Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2011 January 8

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January 8

Missing people who were later found alive

I was reading the list of people who disappeared mysteriously, and it really caught my imagination. However, no person on that list was ever found alive. Could someone give me any famous examples of people who went missing for a long time, and then turned up alive and well? /Marxmax (talk) 00:09, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Probably the most famous recent case is Elizabeth Smart who was missing for 9 months and turned up alive and (considering) well. Blueboar (talk) 00:17, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

The John Darwin disappearance case is also a famous recent example. --Saddhiyama (talk) 00:20, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Josef Mengele was missing as far as those who wanted him brought to justice were concerned, but all the time he was was alive and well and living it up in Paraguay and Brazil, until he very mundanely accidentally drowned while surfing. But maybe he's better classified as "in hiding" rather than "missing". -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 00:21, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Teruo Nakamura. Another Japanese holdout soldier, Hiroo Onoda had been declared dead in 1959, and wasn't found until the 1970s. ---Sluzzelin talk 00:39, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Dr David Livingstone is possibly the most famous example of someone going missing and being found alive, surely? Sam Blacketer (talk) 00:43, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Can he really be considered as missing? Everyone knew where he was in general terms (East Africa)... they just didn't know exactly where. It's not like he just wandered off and disappeared one day. Blueboar (talk) 01:03, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

East Africa is a pretty big freaking place. If someone went missing, and I said "They're not missing. We're pretty sure they are in Western Europe", how is that somehow less "missing". -Jayron32 01:38, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Jaycee Dugard disappeared for 18 years, and was only recently found. Bielle (talk) 01:27, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

John Stonehouse, a British MP (and Soviet spy) who faked his own death, only to be discovered alive and well living in Australia (the cops apparently thought he was Lord Lucan).

Agatha Christie. (OK, so it was only 11 days.) Mitch Ames (talk) 06:36, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Natascha Kampusch and Jaycee Lee Dugard. Those two were kidnapped by strangers, but kidnappings within a family are far more common, and often remain unsolved until the child becomes an adult. StuRat (talk) 07:36, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

John Stonehouse faked his death in 1974 but was found alive a month later. We actually have a page Category:People who faked their own death with a few names. --Colapeninsula (talk) 10:30, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Radovan Karadžić, although, like JackofOz's example, he wasn't exactly missing, but hiding (under a fake name and a big beard). --Kateshortforbob _talk 20:18, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia - when did it hapen?

Which year did she in fact separate from her spouse? The article about her is very thin. Is there nothing to say about her as a person? Was she never seen in public? --Aciram (talk) 00:39, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Apparently a lot of high-stakes gambling went on at Oatlands. You can see the caricaturist James Gillray's take on her wedding night at File:Fashionable contrasts james gillray.jpg... AnonMoos (talk) 12:26, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

A footnote by Vicary Gibbs in the Complete Peerage entry for her husband does contain some information about her personality: "Greville speaks of her (Memoirs, ed. Reeve, vol. i, pp. 6 ,35) as 'clever and well-informed; she likes society and dislikes all form and ceremony, but in the midst of the most familiar intercourse she always preserves a certain dignity of manner,' and again 'probably no person in such a situation was ever more really liked.' In Blackwood's Edinburgh Mag. for Feb. 1827 she is called 'a harmless but an eccentric little woman, with an extraordinary fondness for cats and dogs, some indications of the German severity of family etiquette, which gave her household the air of Potsdam, and but a slight share of those attractions which might retain the regards of a husband—young, a soldier, and a prince.' A letter from the Earl of Lauderdale to Earl Bathurst, dat. 9 Aug. 1820, shows her husband in a good light, as sincerely grieved at his wife's death and very anxious that the wishes expressed in her will (Prince Leopold and Lord Lauderdale were her Exors.) should be carried out (Hist. MSS. Com. Bathurst MSS., pp .485-6). She kept many dogs, to which and to monkeys she was greatly devoted (Cf. Greville, op. cit., vol. i, p. 6). As her father-in-law, George III, wisely remarked, 'Affection must rest on something, and where there are no children, animals are the object.'". - Nunh-huh 13:05, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Ah, very interesting! This should be in the article, perhaps you would like to insert it?--Aciram (talk) 15:52, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

