Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Talk:Cyprus

2009-07-30T21:49:56Z

Davidklein:

This page, and many other country pages on Conservapedia, seems to have been largely copied wholesale from the US Department of State website ([http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5376.htm here]) and has only tiny snippets of the original Conservapedia article. The article is now somewhat out of date, so my question is: should this page (and the others that are out of date) be re-copied from the DoS website or should Conservapedia editors be updating the pages themselves?

Is it even right that the concise versions of these pages have been replaced by the DoS text, when we could simply put a link at the bottom of the page saying something like, "For further information, please see [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5376.htm here.]"? [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 07:05, 29 December 2008 (EST)
:Anybody? [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 08:26, 16 February 2009 (EST)
::''Crickets'' [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 08:42, 5 May 2009 (EDT)
:::''Tumbleweed'' [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 17:49, 30 July 2009 (EDT)

Talk:Cyprus

2009-05-05T12:42:25Z

Davidklein: Crickets

Talk:Cyprus

2009-02-16T13:26:06Z

Davidklein:

Talk:The Ashes

2009-02-09T14:12:53Z

Davidklein:

==Ball or Bails?==
I seem to recall reading that it was the bails of the stumps that were burnt to make the Ashes, not the ball? --[[User:JessicaT|KotomiT]][[User talk:JessicaT|''nandeyanen?'']] 08:14, 9 February 2009 (EST)

Yes, it was indeed the bails, not the ball.
:Good catch, KotomiT! [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 08:41, 9 February 2009 (EST)

Ah! But it would appear as if we have all been misled. According to the ref I added to the article, it says "In 1982 evidence was brought forward suggesting that the Ashes were those of a '''ball''' and were presented to Bligh by Sir William Clarke in a ceremony BEFORE the Test series."
Another childhood myth goes down the tubes. --[[User:JessicaT|KotomiT]][[User talk:JessicaT|''nandeyanen?'']] 08:44, 9 February 2009 (EST)
:I'll have to look into this later on, as I'm working right now, but it seems there is some controversy about the origination of the actual ashes. As you say, we've all (in particular the British and Aussies) been brought up to believe they came from the bails, just as we've all been brought up to believe that rugby started because some cheating soccer player called William Webb Ellis decided to pick the ball up (also controversial!). [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 09:12, 9 February 2009 (EST)

The Ashes

2009-02-09T13:43:09Z

Davidklein:

'''The Ashes''' is a [[cricket]] series of test matches played between [[England]] and [[Australia]]. It dates back to 1882 and is currently played once every two years. It is named the Ashes because the teams compete to retain a small urn containing the ashes of the bails from the stumps used in a 19th century match between [[England]] and [[Australia]].

Following England's defeat by Australia in 1882, the Sporting Times published a mock obituary, which read "In Affectionate Remembrance of English Cricket Which Died At The Oval on 29th August 1882, Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia."<ref>http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ABOUT_CRICKET/HISTORY/ASHES_ORIG_1882.html</ref>

The series alternates between being hosted in England and Australia, and is due to be played in England in 2009.

Australia currently hold the ashes following their victory in 2006/2007.

==Also see==

*[[Cricket (game)|Cricket]]
*[[Cricket World Cup]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Sports]]

Talk:The Ashes

2009-02-09T13:41:33Z

Davidklein:

User talk:Davidklein

2009-01-29T15:20:08Z

Davidklein: Undo revision 593927 by Davidklein (Talk)

{{Welcome|sig=[[User:TK|şyŝoρ-₮K]][[User_Talk:TK|/Ṣρёаќǃ]] 15:09, 8 November 2007 (EST)}}

Neutral point of view

2009-01-29T14:54:34Z

Davidklein: Undo revision 616036 by HWessel Parodist senses twitching over this edit

'''Neutral point of view''' (NPOV) is a [[Wikipedia]] [[guideline]] which proved to be infected with [[liberal bias]] in its application.
Beginning around 2004, it has functioned to [[censor]] information about conservative points of view.

The original intent, when first expounded by [[Jimbo Wales]] and [[Larry Sanger]], was to prevent any article from presenting exclusively one point of view on any controversial subject. However, influential cliques eventually found that they could suppress minority viewpoints with the "undue weight" provision. The members of these cliques would claim that by giving attention to a "fringe" viewpoint, an article would give "equal validity" to POV. In practice, this functioned the same as University [[speech codes]] to prevent opposing viewpoints from being described fairly - which directly contradicts NPOV.

[[category:Wikipedia]]

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

2009-01-29T14:45:39Z

Davidklein: Indeed. Why hide his full name...

The '''Economic stimulus package''' is a 2009 bill by president [[Barack Obama|Barack Hussein Obama]] and the Democratic leadership in Congress to spend $819 billion or more dollars to revive an ailing U.S. economy, battered by the [[Recession of 2008]]. It includes $275 billion in tax cuts, and the rest for spending on a very wide variety of projects.<ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29assess.html?hp David M. Herszenhorn, "Stimulus Package’s Components Vary in Speed and Efficiency," ''New York Times'' Jan. 28, 2009]</ref>

"The strategy under this bill is to throw billions of dollars in every bureaucratic direction, and cross our fingers and hope for the best," said Rep. Ken Calvert (R., Calif.) during debate. Rep. David Obey (D., Wis.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, responded, "We need to compare the cost of this package against the cost of doing nothing. The cost of nothing would be catastrophic."<ref> See [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123315486943524321.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy Jonathan Weisman, Greg Hitt And Naftali Bendavid, "House Passes Stimulus Package; $819 Billion Jolt to Economy Aims to Reshape Education, Health Care; Deficit to Soar," ''Wall Street Journal'' Jan. 29, 2009]</ref>

The stimulus package is aimed at preventing the economy from collapsing and restoring it to normal. Conservative critics claims it will do little to help the economy and is filled with non-essential spending. The [[Congressional Budget Office]] says $347 billion more in interest will be the result, which brings the total plan over 1 [[trillion]] dollars. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/28/special-groups-line-piece-stimulus/ Special-Interest Groups Line Up for a Piece of Stimulus] Fox News, January 28, 2009</ref>

House Republicans proposed a stimulus bill tilted more sharply toward tax cuts, which they say will generate the most economic activity the fastest. Their substitute proposed cutting individual and business taxes as well as reducing much of the bill’s spending; it was rejected by a party-line vote of 170-266. The failed GOP measure totaled about $479 billion, a little more than half the total passed by the Democrats.

The 2009 bill includes tax rebates that resemble in part the $152 billion stimulus law proposed by President [[George W. Bush]] and passed by Congress in Feb. 2008; those rebates were mostly saved and failed to stimulate the economy in 2008. <ref>see [http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0631744820080208 Reuters, Feb. 8, 2008]</ref>

==House==
The House of Representative passed the economic stimulus package January 28, 2009 by a vote of 244-188, and now the bill heads for the U.S. Senate. All Republicans cast a no vote as did eleven Democrats. It is expected the Senate will increase the amounts allocated for tax cuts.

==Non Essential==
The people in charge of spending tax dollars are set to spend like never before and special interest groups are poised to be the recipients. Some of the 'stimulus' works proposed;

* $25 million for new ATV trails
* $400 million for the [[National Endowment for the Arts]]
* $400 million for global warming research
* $30 billion has been set aside for infrastructure spending
* $200 million for Dep. of Defense to acquire alternative energy vehicles.
* $1.5 billion for a CO2 Reductions
* $3.5 billion for higher education facilities
* $400 million for [[HIV]] and chlamydia testing
* $150 million for The Smithsonian
* $81 billion for [[Medicaid]]
* $36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits
* $20 billion for food stamps
* $83 billion for the earned income credit.
* $54 billion will go to federal programs Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration, the 10 federal job training programs
* $66 billion for education
* $650 million coupons to subsidize digital television conversion<ref>addref</ref>
* $572 million for Coast Guard improvements <ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2009/01/28/stimulus-stupidity-alert-460000coast-guard-job-15-bil-carbon-capturing-contest-more/ Stimulus stupidity alert] Michelle Malkin,January 28, 2009</ref>

Items removed from the House bill
* $200 million for new contraceptive service
* $20 million to renovate the National Mall

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:Business]]

Neutral point of view

2009-01-29T14:36:14Z

Davidklein: /* See also */

User talk:Petertatchell23

2009-01-16T16:26:29Z

Davidklein:

Can you prove Linux has a "liberal goal"? [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 10:25, 16 January 2009 (EST)

Are you ''the '' Peter Tatchell? [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 11:26, 16 January 2009 (EST)

GNU/Linux

2009-01-01T14:33:26Z

Davidklein: /* Linux Pre-Installed */

[[Image:Tuxie.jpg|thumb|right|"Tux", the Linux mascot|90px]]
The Linux [[kernel]] that communicates with the hardware, supporting many other software components (such as the graphical user interface, file system and media players), but those who are unaware of or not concerned about the history of the project commonly used "Linux" to refer to the whole operating system. The Linux kernel was developed by Finnish grad student [[Linus Torvalds]].

Linux distinguishes itself from other operating systems such as UNIX and [[Microsoft Windows]] in that the [[source code]] is distributed freely under various [[open source]] licenses. In essence, this means that anybody can modify the code to their needs, and that the development of Linux happens in an open community, rather than in a closed commercial environment. Any improvements to the code will be contributed to the community, and any software that is based upon viral licenses will be, in turn, licenses under these. The Linux kernel itself is licensed under the GNU [[General Public License]] (GPL).

Linux is also different to the closed source operating system vendors in that the software is distributed by many different companies. Major Linux distributions include [http://www.redhat.com/ Red Hat], [http://www.novell.com/linux/ SUSE], [http://www.debian.org/ Debian] and [http://www.ubuntu.com/ Ubuntu]. There are literally hundreds of Linux distributions as can be seen on [http://distrowatch.com DistroWatch.com].

Numerous sources<ref>[http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/index.php?p=210 Intellectual Property - Left?]</ref> <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/daviderickson/718933691/]</ref>, including Steve Balmer<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/ MS' Ballmer: Linux is communism]</ref>, one of the driving minds behind the success of Microsoft, have claimed that the Open Source movement is inherently Communist. Both Open Source and Communism shun the idea of personal property, instead favoring a communal ownership where no single entity has control or authority.

