Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2021 December 21

= December 21 =

"Video" as plural
Could anyone please tell me if "video" is acceptable as a plural noun? This source says it is, and the answers here seem to be more ambiguous, but it feels awkward to me. (User:Beeblebrox referred me here after I first asked this on the help desk.)--Thylacine24 (talk) 03:25, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I do not understand the significance of the phrase "more general, commonly used, contexts" in that word hippo page. Major dictionaries do not list "video" as a plural noun, but only "videos". Almost all occurrences of "these video are" served up by Google Book Search were in articles or books by authors with non-English names, such as Vasudha Bhatnagar, Reinhard Koch, Stine Krøijer, Huifang Sun, ... One plural use by presumably native English-speaking authors is here, but everywhere else in the book "videos" is used, so this could be a slip of the pen. In summary, "video" is generally not considered an acceptable plural form of the noun, but is found used as such, although this is much less common. My advice is to use "videos" as the commonly accepted plural form. --Lambiam 06:52, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks. User:Tenryuu suggested that I ask this on the language reference desk, so sorry not to have done it there.--Thylacine24 (talk) 11:56, 21 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Examples that come to mind are the rental chains called Blockbuster Video and Hollywood Video. --←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 14:01, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * That's not a plural, it's a singular mass noun. Compare corporate names like "Bay Bloor Audio" or "Guardian Water and Power". --184.144.97.125 (talk) 14:35, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Oh man I bought my first iPod at Bay Bloor Audio. And across the street is, of course, Bay Street Video. Adam Bishop (talk) 18:28, 23 December 2021 (UTC)
 * It fits with the usage described in the OP's original link. --←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:11, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * If you mean the stackexchange link, well of course it fits. It's a mass noun in that one too. --184.144.97.125 (talk) 23:35, 21 December 2021 (UTC)

Have there ever been Broadway plays that did not have any previews and opened immediately?
I admittedly know little about Broadway and theater in general, but I've read that theatrical shows typically have preview performances before the official opening (in fact, it's not that uncommon for shows, particularly poorly received ones, to close before their official opening). But what about Broadway shows that didn't have previews and instead went straight to the official opening? Has that ever happened? And if yes, how and why did it happen?  Naruto love hinata 5 (talk · contributions) 04:36, 21 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Didn't find anything relating to Broadway, but for the British equivalent, the West End, this says that having a preview was "once considered a luxury of new work is now a regular occurrence", while this says it "has been common practice for many years".
 * This tends to suggest that there were few if any previews in the past, although whether that means a decade or a century ago, I can't tell.
 * The second source also says that operas never have a preview. Alansplodge (talk) 22:22, 21 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Isn't preview a new monicker for what used to be called dress rehearsal and then try-out – with the difference that now an admission fee is charged? --Lambiam 23:36, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I expect they still have those before they let an audience in. Alansplodge (talk) 00:02, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * This reminds me of how American film studios often make socalled previews with consecutive screenings in thousands of theaters Thursday evening but still count the box office as Friday and the opening weekend so they get a bigger number to boast. PrimeHunter (talk) 08:04, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

Middleton, cartoonist, 1930s
I have a clipping from The Nottingham Journal of 21 January 1939 of a cartoon by "Middleton", of David Lloyd George and Clement Attlee shouting "Chestnuts!" at Neville Chamberlain and Benito Mussolini, who are embracing under the spreading chestnut tree. You can see the cartoon here. I would like to know more about the cartoonist. Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 14:38, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Have a look at this quite astonishing back story. Nanonic (talk) 15:36, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Think we are looking for an Ernest, not Owen Charles. fiveby(zero) 15:45, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * The signature on the British cartoon on page 96 of the book linked by is certainly the same as that on mine, and matches that on page 94 as well. DuncanHill (talk) 15:53, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * My Middleton seems to have provided political cartoons to several British local papers in the 30s and 40s, and there were exhibitions of his work in Nottingham, Birmingham, etc. There seems to be another Middleton (George) who was based in Sheffield, and did cartoons of the local council, etc. I am not convinced that my Middleton is Owen. DuncanHill (talk) 16:10, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Why not? Did you read the part in Nanonic's book where Owen M. has a cartoon published in the (UK) Birmingham Gazette, 1945? Besides which there's the page from the People's Voice saying "Owen's lifelong ambition is to be a political cartoonist". Which ends with "one of his lifelong ambitions, that of becoming a political cartoonist, was partially realized when he began drawing for an English newspaper syndicate.". If not him, then what, did some other cartoonist called Middleton think "that's a good way to sign my name" and steal his signature? Card Zero  (talk) 16:41, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I'm not convinced by the identification of the Birmingham cartoon in the book, which does not mention a long career as a British political cartoonist, or exhibitions in Britain. The other British cartoons I've seen by Middleton suggest a close familiarity with British current affairs, again not suggested by the book. DuncanHill (talk) 17:06, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Fair points, but he was drawing cartoons syndicated across English papers (see edit). Probably because the American rags wouldn't let him. Card Zero  (talk) 17:10, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I wish people wouldn't make major changes to their posts after they have been replied to. It would be great if we could read the whole of the People's Voice article, that might help. Do we know if it's available online? DuncanHill (talk) 17:16, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Seems not (and sorry for the edit). Some 11 libraries have it on microfilm, but don't seem to have digitised it (I check New York public library and Harvard, because they have paper copies, but no). I wonder about these exhibitions, do the venues still exist and have any records, however slim, which might bear clues? Card Zero  (talk) 17:59, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * They seem to have been in the newspaper offices - certainly the Birmingham (December 1936) and Nottingham (March 1937) exhibitions. Neither the Birmingham Gazette nor the Nottingham Journal are still around, alas. DuncanHill (talk) 18:05, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * That is kind of a quick rise to fame given that he was only released from Sing Sing in '35. But the signatures! It's all very strange. Card Zero  (talk) 18:22, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I found a contact form for Ken Quattro, who wrote the book, and have emailed him asking if he can shed any more light on this. DuncanHill (talk) 18:47, 21 December 2021 (UTC)