If you'd like to draft it, I'd be happy to add the appropriate references. I'm all for any mention of monkeys. - Nunh-huh 01:38, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Oh, does anyone know when she separated from her husband? The article say that they separated but not when. Does anyone know? --Aciram (talk) 15:52, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

I suspect it's sort of nebulous; all I've seen is "shortly after marriage" (1791). Certainly by 1803-6, when her husband was conducting a fairly open affair with Mrs. Clarke. Though he seems to have had bastard children both before and after marriage.... - Nunh-huh 01:38, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

What is likely to have happened?

The article of Gunnel Gummeson say that many theories was put forward as to what may have happened to her when she disappeared in Afghanistan in 1956. Which theory would actually have been realistic, if we presume that she wasn't just killed? Could she have been sold to a harem? Or could she have been captured by the Soviet Union? --85.226.47.213 (talk) 00:43, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

It's not our job to speculate. We can report the various theories, but we don't know which (if any) are correct. Blueboar (talk) 18:14, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, of course, but I was wondering if any of the theorys can be considered to be realistic by some one with knowledge of the cultural and political situation at the time. --85.226.47.213 (talk) 18:43, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Federal Governance of Washington, D.C.

PLEASE ANSWER: FOR IMPORTANT RESEARCH! What House AND/or Senate Committees have direct oversight and/or a direct impact/influence on the Governance of Washington, D.C.? PLEASE RESPOND TO EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. THANK YOU!!! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1KSolo (talk • contribs) 00:50, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Answer by email? Guess this means we shouldn't answer here. Blueboar (talk) 01:00, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

The United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 05:08, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

I'm looking for the closest civilian analogs to Basic Training. Help?

I would like to join the Air Force, but I have several disqualifications from any US military branch: I'm currently on a medication (celexa), I used to have asthma and I need a lung-pulmonary test to take that DQ off the list, I'm not sure whether I've visited a therapist over 180 times since age 12 (from a rule saying something about seeing a therapist for over 6 months, so 180 days/appointment visits), and I have SPD.

I know for sure that a basic training environment for several weeks will shape me into a manlier man who practices great self-discipline and other elevated life-skills that I'd need to make it in adulthood and start a family.

Therefore, what can I look at that resembles Basic Training, but for the civilian sector? (The closer to Manhattan, KS, the better, but I'm open to options.) Thanks in advance!!! --70.179.178.5 (talk) 04:53, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Hmmm... you can probably look at Outward Bound. It's not the same as basic training, but it'll get you out for 2-3 weeks hiking in the woods and practicing your physical fitness and survival skills. It'll give you a feel for how well you can handle strenuous exercise and isolation (from what I've heard from my friend in the military, you aren't exactly socializing during basic training). They won't make you cut all your hair off, though (I say this just in case you're like me; I have hair down to my shoulders, and for me it'd be traumatic to chop it all off, let alone for something I decided I didn't want to do). It's a long commitment, but maybe something worth looking into. The Blade of the Northern Lights (話して下さい) 05:31, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

At one point Electronic Data Systems had such a program (although more mental than physical), but they have since been swallowed by HP, so I doubt if they still torture recruits like that. StuRat (talk) 07:13, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Some team sports are highly competitive and might put you through something like basic training. Also, have you tried all other military forces ? Reserves, in particular, might have somewhat lower entry standards. StuRat (talk) 07:19, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Consider hiring someone from your nearest military base (Ft.Riley?) to do PT with you for a few hours every day. Maybe you can find someone who used to be a drill instructor. Easy money for them, you do all the work. If you don't have a military-style haircut now, go ahead and get one; it will be one less thing to worry about when you get to basic training.--Romantic Mollusk (talk) 16:46, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Join a sports group that does exercise such as jogging, cycling, rowing etc. Or join a gym. Outward Bound, as mentioned above, looks like something that is just what you want. To develop your social skills you could volunteer for doing charity work in your spare time. 92.15.7.205 (talk) 21:39, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Do they train police in the same manner as military? Googlemeister (talk) 19:19, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Name for a typical library-use desk light

