Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 June 29

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June 29

Obama on copyright reform

Does Barack Obama support the Public Domain Enhancement Act or other copyright reforms? NeonMerlin 00:24, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

His website doesn't say anything, other than, "Barack Obama believes we need to update and reform our copyright and patent systems to promote civic discourse, innovation and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated."[1]. Which doesn't say a whole lot though it does indicate an interest (which, of course, is only part of the issue—without Congress' interest, nothing will happen, and copyright reform that is not in the interest of Big Media is not, and will probably never be, very popular in Congress, among either party). --98.217.8.46 (talk) 03:14, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Non-staged professional wrestling?

Are there any professional wrestling federations out there who put on unrigged fights whose results are not predetermined beforehand? --90.242.108.208 (talk) 01:41, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

If you mean on the level of WWE, say, then no. It's all staged on that level, since it makes better television. Smaller wrestling groups, or UCF groups might put on genuine matches. However, in most cases, pro wrestling is fake. Watch olympic wrestling to see the real thing.--NeoNerd 13:35, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

You might also be interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, catch wrestling, and shooto. Also, while not being limited to wrestling techniques, PRIDE and the UFC have featured many fighters who were trained in various wrestling arts and have put these techniques to use on the mat. --noosphere 17:10, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Airsoft gun laws in Maryland and in other States for minors

Hey, I was just wondering a few things:

Is it legal for an unaccompanied minor to carry an airsoft gun in the state of Maryland? What about Virginia? Or D.C.?

Thank you.

Sharpshot240 (talk) 03:47, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

I take it your question was sparked by recent news articles in the washington post and washington times. If not, you might find em interesting: [2] [3]. It's my understanding that no, there aren't any laws preventing minors from carrying airsoft equipment although I think you have to be 18 to purchase it. If not, I'm sure most stores will at least refuse to sell it to them without a parent present. But don't take my word for it: a distributor would probably be able to tell you definitively. -Shaggorama (talk) 01:49, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

When Canada is more conservative than the US

When was the last time Canada's government was more conservative than that of the United States at the same time? Will the Harper-Obama overlap be unprecedented in this respect? NeonMerlin 03:52, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm not big on Canadian politics. Were the Progressive Conservatives really conservatives? If so, the last time the Canadians were more conservative was in 1993. Clinton was in charge in the US while Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell were PMs. But, of course, I don't know either of their policies and am only going by their party to determine their political ideology. Paragon12321 (talk) 04:52, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

It's tough to compare the conservativeness or progressiveness of governments in different countries. If you get Stephen Harper and George W. Bush together, they might share similar philosophies about the role of government and free enterprise. But publicly, Harper supports policies to the "left" of even the Democrats in the U.S. For example, Harper officially supports Canada's single-payer health-care system, in which private insurance for "medically necessary" treatments is basically illegal. Only the most left-wing members of Congress in the U.S. would agree with him. Certainly, the Canadian political center has been to the left of the American one since the election of Pierre Trudeau in 1968. It's hard to see Joe Clark as more conservative than Jimmy Carter or Kim Campbell more conservative than Bill Clinton. You could consider Diefenbaker and Kennedy, although Kennedy was actually somewhat conservative in the traditional sense of the word in his short time in the White House. Certainly, FDR was far to the left economically of R.B. Bennett when he was elected, although Bennett belatedly embraced government intervention in the mid-'30s. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 11:45, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

I follow Canadian politics somewhat, and I don't think that it's clear that Harper's policies are more conservative than those advocated by Obama. (Mandatory single-payer health care is a good case in point.) Marco polo (talk) 00:28, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Second choice

Can anyone think of a famous example in literature of someone settling for their second choice of love? Like, they couldn't win the heart of the one they truly love, so they settle for who's right there, someone who loves them greatly, even though the former is only settling for a less desired person. 96.233.60.132 (talk) 04:20, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Are you referring to protagonists only? I'm sure there are several examples in fiction of peripheral characters settling for second best. Zain Ebrahim (talk) 12:24, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

