Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Regressive tax

2009-04-10T14:09:25Z

FredCorps:

A '''regressive tax''' is when everyone is taxed a fixed dollar amount, or fixed percentage such as sales tax. Essentially, a regressive tax causes those earning lower incomes to pay a greater percentage of their income. This acts as an incentive to force those earning lower incomes to work to earn higher incomes, thus reducing their effective [[tax rate]].

[[Category:Economics]]

World treasures

2009-04-10T03:33:25Z

FredCorps: /* The Americas */

<CENTER> World Treasures

Gallery
 </CENTER>

=== [[Africa]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Kasbah of Algiers Mosque.jpg|'''Kasbah of Algiers Mosque''' [[Algeria]]
Image:5457e.jpg|'''The Sphinx and Khafra Pyramid ''' [[Egypt]]
Image:Mt Nimba.jpg|'''Mt. Nimba''' [[Guinea]]
Image:Royal Palaces of Abomey.jpg|'''Royal Palaces of Abomey''' [[Benin]]
Image:Elephant Jose Tello.jpg|'''Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park''' [[Central African Republic]]
</gallery>
</center>

=== [[Americas|The Americas]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">

Image:Stuart George Washington portrait.jpg|[[George Washington]] '''portrait by''' [[Gilbert Stuart]] [[US]]
Image:DcLincMor.JPG|'''Lincoln Memorial''' [[US]]
Image:Golden Gate Bridge.jpg|'''Golden Gate Bridge''' [[US]]
Image:Statue of Liberty.jpg|'''[[Statue of Liberty]]''' [[US]]
Image:Grand Canyon2.jpg|'''[[Grand Canyon]]''' [[US]]
Image:Alaska Mt. McKinley.jpg|'''Mt. McKinley''' [[US]]
Image:Calakmul 2.jpg|'''[[Calakmul]]''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Uxmal 2.jpg|'''Uxmal''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Kukulcan3.jpg|'''[[Chichen Itza]]''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Bellas Artes.jpg|'''[[The Fine Arts Palace]]''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Canada-cn-tower.jpg|'''[[CN Tower]]''' [[Canada]]
Image:Tikal.JPG|'''[[Tikal]]''' [[Guatemala]]
Image:Cartegna Colombia.jpg|'''Cartagena''' [[Colombia]]
Image:AMAZONAS Venezuela.png|'''Jungle region''' [[Venezuela]]
Image:Galapagos islands Ecuador.JPG|'''[[Galápagos Islands|Galapagos islands]]''' [[Ecuador]]
Image:Cristo Redentor Río de Janeiro.jpg|'''[[Cristo Redentor|Christ the Redeemer]]''' [[Brazil]]
Image:Iguazu Falls.jpg|'''Iguazu Falls''' [[Argentina]] / [[Brazil]]
Image:Machu Picchu.jpg|'''[[Machu Picchu]]''' [[Peru]]
Image:Andes chilenos.gif|'''Andes''' [[Chile]]
Image:Moai Rano.jpg|'''Moai''', '''[[Easter island|Easter Island]]''' [[Chile]]

</gallery>
</center>

=== [[Asia]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Meenakshi temple.jpg|'''Meenakshi temple''' [[India]]
Image:Taj Mahal...jpg|'''Taj Mahal''' [[India]]
Image:China Wall.jpg|'''Great Wall of [[China]]'''
Image:Daibutsu - Buddha.jpg|'''Daibutsu - [[Buddha]]''' [[Japan]]
Image:Japan Miyajima s.jpg|'''The gate of [[Itsukushima Shrine]] ''' [[Japan]]
Image:Buddha Korea.jpg|'''[[Buddha]]''' [[Korea]]
Image:Siem Reap, Cambodia.jpg|'''Angkor temples''' [[Cambodia]]
Image:Silver Pagoda Cambodia.jpg|'''Silver Pagoda''' [[Cambodia]]
Image:Lak Muang Bangkok.jpg|'''Lak Muang''' [[Thailand]]
Image:Petronas towers at night.jpg|'''Petronas towers''' [[Malaysia]]
Image:Petra.jpg|'''El Khazneh - Petra''' [[Jordan]]
Image:Fatima al Masouma.jpg|'''Fatima al Masouma''' [[Iran]]
Image:Omayyad Mosque Damascus Syria.jpg|'''Omayyad Mosque''' [[Syria]]
Image:Saint Sophia.jpg|'''Saint Sophia''' [[Turkey]]
Image:Nazareth.jpg|'''Basilica of the Annunciation''' [[Israel]]
</gallery>
</center>

=== [[Australasia]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Sidney opera house.jpg|'''Sydney Opera House''' [[Australia]]
Image:Great Barrier Reef.jpg|'''Great Barrier Reef''' [[Australia]]
Image:Barriere corail.jpg|'''Barrier Corail''' [[Australia]]
Image:Royal exhibition building.jpg|'''Royal Exhibition Building''' [[Australia]]

Image:Te Papa.jpg|'''Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand''' [[New Zealand]]

</gallery>
</center>
=== [[Europe]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">

Image:The Tower of Belem.jpg|'''The Tower of Belem''' [[Portugal]]
Image:Valencia.jpg|'''[[Valencia]]''' [[Spain]]
Image:Gutenburg1.jpg|'''[[Gutenberg Bible]]''' [[Germany]]
Image:Cosmographia.jpg|'''Map from [[Ptolemy]]'s Geographia''' [[Greece]]
Image:Acropolis.gif|'''[[Acropolis]]''' [[Greece]]
Image:Colosseum.jpg|'''[[Colosseum]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Michelangelopieta.jpg|'''[[Pieta]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Da Vinci The Last Supper.jpg|'''[[Last Supper|The Last Supper, Da Vinci]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Tower of Pisa.jpg|'''[[Tower of Pisa]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Rembrandt Nightwatch.jpg|'''Nightwatch Rembrandt''' [[Netherlands]]
Image:Notre Dame.jpg|'''[[Notre Dame Cathedral]]''', [[France]]
Image:Tour - Eiffel.jpg|'''[[Eiffel Tower]]''' [[France]]
Image:Miranda.jpg|'''Miranda''' [[John William Waterhouse|Waterhouse]] [[United Kingdom]]
Image:Tower bridge London.jpg|'''[[London Tower Bridge|Tower bridge]]''' [[United Kingdom]]
Image:Big Ben - England.jpg|'''[[Big Ben]]''' [[United Kingdom]]

</gallery>
</center>

== Guest treasure ==
[[Image:Burgos Cathedral.JPG|300px]]

'''Burgos Cathedral, [[Spain]].'''
{{Clear}}

:::::::::::::::::::::: [[World treasures II|Continue to Part II]]

== See also ==
[[Image:Basilica of San Vicente, Avila.jpg|thumb|Basilica of San Vicente, Avila, [[Spain]].]]
*[[List of World Heritage Sites in Africa]]
*[[List of World Heritage Sites in the Americas]]
*[[World Heritage Site]]
*[[Famous Architects]]
*[[Famous American artists]]
*[[Famous Cathedrals]]
*[[Famous Sculptures]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.nla.gov.au/worldtreasures/html/intro.html National Library of Australia]
*[http://www.worldtreasures.org/ Museum of World Treasures]
*[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/world/world-record.html World Treasures of the Library of Congress]
*[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/splash.htm Timeline of Art History] The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list World Heritage List] UNESCO.