• https://www.miniatureliving.co.uk/lights-table-lights/1641-library-green-desk-lamp.html

Does it have a name? -- Toytoy (talk) 05:43, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Looks like a banker's lamp. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 05:56, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

A search on Google for "library desk lamp" produces many images of similar lamps. 92.15.24.121 (talk) 12:54, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

I think it's called a "green shade." Greg Bard (talk) 07:14, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

I've always heard it called a "banker's lamp". Dismas|^(talk) 07:25, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Any studies showing long term benefit / disadvantage of keeping job salary public/secret

I was wondering, what are the reasons for laws in some societies to demand public disclosure of total yearly income stated on one's own tax bill ? (Sweden is my example http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5199974&page=1).

Extra question: Many companies imply that silence is kept about ones own salary figure (towards colleagues and everyone else), what major effects would total transparency have if everybody could easily look up a co-workers salary or prospetive future employees (incl. tax paid on at least a monthly bases, maybe with a few months lag)? Are there example communitites that implements total transparency ?

Thanks 85.81.121.107 (talk) 08:44, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

There seem to be some interesting onward links in this forum discussion that might help you in your research. Karenjc 10:26, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

I can think of several results:

1) Morale of highly compensated employees would go up, and that of poorly paid workers would go down. However, even the morale of the highly compensated employees might go down if the others show a visible resentment towards them.

2) Salaries would become more fair, as lower paid employees with skills equivalent or surpassing highly compensated employees would demand more money, either at that job or with a new employer. Note that government and union jobs are often "more fair", in that there is a salary schedule based on test results, seniority, job description, etc., as opposed to each employee's salary being negotiated separately.

3) Average salaries would also go up, unless the pay of overcompensated employees was cut, or those employees fired, to keep the average down.

4) There might be more class-action lawsuits for class discrimination, such as paying women or minorities less.

Note that almost all of these effects are bad for employers, but may be good for at least some employees, in the long run. StuRat (talk) 15:20, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

OP here: Thanks for the link - So from a employer POV salary transparency, I would argue, is basically bad - and for an employee POV it is good.

Those countries Norway, Sweden and Finland have transparency about income written into their laws in some form - and thus employees private and public in by proxy of the law can check a coworkers taxbill and infer said income.

So my first question - Why is there laws in some societies demand public disclosure of total yearly income stated on one's own tax bill - I guess it's because of the voting power of the "people" that got politicians elected, which then introduced these transparency laws by power of majority in their parlament/govermental institutions.

And my inferences is then that because there is a lot more people who do want this transparency =(middle and lower social class most likely to be employed) vs. the amount of people who would like to have income censoring =(upper clas and employers) - The majority got their way.

And then StuRats points start to become the next level reasoning / effect of transparency / secrecy.

But again if somebody know what I kind of numbers / figures that would be able to measure any kind of delta between before and after introduction of salary/income transparency that I should search for in studies of the befoer and after effects I'd be happy.

I'd like to be able to present some facts for my reasoning when discussing the issue with other people.

85.81.121.107 (talk) 17:48, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

I grew up in a small government town. 90% of adults were employed on highly public wage or salary levels. The rare exceptions were shopkeepers, doctors and church leaders. It worked fine. When I grew up and left town it took me years to get over the paranoid secrecy I encountered about salaries. Couldn't understand it really. HiLo48 (talk) 19:27, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Bo's brother, Rico

I'm interested in finding out what Bo's brother, Rico, looks like. Is he pure black?24.90.204.234 (talk) 08:57, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Since you haven't really provided any context as to what in the world you're talking about, I don't know if this link will help you at all. If that first link is not what you're talking about, here is another Bo/Rico pair and it appears that Rico is a black and white dog. If I'm wrong, could you explain to all of us who "Bo" and "Rico" are? Dismas|^(talk) 09:14, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

