Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 February 3

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February 3

Intelligence and wisdom

Can any one point me to sources that outline the differences?--TreeSmiler (talk) 02:29, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

I use the bathroom mirror to evaluate the differences.

Unfortunately, some frothy mouthed lunatic with a toothbrush obscures my view. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 02:43, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

That's mildly humorous Cockatoo. schyler (talk) 03:00, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

There is a Zen Buddhist saying that talks about this: "When an ordinary man gains knowledge, he becomes a Sage. When a Sage gains understanding, he becomes an ordinary man." -- Saukkomies 09:19, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

There are so many recognised kinds of intelligence that wisdom sounds like the ablity to actually use it. I guess it's a bit like "intelligence" processes data and makes connections, finds relationships, remembers... "wisdom" is knowing what to do with it. Wisdom seems connected to having perspective or values. Julia Rossi (talk) 02:01, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Treasure Island

From Ripoff Britain: Many believe that true competition from the internet and from abroad will eventually normalize retail prices and put an end to the suffering of an angry population tired of being referred to as "Treasure Island". - I've never heard of the UK being referred to as 'Treasure Island' and even if it was, I don't get it? Treasure? Huh? ----Seans Potato Business 02:41, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Presumably the idea is "an island country that is a source of 'treasure' to people selling stuff there". --Anon, 09:30 UTC, Feb. 3.

Sales Taxes on Ebay

If i as a seller on ebay am selling an item and i am not a business do i have to charge sales taxes.--logger (talk) 02:41, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Have a look at sales tax, and these eBay help pages[1][2]. The last page says, "Please contact a tax professional to determine whether you need to charge sales tax on your eBay sales. eBay cannot and does not provide tax advice". For more assistance, you might want to tell us what country (and state) you're in, but I'm afraid we can't offer legal advice either. Bovlb (talk) 04:28, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Likely not if you're selling your own used (secondhand) stuff (from Australia). Julia Rossi (talk) 02:04, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Song

Well I thought that I was knowledgeable of music to certain extent but I feel kind of embarrassed that I don't know what song is in this video. Sad really. Thanks, schyler (talk) 02:59, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

PS Musipedia didn't help.

It's the 1812 Overture, specifically the crescendo section that occurs at around 4mins and 15mins into this version. Foxhill (talk) 03:19, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Of Course! One in the same as in V for Vendetta! Thanks, schyler (talk) 16:27, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Horse Racing and the Horse's Age

Why is it that in horse racing they require that the horses' ages be different dependent upon which hemisphere they come from. For instance, in the Dubai World Cup... they say that if the horse is from the Northern Hemisphere then it should be four years old and up... but if it is from the Southern Hemisphere it should be three years old and up. Why is this? Tbwebber (talk) 07:51, 3 February 2008 (UTC)Tbwebber

All racing horses have an official birthday of January 1 in the northern hemisphere or August 1 in the Southern hemisphere. Dubai's racing season is from January to March, so Northern horses will have just had their birthday and will be a year "older" than Southern horses of the same age. FiggyBee (talk) 08:04, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Do you have a link or reference for this? Thanks! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tbwebber (talk • contribs) 06:22, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

The 1 Jan/1 Aug thing is mentioned in our Horse article. As for that being the Dubai organisers' reasoning, that's just my conjecture. FiggyBee (talk) 06:49, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Names of schools - Scots/Scotch?

Why is it that many private schools in Australia bear the name Scots/Scotch College, or some variation thereof? Is it related to Presbyterianism's roots in Scotland? 211.30.58.79 (talk) 14:03, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Yes. Xn4 07:09, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Interesting issue. I wonder why there aren't Anglican-run schools known as "English College" and Catholic-run schools known as "Irish College". -- JackofOz (talk) 21:31, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

images of buddha

how many symbols are used in buddist images ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.141.134.2 (talk) 14:52, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Could start at Buddhist symbols... AnonMoos (talk) 15:09, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

All Buddhist imagery is symbolic, and there are many hundreds of Buddhist figures, each with their own iconography, so the answer is: many thousands.--Shantavira|^{feed me} —Preceding comment was added at 08:36, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Bestsellers in the UK

I would like to read English literature, which are among the best sellers in the UK in literature topic. Could you advise me a best seller list? --Ksanyi (talk) 18:19, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

If you are specifically interested in literary fiction, then the list of bestsellers is probably not the best starting place. About half of them are cookbooks, self-help books, and genre fiction. I'd begin by looking at books which have recently won British awards. Lantzy ^talk 19:05, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

George Washington

Hello im kinda new to wikipedia and i looked around but id like to know more about the plantaions george owned can someone please point me in a direction? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.205.208.206 (talk) 21:01, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Have you read Mount Vernon? People sometimes think Mount Vernon is the name of Washington's house, but actually it's the name of the plantation. Mount Vernon represented just a portion of Washington's real estate, but it was his primary plantation. Any more specific questions? —Kevin Myers 22:15, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

George Washington article here lists almost all his own simple fee absolute land holdings, plus the vast amount he controlled and received income from its management. His landholdings, plantations and the slavery issue are always discussed in biographies. 75Janice (talk) 01:48, 4 February 2008 (UTC)75Janice75Janice (talk) 01:48, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Who was the first to climb Mount Vernon? Did he/she require oxygen for the climb? Edison (talk) 03:31, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Sleeping problems

Sorry, this is a medical question, and those aren't allowed on the reference desk. For your sake, please consult a doctor. --Anonymous, 01:53 UTC, February 4, 2008.

Children's Book a Metaphor for WWII

I read a children's book a while ago, but I cannot remember the title or author. I believe the illustrations were hand drawn in black and white. The story takes place in a forest, with each of the animal species (racoons, deer, rabbits, foxes, et.) killed off one by one, but no one does anything about it because they don't think it concerns them. The whole story is a metaphor for WWII. Do you know the title and/or author? Dlempa (talk) 21:30, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like 'La Bête est Morte', a children's book by the French illustrator Calvo. I believe an English version was published by Fantagraphics. Rhinoracer (talk) 09:52, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks! The English version is "The Beast is Dead (WWII Among the Animals)" by Victor Calvo and Dancette. You can find it easily on Amazon. Dlempa (talk) 12:02, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Gothic cathedrals

The fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral in The Pillars of the Earth is claimed to be the first Gothic cathedral in England. Which one really was? Corvus cornix_talk 21:49, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Canterbury Cathedral, I believe. Carom (talk) 22:08, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Durham Cathedral, though largly Romanesque, was, I think, the first to adopt aspects of the new Gothic style. Clio the Muse (talk) 23:38, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks to both of you. Corvus cornix_talk 20:02, 4 February 2008 (UTC)