[[Category:Art]][[Category:Culture]][[Category:History]][[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Tourist Attractions]]

Talk:Examples of Bias in Wikipedia

2009-04-09T18:15:22Z

FredCorps: /* Update regarding the "Controversies and criticism" section at Wikipedia's Presidency of George W. Bush article */

{| align=right border=3 cellspacing=0 style="border-width: 5px; border-color: #d0d0d0; background: #d0e0e0; margin: 2em;"
| style="text-align: center; padding: 10px 40px 10px 40px;" | [[/Archives|Archives]]
|}



== I deleted "Wikipedia makes no mention of the fact that Eric Holder..." ==

I deleted "Wikipedia makes no mention of the fact that [[Obama]]'s Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] called the United States a "nation of cowards" when it comes to the discussion of race."

The citation was a link to an old revision of a Wikipedia page. The new revision DOES mention this. --[[User:Andrew1123|Andrew1123]] 17:22, 8 March 2009 (EDT)

==Reference Needed for Claim that Wikipedia Called Bush a Nazi==

The claim that G. W. Bush "was called a supporter of the Nazi regime" on his wikipedia page is very believable, but could someone find a reference proving it? [[User:Sjay|Sjay]] 20:50, 9 March 2009 (EDT)

== Is #150 really relevant? (The criticism of GWB/BHO) ==

Looking back at the history of the "Presidency of George W. Bush" article, the Criticism section was not added to the article until July 5th, 2006. If Wikipedia had a liberal bias wouldn't they have added that much sooner? BHO has been in power for less then two months, not enough time to form a valid criticism of his presidency as a whole.

:I'm sorry - and you are?
::20:34, March 9, 2009 Dparker (Talk | contribs | block) New user ‎
::20:44, March 9, 2009 (hist) (diff) Talk:Examples of Bias in Wikipedia‎ (→Is #150 really relavent? (The criticism of GWB/BHO): new section)
:Do you have any interest here other than this issue?
:Anyway, to answer your question, the articles are not simply about criticism of the men as they acted as president. They are about them in general. B.O. has been around quite a while before January 20, 2009. Was there no criticism of him before that date? Has there been no criticism of him after it? And what, pray tell, defines criticism as "valid" or not and what is the official figure for how much time must pass for the criticism to be worthy of Wikipedia? I mean, is criticism of George W. Bush's personality - his ''personality'' for crying out loud! - valid? This is a ridiculous line from the ridiculous WP article:
:<blockquote>"Raised in West Texas, Bush's accent, vacations on his Texas ranch, and penchant for country metaphors contribute to his folksy, American cowboy image, which occasionally served as fodder for criticism."</blockquote>
:Oh, my dear Lord in Heaven, NOOOOOO!!!! His accent! His ranch! His metaphors! Why did we ever let such a man be president with all these valid criticisms?! Chimpeachment!
:Okay, I freely admit that was gratuitous sarcasm, but it sure felt good.
:Bottom line: the excuses people are putting forth to excuse the blatant B.O. worship and kowtowing on WP are lame and don't hold water. I know it. You know it. Everyone knows it. [[User:Jinxmchue|Jinxmchue]] 00:28, 16 March 2009 (EDT)

The WP articles are referenced in the "example of bias" are "Presidency of" articles, not general articles. You would know if you read them. But I guess reading an article on a site with a "liberal bias" is a lot to expect from someone here. Laying the sarcasm so thick isn't helping your argument either. If you think that line is so ridiculous then you've obviously blocked out the last eight years from your memory, not to mention that his attitude is probably the weakest criticism anyone has of GWB. Also, it should be mentioned that if that page on WP is ridiculous, then how do you describe this: [[Religion of Barack Obama]]. The rabbit hole of crazy goes really deep here.

: Your unsigned comment is incoherent. But in answer to your question, it is biased to point of absurdity to criticize Bush for his "accent" and his "ranch". Do you see similar criticisms of Obama and Ted Kennedy on Wikipedia???--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:13, 16 March 2009 (EDT)

== Gothic architecture ==

I am confused by the entry. It is maybe linked to the wrong wikipedia article? Because right now anyway, the article "Gothic Architecture" has its whole 3rd paragraph, out of 5 in the introduction section, about churches and cathedrals. And after that, there is the section "Religious influences" which is talking about christian monastary orders. Then it does mention moslems but only to say that their architecture had pointed arches, and i agree this is bias because there is no reason to think christians did not invent pointed arches themselves, but i still think that the entry bullet point makes little sense. The article mentions christianty in the third paragraph, after maybe 100 words not 1 500. It credits Christianity first and not moslems. It mentions christians many times through out, not "never mentioning christianity again." I am not saying it is unbiased but what we say about it is incorrect in fact. And it is strange to open with this, too. The list should start with the worst, like the black-list on intelligent design and climate sceptics, the celebirty gossip, and then on. [[User:ELeger|ELeger]] 00:24, 27 March 2009 (EDT)

== Drudge Bias ==

I don't have the time now but will somebody compare (and post a summary of) the existing Wikipedia DRUDGE REPORT and MATT DRUDGE entries with the existing Wikipedia entries for BILL MAHER, ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, and KEITH OLBERMANN? You will see that the DR and Matt Drudge, '''news aggregators,''' are cited in the first sentence as "conservative" while no such labels are applied to the latter '''pundits''' in even the first paragraph. Instead, they are buried well down the page or omitted entirely. In fact, it was the case recently that none were objectively called liberals but instead made use of sleight of hand, e.g., saying they had been critical of certain right-wingers at certain times, but not mentioning that they were proudly liberal. Good example of Wiki bias, in my estimation.