The only example that springs readily to mind is Green Dolphin County, by Elizabeth Goudge, that was made into the movie Green Dolphin Street (1947). Marguerite and William love each other, but Marguerite’s sister Marianne also loves William. He has a habit of confusing their names, to both their displeasures. He has to get away from the law in (?)France and flees to New Zealand. Drunk one night, he writes to ask for his love (Marguerite) to join him, but again confuses the names and asks for Marianne by mistake. When she turns up in NZ, he realises his mistake. But she’s all he’s got, so they make do. -- JackofOz (talk) 12:58, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Jacob and Leah (the first recorded bait and switch?), although he did get Rachel (and a few others) later. Clarityfiend (talk) 19:10, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Hm, I'll have to check out "Green Dolphin County"; sounds interesting. And I had forgotten about Jacob and Leah. They're not quite what I had in mind, but thanks! Actually, (I think) I was thinking more along the lines of a Shakespearian love triangle, almost akin to the "Lovers" plot in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"; got any ideas? 96.233.60.132 (talk) 20:10, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Pride and Prejudice's Mr Collins wanted Elizabeth Bennett, but had to settle for her friend Charlotte. I wouldn't call it love though. I don't think Mr Collins wanted to love anyone other than Lady Catherine de Burgh. Steewi (talk) 00:02, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

There are many examples of at least temporarily settling for whoever is there at the moment. That even goes back to those wild and crazy Old Testament stories, such as Lot settling for his daughters when he couldn't have his wife (and then claiming that they made him have sex with them). Is this question specifically referring to marrying and spending a whole life with the second choice? -- kainaw™ 00:31, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Another good example from Austen is Mr Elton, who loves Emma but has to settle for someone less appealing. Your mention of Shakespeare prompts me to wonder if Orsino in Twelfth Night is an example of what you're looking for. But it's not a simple one: does he settle for Viola when he accepts Olivia is no longer available? Or does he already love Cesario (Viola's male persona) and is delighted to discover that "he" is actually female and single? Similarly problematic is Bertram at the end of All's Well That Ends Well: are any of his emotions really "love"? AndyJones (talk) 07:51, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Mr. Elton didn't love Emma; he loved her position and wealth. Clarityfiend (talk) 16:34, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

I have the nagging feeling that this occurs in a Thomas Hardy novel to a main (or relatively main) character but I cannot think of which one it is. Does that jog anything for anyone, or is my mind playing tricks? User:Jwrosenzweig 08:50, 30 June 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.112.32.67 (talk)

A Suitable Boy plays with this as a possibility. I won't spoil the ending for you. Itsmejudith (talk) 09:47, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd fits this to some extent, although not perfectly. Oak, a simple yet good-hearted farmer, originally appears to be the 'second choice' to two other possibilities, one dashing and exciting and the other older and financially secure. By the end Oak turns out to be by far the best option of the three. AlexiusHoratius (talk) 23:16, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

No, but I'm ready with a historical real-life one when there's a question on that. Julia Rossi (talk) 06:34, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

You can't always get what you want. Mick and Keith know how you feel. Plasticup ^T/C 12:26, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Not me personally, Plasticup, W.B. Yeats! But your empathy is respected greatly. : )) Julia Rossi (talk) 13:35, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Of Human Bondage is about precisely this topic. Most of the book is about the protagonist's obsession with a woman who treats him awfully. <SPOILER ALERT:> He eventually gives her up and in the end he is happy to marry someone else even though she inspires little passion in him. --D. Monack | talk 09:26, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Reichspropagandaleitung der NSDAP

In the English Wikipedia we have no page on the Reichspropagandaleitung der NSDAP. According to the German Wikipedia article, it operated between 1926 and 1945. I didn't succeed in reading that article and would like to know:

• How to represent its name in English;
• How it was related (if at all) to the governmental Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda (founded in 1933);
• What is meant by the Central Propaganda Office of the Nazi Party referred to in that article as a "main branch" of the Ministry.

