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February 7

Edited book

Which is the world's first edited book based on contributions of many persons and selection of content based on some criterion? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 101.0.35.180 (talk) 15:35, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

That's hard to say. It depends on how you define "book". Many stories, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Homeric Epics, were passed down via oral tradition, and as such, can be said to have had many hundreds of contributors. If you want very old collections of distinct texts, the Vedas would be a contender. --Jayron 32 18:23, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This sounds more like an anthology, according to which, "one of the earliest known anthologies [was] the Garland (Στέφανος, stéphanos) ... by Meléagros of Gadara" (fl. 1st century BCE). -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:41, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I’ll chip in with the Bible, or another religion’s counterpart. DOR (HK) (talk) 02:01, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I mentioned the Vedas above; they are several centuries older than the Bible. --Jayron 32 11:42, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia has an article on the history of books.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 09:14, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

February 8

Hi. Can I ask question about hair removal on legs?

This is quite a personal question. I'm almost 38 year old autistic woman with mortor skill problems (eye hand coordination issues) and sensory issues and I have a relative who shaves my legs because I can't and i would like to have another option of removing the hair since my relative is somewhat older now. I tried getting the hair removed on my legs with laser treatment and it hurt like hell and that is no longer a option. I also tried hair removal cream and my relative said that didn't work and I don't want to get my legs waved because it would hurt me.I have also also tried an electric raser/razer (not sure how it's spelled. Please give me some options if possible. Thank you. 2001:569:5262:A00:D880:97A0:65EE:1059 (talk) 13:21, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It's spelt Razor. There are electric and manual ones. 81.187.116.230 (talk) 20:56, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Hair removal#Forms of hair removal and methods has some options. --Jayron 32 15:39, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I looked into this a little, and it sounds like you've tried some of these, but this is what I found:

Consider using hair removal cream, but test it on a small section of skin first as some people have reactions to them. Hair removal creams also have strong odor and unusual consistency, which could make them difficult to tolerate depending on your sensory sensitivities.
Consider using waxing or sugaring. Sugaring may be better for sensory sensitivities as some forms of wax are hot. It also seems to be preferred over wax for hair removal across large areas.
There are some products specifically designed specifically for people with disabilities such as the Gillette TREO. They appear to get good reviews. Some not designed specifically are still quite useful such as electric safety razors with dynamic grips, drop-proof, and water-proof. There's websites that offer reviews on products like these.

Sorry we couldn't be of more help! ––FormalDude talk 21:27, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I would note the epilator entry from the link Jayron shared. They may engage some fine motor skills somewhat comparable to a nonelectric razor but will be less harmful with any mistakes. The pain is generally lower than laser or waxing. 107.77.236.145 (talk)

February 9

Technical question, thanks

Hi. I make a trivial example; Jack Nicholson is considered by some the greatest living actor. Of course you can agree or disagree, this is not the point, but the fact that Nicholson himself has retired from the scenes, does this not undermine his "status" let's say? Thank you very much. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.97.42 (talk) 16:12, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This is a matter of opinion, of course, but I would say no. An accolade like 'greatest living actor' would be based on the past performances of actors that are still alive, regardless of whether or not those performances were recent. In my view the accolade belongs to Robert De Niro, and the fact that he's done a fair few turkeys in recent years doesn't detract from the greatness of his earlier roles. --Viennese Waltz 16:16, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Sure and in fact I wrote it; it's all debatable, of course. I personally would say Anthony Hopkins, but it's just my humble opinion. What counts is "being alive" in general, regardless of the works: past or not. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.97.42 (talk) 16:37, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I would concur; the qualifier here is "living" actor. That means that the person must 1) be known as an actor and 2) be alive. They don't actually have to be still acting. Compare to "greatest working actor". In that case, a retired actor would not qualify, since our qualifier is "working". --Jayron 32 17:25, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Agreed. I was going to comment that the working actor term was old-fashioned and maybe more tied to safely excluding the aging stars from Hollywood's golden age back in the 70s and 80s when they were retired but still alive. However, Google ngrams tells me that's not the case at all. Interestingly enough, I also tried greatest living actor and the pattern is not at all what I would have guessed. Who died in 1849 and left the world such a barren place? Matt Deres (talk) 19:07, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Has Nicholson declared his retirement, or has he just not worked for a while? --←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:34, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