Hi! This is Ken Quattro, author of the book, Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books, cited above. I can verify that the "Middleton" cartoons referenced in my book, were indeed drawn by Owen C. Middleton, the Black American artist. Although the cartoon mentioned appeared in the British "Birmingham Gazette," it was reprinted in the "New York Times" soon after. Owen Middleton was a well-known political cartoonist by the time of this cartoon and his work appeared in newspapers all over. The appearance in a British newspaper was likely due to it being sold to that paper via a syndicate he was working for. It is also likely that other cartoons by Owen Middleton also appeared in British newspapers. All the information in my book has been verified by several primary sources and I stand behind everything I wrote 100%. Thanks! User:TheKQuattro — Preceding undated comment added 18:06, 27 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Something from the British Newspaper Archive, Birmingham Daily Gazette Thursday 11 July 1940 (could probably see more if I signed up): "The many admirers of the work of our cartoonist Middleton will learn with regret tha his son has been posted missing by the R.A.F. Derek Middleton was a flying officer who a fev years ago passed out of Cranwell top of his class." (OCR typos left in.) Oh, but this is a George Middleton. From 18 Dec 1937: "... is the son of Mr. George Middleton, the Birmingham Casette cartoonist. Flight-Cadet Middleton was educated at Rosseli School, Fleetwood. The family, formerly of Chesterfield, now live at ..." Card Zero  (talk) 18:49, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks, that would seem to make the British Middleton not be the American Middleton, but suggests the Birmingham and the Sheffield Middletons are the same as each other. DuncanHill (talk) 19:02, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * "... at Sheffield." Yes. Therefore, signature plagiarism! What a world. Card Zero  (talk) 19:05, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * School Roll of Honour mentioning John Derek Middleton, shot down and killed in 1940, "His father, described as a ‘well known newspaper caricaturist’ who began his career working for the Derbyshire Times, had previously been an accountant in Chesterfield and was a member of Chesterfield Golf Club. DuncanHill (talk) 19:07, 21 December 2021 (UTC)

From that, I think 1) Mr Quattro has mis-identified the artist of the Birmingham cartoon he includes in his book, and 2) it does make me wonder about the signature in the People's Voice excerpt on his page 94 - was that the British Middleton too? There's an "O. Middleton" signature in the "Two Months in the Bush" piece which is rather different. DuncanHill (talk) 19:11, 21 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I also found in 1930 reproductions of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner Menu Card from 1930 by "Mr George Middleton, the brilliant Journal cartoonist. This is the first occaision upon which a provincial cartoonist has been honoured with the distinction of designing the menu". DuncanHill (talk) 19:51, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * The signature "MLT" in the Chestnuts cartoon is so similar to several in the book Invisble Men that are indisputably Owen Middleton's, including in the People's Voice article reproduced in the book, that an extraordinary explanation is required if these drawings are not by the same artits. --Lambiam 23:19, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * The British Middleton was active from the 1920s onwards, and there is at least one radio appearance by him in 1926. I am not in the least convinced by the attribution of the Birmingham/NYT cartoon to the American. DuncanHill (talk) 15:17, 22 December 2021 (UTC)


