02, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Well, the net worth of Daniel James Shellabarger is $0. US population is 315,510,000. So calculate the percentage. --PlanetEditor (talk) 14:40, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * PlanetEditor - not sure how that answers the OP's question. Two points:
 * (a) Just because someone does not use money does not mean they have a net worth of $0 - if they have belongings (clothes, bedroll, phone, laptop etc.) these will have some value, so their net worth is probably a small but positive number.
 * (b) The question says "$0 or less" - you seem to be ignoring the "or less" part. Gandalf61 (talk) 15:15, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * This article says that 24.8% of US households had negative net worth in 2009. This article says that the 2011 figure was "about one in five". Googling "negative net worth usa" will give you many more sources of statistics. Gandalf61 (talk) 15:39, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Weren't you asking and answering this very question earlier this month? You seem to have said that you found the answer that you were looking for (and that it's "25%").  If that's not what you're looking for here, can you please clarify what the difference is between this question and your previous one? &mdash; Lomn 15:41, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I was quite confident in my beleif but met opposition here. I became unsure.  I asked again now because I wanted a fresh answer without any suggestion from me.  I have nothing to add. 15:44, 18 March 2013 (UTC)  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.221.144.64 (talk)
 * I don't see that you met opposition to the idea the figure was about something in the range 15-30%. The opposition was to your idea that failing to take in to account the negative net worth would significantly skew whatever graph you were referring to, as well as general opposition to answering your question considering your manner of asking and responding. Nil Einne (talk) 12:08, 19 March 2013 (UTC)

It would be editorializing so I won't really go on about it, but for context: I just saw this "shocking" [reddit story http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1aib5k/6_walmart_heirs_worth_same_as_bottom_41_of_us/] that says "6 Walmart Heirs Worth Same as Bottom 41% of US". By that account I have bothered not to cash a "winning scratch-off ticket worth same as bottom 24.9% of Americans". Since I don't need to go through all that trouble for 50 cents in change. 91.120.48.242 (talk) 16:16, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Dick Schaap in the Dutch press
Our archives holds a copy of a 1996 article from a Dutch newspaper, De Opmaat, about a Dutch-Jewish immigrant to Israel and his wartime and postwar exploits. That link is a .pdf file of the article; at the bottom of page 5 is a photo of "journalist Dick Schaap." Is there a contemporary Dutch journalist by that name? How might I determine whether this is this Dick Schaap? -- Deborahjay (talk) 14:29, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * It's not this Dick Schaap, it's the Dick Schaap whose bibliography is here. --jpgordon:==( o ) 14:37, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I think you're looking for this Dick Schaap (see the section on Opmaat & Checkpoint at the bottom of that page, and compare the picture on this page with the one in your article). - Cucumber Mike (talk) 14:39, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes, indeed! The above .pdf file has his article on Louis van Coevorden, though evidently our records got the date wrong. Since I neither read nor write Dutch, I'll settle at this point for adding the identifying info you've provided to the Talk:Dick Schaap page here on the English-language WP for dab's sake. Thanks! -- Deborahjay (talk) 17:54, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Looking for a poem
I read a poem about 35 years ago that I have been unable to find again. A portion of it goes like this: "If I should ever lose the love of men and choose to walk again my own fey, lonely way do not grieve love but say that once on a summer day you kissed me in a sunlit meadow and in that sunlit meadow closed my eyes." That's close to how it went. For some reason the name Hervoyel or Hervogel wants to come to mind. Does anyone recognize this? 18:05, 18 March 2013 (UTC)Jessebost7711 (talk)


 * It appears in the fantasy novel The Silver Sun, by Nancy Springer . Hervoyel appears to be one of the characters in the fantasy-world of the novel (referred to as Hal), so I assume Springer wrote it herself. The novel was originally published in 1977 under the title The Book of Suns. The title was changed in 1980. Paul B (talk) 18:31, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Interesting how the OP knows the poem by heart from 35 years ago, but not how to use google. μηδείς (talk) 00:42, 19 March 2013 (UTC)
 * S/he did get it slightly wrong. In fact it doesn't come up in very simple google searches. Paul B (talk) 11:37, 19 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I too found that oddly intriguing 68.36.148.100 (talk) 01:20, 19 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Let's not discourage folk from asking questions here please. The question was asked and the answer was found, together with some interesting context. Mission accomplished. Alansplodge (talk) 13:55, 19 March 2013 (UTC)

Pope Francis' name choice
Hello.