A person who works in business is called a businessman. Once he retires, he no longer regards himself as a businessman, nor is he so regarded by others. He's a retiree. But actors who retire are not called retirees; they seem to retain their status as actors, even if qualified as "retired actor". Same with sportspeople. And politicians. Probably anyone who led a life in the public eye, and thus came to have their name indelibly associated with their profession. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:52, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Many mathematicians considered Alexander Grothendieck to be the greatest mathematician of the twentieth century,^[1] also after he became a recluse. Active 20th-century mathematicians who did not agree with that particular judgement still might agree he was the greatest retired mathematician of the twentieth century. :) --Lambiam 13:12, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
- James Cagney is an example of an actor who retired but whose acting career was not over. --←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:55, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
- A businessman who retires becomes a retired businessman. --Jayron32 13:04, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  - In some sectors, they prefer the term "former farmer"! I know, pathetic. But by 1949 standards, come on, am I right? InedibleHulk (talk) 06:17, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
    - Here's Johnny! MinorProphet (talk) 03:22, 12 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Who died in 1849? Marie Dorval, the love of George Sand's life, apparently. "J'aime le son du cor, le soir, au fond des bois..." Vas-y, Roland. MinorProphet (talk) 03:22, 12 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Voting system in the UK

How does the vote of no confidence work in the UK? Is it paper-based, i.e. paper ballot where you place a cross? If so it should be the same for the vote of confidence, and for the vote designating a candidate for the leadership of a Party. Is my reasoning correct? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.97.42 (talk) 17:28, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

See Motions of no confidence in the United Kingdom. WP:WHAAOE. --Jayron 32 17:35, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The practical part of the vote is determined by members of the House of Commons voting by the lobby system. [More information on how that works here] Richard Avery (talk) 22:39, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The leadership of a party is decided by the party itself.

The current system of electing the Leader of the Conservative Party consists of two stages:

• Conservative Members of Parliament select a choice of two candidates to present to the membership of the whole Party;

• Party members vote, on a "one member one vote" basis, for their preferred candidate from a shortlist of two.

Leadership elections: Conservative Party. Alansplodge (talk) 12:32, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This process can be triggered like this:

Conservative Party MPs can initiate a no confidence vote in the leader when 15% (54 MPs) of Conservative MPs write to the chair of the party’s 1922 Committee (a committee representing backbench Conservative MPs). [2]

This is quite different from a vote of no confidence in Parliament, in which all MPs can participate. Alansplodge (talk) 12:39, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This confirms that the vote for a Conservative Party leader is indeed a secret ballot. Alansplodge (talk) 18:06, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The current speculation is on the Conservative back-benchers calling a Vote of no Confidence in Boris Johnson as Conservative leader. Keir Starmer (Labour leader) could call one in Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. However, that is harder to get passed, and generally results in the Tory back-benchers railing around their PM. LongHairedFop (talk) 15:19, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

They've been railing at him quite a lot lately. Maybe you meant "rallying". -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:53, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It's not railing around him he needs, it's a bloody great prison wall. DuncanHill (talk) 21:21, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

February 10

orange cats in history

What is the earliest known depiction or mention of an orange cat? Of the domestic cats in medieval illustrations, are they ever other than grey tabby? —Tamfang (talk) 09:08, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Some information at A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals (p. 136):

There is little or no information from the literature or from early pictoral representations to indicate how ancient the four main groups of cats are: these being the two main types of tabby, the single-coloured black or white, and the sex-linked orange (marmalade and tortoiseshell).