 * A bit of original research "George Arthur Middleton" born 8 Apr 1888 in Pontefract, Yorkshire and died 23 October 1970 Kingston upon Thames, Surrey described in the 1939 Register living in Sheffield as "Political Cartoonist To Group Of Daily Newspapers". MilborneOne (talk) 16:09, 22 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Duncan, an earlier contributor agrees with you:

Don't know how extraordinary this is, but it is highly significant that the Birmingham cartoon (p. 96, 1945) appeared while George Middleton was cartoonist in residence. Looking at this in more detail, the one by Owen Middleton whose authorship is not disputed (New York election 1948, p. 92) shows:
 * 'L' without the bottom bar and the signature underlined (or it could be "L" with an exaggerated bar but I don't think so because the bar commences to the left of the downstroke of the "L").
 * Asterisk beneath the signature.

The Nottingham signature (1939) has a bar which is short and begins slightly to the left of the downstroke of the "L". There is also an underline which runs the entire length of the signature and the abbreviation " sig " below.

The Birmingham cartoon (New York Times) has no bar, no underline and no asterisk. Given that in both the Nottingham and Birmingham cartoons the second downstroke of the "M" is longer than the first, a feature not present in the New York election signature, I would say that the case is proven that the drawings featuring British politics were by George and the one featuring American politics was by Owen. 2.26.47.142 (talk) 12:13, 22 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I am presently working on a cartoon history of the war and I found your information on George Middleton very helpful. He joined the Birmingham Gazette after the Sheffield paperhe was working for ceased publication in 1938. Please contact me as I am an expert in this field via the online political cartoon gallery.
 * Tim Benson 87.117.64.77 (talk) 13:01, 12 October 2022 (UTC)

The Birmingham Gazette merged into The Birmingham Post, which is extant. Archives may be in the Library of Birmingham. Andy Mabbett ( Pigsonthewing ); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 21:55, 23 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Thanks Andy and thanks to the IPs too. DuncanHill (talk) 00:37, 24 December 2021 (UTC)

Jet fuel and COVID-19
Could there be any link between making jet fuel from sugar and the current problem with coved 19 virous that's making the rounds over and over again around the world. Think about the flue back in 1938 and the use of air planes???

Thank you

Russell L. VeRost — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.77.88.209 (talk) 22:45, 21 December 2021 (UTC)


 * No. But perhaps there is a relation with the chemtrails from jet fuel made from the blood of babies. --Lambiam 23:23, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I thought the blood of babies was used for baking Hanukkah Gelt...Naraht (talk) 11:55, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Only to some antisemites. And even the most gullible don't say Hanukkah chocolates have blood, they say the Passover crackers do. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 16:54, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * It is common knowledge that Jewish space lasers have made it so much easier to murder Arian babies that there is a surplus pool seeking new outlets. --Lambiam 13:16, 23 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I can't find anything to suggest that plant-based aviation fuel is in everyday use. Bio-aviation Fuel: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of the Supply Chain Components (2020) seems to say that a) creating the agricultural capacity to grow enough plants without impacting the rest of the food chain would have an enormous ecological impact b) production is too expensive and c) supply chains are already set up for petroleum-based fuels and changing that would require vast investment in infrastructure. You can read it yourself though.
 * Secondly, the much more severe Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 seems to have found its way around the world and underwent several mutations without any sort of aviation transport industry.
 * So "no" is probably the answer, but nobody seems to have spent much time (or any) examining your exact point. See Occam's razor for the scientific principle of leaving the most improbable scenarios until last. Alansplodge (talk) 15:06, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * The section 'Third-Generation Feedstocks' in the article linked by you implies that it's feasible to produce aviation fuel based on algae, although not with present day technology. At least it would not have a major ecological impact or disturb the food chain. --Bumptump (talk) 18:12, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * And airplanes in 1918 ran on propellors and gasoline. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 17:02, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Seems more like no one was able to find a point in the original post and just decided to have fun.--Khajidha (talk) 17:47, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * How ridiculous. We all know that the coved 19 virous is caused by the bats in the Wuhan bat-caves flying too close to 5G phone masts installed by Huawei.... and they don't even use sugar jet fuel!! Martinevans123 (talk) 17:02, 22 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I like that this one implicitly agrees there is no science basis for this question whatsoever by placing it here instead of on the Science refdesk. -- asilvering (talk) 17:37, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Oh the humanities. Firefangledfeathers 17:45, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * @Sagittarian Milky Way: our article is blood libel. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.31.251.35 (talk) 21:39, 22 December 2021 (UTC)