In 2005 [http://www.forbes.com/ Forbes.com] posted [http://www.forbes.com/2005/03/15/cz_dl_0315linux_print.html an article] estimating Linux ran 60% of the world's top supercomputers at that time. In 2003 the [[IBM]] Linux Technology Center [http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-rel/?ca=dgr-lnxw01LTP concluded] that Linux has enterprise class reliability. Linux servers can run without reboot for years as can usually be seen at the [http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/today/top.avg.html Longest uptimes] URL on [http://www.netcraft.com/ Netcraft.com]. Another location to check on Linux uptime statistics is the [http://counter.li.org/reports/uptimestats.php Machine uptimes] page at [http://counter.li.org/ Linux Counter].

Owing to the nature of open source software, many variants of a Linux distribution may be created by using the original code and making changes to it to suit a particular need. For example, there is also a [[Ubuntu]] [[Christian]] Edition.<ref>[http://www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/christianubuntu/2006/07/about-ubuntu-christian-edition.html Ubuntu Christian Edition]</ref>

[[Image:Gnomesword large.png|right|thumb|250px|Screenshot of Ubuntu Christian Edition.]]

It is likely that Linux is becoming one of the most commonly adopted operating systems in the world. However, this is difficult to quantify with hard evidence since most Linux distributions are given away for "free" and there are few sales records or marketing numbers to review. While personal computers in the United States and other "first world nations" still overwhelmingly use [[Microsoft]] operating systems such as Windows XP, Linux is a common choice for web servers, file servers and embedded platforms, thanks to its perceived reliability, low/no cost, and the fact that modifications to the source code can readily be made by anyone.

As an example, in March of 2007 the server hosting the the Conservapedia web site was running the Linux operating system<ref>[http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://www.conservapedia.com NetCraft site report for Conservapedia.com]</ref>

==Linux Pre-Installed==
From its inception, and with exception of the server market, it was difficult to find new computers available with Linux pre-installed. Users typically have to download the Linux distribution of their choice and install it on a computer themselves, slowing the increase in computers using a desktop version of Linux, as many home computer users find installing an operating system a difficult task. This situation drastically changed in 2007 when [[Dell]] started selling laptop and desktop computers to the general public with Linux pre-installed<ref>[http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/alliances/en/linux?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz Dell and Linux]</ref>.

During 2008, a new type of low cost laptop computer, the "netbook" was introduced by most of the major manufacturers. To keep costs down, Linux was offered on most of the lines as an alternative to Windows XP (Windows Vista being unable to run on the low powered computers), bringing Linux into the mainstream for the first time.

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.kernel.org/ The Linux Kernel Archives]
*[http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/Main_Page The Linux Foundation]

[[Category:Information technology]]

Sam Sparrow

2008-12-29T14:14:52Z

Davidklein: New page: Sam Sparrow is an Australian born, British-based singer-songwriter, who scored a massive hit in the European charts with his debut single ''Black and Gold'', released in 2008. His ...

Sam Sparrow is an [[Australian]] born, [[British]]-based singer-songwriter, who scored a massive hit in the European charts with his debut single ''Black and Gold'', released in 2008. His self-titled debut album, also released in 2008, reached the top ten in the UK album charts.

''Black and Gold'' is a highly evangelical song, on the theme of [[creationism]].

==External Link==
*[http://www.samsparro.com/ Official Site]

[[Category: Christian Singers]]
[[Category: Christians]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparrow, Sam}}

Talk:Cyprus

2008-12-29T12:05:06Z

Davidklein: Question about updating geographical/geo-political pages.

User talk:Davidklein

2008-12-25T13:56:56Z

Davidklein: Merry Christmas!

{{Welcome|sig=[[User:TK|şyŝoρ-₮K]][[User_Talk:TK|/Ṣρёаќǃ]] 15:09, 8 November 2007 (EST)}}
For whoever may be online, I'd just like to wish you a Merry Christmas from the UK :-) [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 08:56, 25 December 2008 (EST)

Jainism

2008-12-19T13:09:21Z

Davidklein:

'''Jainism''' is an [[Atheistic]] [[religion]], and which some consider (incorrectly) a branch of [[Hinduism]], which stresses extreme non-violence towards all life. Jainism is a [[Dharmic religion]]. Jainism was founded by [[Mahavira]], who taught self-denial and non-violence toward all forms of life. Jainism's strict rules of non-violence, non-possessiveness, chastity, non-theft, and truth<ref>http://www.angelfire.com/co/jainism/5vows.html</ref> caused it to lose popularity, but today it has over 4 million adherents worldwide. Jainism rejects the authority of the Vedas, sacred scriptures of Hinduism.

Jainism and Hinduism have coexisted for thousands of years, and so there are similarities in customs and religious holidays between the religions. Furthermore, the Buddha is reverred as a holy symbol, and most Jain homes will have a Buddha figurine or picture looking over the living area in the beliefe that it will bring prosperity.

The swastica is also a holy symbol for Jains, but is in no way connected with the Nazi swastica.

==Jainism and the Mauryan Empire==

Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire was unusual because he was Jainist. He was the first emperor of India to be converted to Jainism and was frowned upon by the Hindu priests. When he was older, Chandragupta renounced his throne and joined a wandering group of Jainist monks. Chadragupta’s example had no effect on the people, his successor, Emperor Bindusara, was Hindu.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Jainism]]
[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]

Nottingham

2008-12-19T12:55:26Z

Davidklein: /* Modern Nottingham */

[[Image:Nottingham.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Nottingham Council House]]
'''Nottingham''' is [[England]]'s eighth largest city with a population of 275,100. The Nottingham Urban Area conurbation has a population of 666,358. With the exception of [[London]], it is the largest [[British]] city to that was signicant before the [[industrial revolution]]. It lies roughly in the centre of England. It is the traditional county town of the county of [[Nottinghamshire]].

==History==

Nottingham was founded by the [[Celts]], before the [[Roman]] invasion of the 1st century AD, who knew it as ''Tigguo Cobauc'', meaning 'Place of Cave Dwellings'. This name is derived from the cave houses which the local inhabitants cut into the soft sandsone rocks and cliffs in the city. An Anglo Saxon city was built around where the Church of St Mary stands, on a low cliff in the Lace Market area of the city. Part of Danish controlled East [[Mercia]] after the treaty of Wedmore, it grew in importance as a Danish ([[viking]]) stronghold during the 9th Century, and was known as Snotingaham ("the homestead of Snot's people"), possibly named after a Norse leader. After the [[Norman]] Conquest of England in 1066, [[William the Conqueror]] had an imposing fortress, Nottingham Castle, built on top of a neighbouring cliff top and for a while, an English town and a [[French]] town grew. It is during this period of history that the legends of [[Robin Hood]] are set, focusing on the repression of the Anglo-Danish inhabitants of the Old City by the Norman nobility in the new French City. Nottingham Castle became one of Englands most important Royal fortresses, but was largely destroyed after the [[English Civil War]], by supporters of the [[Parliament]]. A new castle was constructed on the site in the 18th Century by the Duke of Portland, which was destroyed by [[Luddite]] rioters. The remains of this building now house the Nottingham City art gallery.
Nottingham grew rapidly during the industrial revolution and became one of the worlds most important [[lace]] manufacturing centres. Other important industries included [[Coal Mining]], and the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and bicycles. Nottingham was bombed during the second world war, though many of its historic quarters have survived intact, the focus of air raids having been the industrial areas.

==Modern Nottingham==

Nottingham today is a thriving commercial centre and is the largest conurbation in the East Midlands Region. It is regarded as one of the top shopping destinations in the UK. It is well served by public transport to London (rail journeys take around two hours). East Midlands Airport is a minor international airport which serves mainly European destinations.
Major industries include pharmaceuticals and service industries. Nottingham is home to the UK Inland Revenue, international organisations such as Boots, Experian and Games Workshop, and the European Headquarters of several US and East Asian Corporations, such as Capital One.
Nottingham boasts two [[University|universities]], the British National Watersports Centre, and the British National Ice Arena, as well as several theatres, concert halls and conference centres, and the worlds oldest public house, [[Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.]]
Nottingham has a [[Catholic]] Cathedral. The Anglican ([[Church of England]]) Cathedral for [[Nottinghamshire]] lies in the nearby town of [[Southwell]]. The Ancestral Home of Lord [[Byron]], [[Newstead Abbey]] lies nearby.

[[Category:United Kingdom Cities and Towns]]

The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

2008-12-18T20:18:16Z

Davidklein: /* Adaptations to other media */

'''''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''''' is a [[science fiction]] comedy series, a series of books, CDs, computer games and stage shows, a TV series and a feature film, created by the author [[Douglas Adams]]. It was originally broadcast as six-part radio series on BBC Radio 4 in 1978. Since that time, it has existed in a number of different formats, and has become an international phenomenon. Its title is often abbreviated by fans as ''HHGTTG'', or ''H2G2''. The novel is famous for the number forty-two, which plays a prominent part in the story, and has entered popular culture as the answer to "life, the universe and everything".

==Plot==
The story follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, who wakes up one morning to find that his house is about to be demolished to make way for a bypass. His friend, Ford Prefect (who turns out to be a human looking alien from a small planet in the vicinity of [[Betelgeuse]]), takes him to the pub and informs him that he shouldn't worry about his house being demolished, as the whole Earth is about to be destroyed. Before Arthur has time to take this in, he finds that the Earth has been destroyed by a fleet of Vogon spacecraft to make way for a new hyperspace bypass, and that he and Ford Prefect are on board the Vogon spaceship, having "hitched" a lift.

The story then follows Arthur, Ford and other companions they come across (including the only other human survivor from the Earth) through a series of comedic encounters. Later they stumble upon the realization that the Earth was, in fact, a giant supercomputer designed to work out the ultimate question to life the universe, and everything.

Throughout the story, Arthur Dent, still dressed in the bed clothes he was wearing before escaping the Earth, is trying to find out how to get a nice cup of tea, just like the quintessential English man he is. This trait, amongst others, appears to perplex all of the alien life forms he meets.

