Random trivia

One of the problems in comparing closely-related Indo-Europeans languages is that many of them have near-cognates with one another. The lines between Latin, German, French, and Old English, when compared to modern English, are so obscured due to centuries of borrowing and inter-communication.

Perhaps I should've been more specific. I should have asked about the verbs in the speech; "fight" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, while "surrender", as has been pointed out, is of foriegn origin.

When listening to the speech (try to find a recording...it's bone-chilling!), you can see how Churchill emphasizes the words 'fight' and 'surrender' more than others, implying a comparison between the two.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-IronDuke+Sep 6 2005, 04:47 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(IronDuke @ Sep 6 2005, 04:47 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]When listening to the speech (try to find a recording...it's bone-chilling!), you can see how Churchill emphasizes the words 'fight' and 'surrender' more than others, implying a comparison between the two.
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I cannot but agree, it's a brilliant speech. Hence my posts above, about poetry declamation or even enchantment.
 
What is the first thing this Assyrian carving tells us?

[img src=\'http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/gaddis/HST210/Sept12/Ashurbanipal%20Kills%20Lion.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\' /]
 
There were lions in Assyria in the Antiquity. I think it was a subspecies which is now extinct.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-syl+Sep 8 2005, 10:21 AM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(syl @ Sep 8 2005, 10:21 AM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]There were lions in Assyria in the Antiquity. I think it was a subspecies which is now  extinct.
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Damn, I was hoping you'd all think too complicated for this easy puzzle.
Good job, syl [!--emo&:)--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/smile.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'smile.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
In China there numerous "revolutions" throughout the country's long history. The ruling dynasty was completely overthrown when it became ineffectual and replaced by a new royal line. In Japan the royal line was merely pushed aside by shoguns or other courtly officials, but allowed to go on retaining the title of emperor. How do you account for this difference?
 
It has to do with the stronger local gov't in Japan, which allowed for various Shogunates to take over during the interim period. Also, in Japan, the Emperor was far more of a holy symbol than the Emperor in China. To overthrow the Emperor would be to deny his divinity - indeed, it's part of the entire Shinto faith structure. So when the Emperors stopped being fit to rule, the various Japanese daimyo and shoguns just made him a puppet.
 
That's right, dude.
The emperor was thought to be the direct descendant of Amatarasu, the sun goddess, and therefore couldn't be overthrown without risking the wrath. In China, according to Confucian beliefs, the emperor had a 'divine mandate' which expired every so often and hence could be overthrown if incompetant. Dynastic cycles rather than linear unbroken rule was the norm.
 
This is a rather open question. What can you tell me about these two critters:

[img src=\'http://www.kostich.com/lion_cub10.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\' /]

[img src=\'http://animals.timduru.org/dirlist/panther/BlackPanther04gt-cub.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\' /]

Some basic questions: What do they have in common? What is different between them? What else relates them? What can you think of?
 
They're both feline cubs, and INCREDIBLY cute.
The first is a baby lion, I think. The second is definately a panther.
Both species are endangered, or at least threatened.
In their natural habitats, both are the dominant predators.

Did I mention they're SOOOOOO CUTE?
 
[!--QuoteBegin-IronDuke+Sep 14 2005, 02:31 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(IronDuke @ Sep 14 2005, 02:31 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]They're both feline cubs, and INCREDIBLY cute.[/quote]

Correct.

[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]The first is a baby lion, I think. The second is definately a panther.[/quote]

Correct.

[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Both species are endangered, or at least threatened. [/quote]

Correct.

[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]In their natural habitats, both are the dominant predators.[/quote]

Correct.

[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Did I mention they're SOOOOOO CUTE?[/quote]

Yes, but you're right.

Still, you missed the most important thing I've been looking for.

A little hint: What is odd about the lion cub?
 
Right observation, wrong conclusion.

Help yourself: What's a black panther?
 
A variaton of Panthera pardus (leopard)

Are you getting at the fact that both these particular kitties are the product of a pigment variation?
This lion is all white due to lack of melanin, the panther is black due to having alot of it?
 
That's it [!--emo&:)--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/smile.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'smile.gif\' /][!--endemo--]

You correctly identified the black panther as a melanism. How do you call the lions case?
 
I don't know what the technical term is (Maverick will tell us when he sees this, I hope!), but I've always just refered to it as Albinism.
 
No, Albinism isn't correct. I'll leave that open for anyone who feels like answering [!--emo&:P--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
[!--QuoteBegin-IronDuke+Sep 14 2005, 02:31 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(IronDuke @ Sep 14 2005, 02:31 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Did I mention they're SOOOOOO CUTE?
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Yes you did, but you forgot to point out that Perun is obsessed by lions

Another thing is that white lions and black panthers shouldn't be considered as subspecies. Their color is due to a small variation in the genes . The gene for white coloring is recessive therefore you can have white and tawny lions within a family.
Black panthers produce more melanin than the other panther but again it's a small variation in the genes.

And finally they're sooooooooo cute !


edit : my answer comes a bit late
 
[!--QuoteBegin-syl+Sep 14 2005, 03:10 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(syl @ Sep 14 2005, 03:10 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Yes you did, but you forgot to point out that Perun is obsessed by lions
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Ironically, the black panther is and has always been my favourite animal [!--emo&:P--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
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