: You're right. Thanks for your insight. Please add a point about this, or I will if you don't get around to it. {{unsigned|Aschlafly}}

Personally, whilst I don't disagree as such with your observations, there is still an element of bias in them as well. You have cited just 3 'liberal' examples against 2 'conservative' examples. Who's to say there aren't others on each side which in fact show the opposite to what these do. It seems highly selective to select these few for comparison. The Michael Moore article for example does state in the opening that he is a 'liberal', so basically I think you would have to see how wide ranging this is before calling it bias. [[User:RobertWDP|RobertWDP]] 18:59, 28 March 2009 (EDT)

: You're right that we cannot make sweeping generalizations from a handful of articles, but that was never my intention. My point was that '''at this point in time and on each of those articles,''' there was resistance to "equalizing" the labels so that they were applied to all or none. The most dedicated editors made sure to protect accusations of conservatism while preventing--EVEN BANNING--those who suggested the others were liberal. Additionally, Matt Drudge is a '''news aggregator''' who has claimed to be libertarian, and he gets the 'conservative' label even while '''pundits''' who are proud and open of their liberalism get to play shy about it? And until recently, the Drudge Report was labeled while its openly liberal challenger, The Drudge Retort, was described as merely "left-leaning." In summary, I don't mean to make broad claims from narrow examples, just to acknowledge that those examples are there. Added together, hundreds or thousands of examples can suggest, if nothing else, an important trend. [[User:Iamchipdouglas|Iamchipdouglas]] 21:21, 30 March 2009 (EDT)

== Organizing instances in order of severity? ==

While I don't really agree with the comment about "Gothic Architecture" above, the author may have a point: would it be better to list the most egregious examples of bias first? Perhaps have a section for the most blatant instances of bias, and then a section for other instances? It just seems like good common sense to present the strongest arguments first. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 18:00, 27 March 2009 (EDT)

== Thank you ==

Dear Conservapedia editors

Firstly, I would like to disclose that I am a regular Wikipedia editor. I wanted to thank this site for this particular article. I regularly review it for errors Wikipedia might have missed, and whilst I don't agree that every complaint raised in this article is valid, a reasonable number have proven to be correct. This site, and I wish to stress I don't agree with a lot of it, does serve as a watchdog which many Wikipedia editors value for its investigations, and helps to keep us on our toes. Thanks again. [[User:Breithaupt|Breithaupt]] 14:52, 28 March 2009 (EDT)

:Thank you! No place is immune from the benefits of "outside" eyes, offering suggestions or solutions. --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 15:57, 28 March 2009 (EDT)

== Thank you as well! ==

:Thank you as well! I am sure that a growing number of contributors to Wikipedia are beginning to rethink their alleged objectivity and purveyors of unfettered information in a quest for the unvarnished truth, as well as a genuine effort "to present all sides" in a so-called fair manner, especially when "fairness" is tangible and wholly subjective in a multitude of cases. Their editorial staff once seemed to be the paragon of inclusion; now, an increasingly harsh tone of what cannot but be considered pious liberal subterfuge seems to confront the participant. Indeed, the forbearance manifested by the editors of Conservapedia - apparently from editors secure in their own intellect and the resilience of their faith - is a most nonthreatening and refreshing antithesis to those of us who have been savaged by an ever-noxious and insipid constriction of the truth or, as said, objectivity of the presentation. What one unfortunately faces on WP is a sort of editorial goon squad set about to investigate the alleged self-serving proprieties of them who deign to taint their presuppositions--tragic denial of their quest for greater information. I see in the current socio-religious (and socio-political) culture wars which currently afflict this nation a most disturbing phenomenon played out in the generation of information made available to the masses through the internet: The war of words and information waged between what appears to be an encroaching governmental superiority vs. the rights of man. If we are not careful, that which we feared the most shall come upon us--God help us all if the truth that sets us free is submerged in the blather of the self-righteous platitudes of so-called progressives whose purposeful and/or inadvertent desire is to manifest their disdain of any and all absolutes (especially those which the faithful project) - and in so doing, descend to a most horrible absolute wherein truth becomes fiction and fiction becomes the truth. The matter astounds - they who profess such indignity toward personal aggrandizement are countered (thankfully) by the accused who embrace their absolutes with calm and persistent expression of unfettered information which irritates the so-called guardians of information. Keep up the good work! [[User:Kriegerdwm|Kriegerdwm]] 00:13, 29 March 2009 (EDT)kriegerdwm[[User:Kriegerdwm|Kriegerdwm]] 00:13, 29 March 2009 (EDT)

== Update regarding the "Controversies and criticism" section at Wikipedia's Presidency of George W. Bush article ==

Regarding current example 153: "Wikipedia clearly adds a "Controversies" sections to their article for the "Presidency of George W. Bush"... but not to their article on the "Presidency of Barack Obama"".

After consensus was reached on Wikipedia that this section on George W. Bush was not appropriate, it has now been removed. [[User:Breithaupt|Breithaupt]] 14:10, 9 April 2009 (EDT)

:The word "criticism" or "critics" appears 24 times in the George W. Bush article. It only appears twice in the article on Obama, one referring to his criticism of others. So they can reshuffle the page all they want, but it's the content that matters.--[[User:FredCorps|FredCorps]] 14:15, 9 April 2009 (EDT)

Baseball

2009-04-09T18:12:01Z

FredCorps: /* History */

''This article is about the game of '''baseball'''. For other uses, see [[Baseball (disambiguation)]]

[[Image:Busch Stadium.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A baseball game at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri.]]

'''Baseball''', is a [[game]] consisting of nine active players on each [[team]] (except for those teams having [[designated hitter]]s) who take turns playing defense on the field and batting one at a time. The object is for the batters to hit a ball thrown by the [[pitcher]] into "fair" territory such that it is not caught in the air and gives the batter time to run to a base. The offense strives to advance these baserunners until they circle the three [[infield]] bases in order and get to the fourth base, called "home". This results in the scoring of a run. Failing to reach a base during their batting attempt results in an out, and the offense is only allowed three outs before they must take the field once again. Each team is allowed nine of these "innings" during the course of the game, an exception being that a team does not bat a ninth time if they are winning after the other teams ninth attempt. If the game is tied after nine innings, additional innings are played until there is a winner.

==History==
A well-publicized [[tradition]] holds that the game was invented by [[Abner Doubleday]] in [[Cooperstown]], [[New York]] in 1839. But not even the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]], founded on the strength of that tradition, seriously promotes this theory any more:
:After the [1905] Commission [appointed to determine the game's origins] reported its findings in 1908, many of the game's historians disputed Graves' accounts, noting that many of the innovations he attributed to Doubleday were already being practiced earlier in the 1830s. The discovery in 1999 of the original Mills Commission papers, long reported to have been burned, supports the view of many researchers that Baseball developed from, and along with, other bat-and-ball games earlier in the nineteenth century.<ref name=cooperstown>[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/about/history.htm The Origins of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]</ref>

The word "baseball" is mentioned in passing in [[Jane Austen]]'s 1803 British novel [[Northanger Abbey]], set in England:
:it was not very wonderful that Catherine, who had by nature nothing heroic about her, should prefer cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age of fourteen, to books...<ref>Austen, Jane (1803) ''[Northanger Abbey http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext94/nabby11h.htm]'', Chapter 1</ref>

but there is nothing in the context that tells any details of the game.