I am reading and hearing conflicting accounts of the origin of Pope Francis' name choice. I have heard it honors Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier--the founder of the Jesuits. Which is it? I looked in the Wikipedia article for a citation or reference but found none.

Any help you could provide would be appreciated. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.255.41.129 (talk) 18:33, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * See Reference_desk/Humanities on this page. Paul B (talk) 18:37, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * This question was asked and answered here a couple of days ago. The name was a direct reference to Francis Assisi, not Francis Xavier.  This article explains it well.  -- Jayron  32  18:38, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Given Francis is a Jesuit, it would be interesting to see what sort of notable comment there is on Francis Xavier. (M y own understanding is that Francis of Assisi is the official and the Pope's own inspiration.  I remember reading as recently as JPII's papacy that there would never be a Jesuit pope.  μηδείς (talk) 01:27, 19 March 2013 (UTC)


 * But there now has been, rendering worthless any opinions and prognostications to the contrary. There's plenty of commentary to the effect that he "must have had" Xavier in mind, being a Jesuit; but the fact remains that he attributed his name to Assisi and only Assisi.  --   Jack of Oz   [Talk]  01:48, 19 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I am quite aware of that, I have read the primary and secondary sources that say his name is attributed to Assisi, rather than Xavier. I listened to his annuntio in Latin and his statements in Latin and Italian, and read the Vatican statements.  It is still of interest to read what others have said about the possibility he had the Jesuit in mind.  Mine is not a claim, but an inquiry. μηδείς (talk) 01:54, 19 March 2013 (UTC)

Historical novels by nationality
Is there a website that shows the name of historical fiction novel writers by nationality and their well known work? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.31.18.237 (talk) 18:55, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Not exactly what you are looking for, but Historical fiction and Historical novel both have lists of authors. The external links section at the bottoms of these articles would be a good place to start your search.--Wikimedes (talk) 01:26, 19 March 2013 (UTC)

== Trying to find The Name of an Older French Company, Who specialise in Verification of major artworks involving great Masters etc , but also deal in precious metals etc as a notable older french company ==

RE : I have been trying to remember the exact name of this French Company ,who are also Makers of Quite well regarded items of Jewelry etc ,I don`t know if their the only Company in France who consider scientific verification and analysis of Artworks / but would be extensively notable for their thoroughness & records & research carried out, Perhaps the only verification Authority or within those standards. They have a dual or hyphenated Name as I recall, a massive Security Wall at Their front Gate , and a Nice courtyard behind the gate , before you even see the front door. — Preceding unsigned comment added by J N G HETHERINGTON (talk • contribs) 19:07, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Old Liberian stamps
First off — I'm not asking for in-depth research; it's purely a matter of searching different editions of the Scott catalogue.

I need help with some Liberian stamps whose Scott numbers may have been changed: I'm processing a stamp collection that was donated to my employer, and I've encountered some stamps in glassine envelopes that are labelled as being in the group of Scott numbers from #237 to #247; one stamp also has the same number pencilled on its back as on its envelope. I'm a longtime stamp collector, so I'm familiar with Scott; my own copy of the 2003 Scott catalogues shows no numbers between Liberia Scott #236 and #248 and no design A105, and the same situation is true of the 1993 catalogues. Can someone check an older catalogue, perhaps from several decades ago, and see if there were stamps with these numbers and design number? The stamps in question are currently numbered C3A-C3F (triangles with a "Waco plane"; they're issued in the same time period as #236 and #248), so I'm wondering if those six and four others were originally misclassified as regular postage, only to be moved later. I don't know when the collection was assembled or when the envelopes were labelled; most of the other envelopes have the correct Scott numbers for the stamps that they contain. Nyttend (talk) 23:51, 18 March 2013 (UTC)