Alansplodge (talk) 12:24, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This will be of interest, though precise dates on the paintings are often missing. Matt Deres (talk) 16:36, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Not an answer to the question, but I can't resist mentioning that John Aubrey said "I do well remember that the common English cat was white with some bluish piedness, that is a gallipot blue". DuncanHill (talk) 18:52, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This picture circa 1200, may be of an orange cat. --Jayron 32 19:17, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

As a side note, does anyone know if the European wildcat, the wild species from which the modern housecat was domesticated, has orange fur as a variant? If it's a wild-type variant, one may expect it to show up in the earliest domestic varieties too? Maybe? --Jayron 32 19:15, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know, though I'll note that the pictures in the article and on Commons, while definitely not orange in the sense that Jorts is orange, are also not simply grey or brown; there's a lot of different colours mixed in there. See Agouti (coloration) for more on this. Matt Deres (talk) 20:02, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Tamfang, Abigail Tucker's The Lion in the Living Room says that "evidence suggests that house cats' coats began to vary only in the last millennium or so...the first evidence of changing coats, Driscoll says, comes from a medical writer who mentions it about AD 600." That's this Dr. Carlos Driscoll, it might be worth looking through his publications. Sources cited: Driscol et al, The Taming of the Cat, Scientific American, June 2009 and James Serpell Domestication and History of the Cat in The Domestic Cat: the Biology of its Behaviour. And that "feline genetics suggest that, around AD 1000, [Vikings] took a shine to the orange cats they found near the Black Sea and spirited them off" to Northern Europe. Direct citation is to "Neil B. Todd, Cats and Commerce, Scientific American, 1977". It's a great book. Blythwood (talk) 22:43, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

While I'm not certain it's accurate, our article Evolution of the domesticated cat suggests it's now believed that the domestic cat arose ?largely from the Egyptian and Near Eastern populations of the African wildcat. (Althoughy also suggests it may have been in South-west Asia.) Cat#Domestication says something similar. Although European wildcat does seem to suggest phylogenies differ depending on whether your looking at nuclear or mitochondiral DNA. Then again, I'm not sure it makes much difference, I don't see any orange in the photos for African wildcats either. While not relating to colour, our domestication article mentions "The blotched tabby cat trait (Aminopeptidase Q mutation) arg similar. OTOH, European wildcat does suggest a difference between phylogenetic analyses of nuclear DNA or mitoose in the Middle Ages. Wild-type cats have a mackerel pattern". Nil Einne (talk) 14:22, 12 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I am surprised and delighted to see so many good replies so quickly. —Tamfang (talk) 23:13, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

February 14

Stratford Downtown, Connecticut

Moin. I hope this counts as miscellaneous: Can anyone in the know enlighten me regarding how Stratford Downtown CDP GNIS relates to the former Stratford CDP (historical), as referenced in GNIS? It would be of special interest if these CDP are identical and just an administrative modification, or whether there's actual differences in dimensions and location. Background is that there's an attempt at the de:wp to update WD-objects referring to places in the US with current FIPS-codes, and the question had arisen if the respective objects of those two CDPs can be united, or the older one deleted, or properly none of the above. Regards, --G-41614 (talk) 13:48, 14 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@@ Line 101: / Line 101: @@
 = February 14 =
+== [[Stratford Downtown, Connecticut]] ==
+Moin. I hope this counts as miscellaneous: Can anyone in the know enlighten me regarding how Stratford Downtown CDP [https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/summary/2805059 GNIS] relates to the former Stratford CDP (historical), as referenced in [https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/0b8b7a9a-e9da-51b5-9b37-61b8e69b7ea4/summary GNIS]? It would be of special interest if these CDP are identical and just an administrative modification, or whether there's actual differences in dimensions and location. Background is that there's an attempt at the de:wp to update WD-objects referring to places in the US with current FIPS-codes, and the question had arisen if the respective objects of those two CDPs can be united, or the older one deleted, or properly none of the above. Regards, --[[User:G-41614|G-41614]] ([[User talk:G-41614|talk]]) 13:48, 14 February 2022 (UTC)