==Characters==
*'''Arthur Dent''': An ordinary Englishman who finds himself wandering the universe never quite knowing what is going on
*'''Ford Prefect''': A human-looking alien who named himself after the car of the same name in order to appear very ordinary while on Earth.
*'''Zaphod Beeblebox''': The president of the entire universe, criminal and who has two heads which occasionally argue with one another
*'''Trillian McMillan''': The only other human survivor from Earth
*'''Marvin the android''': A very depressed android who spends most of his time trying to demoralize the people around him

==The Books==

''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', comprising "a trilogy in five parts", are called:
*The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
*The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
*Life, the Universe and Everything
*So Long and Thanks for all the Fish
*Mostly Harmless

==Adaptations to other media==
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy originated as a radio play, which was then adapted into the first two novels. They were then adapted as a TV series by the BBC to mixed results. While they were popular at the time, Douglas Adams was never happy with the TV version, and they have aged very badly due to their dated special effects.

Three further novels were then written to continue the story of Arthur Dent. During this time, Adams made considerable effort over many years to have the story adapted into a film. The film was eventually made and was released in 2005, although Adams was not alive to see the result having died in 2001. The film itself received mixed reviews.

==Links==
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/ BBC Website for HHGTTG]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/ H2G2 Website ]
[[Category:Novels|Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

2008-12-18T20:10:45Z

Davidklein:

'''''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''''' is a [[science fiction]] comedy series, a series of books, CDs, computer games and stage shows, a TV series and a feature film, created by the author [[Douglas Adams]]. It was originally broadcast as six-part radio series on BBC Radio 4 in 1978. Since that time, it has existed in a number of different formats, and has become an international phenomenon. Its title is often abbreviated by fans as ''HHGTTG'', or ''H2G2''. The novel is famous for the number forty-two, which plays a prominent part in the story, and has entered popular culture as the answer to "life, the universe and everything".

==Plot==
The story follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, who wakes up one morning to find that his house is about to be demolished to make way for a bypass. His friend, Ford Prefect (who turns out to be a human looking alien from a small planet in the vicinity of [[Betelgeuse]]), takes him to the pub and informs him that he shouldn't worry about his house being demolished, as the whole Earth is about to be destroyed. Before Arthur has time to take this in, he finds that the Earth has been destroyed by a fleet of Vogon spacecraft to make way for a new hyperspace bypass, and that he and Ford Prefect are on board the Vogon spaceship, having "hitched" a lift.

The story then follows Arthur, Ford and other companions they come across (including the only other human survivor from the Earth) through a series of comedic encounters. Later they stumble upon the realization that the Earth was, in fact, a giant supercomputer designed to work out the ultimate question to life the universe, and everything.

Throughout the story, Arthur Dent, still dressed in the bed clothes he was wearing before escaping the Earth, is trying to find out how to get a nice cup of tea, just like the quintessential English man he is. This trait, amongst others, appears to perplex all of the alien life forms he meets.

==Characters==
*'''Arthur Dent''': An ordinary Englishman who finds himself wandering the universe never quite knowing what is going on
*'''Ford Prefect''': A human-looking alien who named himself after the car of the same name in order to appear very ordinary while on Earth.
*'''Zaphod Beeblebox''': The president of the entire universe, criminal and who has two heads which occasionally argue with one another
*'''Trillian McMillan''': The only other human survivor from Earth
*'''Marvin the android''': A very depressed android who spends most of his time trying to demoralize the people around him

==The Books==

''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', comprising "a trilogy in five parts", are called:
*The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
*The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
*Life, the Universe and Everything
*So Long and Thanks for all the Fish
*Mostly Harmless

==Adaptations to other media==
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has spawned many derivative works, from radio plays to a feature film.

==Links==
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/ BBC Website for HHGTTG]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/ H2G2 Website ]
[[Category:Novels|Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

2008-12-18T20:04:02Z

Davidklein: 42

The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

2008-12-18T20:02:10Z

Davidklein: /* Plot */

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2008-12-18T14:57:44Z

Davidklein: Redirecting to The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

#REDIRECT [[The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_The_Galaxy]]

Talk:The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

2008-12-18T14:55:13Z

Davidklein:

I don't mind keeping this seminal work by [[Douglas Adams]] separate from his bio. I enjoyed the computer game tremendously in the mid-1980s, and his wry humor has elements of satire that should not be missed. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 09:40, 18 December 2008 (EST)
:Suggested text to be merged from a duplicate article. I'll look at it myself when I get home this evening, but for now I must get back to work...

::The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a humorous radio play written by [[Douglas Adams]] and first broadcast by the BBC in the 1970s. It was later published as a novel and spawned four sequels, as well as being made into a television series and eventually a film.

::The story starts with the Earth being destroyed by aliens called The Vogons, who were clearing the way through the solar system for an interstellar highway. The sole human survivor, Arthur Dent, with his human-looking alien friend, Ford Prefect and Ford Prefect's cousin, Zaphod Beeblebrox then endure a series of comedic adventures and colorful characters. Later they stumble upon the realisation that the Earth was, in fact, a giant supercomputer designed to work out the ultimate question to life the universe, and everything.

::All the while, Arthur Dent, still dressed in the bed clothes he was wearing before escaping the Earth, is trying to find out how to get a nice cup of tea, just like the quintessential English man he is. This trait, amongst others, appears to perplex all of the alien life forms he meets.

::The title of the story refers to a Conservapedia-like online encyclopedia, carried by Ford Prefect that contains information on just about anything in the universe.

::The novel, and its sequels, ''The Restaurant at the End of the Universe'', ''Life the Universe and Everything'', ''So Long and Thanks for All the Fish'' and ''Mostly Harmless'' were all hugely successful, while the TV series and the film versions were criticised for their poor realisations of the story. Afficionados of the material claim that the original radio plays were the best versions.

:The current article seems like a good basis to start from, in any case. [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 09:55, 18 December 2008 (EST)

Talk:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2008-12-18T14:45:20Z

Davidklein:

Hi,
I respectfully disagree with merging this with [[Douglas Adams]] as the novels are quite notable in their own right, with large followings across the globe.

I would retract that, though, if it is the standard thing on Conservapedia to merge articles about novels with their respective writers.

I just checked something, and there are currently 69 separate articles on Star Wars novels, and I'd argue that they are far less notable than HGTG. [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 09:30, 18 December 2008 (EST)

:I agree - I would not merge it with Doulas Adams either. But - we already have: [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy]], so no point in having two of the same article. --[[User:JessicaT|KotomiT]][[User talk:JessicaT|''ohayougozaimasu'']] 09:34, 18 December 2008 (EST)
::My apologies, I misread the merge piece (on my monitor, the wiki link to Douglas Adams appears right below it - that'll teach me to scan read!).
::I'd done a search for the H2G2 before I created the article, and it came up with no hits. That and the fact that the Douglas Adams article didn't link to the article either (until I put the link in) meant that I just assumed that it didn't exist.
::So, of course, I agree with the merge, or else delete this version outright. [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 09:45, 18 December 2008 (EST)

Talk:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2008-12-18T14:30:53Z

Davidklein: New page: Hi, I respectfully disagree with merging this with Douglas Adams as the novels are quite notable in their own right, with large followings across the globe. I would retract that, tho...

Douglas Adams

2008-12-18T14:21:35Z

Davidklein:

'''Douglas Adams''' was the author of the bestselling book ''[[The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy]]'', based on his scripts for the radio series of the same title.

''The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy'' was followed by ''The Restaurant at the End of the Universe'', ''Life, The Universe, and Everything'', ''So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish'', and ''Mostly Harmless''. He also wrote two books about a figure named Dirk Gently; ''Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency'' and ''Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul''.

In 1990, Adams traveled around the world with zoologist Mark Carwardine to write ''Last Chance to See'', a book about endangered species and the people who work to help them. At the time of his death Adams was working on his eighth novel ''The Salmon of Doubt,'' which in its incomplete published form centers again on Dirk Gently, although Adams had spoken about the possibility of changing it to another Hitchhiker novel. The book also contains several short stories and essays, including discussion of the author's [[atheist|atheism]].

Adams also wrote a well known anecdote concerning the "Babel Fish" a creature that translated any language

<blockquote>
Now it is such a bizarrely improbable coincidence that anything so mind-bogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see it as a final and clinching proof of the non-existence of God. The argument goes something like this:
"I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."

"But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves that you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. Q.E.D."

"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.

"Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing.

Most leading theologians claim that this argument isn't worth a pair of fetid dingo's kidneys, but that didn't stop Oolon Colluphid from making a fortune with his book Well That About Wraps It Up For God.

</blockquote>

''The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy'' started as a radio show on BBC in 1978 and has later been converted into novels, a TV-show, movies, a record album and a computer game.

Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge, UK, in March 1952 and died of heart attack in May 2001. He was an environmental activist, an avid technologist, and described himself as "a radical [[atheist]]." [[Richard Dawkins]], a close friend and fellow [[atheist]], dedicated his book "[[The God Delusion]]" to his memory.

During his life, he won three Golden Pans and several other awards. <ref>http://www.douglasadams.com/dna/bio.html</ref>

On Adams' death, Dawkins had the following to say about his friend:

<blockquote>
"Science has lost a friend, literature has lost a luminary, the mountain gorilla and the black rhino have lost a gallant defender (he once climbed Kilimanjaro in a rhino suit to raise money to fight the cretinous trade in rhino horn), Apple Computer has lost its most eloquent apologist. And I have lost an irreplaceable intellectual companion and one of the kindest and funniest men I ever met."<ref>http://edge.org/documents/adams_index.html</ref>
</blockquote>
==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Douglas}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2008-12-18T14:20:11Z

Davidklein: New page: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a humorous radio play written by Douglas Adams and first broadcast by the BBC in the 1970s. It was later published as a novel and spawned four ...

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a humorous radio play written by [[Douglas Adams]] and first broadcast by the BBC in the 1970s. It was later published as a novel and spawned four sequels, as well as being made into a television series and eventually a film.

