Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2014 September 18

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September 18

Roger Touhy

I have information on this story. Yours is most accurate. But Rogers father James, Had a set of twin boys in Ireland. He left their mother alone, and went to America to find his pot of gold. My grandmother Esther Legge, (Touhy then D.O.B, 09/04/1927, cork records) was the daughter of one of James`s sons he left behind in Ireland. One of my grandmothers elder sister`s, Kitty, was hauled from class in the convent, and given a telegram upon James`s death, from a solicitor, giving a massive sum of money. But, my great grandfather threw it in the fire, and said it was blood money, even though he had 13 children, and no shoes, coal picking and school was barefoot. There was no food for any of them, it was shocking. We have got the book the stolen years, but, I am unable to get a copy of the film that was shown to all the stars via a red carpet, in my great great great uncles prison.... can you help with that....? Also, the amount of money that was offered, meant that James wasnt as clean a policeman as it was over repeatedly stated. Its all very exciting, I wondered if you could give me a contact to fill in gaps for me, and for me to fill in gaps for them, so that I may be able to fill some gaps in for my wonderful, beautiful kind nan, while shes still here. shes 87, and the most remarkable human being. Shes been my mentor for almost 40 years. And I would love to repay her unthwarted kindness and ever loving spirit, with something extra about this for her. Is there a chance at all, you might be able to help me...?

kindest regards, Sarah Ajax. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.123.45.248 (talk) 00:14, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

(The relevant article is Roger Touhy.) Unfortunately, the information you've given can't be added to the article purely on the basis of your recollections, fascinating as they are. We need reliable independent sources for what you're saying, which basically means reputable books, newspapers, magazines etc. If you can find anything in those sources that corroborates what you say, then you can add the information to the article yourself. But in my opinion you would be better off making your own blog through something like Blogspot or Wordpress and telling the story yourself on there. Thanks for sharing, --Viennese Waltz 07:25, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

And making a blog about it might allow others to use the information for the Wikipedia article. We do sometimes cite blogs, though they are not usually preferred. SemanticMantis (talk) 14:49, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

I'm curious to know whether he was any relation to Patrick L. Touhy. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 07:39, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

Oculus

What the meaning (Literary) of the oculus in Roman Republic. Many poets used this noun (like catullus etc)...so I wonder if there is something more that just eyes. --132.64.30.238 (talk) 05:46, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

Literally, oculus is eye, but just as in many modern languages, it's sometimes used to denote similar things and related concepts. See wikt:oculus. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 13:16, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

The eyes are an extremely important part of the way we interact with other human beings. Thus from biblical to modern times we have variations on "the eyes are the window to the soul", and the eyes are widely mentioned in poetry, pop music etc with both literal and not-so-literal meanings. One can imagine Catullus was doing much the same.

It's worth noting that the word osculum (even more similar to oculus than it looks to us, because the last two letters can be largely disregarded) can mean "kiss" in Latin. Although Catullus did not use that word for "kiss" in Catullus 5 where he spends half the poem obsessing over kisses, perhaps he is thinking of similar things when he uses oculus elsewhere. Imagine if the English words for "kiss" and "eye" were only one letter different, the ambiguity would certainly turn up in a few pop songs. --Demiurge1000 (talk) 21:41, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

The mind's eye is just fallible, but mirrors always lie. For further evidence, see Zero. Hear it, too; the lyrics are important, but the video has the Roman connection. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:57, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

Maybe also see Eye and Lost Highway InedibleHulk (talk) 22:02, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

According to the Teach Yourself Latin dictionary, it also means "bud". Fiddlersmouth (talk) 15:21, 20 September 2014 (UTC)

A little bud works well for light tasks like reflection and illumination. According to Philp J. Fry, it also speeds and slows the passage of time. He'd know, being from the future.

On that note, here's an alleged oculus, but when that guy's older, he'll probably realize it's an octopus. No relation. Or is there? InedibleHulk (talk) 22:18, 20 September 2014 (UTC)

Grand Ducal Highness

The Luxembourg Grand Ducal Family traditionally used the style of Grand Ducal Highness prior to the marriage of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma when they added the "royal" title of Prince of Bourbon-Parma to their descendants. But Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg relinquish the titles for Bourbon-Parma in 1986, so why are current members of the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Family still Royal Highness rather than Grand Ducal Highness?--The Emperor's New Spy (talk) 20:55, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

Grand dukes, grand duchesses, hereditary grand dukes and hereditary grand duchesses were always "Royal Highnesses". Other members of the family were "Grand Ducal Highnesses". Due to descent from the Bourbons through Felix, all princes of Luxembourg are now "Royal Highnesses". Jean relinquished his father's titles in 1986, but resumed them in 1995. Surtsicna (talk) 21:27, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

human Ecology

three examples of human and non-human — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.27.131.150 (talk) 23:27, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

Are you asking a question, and, if this is your homework, have you made an attempt to find the answer yourself in our Human ecology article? Dbfirs 00:20, 19 September 2014 (UTC)

McElligot, Thidwick and Horton had human minds and non-human forms. So that's six. See On Beyond Zebra! for 20 more, and the Dr. Seuss bibliography for a general education on ecology. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:07, 19 September 2014 (UTC)