You're wrong about the second pair. Rico is the brother of Bo (dog), who happens to be the First Dog. The first link only provides a head shot of Rico. Is the rest of him pure black?24.90.204.234 (talk) 13:28, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

White female captives of Native Americans

Last night I watched Dances With Wolves which featured a white woman adopted by the Sioux tribe. Many westerns show white female captives. My question is were there many incidents of white women raised by Indians? There are two famous cases of white female captives such as Cynthia Ann Parker (adopted by the Comanches) and Josephine Meeker. The latter, however, was not adopted by the Utes who had taken her prisoner, and she left them when the army rescued her. Thank you.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 09:22, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Eunice Kanenstenhawi Williams -- AnonMoos (talk) 12:21, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Mary Jemison. Staecker (talk) 13:06, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

I read an account of white girls taken by Indians during the American colonial era. White people viewed them as heinous kidnappings but the Native Americans just seemed to want to replace members of their tribe killed by the colonists. Growing up I feared such a fate, as worse than death. Times were not as politcally correct as now. The actual accounts show the families reuniting accidentally sometimes many years later. Contrary to all my expectations, the norm was for the "kidnapped" white victim to stay with her adopted Indian family. Often, they were abused less by Native American society than by the European society. Children were not treated the same way as now. Time after time, after no coercion existed, the person chose their "captors." Rape was not as widespread as I imagined. Another factor probably was the stigma the person would encounter trying to rejoin white society. Again, this ran against all my racist expectations.75Janice (talk) 15:07, 8 January 2011 (UTC)75Janice.

In the 1862 "Sioux uprising" or Dakota War in Minnesota, 107 whites and numerous mixed blood captives were taken to the Sioux camps. Men were killed outright and not taken as prisoners, so far more than half the captives were female. They were released after several weeks when the Sioux were defeated by the US Army and militias. Here is an account of Mrs. Wakefield's experience as a captive in that war for 6 weeks. Here is more about Mrs. Wakefield. The captives were basically adopted into the Sioux households. Edison (talk) 20:46, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Because many children taken as captives had been adopted into Native families, their forced return often resulted in emotional scenes, as depicted in this engraving based on a painting by Benjamin West.

Cynthia Ann Parker. Corvus cornix_talk 05:33, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Ahem, she's already in the question, Cc... WikiDao ☯ 05:58, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

That was the first example mentioned in the question. (I almost missed it and added it too!) —Kevin Myers 06:04, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Whoops. That's what I get for skimming.  :) Corvus cornix_talk 22:03, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Links you might want to check out are captivity narrative and captives in Native Americans's wars. Also, Google "mourning war", which we don't have an article about yet. Mourning wars were the raids some Native American cultures undertook in response to the loss of loved ones. Captives taken during the raids would be tortured to death (to avenge a lost relative) or adopted (to replace a loved one). Often a child captive would witness the brutal deaths of their families before being adopted, such as in Mary Jemison's experience. I suppose many children adopted under such circumstances probably experienced a type of Stockholm syndrome, though scholars of the subject don't seem to use this term very often. Adult adoptions of whites rarely lasted; with children it often worked. But white societies usually demanded the return of white captives, a point of dispute in many conflicts, such as in Pontiac's War (see image).

Native Americans of the colonial era did not consider "race" to be an essential part of one's identity, and so it made no difference if the captive was Indian or white (most were Indians of other tribes). For example, there was no such thing as a "full blooded" Mohawk; by 1700, a high percentage of Mohawks were descendants of captives, since the Mohawks had lost so much population to European diseases and used adoption to sustain their numbers. I'm not sure if we can ever determine how many white females were raised by Native Americans, but there were probably many. Was Madame Montour, the famous interpreter, a white woman raised by Indians? Maybe. Was Alexander McKee's mother a white woman raised by Indians? Probably. These are just a couple examples that spring to mind. If any scholar has tried to come up with a number, I'm not aware of it. —Kevin Myers 06:04, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