The story starts with the Earth being destroyed by aliens, who were clearing the way through the solar system for an interstellar highway. The sole human survivor, Arthur Dent, with his human-looking alien friend, Ford Prefect then endure a series of comedic adventures and colorful characters before stumbling upon the realisation that the Earth was, in fact, a giant supercomputer designed to work out the ultimate question to life the universe, and everything.

All the while, Arthur Dent, still dressed in the bed clothes he was wearing before escaping the Earth, is trying to find out how to get a nice cup of tea, just like the quintessential English man he is. This trait, amongst others, appears to perplex all of the alien life forms he meets.

The title of the story refers to a Conservapedia-like online encyclopedia, carried by Ford Prefect that contains information on just about anything in the universe.

The novel, and its sequels, ''The Restaurant at the End of the Universe'', ''Life the Universe and Everything'', ''So Long and Thanks for All the Fish'' and ''Mostly Harmless'' were all hugely successful, while the TV series and the film versions were criticised for their poor realisations of the story. Afficionados of the material claim that the original radio plays were the best versions.

[[Category:Novels]]

Leo J. Ryan

2008-12-06T23:24:44Z

Davidklein: New page: Leo Ryan was a Democratic senator, sitting from 1973 until his murder in the Jonestown massacre in 1978 in Guyana. Ryan was a critic of cult activity, particularly those of [...

Leo Ryan was a Democratic senator, sitting from 1973 until his murder in the [[Jonestown|Jonestown massacre]] in 1978 in Guyana. Ryan was a critic of cult activity, particularly those of [[Scientology]] and the Unification Church, lead by Sun Myung Moon. On hearing of events at the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, he lead a delegation to Guyana to investigate and to interview members of the cult. A few members of the cult expressed a desire to leave with Ryan. On November 18, under the orders of [[Jim Jones]], members of the cult ambushed the party; Ryan was killed along with four other people.

In 1983, he was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Talk:Paradise Lost

2008-11-28T14:17:58Z

Davidklein:

Paradise Lost is not by Dante. It is a different book, covering the Fall of Satan and the Fall of Man, by John Milton. It probably deserves a page to itself. {{unsigned|Jim245}}
:Agreed - I've changed the redirect to a stub. Unfortunately, despite having tried to read Paradise Lost many years ago, I feel it is way outside of my area of expertise to write more than a stub article. [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 09:17, 28 November 2008 (EST)

Paradise Lost

2008-11-28T14:15:33Z

Davidklein: Changing from incorrect redirect

Paradise Lost is an epic poem by John Milton, originally published in 1667. It describes the fall of man in 12 books and was followed by a Paradise Regained in 1671 which described the temptations of [[Christ]].

{{stub}}

Rugby (sport)

2008-11-23T11:58:31Z

Davidklein: /* See also */

==Rugby Union==

'''Rugby Union''' (often simply '''rugby''') refers to a team sport popular in the UK, France, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and throughout the south Pacific region. [[American Football]] is derived from it and shares a few similarities. [[Rugby League]] and [[Australian Rules Football]] are also related sports.

====Manner of play====

Two teams of fifteen players (8 forwards and 7 backs) carry, pass (only backwards or laterally) and kick the ball down the field with the goal of touching the ball down over the opposition's try-line, (the equivalent of the end zone in America football). Players may push or tackle an opposition player who is carrying the ball. Once a player carrying the ball is tackled, that player must release the ball and all players who are on their feet may attempt to collect the ball. . The game is played with an oval shaped ball, similar to an American Football but rounder and slightly larger. The pitch is 100metres by 50m with an in-goal of between 10 and 20m.

When minor infringements, such as dropping the ball and propelling it forward (a knock on) or a forward pass occur, the game is restarted with a '''scrum'''. A scrum consists of the 8 forwards from each team binding onto one another and pushing whilst another, the halfback puts the ball in the middle and both teams attempt to kick the ball back to their side. When the ball goes out of play or '''into touch''', the game is restarted with a lineout. A lineout consists of a number of players from each team forming two straight lines a metre apart and a player throwing the ball down the middle. When more serious infringements such as foul play and offsides occur, a penalty is awarded which allows the non-offending team to have a free kick of the ball or to have a shot at goal.

====Scoring====

When the ball is touched down by a ball carrier in his opponents in-goal ia '''try''' is scored. Scoring a try awards 5 points and enables the team to take a '''conversion'''. A conversion is taken by kicking the ball from a stationary position on the ground (usually with the help of a kicking tee or a small mound of dirt) over the '''crossbars''' of the H-shaped posts which awards the team an additional 2 points. A successful penalty kick is worth 3 points. A drop-goal (also worth 3 points) can be taken at any time during the game by dropping the ball on the ground and kicking it over the crossbar.

====History====

The game is said to have originated in the 1830's at Rugby School in England. Rugby quickly spread to all of the United Kingdom and France and by the 1880's to the colonies of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The game was popular in California around the turn of the century. The game split in 1895 over professionalism. The Rugby Union demanded (with varying degrees of effectiveness) complete amateurism for the game; the newly-formed Rugby League allowed players to be paid. Rugby Union remained amateur until 1995. Rugby featured at the olympics until 1924, with the United States winning the last Olympic medal. In 1987 the first world cup was held with New Zealands' All Blacks winning at home. Since then the world cup has been won by Australia (twice) South Africa (twice) and England (once). A notable feature of the world game since the World Cup Era began, has been the dominance of the All Blacks between world cups but their inability to win the main prize.

==Rugby League==

'''Rugby League''' (commonly '''league''') is a sport that is popular in [[Australia]], [[England]] and [[New Zealand]]. It differs from rugby union in its rules, club structure and the typical socio-economic status of its adherents.

====Manner of play====

The game is played between 2 teams of 13 players, comprising of 6 forwards and 7 backs. The principle difference with union is when a player is tackled, the game immediately stops and the defending team must retreat 10 metres. The tackled player then puts the ball between his legs and the game continues. The attacking team has a maximum of 6 tackles before the ball must be handed over to the opposition. This rule avoids the need for the often time-consuming struggle for the ball after a tackle in rugby union. Lineouts are replaced by scrums and scrums are not competitive as they are in rugby. Try's are valued at 4 points and conversions at two.

==References==

<References/>

==See also==
*[[History of rugby]]
*[[Touch football]]
*[[Rugby union]]
*[[Rugby league]]

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Rugby]]

Cyprus

2008-11-22T18:41:54Z

Davidklein: /* Miscellaneous */

{{country
|map=Cyprus rel 80.JPG
|flag=Flag of Cyprus.jpg
|capital=Nicosia
|president=Demetris Christofias
|currency=Euro
}}
'''Cyprus''' is an island nation in the Eastern [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Its capital is [[Nicosia]]. The southern part of the island is controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, which is recognized by the majority of the world and is a member of the [[European Union]] and the [[United Nations]]. The northern part has been controlled by Turkish military forces since 1974, and has been known as the [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] since 1983. However, only [[Turkey]] officially recognizes this. [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cy.html] Cyprus is the only member state of the EU with a [[Communist]] leader.

With the election of President Demetris Christofias in the Republic of Cyprus, relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have thawed somewhat, and peace talks between the divided people are due to commence in June 2008 with the ultimate aim or reuniting the island. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7343103.stm]

Cyprus is a popular holiday destination, particularly for the [[British]], with many resorts in the coastal areas. English is widely spoken by the native population, and there is a large population of British ex-patriots on the island. In fact, nearly 13% of the island's population are foreign residents. [http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/All/C608F8AA92367595C22571FC003966FC?OpenDocument&highlight=foreign%20residents]

Cyprus is mentioned in Acts 13 of the [[Bible]], which records [[Paul]] as having traveled there on one of his missionary journeys. [http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/acts/acts13.htm]

==Geography==
*Area: 9,251 sq. km. (3,572 sq. mi.); about the size of Connecticut.
*Cities: Capital--Nicosia (pop. 197,800, 2000 fig.). Other cities--Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta, Paphos, Kyrenia, Morphou.
*Terrain: Central plain with mountain ranges to the north and south.
*Climate: Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

==People==
Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island and the remaining one-third of the island, which is administered by Turkish Cypriots. Greek and Turkish Cypriots share many customs but maintain distinct identities based on religion, language, and close ties with their respective "motherlands." Greek is predominantly spoken in the south, Turkish in the north. English is widely used. Cyprus has a well-developed system of primary and secondary education. The majority of Cypriots earn their higher education at Greek, Turkish, British, and other European or American universities. Both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have developed private colleges and state-supported universities.
*Population (2006 est.): government-controlled area 778,700; area administered by Turkish Cypriots 264,172.
*Annual population growth rate (2006 est.) government-controlled area: 1.6%; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 0.98%
*Ethnic groups (1960 census): Greek (77%), Turkish (18%), Armenian and other (4%).
*Religions: Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Maronite, Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox.
*Languages: Greek, Turkish, English.
*Education: Years compulsory--6 in elementary; 3 in high school. Attendance--almost 100%. Literacy--about 99%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate--7.04/1,000. Life expectancy--77 yrs.; males 75 yrs.; females 80 years.
*Work force: Government-controlled area (2006), 373,000: agriculture and mining--7.4%; industry--38.2%; and services--54.4%. Turkish Cypriot-administered area (2005), 95,000: agriculture--14.5%; industry--29%; and services--56.5%.

==Government==
Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island and the Turkish Cypriot-administered one-third. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has continued to be the only internationally recognized authority; in practice, its authority extends only to the government-controlled area.

The 1960 Cypriot constitution provided for a presidential system of government with independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as a complex system of checks and balances, including a weighted power-sharing ratio designed to protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. The executive, for example, was headed by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president, elected by their respective communities for 5-year terms, and each possessing a right of veto over certain types of legislation and executive decisions. The Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus retains most elements of the presidential system of government expressed in the constitution, although it has cited the Turkish Cypriots' "withdrawal from government" and the "law of necessity" to enact structural changes that allow "effective governance."

Following the 1974 hostilities, the Turkish Cypriots set up their own institutions in the area they administered with an elected "president" and a "prime minister" responsible to the "National Assembly" exercising joint executive powers. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots declared an independent "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"). The United States does not recognize the "TRNC," nor does any country other than Turkey.