"Base-ball" or "base ball" was being played, under that name, during the [[Civil War]]:
:Captain Kimberly was an experienced and skillful player and base ball player and took the lead in inaugurating a series of games of base ball.<ref>Nash, Eugene Arus (1910) ''A History of the Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War, 1861-1865'', [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0Tt8agPo9LwQQsMG9YEqtf&id=L1eQYSRFhIQC&pg=PA166&lpg=PA166&dq=base-ball+civil+war&as_brr=1 p. 166]</ref>
:The air seemed full of heavy shot, and as the flew they could be seen as plainly as a base-ball in one of our games.<ref>Johnson, Robert Underwood and Clarence Clough Buel (1888), ''Battles and Leaders of the Civil War,'' Volume IV, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0veexS1IQVEWthmLI7jQgT3&id=rSwOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=base-ball+civil+war&as_brr=1 p. 37]</ref>
A 1902 book about [[Philadelphia]] says that "base-ball" was simply a new name for an older game:
:During the Civil War there was an interesting athletic development when the old game of "town-ball" was rechristened "base-ball." It is believed that the first town-ball club, called the Olympic, was established in 1833.<ref>Edmond, Franklin Spencer, ''History of the Central High School of Philadelphia'' [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0z6LOHidtNQ5hb4rcxNHUcc&id=wogWAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA251&lpg=PA251&dq=base-ball+civil+war&as_brr=1 p. 251]</ref>
In 2004, a baseball historian made national news with the apparent discovery of 1791 bylaw of the town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, stating that
:for the Preservation of the Windows in the New Meeting House... no Person or Inhabitant of said town, shall be permitted to play at any game called Wicket, Cricket, Baseball, Football, Cat, Fives or any other game or games with balls, within the Distance of Eighty Yards from said Meeting House.<ref>[http://www.pittsfield-ma.org/subpage.asp?ID=226 Pittsfield is "Baseball's Garden of Eden"]</ref>
The first definitively recorded organized baseball game took place in Hoboken, N.J., in 1846.<ref>[http://www.hobokenbaseball.com/ Hoboken Baseball]</ref>

The Abner-Doubleday-in-Cooperstown tradition was a reaction to famous baseball writer Henry Chadwick, who had stated that the game evolved from the British game of "rounders."<ref name=cooperstown/>. In response, Albert G. Spaulding, another baseball pioneer, urged the formation of a commission to determine the game's origin; one was formed, and in due course issued a report on December 30, 1907 stating "the first scheme for playing baseball, according to the best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, N.Y. in 1839."
The results of the Spaulding committee led to the 1939 founding of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the city of Cooperstown.<ref>The National Baseball Hall of Fame was inspired by the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in New York. Established in 1901, with a 600-foot colonnade ultimately containing bronze busts of 98 great Americans, the Hall of Fame was at one time a major landmark, and the additions of honorees to it was a national news event. Ironically, the Hall of Fame for Great Americans has itself passed into obscurity; today, the phrase "Hall of Fame" has practically come to mean the National Baseball Hall of Fame.</ref>
Just how long has baseball been played? The only valid answer known (as of the summer of 2008) indicates that it must have been played before March 31, 1755. In a diary found recently, a lawyer by the name of William Bray wrote as follows: "After Dinner Went to Miss Jeale's to play at Base Ball . . . ." The next known reference to the sport is the 1791 law in Pittsfield, Mass., forbidding the game to be played. There are also some Egyptian carvings in which a bat and ball may be seen, but these are indecisive.

==Modern Baseball==
The game of baseball is now played the world over. In North America, the primary governing body at the professional level is Major League Baseball, which consists of thirty clubs. Major league Baseball is divided into two groups; The American League and The National League. Every year, all of the MLB clubs from each league battle to earn a place in the World Series, the pinnacle of the sport. To date the New York Yankees of the American League have won the most World Series titles with 26 followed by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League with 10 wins. College baseball in the United States is governed primarily by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

==Miscellaneous==

The baseball as we know it—or at least the familiar "figure-eight" stitched cover—was invented in the 1840s by Ellis Drake of Stoughton, Massachusetts.<ref>[http://www.19cbaseball.com/19th-century-baseball.html Nineteenth-century baseballs]</ref>

The umpire's hand signals for "strike" and "out" were invented by deaf baseball player William "Dummy" Hoy (1861-1961)<ref>[http://library.gallaudet.edu/dr/faq-deaf-place-names.html Deaf Place Names]</ref>

==The ball==

[[Image:Baseball.jpg|left|150px]]
''' Baseball ball ''': The baseball’s core is made of rubber and cork. Yarn is wound around the rubber and cork centre. Then 2 strips of white cowhide are sewn around the ball. Official baseballs must weigh 5 to 5 1/4 ounces and be 9 to 9 1/4 inches in diameter.
 
 
 
== References ==
*[http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/beginners/glossary.html Baseball Glossary] WETA.
*[http://www.nocryinginbaseball.com/glossary/glossary.html Baseball Glossary OF TERMS]
*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/pitch_glossary.shtml Pitching Glossary]
*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/bat_glossary.shtml Batting Glossary]
== External links ==
*[http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp The Official Site of Major League Baseball]
*[http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp Minor League Baseball]
*[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/features/alumni/article.jsp?article=history BASEBALL HISTORY] Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.
*[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/features/alumni/stats.jsp Stats]
*[http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/index.jsp Hall of Fame] National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc.
== See also ==

*[[Major League Baseball]]
*[[Baseball (disambiguation)]]
{{baseball}}

==Notes and references==
<references/>

[[Category:Baseball]]

Talk:Six Nations Championship

2009-04-09T18:08:55Z

FredCorps:

Ed, I changed back your edits as I think it needs to be stated that the 6 Nations is a Rugby Union contest, not a Rugby League on (as RL is played in all the 6 except Italy). The Rugby Union link is redirected to a page entitled [[Rugby (Sport)]] which I think is the appropriate place to 'compare and contrast'. Cheers, [[User:BobCherry|BobCherry]] 17:44, 15 March 2008 (EDT)

:You're the expert. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 17:53, 15 March 2008 (EDT)

==Use of "nations"==

Since Wales and Scotland are not "nations" in the sense that most would use the term, I removed it.--[[User:FredCorps|FredCorps]] 14:08, 9 April 2009 (EDT)

Talk:Six Nations Championship

2009-04-09T18:08:37Z

FredCorps:

Ed, I changed back your edits as I think it needs to be stated that the 6 Nations is a Rugby Union contest, not a Rugby League on (as RL is played in all the 6 except Italy). The Rugby Union link is redirected to a page entitled [[Rugby (Sport)]] which I think is the appropriate place to 'compare and contrast'. Cheers, [[User:BobCherry|BobCherry]] 17:44, 15 March 2008 (EDT)

:You're the expert. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 17:53, 15 March 2008 (EDT)

==Use of nations==
Since Wales and Scotland are not "nations" in the sense that most would use the term, I removed it.