The earliest famous example of a white woman captured by Indians was Mary Rowlandson; her account titled The Sovereignty and Goodness of God is considered one of the earliest female-penned works in American history. A very notable case. --Jayron32 19:27, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

To be clear, the question is about white women raised by Indians, not just captured by them. —Kevin Myers 20:06, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

In that case, one speculative example may be of the colonists at Roanoke Colony. One speculative proposal for what happened is that the colonists resettled and intermarried with the Croatan, such stories populate the history of the modern Lumbee. --Jayron32 01:25, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

It would be interesting to know how much European mtDNA is present in modern Native Americans, especially those of the western tribes such as the Sioux. There may hsve been many captives who were never recorded.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 16:34, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

A number of Native Americans have been reluctant to participate in such studies; see Genographic Project. —Kevin Myers 02:27, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

What can you analyze about this essay?

It's about leaving the US to escape the ravages of the country. Would you like to examine each reason and give your thoughts on them? (I can't use a quotebox so I'll have to superscript it.)

1. The US Debt is over $14T now. I know deep in my heart that with this debt, the US can't sustain itself indefinitely, so something has got to give. The country/government will disintegrate sooner or later, and I don't want to be caught up in the fallout.

2. In East Asia, if I can't find other jobs, at least I'll always have an English-tutoring job to fall back on. English tutors are in high demand in that region, and the demand will only get higher.

3. The East Asian countries I consider living in have better environmental practices. (Mandated recycling, et al.)

4. Their mass-transit system is far better than what we have in Manhattan, Kansas.

5. Select East Asian countries have technology that is years ahead of our own. (Watching TV on phones, swiping a phone like a credit card to make a purchase; known as "Osaifu-Keitai" in Japan, et al.)

6. I'm tired of long grudges borne by fellow Americans. Why should anyone still hate me for what I did in Kindergarten? Or any other time so far in the past that I have matured well beyond those tendencies by now? Why keep holding grudges when there is no longer anything to hold a grudge for? I even hear of grudges being carried to the grave. I truly hope that once in East Asia, I'll no longer have to put up with such agonizingly long grudges.

7. A few too many friendships seem to end at the drop of a trucking hat. I hope never to put up with this either once I move to East Asia.

8. Since environmental initiatives enjoy greater attention by select East Asian governments, starting my own environmentally-oriented organization/business/etc. ought to earn me some subsidies and grants.

9. I seem to feel greater sparks when intermingling with East Asian women, especially Korean. I suppose that being 1/2-Korean has something to do with this.

10. The American medical care situation is thoroughly out of control. Not only is getting medical insurance expensive and a convoluted process, the bills for certain procedures are so high, I can get a 1st-class round-trip ticket to an East Asian country, a 5-star hotel stay for a week, a private driver with a luxury rental car, 5-star restaurant meals, other touristy attractions, AND the procedure for LESS than the cost of just the procedure in the US.

11. The cost of living is quite a bit less in most East Asian countries than it is here.

12. Better diet practices in East Asia contribute to the overall better health, lower medical costs, and longer life expectancy than in the US.

13. I felt happier in certain East Asian countries whenever I visited there, than while I've lived in America.

14. There are still a lot of unsaved souls to reach out to in East Asia. I must spread the Gospel to them in order to get them on a path to a better life and afterlife.

15. I can celebrate twice as many holidays! (American and local!)

So, how does it sound to you? --70.179.178.5 (talk) 09:57, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Maybe you should specify exactly which countries you have in mind first - "East Asian countries" is kinda broad. I'm sure you have one or two specific countries in mind - for instance, re: your No 4 - last time I heard, the Mongolian public transit system wasn't all that great and re: No 2, as far as I know, there isn't much demand for English tutors in the Philippines, so I assume Mongolia or the Philippines aren't on your list? Other than that, I'd just like to say something on No 14: Don't, please. Just... don't. TomorrowTime (talk) 10:42, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

2. Are you any good as a teacher? Just speaking the language doesn't mean you'll be a natural at tutoring, even in places where English tutors are in demand (which is not everywhere). If you're serious about moving and tutoring is a real possibility, consider gaining a TEFL/TESOL qualification.