===Political Conditions===
Historically, none of the Greek Cypriot parties has been able to elect a president by itself or dominate the 56-seat House of Representatives. The 165,000 Greek Cypriot refugees from the area now administered by Turkish Cypriots are a potent political force, along with the independent Orthodox Church of Cyprus, which has some influence in secular as well as religious matters. In February 2008, Demetris Christofias defeated incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos and challenger Ioannis Kassoulides in two rounds of voting to become the first AKEL president of the Republic of Cyprus. All major parties hold seats in the National Council, the top advisory board to the president on Cyprus settlement issues, although opposition DISY withdrew from the body in February 2006.

Parliamentary elections last took place in May 2006. AKEL emerged the leading party, garnering 31% of votes cast, with DISY a close second with 30%; each is represented in parliament by 18 MPs. Until the party's withdrawal from government, AKEL led a legislative coalition that depended on DIKO (11 seats) and EDEK (5) support, while DISY heads the opposition.

Mehmet Ali Talat was elected in April 2005 as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community (as the so-called "President of the TRNC"), replacing long-time nationalist leader Rauf Denktash. Talat's political rise was due largely to his support of the UN Settlement Plan for Cyprus (the "Annan Plan"), which Rauf Denktash opposed, but which was supported by a majority of Turkish Cypriots in a 2004 referendum. Talat's political allies in the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) currently hold 25 of the 50 seats in the "TRNC National Assembly," and have had to establish a series of coalitions to form a stable "government." In January 2004, the CTP teamed up with the Democrat Party (DP) of Serdar Denktash, a coalition which continued in various forms--first with Talat as "Prime Minister" and then, after Talat's election as "President," under the leadership of CTP leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer--until September 2006. At that time, CTP formed a new coalition with the newly formed Freedom and Reform Party (Free Party, OP), with Soyer retaining his post as "PM" and OP party leader Turgay Avci replacing Serdar Denktash as "Deputy Prime Minister" and "Foreign Minister."

====Attempts To Achieve a Cyprus Settlement====
The first UN-sponsored negotiations to develop institutional arrangements acceptable to both communities began in 1968; several sets of negotiations and other initiatives followed. Turkish Cypriots focus on bizonality, security guarantees, and political equality between the two communities. Greek Cypriots emphasize the rights of movement, property, settlement, and the return of territory. Turkish Cypriots favor a loose grouping of two nearly autonomous societies living side by side with limited contact. Greek Cypriots envision a more integrated structure.

The last major UN-led effort to deliver a Cyprus solution commenced in January 2002 with Secretary General Kofi Annan orchestrating direct talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot community leaders. Nine months later Annan released a comprehensive settlement proposal, informally called "the Annan Plan". Intensive efforts were made to gain both sides' support for the plan prior to the December 2002 European Union (EU) Summit in Copenhagen, where member states would determine the island's future status vis-a-vis the union. Neither side agreed to the Annan Plan before the summit.

UN-sponsored talks continued following Copenhagen. In February 2003, Tassos Papadopoulos was elected president of the Republic of Cyprus. A year later, President Papadopoulos and then-Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash resumed negotiations on the Annan Plan. A comprehensive settlement package was put to both sides in simultaneous referenda on April 24, 2004. Sixty-five percent of Turkish Cypriots endorsed the Annan Plan, but a larger majority of Greek Cypriots (76%) voted "no." The Secretary General later suspended his Good Offices Mission. Nonetheless, the EU invited the Republic of Cyprus (with Cyprus still divided) to join; the Republic of Cyprus became a full member on May 1, 2004, with the EU's acquis communautaire suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots.

For two years following the Annan Plan referenda, the island saw little progress toward reunification. However, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, in his July 2006 visit to Cyprus, succeeded in securing commitment from both sides to commence exploratory talks, and on July 8, community leaders President Papadopoulos and Mr. Talat and met for the first time since 2004. They agreed to a UN-brokered negotiating framework that envisioned the establishment of technical committees to tackle everyday life issues and expert working groups to discuss substantive matters. A March 27, 2007 UN Security Council press statement urged the two communities to quickly begin implementing the July 8, 2006 agreement. While negotiators continue meeting frequently under the auspices of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Cyprus, the committees and working groups have yet to convene, and the July 8 agreement's anniversary passed without significant movement on negotiations. On September 5, 2007 President Papadopoulos and Mr. Talat met for the first time in 14 months. No agreement was reached to implement the July 8, 2006 agreement but, according to a UN press release, both "agreed on the need for the earliest start of the process, and discussed other issues, leading to a comprehensive settlement." Newly-elected President Demetris Christofias pledged to renew settlement efforts through UN auspices.

====Bi-Communal Contact, Crossing Procedures====
In April 2003, then-leader of the Turkish Cypriots Denktash relaxed many restrictions on individuals crossing between the two communities, leading to relatively unimpeded bi-communal contact for the first time since 1974. Since the relaxation, there have been nearly 12,000,000 buffer zone crossings in both directions. Under the current regulations, Greek Cypriots must present identity documents to cross to the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, something many are reluctant to do. They are able to drive their personal vehicles in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, provided they first obtain a policy from a Turkish Cypriot insurance provider. Turkish Cypriots are permitted to cross into the government-controlled area upon presentation of a Turkish Cypriot ID card or other identity documentation acceptable to Republic of Cyprus authorities. They must also obtain car insurance from an insurer in the government-controlled area to drive their personal vehicles there.

Until recently, visitors choosing to arrive at non-designated airports and seaports in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots were not allowed to cross the United Nations-patrolled "green line" to the government-controlled area. In June of 2004, however, Cypriot authorities implemented new EU-related crossing regulations that allowed Americans (and citizens of most other countries) to cross freely regardless of their port of entry into Cyprus. Visitors arriving in the government-controlled area are normally able to cross the green line without hindrance, although on occasion difficulties are encountered at both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot checkpoints. The Government of Cyprus considers ports in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots to be illegal. Policy and procedures regarding such travel are subject to change. More information on current procedures may be obtained at the UN "Buffer Zone" Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia or by referral to the U.S. State Department's Country Specific Information sheet on Cyprus at: http://www.travel.state.gov/.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President of the Republic--Demetris Christofias
*Foreign Minister--Markos Kyprianou
*Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism--Antonis Paschalades
*Minister of Finance--Charilaos Stavrakis
*Minister of Interior--Neoclis Sylikiotis
*Minister of Defense--Costas Papacostas
*Minister of Communications and Works--Maria Nicos Nicolaides
*Minister of Justice and Public Order--Kypros Chrysostomides
*Minister of Health--Christos Patsalides
*Permanent Representative to the United Nations--Andreas Mavroyiannis

===Foreign Relations===
The Republic of Cyprus aligns itself with European positions within the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Cyprus has long identified with the West in its cultural affinities and trade patterns, and maintains close relations with Greece. Since 1974, the foreign policy of the Republic of Cyprus has sought the withdrawal of Turkish forces and the most favorable constitutional and territorial settlement possible. This campaign has been pursued primarily through international forums such as the United Nations. Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

The Republic of Cyprus enjoys close relations with many countries, including Greece, Russia, China, France, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, and other countries in the region. Cyprus is a member of the United Nations and most of its agencies, as well as the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Council of Europe and the British Commonwealth. In addition, the government has signed the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Agreement (MIGA).

==Economy==
Cyprus has an open, free-market, services-based economy with some light manufacturing. Cyprus' accession as a full member to the European Union as of May 1, 2004, has been an important milestone in its recent economic development. The Cypriots are among the most prosperous people in the Mediterranean region. Internationally, Cyprus promotes its geographical location as a "bridge" between three continents, along with its educated English-speaking population, moderate local costs, good airline connections, and telecommunications.
*GDP (2007): $20.98 billion.
*Annual GDP real growth rate (2007): government-controlled area: 3.8%.
*Per capita GDP income: Greek Cypriots (2006)--$23,672; Turkish Cypriots (2006)--$11,802.
*Agriculture and natural resources (2006): 3.2% of GDP. Products--potatoes and other vegetables, citrus fruits, olives, grapes, wheat, carob seeds. Resources--pyrites, copper, asbestos, gypsum, lumber, salt, marble, clay, earth pigment.
*Industry and construction (2006): 19.2% of GDP. Types--mining, cement, construction, utilities, manufacturing, chemicals, non-electric machinery, textiles, footwear, food, beverages, tobacco.
*Services and tourism (2006): 77.6% of GDP. Trade, restaurants, and hotels 19.5%; transport 8.2%; finance, real estate, and business 24.9%; government, education, and health 20.5%; and community and other services 4.6%.
*Trade (2006): Exports--$1,619 billion: citrus, grapes, wine, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, clothing, and footwear. Major markets--EU (especially the U.K. and Greece), Middle East, Russia. Imports--$6,345 billion: consumer goods, raw materials for industry, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains. Major suppliers--Greece, Italy, Germany, U.K. (U.S. trade surplus--for 2006: $100.6 million.)

In the past 20 years, the economy has shifted from agriculture to light manufacturing and services. Currently, agriculture makes up only 3.2% of the GDP and employs 7.1% of the labor force. Industry and construction contribute 19.2% and employ 20.8% of the labor force. The services sector, including tourism, contributes 77.6% to the GDP and employs 72.1% of the labor force. As in recent years, the services sector, and tourism in particular, provided the main impetus for growth. Manufactured goods account for 58.3% of domestic exports, while potatoes and citrus constitute the principal export crops. The island has few proven natural resources. This may change, however, as in March 2007, the Government of Cyprus launched a licensing round to explore for possible offshore oil and gas reserves off its southern coast. Trade is vital to the Cypriot economy and most goods are imported. The trade deficit increased in 2006, reaching $5.7 billion. Cyprus must import fuels, food, most raw materials, heavy machinery, and transportation equipment. More than 68% of its trade in goods is with the European Union, particularly with Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom, compared to less than 2% with the United States

GNP growth rates have gradually begun to decline as the Cypriot economy has matured over the years. The average rate of growth went from 6.1% in the 1980s, to 4.4% in the 1990s, to 3.5% from 2000 to 2007. In the last couple of years (2006 and 2007) growth has remained fairly strong at around 3.8% and is forecast to remain so for 2008. Cyprus also managed to keep its inflation in check at 2.2% in 2007, while having the third-lowest unemployment rate in the EU-27 at around 4.8%. Public finances have also improved considerably in recent years. The fiscal deficit, which had peaked at 6.3% of GDP in 2003, was eliminated by 2007. A fiscal surplus of 1.5% of GDP took its place in 2007, likely to be followed by a 0.5% surplus in 2008. Concurrently, the public debt declined to around 60% of GDP in 2007, from 65.2% the year before.