Six Nations Championship

2009-04-09T18:08:02Z

FredCorps:

The '''Six Nations Championship''' is a [[tournament]] for the main [[Rugby Union]] sides of the [[Northern Hemisphere]]: [[England]], [[France]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Scotland]], [[Wales]]. Each side plays one match against every other side. Between 1910 and 1999 the competition was known as the 'Five Nations': England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Italy joined in 2000. Between 1883 and 1909 the competition was known as the 'Home Nations' comprising of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The winner of the 2008 Six Nations Championship is Wales, which also won the 'Triple Crown' (a title awarded to a team from England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales which defeats all its British Isles opponents) and the 'Grand Slam' (it defeated all the other sides). The other prize available in the tournament is the Calcutta Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the game between England and Scotland. Also, a team that wins none of its games in a given year is said to have 'won' the [[wooden spoon]].

[[Category:Rugby]]

Bohemia

2009-04-09T18:02:12Z

FredCorps:

'''Bohemia''' is a region of central Europe and forms the larger, western part of the [[Czech Republic]]; its capital is [[Prague]]. It is known for its glassware and for [[beer]]: [[Pilsen]] and [[Budweis]] are both Bohemian brewing towns. It gives its name to a leftist lifestyle that emerged in France in the 1800s.

[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Czech Republic]]

Trinity Church

2009-04-09T17:59:15Z

FredCorps:

'''Trinity Church''' was founded in 1697 and remains an active [[Episcopal]] church in the heart of [[Wall Street|the Financial District]] in Lower (southern) [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]]. Its address is Broadway and Wall Street.

Many famous [[United States of America|American]]s worshipped at Trinity Church or are buried in its [[cemetery]], including [[William Bradford]], [[Hugh Williamson]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[Robert Fulton]], and [[Albert Gallatin]].

== See also ==

*[[Bethlehem First Baptist Church]]
*[[First Baptist Church in Gravois Mills]]

[[category:Churches]]

Holiday

2009-04-09T17:55:24Z

FredCorps:

A '''holiday''' is a special day which may include celebrating, or simply staying home instead of working. The etymology is from the word [[holy]]. Most [[cultures]] have some holidays to help with the well being and positive attitude of their populace.

'''The following are some prominent holidays''':
*[[Resurrection Sunday]] (Easter)
*[[Christmas]]
*[[Thanksgiving]]
*[[New Year's Day]]
*[[Halloween]]
*[[Independence Day]]

[[Category:Holidays]]

Talk:Atheism and charity

2009-04-08T14:39:09Z

FredCorps:

unlock this article so I can add a template to it-- [[Image:50 star flag.png|12px]] [[User:Deborah|Deborah]] [[Special:Contributions/Deborah|(contributions)]] [[User_talk:Deborah|(talk)]] 12:47, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

== donations ==

Perhaps it should be noted that some of the most liberal and atheistic countries in the world, eg north-western Europe, are some of the worlds largest aid donors, [http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp#ForeignAidNumbersinChartsandGraphs source] and by some measure, are considered the most charitable nations on the international level [http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/ source].
And while some of these nations have a well developed social security system, still spend a signigicant amount of money on charity, in the Netherlands, for example, private citizens spend, in relative terms, about a 1/3 of what US citizens spend on charity [http://www.cbf.nl/Downloads/Bestanden/Verslag_fondsenwervers/Verslag%20Fondsenwerving%202006.pdf source] [[User:ABunny|ABunny]] 21:18, 7 August 2008 (EDT)
:I agree. My homecountry, Norway, is mainly populated by atheistic/agnostic social liberals, and gives some of the largest amounts of donations per capita in the world. [[User:Efloean|Efloean]] 15:51, 3 September 2008 (EDT)

also does this include donations directly to churchs

That's a valid question. If this data includes money given to churches, it invalidates the argument. Who would consider membership dues, even if voluntary, charity? It would be nice if the wiki clarified. It's also curious that the wiki considers only monetary donations as charity. I am currently too poor to give any of my money away, but I did just finish serving a year in the AmeriCorps. However, this wiki, as is, would not consider that charity.

:But the money that goes to churches goes to help the needy, while many charities, even non-profits, take most of the donations and use them for their own operating costs. So not only are Christians more giving, but their donations are used more effectively.--[[User:FredCorps|FredCorps]] 10:38, 8 April 2009 (EDT)

Talk:Atheism and charity

2009-04-08T14:38:53Z

FredCorps:

unlock this article so I can add a template to it-- [[Image:50 star flag.png|12px]] [[User:Deborah|Deborah]] [[Special:Contributions/Deborah|(contributions)]] [[User_talk:Deborah|(talk)]] 12:47, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

== donations ==

Perhaps it should be noted that some of the most liberal and atheistic countries in the world, eg north-western Europe, are some of the worlds largest aid donors, [http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp#ForeignAidNumbersinChartsandGraphs source] and by some measure, are considered the most charitable nations on the international level [http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/ source].
And while some of these nations have a well developed social security system, still spend a signigicant amount of money on charity, in the Netherlands, for example, private citizens spend, in relative terms, about a 1/3 of what US citizens spend on charity [http://www.cbf.nl/Downloads/Bestanden/Verslag_fondsenwervers/Verslag%20Fondsenwerving%202006.pdf source] [[User:ABunny|ABunny]] 21:18, 7 August 2008 (EDT)
:I agree. My homecountry, Norway, is mainly populated by atheistic/agnostic social liberals, and gives some of the largest amounts of donations per capita in the world. [[User:Efloean|Efloean]] 15:51, 3 September 2008 (EDT)

also does this include donations directly to churchs

That's a valid question. If this data includes money given to churches, it invalidates the argument. Who would consider membership dues, even if voluntary, charity? It would be nice if the wiki clarified. It's also curious that the wiki considers only monetary donations as charity. I am currently too poor to give any of my money away, but I did just finish serving a year in the AmeriCorps. However, this wiki, as is, would not consider that charity.

