Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2015 May 14

= May 14 =

How can I prevent birds from flying into large picture windows?
I have noticed that, up on the second floor, birds frequently fly right into the glass of some big picture windows. They must think that the clear glass is just "open air", so they fly right into it. They cannot see the clear glass. When they crash into the window, they make a loud thud. Sometimes, they get killed. Other times, they are just stunned and eventually fly away. My question is: is there any way to prevent this? Of course, when I keep the blinds down or the curtains drawn, the birds see those items through the clear glass. And, thus, they do not fly into the window. However, it's not always practical (or desirable) to constantly keep the blinds down and the curtains drawn. I am looking for a realistic solution, also. For example, I can probably get some duct tape and tape it in the shape of a big "X" across the window. This will probably be enough to alert the birds that the window is not, in fact, open airspace. But, realistically, I am not going to do that. Any thoughts? Thanks. ocated in a riverside park in Toronto.Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 00:52, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * I found an obscure website that may help: . Try that.  -- Jayron 32 01:02, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * I've seen cut-out silhouettes of raptors stuck onto such windows to deter birds from approaching. DuncanHill (talk) 01:34, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Indeed, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sell such stickers Bird silhouette window stickers. DuncanHill (talk) 01:36, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Here's an example of silhouettes in use at a station on the Toronto subway where it comes above ground to cross a river and the adjacent park. --174.88.135.200 (talk) 09:59, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * That's odd. Wouldn't those silhouettes attract rather than repel other birds?    Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 19:38, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * They were put up at the behest of bird-lovers soon after the station opened. If they had the wrong effect, I think they would have complained and had them removed. --174.88.135.200 (talk) 02:34, 15 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Yes, of course. I understand that.  I am asking why would those silhouettes repel rather than attract flying birds?  My thinking goes: if I am a bird flying around and I see another group of birds flying near that window, I will (A) want to join that group of birds; and (B) assume that that is a safe area for me to fly, since other birds are also flying around in that area.  No?     Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 04:22, 16 May 2015 (UTC)
 * If you were a tasty bird, you wouldn't want to hang out with killer birds. Sometimes even killer birds aren't the brightest, though.
 * When the silhouettes aren't of raptors, they still aren't of flying birds. They look dead stuck. Good warning. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:46, 17 May 2015 (UTC)
 * The silhouettes linked above (Here's an example of silhouettes in use) look like flying birds to me.  Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 04:01, 18 May 2015 (UTC)
 * They don't quite look dead, so I took that back. But flying birds flap. And, unless they're hummingbirds, flies like to fly 'cause they don't like to stay. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:14, 19 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Hell of a song. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:17, 19 May 2015 (UTC)
 * The Audubon Society of Portland sell a similar product, and have a page of information about this problem Birds and Windows. DuncanHill (talk) 01:39, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * American Bird Conservancy advice You can save birds from flying into windows!
 * I do hope this helps, DuncanHill (talk) 01:42, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * I mentioned this as a problem last month, as half a dozen birds a year kill themselves on a window in my parents' back yard. Get an applique such as one pictured here. μηδείς (talk) 01:22, 15 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Bird-skyscraper collisions lists a number of suggestions, but notes "some are unproven". Clarityfiend (talk) 03:37, 14 May 2015 (UTC)

Thanks, all. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 16:38, 18 May 2015 (UTC)

Did the French schools in Kabul close?
I want to the see if the Centre d'Enseignement Français en Afghanistan (Lycees Estlaqal and Malalai) closed. They no longer appear on AEFE's lists of schools and the websites haven't been updated, but I'm unable to confirm if they have closed or not. WhisperToMe (talk) 07:32, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * You might ask the French Embassy? There is an email on their website here. 184.147.117.34 (talk) 21:14, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks! I'll check the website to see if it still mentions the French schools. WhisperToMe (talk) 18:23, 15 May 2015 (UTC)
 * This says: "Ses liens avec les lycées Malalaï et Esteqlal, dans l’enceinte duquel est situé l’IFA, sont jalonnés autour de l’enseignement du français de plusieurs temps forts tout au long de l’année, lors d’évènements citoyens tels que la journée de la citoyenneté, la journée internationale des droits de l’enfant et des salons d’orientation scolaire" WhisperToMe (talk) 18:24, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Mirabeau and the end of absolutism
Eric Hobsbawm in The Age Of Revolution: 1789-1848, p. 60, defines the end of absolutism in France by quoting a speech of Mirabeau: "Absolutism was at an end as Mirabeau, a brilliant and disreputable ex-noble, told the King: 'Sire, you are a stranger in this assembly, you have not the right to speak here.' (annotation #5)". Annotation #5 is Albert Goodwin, The French Revolution (1959 ed.), p. 70, which I do not have. Did Mirabeau really say that and what was the wording in French? --Stuhlsasse (talk) 19:44, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * In the French Wikipedia article on Mirabeau there's a very similar quote (without the stranger part). He was not speaking to the king but to the master of ceremonies who was speaking for the king. "Oui, Monsieur, nous avons entendu les intentions qu’on a suggérées au Roy ; et vous qui ne sauriez être son organe auprès des États-Généraux, vous qui n’avez ici ni place ni voix, ni droit de parler, vous n’êtes pas fait pour nous rappeler son discours." It's sourced to the Moniteur newspaper, 25 June 1789 (that's the date of the newspaper, which was a few days after the speech). 184.147.117.34 (talk) 21:11, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Carlyle (chapter 1.5.II) agrees with the text, and the citation (Moniteur (Hist. Parl. ii. 22)). Mirabeau was addressing Henri Evrard, marquis de Dreux-Brézé. Tevildo (talk) 21:45, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Oh my goodness, that's it! Thank you both. --Stuhlsasse (talk) 00:03, 15 May 2015 (UTC)
 * One minor point - I'm not sure about the date in the French citation. The Oath of the Tennis Court (at which the incident occurred) was on 20 June 1789, but Moniteur wasn't published (under that title) until 24 November.  Possibly the primary source is a different newspaper, or a separate parliamentary record (cf Hansard - I'm not sure what the equivalent would be for the National Assembly).  Carlyle doesn't give a publication date. Tevildo (talk) 21:09, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Is a specific story or author in the public domain?
How do I find out if a specific author-- or specific story-- is in the public domain? I would like to upload some onto Duolingo, a site where people can learn languages for free, and practice translating uploaded articles and works (which don't violate copyright). For example, short story "The Coming of the Ice" was published in 1923 (I think) in Amazing Stories.

