Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2021 April 15

= April 15 =

Was Brexit the UK 'seceding' from the EU
Would it be correct to say that the UK seceded from the EU? I'm not the student, I'm the prof, and I asked students to provide examples of an 'identity/secession' conflict - and a student answered that Brexit is an example of secession - using this definition, 'the definition of secession is breaking away from an organization, group, or country'. Interesting example I thought. but is s/he correct? Unsure myself... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2a02:a447:a6cd:1:41c7:496:9942:18af (talk) 09:37, 15 April 2021 (UTC) ‎
 * The term is used in the literature for this type of event, as seen in the article titles 'Secession From the European Union: Checking Out of the Proverbial "Cockroach Motel"', or simply "Secession from the European Union". It is seen specifically used for Brexit in "The Constitutional Impact of National Referendums and the UK’s Secession from the EU" and "Unions and Their Break-ups: the UK's attempted secession from the EU, and its possible outcomes". --Lambiam 10:28, 15 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi Lambiam, I'm the OP. Thanks for that. Very helpful, exactly what I needed. I was able to use your answer in my lecture - both to answer the question, and also introduce the Wikipedia Reference Desk and its usefulness to my students. Cheers. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2a02:a447:a6cd:1:dc5d:1620:b9a2:a10c (talk) 15:29, 15 April 2021 (UTC)

politician death
I dimly remember reading about a politician here and the circumstances of his death were kind of suspicious, and I think it was either in the early 90's or the early 2000's and he also had a two-part surname (like Gold-something or Something-baum), and I think he was something like a state governor and the state was either in the Midwest (maybe South) or it had "M" in it. Does anyone by chance know who I mean. It really bothers me that I can't remember Aecho6Ee (talk) 16:03, 15 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Leon Jordan died under mysterious circumstances and his murder was never solved; he was from Missouri. -- Jayron 32 16:51, 15 April 2021 (UTC)
 * There was Paul Wellstone who died in the right time frame (2002) and in an unusual way (plane crash) who was from Minnesota. -- Jayron 32 17:01, 15 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes, Wellstone it is (I think...) Thank you so much! Aecho6Ee (talk) 17:40, 15 April 2021 (UTC)

Semilong, Northampton
There is an area of Northampton called Semilong. It's an odd name. What is its derivation? Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 22:46, 15 April 2021 (UTC)


 * The name perpetuated in a street called Semilong is probably a corruption of South Millwong; for Henry Coup of Northampton in the reign of Henry IV mentions in his will 3 acres of arable land in the field of Kingsthorpe above the furlong called 'Southmylleuonge' and in 1555 John Bayley was ordered to enlarge his ditch at 'South mylle uonge' near his mill on penalty of 6s. 8d.
 * A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 4 (1937) - Parishes: Kingsthorpe, Pages 81-88
 * "Wong is a fairly common field-name element, derived originally from the. Old Norse -vangr".
 * Alansplodge (talk) 23:07, 15 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Many thanks, wong is a new one on me! DuncanHill (talk) 00:10, 16 April 2021 (UTC)


 * It occurs in Wetwang, a name borrowed by Tolkien for the "Lord of the Rings"... AnonMoos (talk) 02:52, 16 April 2021 (UTC)