These developments have helped pave the way for the Euro, which replaced the Cyprus pound as Cyprus' national currency as of January 1, 2008. Joining the Eurozone was a major accomplishment for the Cypriot economy, promising to result in such benefits as a higher degree of price stability, lower interest rates, reduction of currency conversion costs and exchange rate risk, and increased competition through greater price transparency. Cyprus was to allow both the Euro and the Cyprus pound to circulate on the island for a period of one month after January 1, 2008. Commercial banks will exchange Cyprus pound banknotes and coins free of charge until June 30, 2008. The Central Bank will exchange national coins free of charge until the end of 2009 and national banknotes until the end of 2017. Dual pricing in Cypriot pounds and Euros will be mandatory from September 1, 2006 until July 31, 2008. The final conversion exchange rate between the Cypriot pound and the Euro was one Euro per 0.585274 Cyprus pounds.

====Investment Climate====
In the run-up to EU accession (May 1, 2004), Cyprus dismantled most investment restrictions, attracting increased flows of foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly from the EU. Cyprus has good business and financial services, modern telecommunications, an educated labor force, good airline connections, a sound legal system, and a low crime rate. Cyprus' geographic location, tax incentives and modern infrastructure also make it a natural hub for companies looking to do business with the Middle East, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the European Union, and North Africa. As a result, Cyprus has developed into an important regional and international business center. According to the latest United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) "World Investment Report 2006," Cyprus ranks among the world's leading countries per capita in terms of attracting FDI. Non-EU investors (both natural and legal persons) may now invest freely in Cyprus in most sectors, either directly or indirectly (including all types of portfolio investment in the Cyprus Stock Exchange). The only exceptions concern primarily the acquisition of property and, to a lesser extent, restrictions on investment in the sectors of tertiary education, banking, and mass media.

In 2006, the inflow of FDI reached U.S. $1.50 billion, compared with U.S. $1.18 billion in 2005. The geographic origin of new investment in 2006 was the EU 27.6%; non-EU countries in Europe 23.2%; and Asia 35.1%. In terms of sectoral allocation, incoming FDI in 2006 went to the following sectors: mining and quarrying 1.7%; construction 3.9%; trade and repairs 17.1%; financial intermediation 14.6%; real estate and business activities 35.0%; and other services 27.7%.

The flow of U.S. investment in Cyprus reached U.S. $51.9 million in 2006 or 3.4% of Cyprus' total inward FDI. The stock of U.S. investment in the island was U.S. $298.9 million at the end of 2006. U.S. investment in 2006 was focused in real estate and business activities (U.S. $27.9 million) as well as mining and quarrying (U.S. $22.2 million). Projects involving U.S. investment in recent years have included a well-known U.S. coffee retailing franchise, a university, an information technology firm, an equestrian center, a hair products manufacturing unit, a firm trading in health and natural foodstuffs, and a financial services company. U.S. investors may benefit from Cyprus's abolition of EU-origin investment restrictions, provided they operate through EU subsidiaries.

====European Union (EU)====
Along with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, the Republic of Cyprus entered the EU on May 1, 2004. The EU acquis communautaire is suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots pending a Cyprus settlement.

====Export Opportunities====
Best prospects for U.S. firms generally lie in services, high technology sectors, such as computer equipment and data processing services, financial services, environmental protection technology, medical and telecommunications equipment, desalination and water purification equipment and services, and tourism development projects such as casinos, marinas, and golf courses. Moreover, alternative energy sources and the energy sector in general, are attracting an increasing amount of attention, while the possible existence of natural gas and petroleum reserves off the southern and eastern coast of Cyprus opens up new prospects. U.S. food franchises and apparel licensors are also finding fertile ground for expansion in Cyprus.

The Government of Cyprus, through the Ministry of Commerce, announced its plans to license 11 offshore blocks for exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In August 2007 bidding opened for exploration of 11 offshore blocks, primarily to the south and southeast of Cyprus. Only two groups bid on three blocks: a consortium comprised of small U.K., Norwegian, and U.A.E. companies, and Noble Energy of Houston. Negotiations between the Cypriot Ministry of Commerce and the bidders were expected to begin in late December 2007, but due to the elections and political difficulties relating to the import of natural gas, negotiations were delayed until after the February 2008 presidential elections.

====Trade Between Cyprus and the United States====
The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia sponsors a popular pavilion for American products at the annual Cyprus International State Fair and organizes other events to promote U.S. products throughout the year. The U.S. runs a significant trade surplus with Cyprus, on the order of $100.6 million in 2006 (exports of $111.0 million versus imports of $10.5 million--according to Republic of Cyprus statistics).

Principal U.S. goods exports to Cyprus include office machines and data processing equipment; electrical appliances; optical, measuring, and medical equipment; tobacco and cigarettes; passenger cars; and wheat. Principal U.S. imports from Cyprus consist of dairy products, fresh fish, and mineral substances.

Bilateral business ties also encompass a healthy exchange in services. In 2006, the inflow of services (from the United States to Cyprus) was $552.8 million, against an outflow (from Cyprus to the United States) of $335.9 million, according to Republic of Cyprus statistics.

====Turkish Cypriot Economy====
The economy of the Turkish Cypriot-administered area is dominated by the services sector including the public sector, trade, tourism and education, with smaller agriculture and light manufacturing sectors. The economy operates on a free-market basis, although it continues to be handicapped by the political isolation of Turkish Cypriots, the lack of private and public investment, high freight costs, and shortages of skilled labor. Despite these constraints, the Turkish Cypriot economy turned in an impressive performance from 2003 to 2006, with estimated growth rates of 7.8% in 2006, 10.6% in 2005, 15.4% in 2004, and 11.4% in 2003. Over the same period, GDP per capita more than doubled; according to unofficial Turkish Cypriot statistics it reached $11,802 by the end of 2006. This growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish Lira, the employment of around 5,000 Turkish Cypriots in the Greek Cypriot economy where wages are significantly higher, and by a boom in the education and construction sectors. In 2006, the services sector accounted for nearly two-thirds of GDP, industry and construction accounted for 22.5% of GDP, and agriculture 8.4%, according to Turkish Cypriot statistics. The partial lifting of travel restrictions between the two parts of the island in April 2003 has allowed movement of persons--over 12 million crossings to date--between the two parts of the island with no significant interethnic incidents.

Turkey remains, by far, the main trading partner of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, supplying 65% of imports and absorbing around 50% of exports. In a landmark case, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on July 5, 1994 against the British practice of importing produce from the area based on certificates of origin and phytosanitary certificates granted by "TRNC" authorities. The ECJ decision resulted in a considerable decrease of Turkish Cypriot exports to the EU--from $36.4 million (or 66.7% of total Turkish Cypriot exports) in 1993 to $13.8 million in 2003 (or 28% of total exports). In August 2004, new EU rules allowed goods produced or substantially transformed in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots to be sold duty-free to consumers in the government-controlled area and through that area to the rest of the EU. To qualify, goods must also meet EU sanitary/phytosanitary requirements. Animal products are excluded from this arrangement. In May 2005, Turkish Cypriot authorities adopted a new regulation "mirroring" the EU rules and allowing certain goods produced in the government-controlled areas to be sold in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. (However, suppliers cannot legally transport imported products over the green line in either direction.) Despite these efforts, direct trade between the two communities remains limited.

The EU continues to be the second-largest trading partner of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, with a 22% share of total imports and 27% share of total exports. Total imports increased to $1.3 billion in 2006, while total exports decreased slightly to $65 million. Imports from the U.S. reached $9.3 million in 2006, while exports to the U.S. were less than $70,000.

Assistance from Turkey is crucial to the Turkish Cypriot economy. Under the latest economic protocol (signed in 2006), Turkey undertakes to provide Turkish Cypriots financial assistance totaling 1.875 billion New Turkish Lira (YTL--roughly $1.34 billion) over a three-year period (600 million YTL in 2007, 625 million YTL in 2008 and 650 million YTL in 2009). Turkey also provides millions of dollars annually in the form of low-interest loans to mostly Turkish entrepreneurs in support of export-oriented industrial production and tourism. Total Turkish assistance to Turkish Cypriots since 1974 is estimated to have exceeded $4 billion.

==History==
Cypriot culture is among the oldest in the Mediterranean. By 3700 BC, the island was well inhabited, a crossroads between East and West. The island fell successively under Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman domination. For 800 years, beginning in 364 AD, Cyprus was ruled by Byzantium. After brief possession by King Richard I (the Lion-Hearted) of England during the Crusades, the island came under Frankish control in the late 12th century. It was ceded to the Venetian Republic in 1489 and conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1571. The Ottomans applied the millet system to Cyprus, which allowed religious authorities to govern their own non-Muslim minorities. This system reinforced the position of the Orthodox Church and the cohesion of the ethnic Greek population. Most of the Turks who settled on the island during the three centuries of Ottoman rule remained when control of Cyprus--although not sovereignty--was ceded to Great Britain in 1878. Many left for Turkey during the 1920s, however. The island was annexed formally by the United Kingdom in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I and became a crown colony in 1925.

Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom and established a constitutional republic in 1960, after an anti-British campaign by the Greek Cypriot EOKA (National Organization of Cypriot Fighters), a guerrilla group that desired political union, or enosis, with Greece. Archbishop Makarios, a charismatic religious and political leader, was elected president.