A different author, Edgar Allan Poe, died maybe 66 years ago. I don't know if his works are in the public domain. Maybe some are, and some are not. What rules apply? Layman's terms would be appreciated.

I have found general guidelines (i.e., 70 years after author's death for printed works; some might be released sooner at author's discretion, or if copyright is not renewed; a lot depends on the time period; under certain conditions copyright may be extended). But I am not a lawyer. Such rules offer little help in specific cases.

Where can I find a search that says that this specific story, poem, or author's works, are in the public domain/ creative commons? Yes, no, status unclear, circumstances that may affect it? I have found a website which has a number of "pulp fiction" (I especially like SF/Fantasy) stories '''which they believe are in the public domain. To the best of their knowledge'''-- but they caution readers to do outside homework to verify this.

How do I do that homework? I want to quickly and easily ascertain whether (X story/poem/author) may be safely copied and shared in person, or on the Internet, without violating copyright. I appreciate your assistance. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.106.44.217 (talk) 21:03, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849, which was 166 years ago. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  21:58, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * I don't know if there is such a site; but I doubt it. If it were possible to do this "quickly and easily", then the writers of that website would probably have done it (unless they are just covering their backs, which is possible). --ColinFine (talk) 23:11, 14 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Project Gutenberg, a project which collects public domain works, has a "Copyright How-To" for the rules they use, as well as a Copyright FAQ. Their process is based off of US copyright law, though. If you're in another jurisdiction the copyright laws will be different. (Many locations have harmonized their copyright laws, but most public domain works typically fall under the pre-harmonization rules.) There are versions of Project Gutenberg localized to other jurisdictions, to accommodate the varying laws of different countries, so if US law doesn't apply for your purposes, you can possibly look for your country's version of Project Gutenberg for guidance. -- 160.129.138.186 (talk) 00:11, 15 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Agree you will need to find out which country the website is in, and follow the public domain rules for that particular country. For example, see Public domain in the United States. Public Domain Calculator also may provide useful links. 184.147.117.34 (talk) 01:19, 15 May 2015 (UTC)


 * User:Moonriddengirl works on copyright issues in Wikipedia, and might be able to apply her expertise to copyright issues in Duolingo.
 * —Wavelength (talk) 02:52, 15 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Pinged. :) First, I have to be very clear that we cannot give you legal advice and that if you are in doubt you should consult an attorney licensed in your area. Ultimately, liability for copyright infringement rests in the uploader; no matter what anyone else tells you, you should keep that in mind. Beyond that, there is, alas, nowhere that you can go to find out "this specific story, poem, or author's works, are in the public domain/ creative commons? Yes, no, status unclear, circumstances that may affect it?" - not even in one country, much less in all. There are however some resources that might help, including right here on Wikipedia. Public domain and Non-U.S. copyrights can both be helpful, but keep in mind the advice at Researching with Wikipedia. A Wikipedia article is only as strong as the sources it cites, and even if those sources are accurate they may be out of date. You should use it to start your work. In terms of the United States only, I'm a huge fan of this chart by Peter B. Hirtle updated annually and hosted by Cornell University. As to Dourongo's status, their Terms of Use position them like an ordinary United States online service provider - they respond to DMCA takedowns but may not have more assertive mechanisms for policing copyright issues, the way that we do. It does seem they have at least had some issues. --Moonriddengirl (talk) 10:48, 15 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Another option for learning languages is Wikiproject Cross-language Editing and Learning Exchange.
 * —Wavelength (talk) 18:35, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Citations on Didius Julianus
Can someone help me decipher the references in Didius Julianus. In particular to what does, "Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 11.5" refer. I am assuming it's Cassius Dio's History of Rome. I found fragment lxxiv of book 1 at project guttenberg,. But then I don't know to what 11.5 refers, and this fragment clearly has nothing to do with the referenced text in the article. So I'm guessing this citation is referring to some other part of the work, but I'm not able to figure out which. Thanks in a advance for the help. --best, kevin [kzollman][talk] 22:33, 14 May 2015 (UTC)
 * This refers to Cassius Dio, book lxxiv (or 74), chapter 11, sentence 5, English translation. --Stuhlsasse (talk) 00:19, 15 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Perfect! Thank you, Stuhlsasse.  --best, kevin [kzollman][talk] 01:07, 15 May 2015 (UTC)