5. Do more advanced gadgets and gimmicks truly equate to a better lifestyle? (It's a matter of opinion; just asking.)

14 You're looking for a new start, with good friendships and no friction from past disagreements. And you're proposing to pitch up in someone else's country, label those who don't share your religious preferences as "unsaved souls", and try to persuade them to drop their beliefs and share yours instead, because you're right and they aren't? Good luck on the no-friction thing. Karenjc 10:45, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

1, 5-7, 9-13, and 15 all seem to be motivated by a desire to seek greater comfort, while 14 expresses a selfless desire to be evangelical. I don't know much about religion, but I thought missionaries were supposed to endure all sorts of hardships (perhaps the more, the better) in their efforts to bring enlightenment to the savages? So far as comfort goes, the article Gemütlichkeit makes me want to move to Germany, which might also be a comfortable destination for evangelists. 81.131.12.113 (talk) 12:17, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

I think the word you're looking for is evangelistic (i.e. wishing to spread a message) rather than evangelical (i.e. believing in the Bible as supreme authority). Your interpretation of the name of the Evangelical Church in Germany as having to do with evangelism underlines that you have them confused. Marnanel (talk) 15:34, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Oh, yes I do. Thought something there didn't quite add up. 81.131.68.97 (talk) 23:29, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

What do I think? Hm. I think: 1) The national debt is not necessarily a matter for particular worry, although I suppose the deficit may be. 2) But are you any good at language tutoring? 3) fair enough. 4) Several American cities have passably good mass transit. So does Helsinki. 5) So does Helsinki. 6) America is a big, big place. Move to San Francisco or New York and you'll never see them again. 7) I don't understand your grounds for thinking people in East Asia treat friendships in this way. 8) much the same as 3. 9) your call, not mine, but they may object to being fetishised. 10) Well, yes. 11) True, but this is true of places in the US as well and many, many other places in the world. 12) See 11. 13) People often feel happier on holiday than in ordinary life. Ordinary life catches up to you if you move there. 14) What makes you think there aren't unsaved souls right where you are? 15) You can celebrate them where you are if you want. Marnanel (talk) 15:42, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

It's wrong to call it an essay. Essays do not consist of numbered points, but generally have several paragraphs making up an introduction, body, and conclusion. It is also too informally written for an essay. 92.15.24.121 (talk) 16:02, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Other then what's been said I would point out 1) You don't seem to have considered what wages you would expect. If your expected wage is a smaller in comparison to the proportion of the cost of living in whatever countries you're considering, that doesn't help (make things better then wherever else) unless you have savings. 2) You don't seem to have considered whether you have any hope of working legally in whatever your target countries are. 3) In terms of number 14, people have already mentioned it being a bad idea but this isn't just an ethical thing. In some countries it may be illegal so you could even find yourself fined or jailed for trying (more likely you'll just be deported).

BTW are you sure all of your numbered points apply to all countries you're considering? It's a bit irrelevant if the cost of living in China is low if you want to move to Korea for the women and higher life expectancy. And there are plenty of other things to consider. E.g. if you're worried about being discriminated against because of unstraightened teeth, be aware protections for discrimination for things like race and religion may be more limited in some of the countries you're considering.

Nil Einne (talk) 17:50, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

You are certainly trying to justify a major life course correction. I think you have some good reasons to move elsewhere. You must keep in mind though what life will give you when you have finalized all decisions. Will you even make new friends? Will you even find a suitable mate? Will you be high on the experiences and then slump into depression? This sort of reminds me of Revolutionary Road (although I only saw the movie), wherein a family decides to pick up and move to where their dreams are taking them, but fear stops them and disaster follows.
The important thing to remember is the difference between the fantasy and reality. Cliché, yes, but the grass is not always greener on the other side. On the other hand do not let the illusion of "I just couldn't" stop you. schyler (talk) 17:17, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

The editor has posted pretty much the same questions at the Humanities desk. Basically, he wants to move, thinking it will be better somewhere else. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:12, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Different calendars in use in modern times?