But the money that goes to churches goes to help the needy, while many charities, even non-profits, take most of the donations and use them for their own operating costs. So not only are Christians more giving, but their donations are used more effectively.--[[User:FredCorps|FredCorps]] 10:38, 8 April 2009 (EDT)

Kazakhstan

2009-04-08T14:33:22Z

FredCorps:

{{Country
|name =''Қазақстан Республикасы''
|map =Kazakhstan rel01.jpg
|flag =Flag of Kazakhstan.png
|arms =Arms of Kazakhstan.png
|capital =Astana
|capital-raw =
|government =Presidential republic
|government-raw =
|language =Kazakh, Russian
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Nursultan Nazarbayev
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Karim Masimov
|pm-raw =
|area =1,052,085 sq mi
|pop =15,217,711
|pop-basis =2006
|gdp =$161 billion
|gdp-year =2007
|gdp-pc =$10,658
|currency =Tenge
|idd =
|tld =
}}
'''Kazakhstan''' (Republic of Kazakhstan), is a country in Central [[Asia]]. Its capital is Astana.

==Geography==
It is a former member of the [[USSR]]. With an area of approximately 2.7 million square kilometers, Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world. It is a landlocked nation, bordering [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and the [[Caspian Sea]]. The [[Aral Sea]] is also partially contained within Kazakhstan's borders, and the country's government has made recent efforts to save the Aral Sea from environmental disaster [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6538073.stm].
*Area: 2.7 million sq. km. (1.05 million sq. mi.); ninth-largest nation in the world; the size of Western Europe.
*Major cities: Astana (capital, June 1998), Almaty (former capital and largest city), Karaganda, and Shymkent.
*Terrain: Extends east to west from the Caspian Sea to the Altay Mountains and north to south from the plains of Western Siberia to the [[oasis]] and desert of Central Asia.
*Climate: Continental, cold winters and hot summers; arid and semi-arid.
*Border lengths: Russia 6,846 km., Uzbekistan 2,203 km., China 1,533 km., Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km., and Turkmenistan 379 km.

==People==
Kazakhstan is very ethnically diverse, with only a slight majority of Kazakhstanis being ethnic Kazakh. Other ethnic groups include Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, German, and Uyghur. Religions are Sunni Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other. Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. The Kazakh language has the status of the "state" language, while Russian is declared the "official" language. Russian is used routinely in business; 64.4% of the population speaks the Kazakh language. Education is universal and mandatory through the secondary level, and the literacy rate is 98.4%.
*Population (July 2006 est.): 15.2 million--down from 16.2 million in 1989; second most-populated country in Central Asia.
*Population growth rate (2006 est.): 0.3%. Population distribution: 56.4% of population lives in urban areas. Twenty-six cities had approximate populations of more than 50,000 in 1999--Astana (capital) 529,000, Almaty (former capital) 1.2 million, Karaganda 440,000, Shymkent 370,000, Taraz 340,000, Ust-Kamenogorsk 310,000, Pavlodar 300,000.
*Large scale emigration of ethnic Russians, Germans, and Ukrainians accounts for most of the population decrease since 1989.
*Population density: 14.5 people per sq. mi. (U.S. density 2000: 79.6 people per sq. mi.).
*Ethnic groups (2002): Kazakh 55.8%, Russian 28.3%, Ukrainian 3.3%, Uzbek 2.6%, German 1.8%, Uyghur 1.5%, other 5.0%.
*Religion: Sunni Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%.
*Language: Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. Kazakh language has the status of the "state" language, while Russian is declared the "official" language. Russian is used routinely in business; 64.4% of population speaks the Kazakh language.
*Health (2006 est.): Infant mortality rate--28.3/1,000. Life expectancy--66.89 years (male 61.56 yrs.; female 72.52 yrs.). *Health care (2005 est.)--30.3 doctors and 68.2 hospital beds per 10,000 persons.
*Education: Mandatory universal secondary education. School system consists of kindergarten, primary school (grades 1-4), secondary school (grades 5-9), and high school (grades 10-11). Literacy rate--98.4%.
*Work force (2005, 7.85 million): Industry and construction--18.1%; agriculture and fishing--32.9%; services--49%.

==Government and Political Conditions==
Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency. It is divided into 14 oblasts and the two municipal districts of Almaty and Astana. Each is headed by an akim (provincial governor) appointed by the president. Municipal akims are appointed by oblast akims. The Government of Kazakhstan transferred its capital from Almaty to Astana on June 10, 1998.

The president is the head of state. The president also is the commander in chief of the armed forces and may veto legislation that has been passed by the Parliament. President Nursultan Nazarbayev has been in office since Kazakhstan became independent. In 1995, President Nazarbayev called for a referendum that expanded his presidential powers: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities. The prime minister, who serves at the pleasure of the president, chairs the Cabinet of Ministers and serves as Kazakhstan's head of government. There are three deputy prime ministers and 16 ministers in the Cabinet.

Kazakhstan has a bicameral Parliament, comprised of a lower house (the Mazhilis) and upper house (the Senate). Single mandate districts popularly elect 67 seats in the Mazhilis; there also are 10 members elected by party-list vote. The Senate has 39 members. Two senators are selected by each of the elected assemblies (Maslikhats) of Kazakhstan's 16 principal administrative divisions (14 regions, or oblasts, plus the cities of Astana and Almaty). The president appoints the remaining seven senators. Mazhilis deputies and the government both have the right of legislative initiative, though the government proposes most legislation considered by the Parliament.

Elections to the Mazhilis in September 2004 yielded a lower house dominated by the pro-government Otan party, headed by President Nazarbayev. Two other parties considered sympathetic to the president, including the agrarian-industrial bloc AIST and the Asar party, founded by President Nazarbayev’s daughter, won most of the remaining seats (Asar and Otan subsequently merged in July 2006 to form the new Otan party). Opposition parties, which were officially registered and competed in the elections, won a single seat during elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. The opposition party Ak Zhol refused to take the seat in protest of the flawed elections.

In December 2005, President Nazarbayev won a new 7-year term in an election that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. Official results gave the president 91% of the vote, although independent exit polls found this figure to be somewhat inflated. Opposition candidates Zharmakhan Tuyakbay (For a Just Kazakhstan) and Alikhan Baymenov (Ak Zhol) were able to compete freely in this election.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President--Nursultan Nazarbayev
*Head of Presidential Administration--Adilbek Dzhaksybekov
*Prosecutor General--Rashid Tusupbekov
*National Security Committee (KNB) Chairman--Amangeldy Shabdarbayev
*Prime Minister--Karim Masimov
*Deputy Prime Minister--Aslan Musin
*State Secretary--Oralbay Abdykarimov

===Foreign Relations===
Kazakhstan has stable relationships with all of its neighbors. Kazakhstan is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and North Atlantic Cooperation Council. It also is an active participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan also is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization along with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community in 2000 to re-energize earlier efforts at harmonizing trade tariffs and the creation of a free trade zone under a customs union. Kazakhstan is the founding member of the Conference for Interaction and Confidence in Asia. Kazakhstan also engages in regional security dialogue with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

==Economy==
Kazakhstan's economy grew by 8.5% in 2006. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 9.4% in 2005, 9.1 % in 2004, 9.2% in 2003, 9.5% in 2002, and 13.2% in 2001.