Shortly after the founding of the republic, serious differences arose between the two communities about the implementation and interpretation of the constitution. The Greek Cypriots argued that the complex mechanisms introduced to protect Turkish Cypriot interests were obstacles to efficient government. In November 1963, President Makarios advanced a series of constitutional amendments designed to eliminate some of these special provisions. The Turkish Cypriots opposed such changes. The confrontation prompted widespread intercommunal fighting in December 1963, after which Turkish Cypriots ceased to participate in the government. Following the outbreak of intercommunal violence, many Turkish Cypriots (and some Greek Cypriots) living in mixed villages began to move into enclaved villages or elsewhere. UN peacekeepers were deployed on the island in 1964. Following another outbreak of intercommunal violence in 1967-68, a Turkish Cypriot provisional administration was formed.

In July 1974, the military junta in Athens sponsored a coup led by extremist Greek Cypriots against the government of President Makarios, citing his alleged pro-communist leanings and his perceived abandonment of enosis. Turkey, citing the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, intervened militarily to protect Turkish Cypriots.

In a two-stage offensive, Turkish troops took control of 38% of the island. Almost all Greek Cypriots fled south while almost all Turkish Cypriots fled north. Since the events of 1974, UN peacekeeping forces have maintained a buffer zone between the two sides. Except for occasional demonstrations or infrequent incidents between soldiers in the buffer zone, the island was free of violent conflict from 1974 until August 1996, when violent clashes led to the death of two demonstrators and escalated tension. The situation has been quiet since 1996.

==Miscellaneous==
*Approximately 78% of Cypriot citizens identify as members of the Greek Orthodox Church.
*The Euro replaced the Cypriotic Pound in 2008
*Due to its history as a British colony, motor vehicles drive on the left side of the road and British-style power sockets are used.

==Links==
*[http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/index_en/index_en?opendocument# Press and Information Office]
*[http://www.ambafrancechypre.org/cartographie/menucarte.htm Maps of Cyprus, including ethnic distribution before and after the partition]

{| style="width: 100%; background:transparent; border: 2px solid #000099;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1"
!colspan=2 style="width: 100%; text-align: center; background-color: #000088; color: white; "|'''Copyright Details'''
|-
!style="background-color: #000088; color:white;"|License:
|style=" background-color: none;"| Some texual work for this article is in the [[Public Domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the U.S. Code
|-
!style=" background-color: #000088; color:white;"|Source:
|style="background-color: none;border-top: 2px solid black"| File available from the {{{1|[[United States Federal Government]] [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35833.htm]}}}.
|}

[[Category:Middle Eastern Countries]]
[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category:EU Members]]
[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]

Rugby union

2008-11-22T18:37:18Z

Davidklein: /* Competition */

'''Rugby union''' is a sport played throughout the world, but is especially popular in [[New Zealand]], the Pacific Islands, [[Australia]], [[South Africa]], [[Great Britain]], [[Ireland]] and [[France]].

== Rules ==

For the rules of rugby, see [[Rugby_%28Sport%29|rugby (sport)]]

== Competition ==

=== International ===

Every 4 years, the IRB holds a World Cup, in which all the best countries throughout the world
participate in. The winners of this competition is crowned world champions for the next four years. Here is a list of previous World Cup winners:

*1987: New Zealand
*1991: Australia
*1995: South Africa
*1999: Australia (2)
*2003: England
*2007: South Africa (2)

Although New Zealand (also commonly known as the All Blacks due to their black playing kit) has only won the World Cup once, they have by far the best overall test record, winning 318 of their 429 test matches to date (74%) and are widely regarded by many as the best team in the world. South Africa is second with a winning percentage of 63%. The All Blacks has also spent the most time at the top of the IRB world rankings, since it was introduced in 2003.[http://www.stats.allblacks.com]

In addition to the World Cup, international competitions are played each year, one for the major northern hemisphere teams (called the Six Nations), and one for the southern hemisphere teams (called the Tri-Nations). The current champions of the Six Nations are Wales, and the Tri Nations champions are New Zealand.

===Provincial===

Two international provincial competitions are held annually, the ''Super 14'' in the Southern Hemisphere and the ''Heiniken Cup'' in Europe. The ''Super 14'' is contested between teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and the European Competition between teams from Ireland, Britain, Italy and France.

Rugby union

2008-11-22T18:28:02Z

Davidklein: /* International */

'''Rugby union''' is a sport played throughout the world, but is especially popular in [[New Zealand]], the Pacific Islands, [[Australia]], [[South Africa]], [[Great Britain]], [[Ireland]] and [[France]].

== Rules ==

For the rules of rugby, see [[Rugby_%28Sport%29|rugby (sport)]]

== Competition ==

=== International ===

Every 4 years, the IRB holds a World Cup, in which all the best countries throughout the world
participate in. The winners of this competition is crowned world champions for the next four years. Here is a list of previous World Cup winners:

*1987: New Zealand
*1991: Australia
*1995: South Africa
*1999: Australia (2)
*2003: England
*2007: South Africa (2)

Although the New Zealand All Blacks has ony won the World Cup once, they have by far the best overall test record, winning 318 of their 429 test matches to date (74%) and are widely regarded by many as the best team in the world. South Africa is second with a winning percentage of 63%. The All Blacks has also spent the most time at the top of the IRB world rankings, since it was introduced in 2003.[http://www.stats.allblacks.com]

Two international provincial competitions are held annually, the ''Super 14'' in the Southern Hemisphere and the ''Heiniken Cup'' in Europe. The ''Super 14'' is contested between teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and the European Competition between teams from Ireland, Britain, Italy and France.

Talk:Essay:The Invisible Hand of Marriage

2008-08-07T13:51:51Z

Davidklein: /* Google search on "invisible hand of marriage" */ new section

==Insightful==
Finally, something with which I cannot argue... at least not yet. 
I was talking with someone about a few of the points made in this essay. Didn't think it related to marriage, just dedication to want to succeed. Oh well. ^.^ [[User:NathanG|Nate]][[User_talk:NathanG|Google's spiders need some work]] 11:45, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

==Gay couples==
Hold on. so now gay couples do not help each other? They do not futher each other's goals in life, nag each other, complement each other? of this list of 7 all but two are irrespective of gender. and the two that are based on gender could just as easily be based on TWO DIFFERENT HUMAN outlooks. I know my sister and I complement each other because we are so extremely different - she is into science and math, a liberal, married for 7 years, job as an engineer for a downtown Denver building. I am a nurse with the army, and still waiting for "mr. right". You can't make broad and *unproven* statements about how two people of any gender complement each other.--[[User:IcedTea|IcedTea]] 12:41, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

: I don't know which two you're referring to, and your personal story seems contrived. All the key elements identified apply only to male-female marriages. The [[invisible hand of marriage]] does not exist for same-sex marriages.

::Besides, people don't get married to their ''sisters''. I know I wouldn't! -[[User:MelanieKoontz|MelanieKoontz]] 13:36, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
::: Love how trusting you are. You've never heard of two sisters being total opposites? Anyhow, only two of the "hands" directly say that the balance of man and woman is what drives this "hand". My question to you is why two men couldn't be just as productive as a man and a woman, just as focused on bettering their family, just as focused on finding economic goals that set the family in a better position and thereby drive each individual more. Each person in a couple, regardless of gender, helps the other out, encourages them, balances them, gently points out flaws and aids in fixing those flaws, etc. Why is this exclusive to a man and a woman in marriage?--[[User:IcedTea|IcedTea]] 13:55, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
::::Men and women complement each other because they are designed that way by God. Two men or two women could only be a poor imitation of God's design. It would never be as good as the real thing. [[User:TJason|TJason]] 18:06, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
:::::Indeed. One simply has to look at the history of homosexual relationships to see that. The pro-homosexual crowd likes to hold up the rare homosexual couple that has lasted decades, but they consistently fail to acknowledge that the average homosexual relationship lasts around 18 months. Additionally, very few "committed" homosexual relationships are monogamous. [[User:Jinxmchue|Jinxmchue]] 18:23, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
:::::: "The history of homosexual relationships"? Pray tell, where has this history been recoded for the ages? Is it the source of your uncited claims? [[User:Wandering|Wandering]] 22:58, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

::::::: There's plenty of research that goes back many decades. The leading psychiatric association used to study it and labeled it as something to be treated and changed, until leftist political pressure took over.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 23:32, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

==Originality==
*I'm just going to note that it's possible this is not a Conservapedian discovery; others may just have a different name for it. -[[User:CSGuy|CSGuy]] 19:05, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

:: Suggestions welcome. I can't think of any. While we're at it, do you think Adam Smith's invisible hand wasn't original either?--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 20:03, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

:::I don't even know what that is; I know next to nothing about economics (although I plan to fulfill part of my social sciences requirement with a class in it). I wasn't saying that the idea is definitely not original, just that a lack of search results for your term doesn't prove that it is. -[[User:CSGuy|CSGuy]] 23:03, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

:::: It's interesting you don't know what the "invisible hand" is, and I appreciate your candor. I bet the familiarity with that term and concept is far higher among conservatives than liberals. Indeed, it has been said that a good economics course is more likely to convert liberals to conservatives than any other teaching. That said, it's almost impossible to present or discuss a concept for an invisible hand of marriage without using the term "invisible hand." The lack of Google cites to it was meant to be illustrative rather than a proof of originality.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 23:30, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

== Google search on "invisible hand of marriage" ==

I tried this, and it actually looks as if it is true that it is an original Conservapedia term. I do get one hit now, and oddly it's not for Conservapedia, but for a website that seems to be blocked by the Conservapedia spam filter.
That website appears to be offline at the moment, but judging from the summary on google, it looks as if it is mocking Conservapedia (explaining the censorship of the term here). Are there moves afoot to get other blogs and websites to publish comments and articles or to get Conservapedia itself on the search engine results? [[User:Davidklein|Davidklein]] 09:51, 7 August 2008 (EDT)

Gun

2008-05-07T17:27:29Z

Davidklein: /* Gun control */ - typo

[[Image:Glock30.jpg|right|200px]]
The gun is a weapon which fires a bullet, dart or other projectile.

The four main types of modern firearms today are bolt-operated, pump action, semi-automatic, and automatic weapons. In a bolt-action weapon, each new [[round (ordnance)|round]] must be loaded manually, by moving the [[breech]] to eject the empty casing. In pump action guns (usually shotguns) a new round must be manually loaded by pulling back on pump of the gun, located underneath the barrel.