I'm curious of if any alternate calendars are used in modern times? For example Ramadan and the Chinese New Year are celebrated according to the corresponding calendars, but are these calendars in regular use? Or is the gregorian calendar adopted worldwide? My belief is that the gregorian is de facto in use for fiscal years etc., but for day-to-day use, are there any alternatives? 95.80.22.142 (talk) 19:21, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

According to our article on the Julian calendar "The Julian calendar is still used by the Berber people of North Africa, and on Mount Athos." However, I don't think that represents a significant number of people. APL (talk) 22:05, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Not the entire calendar per se, but there is this: Orthodox New Year (that also means the Orthodox Christmas is shifted, in fact it was two or three days ago). TomorrowTime (talk) 22:13, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

How calendar-y a calendar are you looking for? The Chinese, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian calendars (both the western and Orthodox variants) are all in very widespread use, but usually in combination with the Gregorian calendar rather than independently. Marnanel (talk) 22:21, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, and maybe some others, still use the Julian calendar for church purposes. Or, a version of it that isn't precisely the same as the Julian calendar but close enough not to quibble too much about. Hence, Russian Christmas was held only a couple of days ago, 13 days after when everyone else celebrated it (c Рождеством!).

Orthodox Easter is also usually on a different date than Western Easter, but in that case it's not just a matter of delaying it by 13 days (because then you'd end up with Easter Sunday being held on a Saturday) - the whole basis of calculating the date in the first place is different. Sometimes the 2 celebrations coincidentally coincide (if I can be so redundant). -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 22:22, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Old Calendarists... AnonMoos (talk) 22:56, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

When the Orthodox eventually celebrate Christmas around the time the Volga starts its spring thaw, they might wise up. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:34, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

The Thai solar calendar is different. Category:Specific calendars lists more. Astronaut (talk) 19:43, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Marilyn Monroe sex tape

A short video was released showing a woman having sex who was said to be Marilyn Monroe. [1] Is it really Marilyn Monroe? Her face does not look like Monroe. I found two references [2][3] Is there any confirming source? --Neptune 123 (talk) 19:21, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

This might be obvious, but if it was Monroe, it would look like Monroe. Therefore, if it doesn't look like Monroe, then it isn't. 87.91.6.33 (talk) 22:35, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

She looks different in her earlier photos. And she did do nude modelling even while a succesful actress. 92.15.7.205 (talk) 23:02, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

The quality of that video isn't very good but I could easily imagine it looking like a young Norma Jean Baker, before she became Marilyn Monroe. Her hair is different and her eyebrows are not cared for and her makeup is sloppy and she is a little heavier, but the nose is very similar, as are the eyes. Compare with other younger photos of her, not the dolled up blond phase. --Mr.98 (talk) 00:11, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks! That clarification does help. --Neptune 123 (talk) 06:50, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Uh, I don't think the Youtube video is related to the ref. It was released in early 2007. The refs are 'breaking news' from 2008 and describe a video sold for US$1.5 million showing a woman performing oral sex on a man who's face is not visible, neither of which appear to be true for the Youtube video... Nil Einne (talk) 14:09, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Almost certainly a fake, probably made from two sources: a mildly tittilating (for the era) film of a women perhaps in her mid-30s, who doesn't even look like Marilyn; and later a short clip of someone, who could be a young Marilyn Monroe, performing some vaguely suggestive movements. I see no reason to think that the first half has anything to do with the second half.