Kazakhstan's monetary policy has been well managed. In 2006, inflation remained relatively steady at 8.6%, up from 7.5% in 2005. Inflation from 2001-2003 was 6.4%, 6.6%, and 6.8%, respectively. Because of its strong macroeconomic performance and financial health, Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to repay all of its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2000, 7 years ahead of schedule. In March 2002, the U.S. Department of Commerce graduated Kazakhstan to market economy status under U.S. trade law. The change in status recognized substantive market economy reforms in the areas of currency convertibility, wage rate determination, openness to foreign investment, and government control over the means of production and allocation of resources.
*GDP (2007): $102.5 billion.
*Exchange rate (period average): 122.55 KZT/U.S. $1 in 2007.
*GDP growth rate: 9.5% (2002); 9.2% (2003); 9.6% (2004 est.); 9.7% (2005 est.); 10.7% (2006); 8.5% (2007).
GDP per capita (2007, purchasing power parity): $11,100.
*Inflation rate: 6.6% (2002); 6.8% (2003); 6.7% (2004 est.); 7.5% (2005); 8.4% (2006); 18.8% (2007 year-over-year); 10.8% (2007 average).
*Trade: Exports (2007 est.)--$44.88 billion. Imports (2007 est.)--$29.91 billion.
*Gross external debt: $18.2 billion (2002); $22.9 billion (2003); $32.71 billion (2004); $43.40 billion (2005); $73.46 billion (2006); $96.37 billion (2007).
*Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves: $4.96 billion (2003); $7.07 billion (2005 est.); $19.04 billion (Feb. 2008).
*National (oil) fund reserves: $3.6 billion (2003); $5.1 billion (2004); $10.1 billion (2006); $22.6 billion (Feb. 2008).
*Officially recognized unemployment rate: 8.7% (2003); 8.4% (2004 est.); 8.1% (2005 est.); 7.4% (2006 est.); 7.1% (2007 est.).
*Population below poverty line: 13.8% (2007).

In September 2002, Kazakhstan became the first country in the former Soviet Union to receive an investment-grade credit rating from a major international credit rating agency. Estimated level of external debt in 2005 was $41.66 billion. In 2004, Kazakhstan's gross foreign debt was about $26.03 billion. Kazakhstan has been successful in reducing the ratio of debt to GDP in recent years. In 2005, total governmental debt was $5 billion, which amounts to 8.9% of GDP. In 2000, total government debt equaled 21.7% of GDP.

The upturn in economic growth, combined with the results of earlier tax and financial sector reforms, dramatically improved government finances from the 1999 budget deficit level of 3.5% of GDP to a deficit of 0.5% of GDP in 2005. Government revenues grew from 19.8% of GDP in 1999 to 22.6% of GDP in 2001 to 25.7% of GDP in 2005. In 2000, Kazakhstan adopted a new tax code in an effort to consolidate these gains. On November 29, 2003 the Law on Changes to Tax Code was adopted, which reduced the value added tax (from 16% to 15%), the social tax (from 21% to 20%), and the personal income tax (from 30% to 20%). Kazakhstan furthered its reforms by adopting a new land code on June 20, 2003 and a customs code on April 5, 2003.

Oil and gas is the leading economic sector. Production of oil and gas condensate in Kazakhstan amounted to 61.9 million tons in 2005, which was 4.3% more than in 2004. Kazakhstan exported 52.4 million tons of oil and gas condensate a year in 2004 and 2005. Natural gas production in Kazakhstan in 2005 amounted to 14.5 billion cubic meters, a 25% increase from 2004. Kazakhstan holds about 4 billion tons of proven recoverable oil reserves and 3 trillion cubic meters of gas. Industry analysts believe that planned expansion of oil production, coupled with the development of new fields, will enable the country to produce as much as 3 million barrels per day by 2015, lifting Kazakhstan into the ranks of the world's top 10 oil-producing nations. Kazakhstan's 2005 oil exports were valued at $17.4 billion, representing over 70% of overall exports. Major oil and gas fields and their recoverable oil reserves are Tengiz (7 billion barrels); Karachaganak (8 billion barrels and 1,350 billion cubic meters of natural gas); and Kashagan (7-9 billion barrels). Starting in 2004, the Government of Kazakhstan increased its take of oil deals by increasing taxation of new oil projects.

Kazakhstan instituted an ambitious pension reform program in 1998. There are 14 saving pension funds, one of which is state controlled. The National Bank oversees and regulates the pension funds. The pension funds' growing demand for quality investment outlets triggered rapid development of the debt securities market. Pension fund capital is being invested almost exclusively in corporate and government bonds, including Government of Kazakhstan Eurobonds. The Kazakhstani banking system is developing rapidly. Its capitalization now exceeds $1 billion. The National Bank has introduced deposit insurance in its campaign to strengthen the banking sector. Several major foreign banks have branches in Kazakhstan, including ABN-AMRO, Citibank, and HSBC.

====Agriculture====
Agriculture accounted for 10.3% of Kazakhstan's GDP in 2005. Grain (Kazakhstan is the seventh-largest producer of wheat in the world) and livestock are the most important agricultural commodities. Agricultural land occupies more than 220 million hectares, about 68% of which consists of pasture and hay land. Chief livestock products are dairy goods, leather, meat, and wool. The country's major crops include wheat, barley, cotton, and rice. Wheat is the leading agricultural commodity in Kazakhstan's export trade. Kazakhstan harvests 14-15 million tons of wheat per year.

====Natural Resources====
Oil, gas, and mineral exports are key to Kazakhstan's economic success. Since 1993, Kazakhstan’s extractive industries have attracted $30.7 billion in foreign investment, which represents almost 76% of the total foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan for that period. Kazakhstan has significant deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, uranium, and gold.

==History==
Nomadic tribes have been living in the region that is now Kazakhstan since the first century BC, although the land has been inhabited at least as far back as the Stone Age. From the fourth century AD through the beginning of the 13th century, the territory of Kazakhstan was ruled by a series of nomadic nations. Following the Mongolian invasion in the early 13th century, administrative districts were established under the Mongol Empire, which eventually became the territories of the Kazakh Khanate. The major medieval cities of Taraz and Turkestan were founded along the northern route of the Great Silk Road during this period.