In semi-automatic weapons, each pull of the trigger fires a bullet, each shot ejecting spent brass and loading new ammunition until the magazine is depleted. In fully automatic weapons, bullets will be fired as long as the trigger is depressed. Fully automatic fire will cause the gun to heat up very quickly, which can become dangerous as it can burn exposed flesh and because rounds may "cook off" or fire unexpectedly due to the chamber becoming hot enough to ignite the propellant.

==Gun control==

[[Gun control]] consists of limitations on the fundamental right of self-defense.

[[Conservative]]s usually emphasize the [[individualism|individual]] [[the right to self-defense]] through the use of guns. [[Liberal]]s more often oppose this individual right, and tend to dislike even guards or police carrying guns.

Guns are shown to be highly effective at deterring crime and protecting the gun owner. Police officers often use guns to enforce the law, except in some countries where the police are not armed. In the Republic of Ireland, the Garda Síochána has since its foundation held that uniformed officers do not carry guns - "The Garda Síochána will succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people", as the first Commissioner said<ref>http://www.garda.ie/faq.html#G4</ref>. The current Commissioner of the Gardaí has stated that "we do not live in a 'gun culture'", despite a recent rash of armed crime. In Iceland, there are no armed forces, including the Police, and all Police only carry a baton on duty.<ref>http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Iceland/Default.htm</ref> In addition, the regular Police forces of the UK<ref>http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=535071&in_page_id=1770</ref> and the Police Force of New Zealand do not carry firearms while on normal patrol, or in the latter case describe themselves as "generally unarmed"<ref>http://www.police.govt.nz/about/history.html</ref>. However, each of these Police forces also has highly trained specialist teams of armed Police, who are brought into play at time of need.

Studies have repeatedly shown that law-abiding citizens carrying guns are an effective deterrent against crime<ref>http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/467988</ref><ref>http://saf.org/kleck1998.pdf</ref><ref>http://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/8926.html</ref>. Further comparison between different states by [[John Lott]] indicates that states that have more conservative gun laws have lower crime rates, violent crime rates, and firearms [[homicide]]s than states with more liberal gun laws.

[[Second Amendment|Guns are also a defense against a tyrannical government.]] The 20th century has proved repeatedly that a well-armed and dedicated guerrilla army can defeat even the strongest occupying army using only small arms. Thus, guns potentially act as a deterrent against a tyrannical government.

== Science Fiction ==

[[Science fiction]], such as [[Star Trek]], has postulated many different types of directed energy weapons. These are guns that fire beams, waves, or packets of energy. Some energy guns can be set to stun, not to wound or kill. Most firearms legislation would not classify these as firearms, so their ownership would be unrestricted, as are many non-firearm weapons such as flame throwers.

==See also==
*[[Gun control]]
==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.nra.org The National Rifle Association] Everything firearm related. Includes information on Second Amendment rights, NRA Training and Education, Politics and Legislation pertaining to gun rights.
*[http://www.a-human-right.com/ A Human Right] Discussion of the human right to self defense with a firearm.
*[http://www.learnaboutguns.com/ Learn About Guns] Firearm information and politics from a pro-firearms perspective.
*[http://www.gunowners.org/ Gun Owners of America] A no-compromise pro-gun lobby in Washington, D.C.

[[Category:Guns]]

Cyprus

2008-05-07T11:03:25Z

Davidklein:

Cyprus

2008-05-07T11:02:37Z

Davidklein: Updated with recent political changes plus other additions

Talk:GNU/Linux

2007-11-08T19:46:38Z

Davidklein:

Notes on the differences between Ubuntu Christian and Ubuntu Satanic versions:
The Christian version of Ubuntu actually modifies the base software that comes with the distribution, adding software such as Gnomesword and Dansguardian with the distro; i.e. it's a distribution. Ubuntu Satanic on the other hand, is just Ubuntu/Kubuntu with a "satanic" theme; i.e. colors, wallpaper and some graphics. If the user S.E. either deleted or selecting another theme, you would be back to the basic Kubuntu distribution.

I can find no references that Ubuntu Satanic Edition is either a parody or in response to the Christian edition. The author of the article on DesktopLinux.com<ref>[http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2432715660.html]</ref> makes a comment that the theme is a response to the Christian edition, but that appears to be an assumption on his part, as I can find nothing from the authors on the Satanic version site that indicates that it is. --[[User:Brewer13210|Todd]] 10:15 March 21 2007 EDT

: I agree, describing the Satanic Edition as a parody is a point of view. Clearly the people behind it intend to serve a user base they think exists.

I wasn't sure what this statement meant: "The theme is an example, such as Ubuntu Christian Edition [3], of GPL licensed software which may be modified and re-released." So I rewrote what I thought it was meant to mean. If I was wrong, feel free to fix it.--[[User:All Fish Welcome|All Fish Welcome]] 17:47, 14 April 2007 (EDT)

==Who did what==

The article, like most in the trade press, gives far too much credit to Linus Torvalds and downplays the work of Richard Stallman inexcusably.

I took out this sentence, because it is incorrect:
*"It was started in 1991 as a university project by Finnish student [[Linus Torvalds]] as a replacement for the [[Minix]] operating system."

In fact, "Linux" (i.e., the GNU/Linux operating system, began ''nearly a decade'' before Torvalds got started:

*'''The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU system.''' [http://www.gnu.org/]

We should give credit where credit is due. Our web site runs on free software like Apache and GNU, thanks to RMS!! --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 11:56, 10 July 2007 (EDT)

==Changes==

I made some small changes as I thought that the article was a little confusing to somebody with no experience of Linux. I'll continue to edit the remainder of the article if nobody has any objections. --[[User:davidklein|davidklein]] 14:45, 8 November 2007 (EDT)

GNU/Linux

2007-11-08T19:42:25Z

Davidklein:

[[Image:Tuxie.jpg|thumb|right|"Tux", the Linux mascot|90px]]
'''Linux''' is a [[UNIX]]-like computer operating system. Strictly speaking, Linux is the component of the GNU/Linux operating system, the "[[kernel]]" that communicates with the hardware, upon which many other software components sit (such as the graphical user interface, file system and media players), but the term "Linux" is now commonly used to refer to the whole operating system. The Linux kernel was developed by Finnish grad student [[Linus Torvalds]]. Linux and the other components of GNU/Linux are built upon the foundations set up by the GNU project, started in 1984.

Linux distinguishes itself from other operating systems such as UNIX and [[Microsoft]] Windows in that the [[source code]] is distributed freely under the [[open source]] ''[[General Public License]]'' (''GPL''). In essence, this means that anybody can modify the code to their needs, and that the development of Linux happens in an open community, rather than in a closed commercial environment. Any improvements to the code will be contributed to the community, and any software that is based upon GPL components inherits the GPL licence.

Linux is also different to the closed source operating system vendors in that the software is distributed by many different companies. Major Linux distributions include [http://www.redhat.com/ Red Hat], [http://www.novell.com/linux/ Suse] and [http://www.ubuntu.com/ Ubuntu].

Linux is a unix style operating system. It is known to run 6 or more of the world's top supercomputers.{{fact}} It has legendary reliability.{{who says}} Linux servers can run without reboot for years.{{fact}} It is worth mentioning that there are other free operating systems not based on the Linux kernel that Linux borrow from and has been a source of inspiration to: namely freebsd, openBSD, netBSD, and dragonflyBSD, and the more recent Minix 3 and openSolaris. Free operating systems allow a great deal of new ideas to be tried and collaboration made possible by the Internet makes teams easy to form. NetBSD is famous for running on almost any hardware{{fact}}, OpenBSD is perhaps the most secure operating system in the world{{fact}}, and freeBSD has been powering computers for free since before Linux became popular{{fact}}. Opensolaris is a free version of SUN microsystems proprietary Solaris OS.

Newer distributions of Linux continually raise the bar for usability and creativity. Archlinux, Gentoo, and Gobolinux are 3 interesting distributions.

Owing to the nature of open source software, many variants of a Linux distribution may be created by using the original code and making changes to it to suit a particular need. For example, there is also a Ubuntu [[Christian]] Edition.<ref>[http://www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/christianubuntu/2006/07/about-ubuntu-christian-edition.html Ubuntu Christian Edition]</ref>

Mark Shuttleworth, who is the founder of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, said about the Satanic version of Kubuntu: "Ubuntu is a broad church! We manage to keep both [[GNOME Desktop|GNOME]] and [[KDE]] folks happy and collaborating constructively, so this should be no trouble at all. Our guiding rules are enshrined in the Ubuntu Code of Conduct<ref>[http://www.ubuntu.com/community/conduct]</ref>, and as long as all sides are following that, there’s no problem with derivatives that are focused on such diverse user bases."<ref>http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2432715660.html</ref>
[[Image:Gnomesword large.png|right|thumb|250px|Screenshot of Ubuntu Christian Edition.]]
Linux has become one the most commonly adopted operating systems in the world{{fact}}. While personal computers still overwhelmingly use [[Microsoft]] operating systems such as Windows XP, Linux is a common choice for web servers, file servers and embedded platforms, thanks to its perceived reliability, low/no cost, and the fact that modifications to the source code can readily be made by anyone.

As an example, in March of 2007 the server hosting the the Conservapedia web site was running the Linux operating system<ref>[http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://www.conservapedia.com NetCraft site report for Conservapedia.com]</ref>

==Linux Pre-Installed==
From it's inception, and with exception of the server market, it was difficult to find new computers available with Linux pre-installed. Users typically have to download the Linux distribution of their choice and install it on a computer themselves, slowing the uptake of computers using a desktop version of Linux, as many home computer users find installing an operating system a difficult task. This situation changed in 2007 when [[Dell]] started selling laptop and desktop computers to the general public with Linux pre-installed<ref>[http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/alliances/en/linux?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz]</ref>. As of October 2007, Dell was selling "home" computers available with [[Ubuntu]] Linux, and business workstations with [[Red Hat]] Linux.

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.kernel.org/ The Linux Kernel Archives]
*[http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/Main_Page The Linux Foundation]

[[Category:Information technology]]