Thank you -- Deborahjay (talk) 13:40, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Reichspropagandaleitung. Reich propaganda leadership, direction. The Nazi Party’s Central Propaganda Office, a subunit of the Propaganda Ministry. See Reichsminister(ium) für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda. Michael, R., & Doerr, K. (2002). Nazi-Deutsch/Nazi-German an English lexicon of the language of the Third Reich. OCLC 52723886

Perhaps most important for the success of the party's electoral efforts, however, was Hitler's creation of the Reich Propaganda Directorate ( Reichspropagandaleitung--RPL [in list of abbreviations as Propaganda Directorate of the NSDAP]) in early 1931. Goebbels had been directing Nazi propaganda since the previous year, but in 1931 his staff was expanded and his responsibility for National Socialist propaganda activities throughout the entire Reich formalized in the RPL. The RPL provided the Gauleiters with secret monthly reports on national political developments, propaganda techniques, and an outline of Nazi propaganda for the coming month. Beginning in April 1931, the RPL also distributed a monthly publication, Unser Wille und Weg (Our Will and Way), a journal for local Nazi functionaries that explained the party's position on key political and economic issues... Childers, T. (1983). The Nazi voter: the social foundations of fascism in Germany, 1919-1933. p. 194. OCLC 9576027

—eric 16:44, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Gods incarnating as a human of the opposite gender

In Greek mythology there are many instances of a god incarnating as a human of the god's own gender. Are there any instances of them incarnating as humans of the opposite gender? If not, how about gods in Roman or other mythologies? -noosphere 17:02, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

In the Odyssey, Athena comes to earth in the form of a fisherman or something to talk to Telemachus. I don't think "incarnating" is the right word though. Greek gods already have flesh before they come down. Wrad (talk) 17:33, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

The purely Latin anecdote of Pomona and Vertumnus. The episode of Zeus and Callisto, where Zeus takes the guise of Artemis. Male artists and patrons of the 16th-18th centuries found the undercurrents of transvestitism and lesbianism as titillating as you do. --Wetman (talk) 19:25, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Athena took the shape of Deiphobus... AnonMoos (talk) 23:03, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

And Mentor also, no? I imagine if I were better versed in more obscure tales Athena might appear as a man more often than these two famous occasions. User:Jwrosenzweig editing as 71.112.32.67 (talk) 08:47, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Some aver that God is a woman (and possibly black), but She is said to have been incarnated as Jesus Christ, a male. -- JackofOz (talk) 00:01, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Tiresias, at least in Ovid's telling of the tale of Narcissus, was famously the only person to have lived as both man and woman, and so was called in by Zeus and Hera to adjudicate their dispute over which sex obtained the most pleasure from the physical acts of love. Which suggests that any incarnation of Zeus as Artemis was more for decoration than functionality. :) - Nunh-huh 07:31, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Not quite what the OP was asking for, but there's the story about Loki coming to Earth in the form of a horse and wooing a powerful stallion. Months later, he presents Odin with Sleipnir, with much ribbing from the other gods. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 15:14, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

Cairo Geniza travel journals?

I have S.D. Goitein's A Mediterranean Society (Vol. I) and Letters of Medieval Jewish Traders. These books mention several series of letters that enable readers to chart the careers of certain merchants from the 10th-13th centuries. However, I don't remember reading anything about actual travel journals being found within the Cairo Geniza. Were such journals ever found in the Geniza? --Ghostexorcist (talk) 20:15, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

There are medieval Hebrew travel journals elsewhere (e.g. Benjamin of Tudela), but I'm not sure about the Cairo Geniza. You can search some of it here though. Adam Bishop (talk) 02:36, 1 July 2008 (UTC)