Remember, so called sex tapes of various celebrities can be found all over the internet, along with porn images with celebrities' heads photoshopped onto someone else's body. Astronaut (talk) 19:32, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Can anyone find the originals of the sources? 92.15.3.168 (talk) 20:41, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

I believe she is Arline Hunter--TrogWoolley (talk) 09:08, 12 January 2011 (UTC)

Tamil Muslim language

This Sri Lankan man says that he speaks Tamil Muslim language and it is different from the real Tamil language. What is it really? Arwi? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.89.41.201 (talk) 20:22, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Islam in Sri Lanka says "Until the recent past, the Moors employed Arwi as their mother tongue, though this is also extinct as a spoken language. Currently, the Moors in the east of Sri Lanka use Tamil as their primary language which includes many loan words from Arabic." --Soman (talk) 22:38, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Community service

I've received an invitation to the National Honor Society, which requires community service as a part of membership. I have an account at Wikipedia (in my native language); does editing Wikipdia count as community service? Thanks. 24.92.70.160 (talk) 21:43, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Nobody but the National Honor Society can say what the National Honor Society believes is really community service. However, let me tell you a story. I'm a member of the GNOME project. A few years ago, one of our contributors got into a car crash, as a result of which he was sentenced to 180 hours of community service. He successfully fulfilled this by working on GNOME[4]. Since GNOME is free software, and Wikipedia is free content, this may be a useful precedent in arguing your case to the Society. Let us know how you get on! Marnanel (talk) 22:28, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Note, however, that it won't be any overarching "National Honor Society" deciding what's acceptable, but rather the individual leaders of your local chapter. You should seek them out, and ask them what would be acceptable community service. I had a friend whose chapter leader in charge of community service was a bit of a Nazi no, not really. Yes, that's hyperbole. No, she didn't murder twelve million civilians. Yes, some people find Nazi references offensive. If you're one of those people, suck it up. Community service was very narrowly defined, making a number of members quite irritated with the whole program. I imagine that other chapters are much more lenient. There's nothing we can do in that regard, other than direct you to talk to the person who is in control of such requirements. Buddy431 (talk) 22:58, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Employees choose own salary and hours

As described here: Maverick (book). I find this difficult to believe. Is it really true? How does the owner get a profit? 92.15.7.205 (talk) 22:59, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

By the workers recognising that the company has to at least break even? And that their very beneficial working conditions and salaries depend on everybody's reasonableness? There probably also is a strong social component - if you are too greedy, your co-workers will shun you. And, of course, I believe that if you look closer, you will find that it's not quite as simple as walking in and demanding a million a month. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 23:15, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Seems to be the flip side of restaurants where there are no set prices and customers pay only what they think the meal was worth - like this example. Last I heard, however, Shanakas were on very shaky ground, financially. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 23:49, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Unfortunately, that isn't a very good article. It doesn't seem to have any sources other than the book itself. I wouldn't be surprised if the book doesn't tell the whole story. --Tango (talk) 12:48, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

If the staff have to state a salary and hours at the interview stage, then the management can pick and choose. The jobs I've had in the past involved negotiating a salary, but not the hours, at interview. There are one or two other examples where people paid whatever they liked to download music, or where people work for free on freeware or Wikipedia. 92.15.24.111 (talk) 16:17, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

Actually, I think the employees are the ones who make hiring decisions (based on my fuzzy half-recollection of a news story on Semco I saw a few years ago). Though it's fairly likely salary+working conditions are discussed during the process anyway. --superioridad ^(discusión) 22:35, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

In reality, employees "must consider what they think they can make elsewhere; what others with similar skills and responsibilities make in the company; what friends with similar backgrounds make and how much they need to live on." It is not that they can demand a crazy amount of money or just more and more each month. Quest09 (talk) 11:17, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Even so, if they were able to change their salary and hours as they go, then there would be an overwhelming urge to inflate their salaries and deflate their hours. I think the section of the article you have quoted is saying what should ideally happen rather than what does happen. I'd still like to know more about the actual precise details of the proceedure for determining the salary. 92.15.3.168 (talk) 20:46, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Jacksonville, Florida city map with borders

Is there a website where they show the borders of Jacksonville, Florida? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.92.151.20 (talk) 23:09, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Like this ? [5]. StuRat (talk) 23:39, 8 January 2011 (UTC)