Traditional nomadic life on the vast steppe and semi-desert lands was characterized by a constant search for new pasture to support the livestock-based economy. The Kazakhs emerged from a mixture of tribes living in the region in about the 15th century and by the middle of the 16th century had developed a common language, culture, and economy. In the early 1600s, the Kazakh Khanate separated into the Great, Middle and Little (or Small) Hordes--confederations based on extended family networks. Political disunion, competition among the hordes, and a lack of an internal market weakened the Kazakh Khanate. The beginning of the 18th century marked the zenith of the Kazakh Khanate. The following 150 years saw the gradual colonization of the Kazakh-controlled territories by tsarist Russia.

The process of colonization was a combination of voluntary integration into the Russian Empire and outright seizure. The Little Horde and part of the Middle Horde signed treaties of protection with Russia in the 1730s and 1740s. Major parts of the northeast and central Kazakh territories were incorporated into the Russian Empire by 1840. With the Russian seizure of territories belonging to the Senior Horde in the 1860s, the tsars effectively ruled over most of the territory belonging to what is now the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Russian Empire introduced a system of administration and built military garrisons in its effort to establish a presence in Central Asia in the so-called "Great Game" between it and Great Britain. Russian efforts to impose its system aroused the resentment of the [[Kazakh people]], and by the 1860s, most Kazakhs resisted Russia's annexation largely because of the disruption it wrought upon the traditional nomadic lifestyle and livestock-based economy. The Kazakh national movement, which began in the late 1800s, sought to preserve the Kazakh language and identity. There were uprisings against colonial rule during the final years of tsarist Russia, with the most serious occurring in 1916. The destruction of the nomadic life, prior to and during the Communist period, created a Kazakh diaspora in neighboring countries, especially western China. Since independence in 1991, the government has encouraged the return of ethnic Kazakhs by offering subsidies for returnees.

Although there was a brief period of autonomy during the tumultuous period following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Kazakhs eventually succumbed to Soviet rule. In 1920, the area of present-day Kazakhstan became an autonomous republic within Russia and, in 1936, a Soviet republic.

Soviet repression of the traditional elites, along with forced collectivization in late 1920s-1930s, brought about mass hunger and led to unrest. Soviet rule, however, took hold, and a communist apparatus steadily worked to fully integrate Kazakhstan into the Soviet system. Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of thousands exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and later became home for hundreds of thousands evacuated from the Second World War battlefields. The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) contributed five national divisions to the Soviet Union's World War II effort.

The period of the Second World War marked an increase in industrialization and increased mineral extraction in support of the war effort. At the time of Soviet leader Josif Stalin's death, however, Kazakhstan still had an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy. In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the ambitious "Virgin Lands" program to turn the traditional pasturelands of Kazakhstan into a major grain-producing region for the Soviet Union. The Virgin Lands policy, along with later modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, sped up the development of the agricultural sector, which to this day remains the source of livelihood for a large percentage of Kazakhstan's population.

Growing tensions within Soviet society led to a demand for political and economic reforms, which came to a head in the 1980s. In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs took place in Almaty to protest the methods of the communist system. Soviet troops suppressed the unrest, and dozens of demonstrators were jailed. In the waning days of Soviet rule, discontent continued to grow and find expression under Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost. Caught up in the groundswell of Soviet republics seeking greater autonomy, Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty as a republic within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) in October 1990. Following the August 1991 abortive coup attempt in Moscow and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991.

The years following independence have been marked by significant reforms to the Soviet command-economy and political monopoly on power. Under Nursultan Nazarbayev, who initially came to power in 1989 as the head of the Kazakh Communist Party and was eventually elected President in 1991, Kazakhstan has made significant progress toward developing a market economy, for which it was recognized by the United States in 2002. The country has enjoyed significant economic growth since 2000, partly due to its large oil, gas, and mineral reserves.

{{License|license = This work 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 US Code.| source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5487.htm]}}

[[Category:Asian Countries]]
[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]]

Kazakhstan

2009-04-08T14:32:36Z

FredCorps: Undo revision 650253 by Battletoads (Talk) vandalism

{{Country
|name =''Қазақстан Республикасы''
|map =Kazakhstan rel01.jpg
|flag =Flag of Kazakhstan.png
|arms =Arms of Kazakhstan.png
|capital =Astana
|capital-raw =
|government =Presidential republic
|government-raw =
|language =Kazakh, Russian
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Nursultan Nazarbayev
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Karim Masimov
|pm-raw =
|area =1,052,085 sq mi
|pop =15,217,711
|pop-basis =2006
|gdp =$161 billion
|gdp-year =2007
|gdp-pc =$10,658
|currency =Tenge
|idd =
|tld =
}}
'''Kazakhstan''' (Republic of Kazakhstan), is a country in Central [[Asia]]. Its capital is Astana.

==Geography==
It is a former member of the [[USSR]]. With an area of approximately 2.7 million square kilometers, Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world. It is a landlocked nation, bordering [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and the [[Caspian Sea]]. The [[Aral Sea]] is also partially contained within Kazakhstan's borders, and the country's government has made recent efforts to save the Aral Sea from environmental disaster [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6538073.stm].
*Area: 2.7 million sq. km. (1.05 million sq. mi.); ninth-largest nation in the world; the size of Western Europe.
*Major cities: Astana (capital, June 1998), Almaty (former capital), Karaganda, and Shymkent.
*Terrain: Extends east to west from the Caspian Sea to the Altay Mountains and north to south from the plains of Western Siberia to the [[oasis]] and desert of Central Asia.
*Climate: Continental, cold winters and hot summers; arid and semi-arid.
*Border lengths: Russia 6,846 km., Uzbekistan 2,203 km., China 1,533 km., Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km., and Turkmenistan 379 km.

==People==
Kazakhstan is very ethnically diverse, with only a slight majority of Kazakhstanis being ethnic Kazakh. Other ethnic groups include Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, German, and Uyghur. Religions are Sunni Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other. Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. The Kazakh language has the status of the "state" language, while Russian is declared the "official" language. Russian is used routinely in business; 64.4% of the population speaks the Kazakh language. Education is universal and mandatory through the secondary level, and the literacy rate is 98.4%.
*Population (July 2006 est.): 15.2 million--down from 16.2 million in 1989; second most-populated country in Central Asia.
*Population growth rate (2006 est.): 0.3%. Population distribution: 56.4% of population lives in urban areas. Twenty-six cities had approximate populations of more than 50,000 in 1999--Astana (capital) 529,000, Almaty (former capital) 1.2 million, Karaganda 440,000, Shymkent 370,000, Taraz 340,000, Ust-Kamenogorsk 310,000, Pavlodar 300,000.
*Large scale emigration of ethnic Russians, Germans, and Ukrainians accounts for most of the population decrease since 1989.
*Population density: 14.5 people per sq. mi. (U.S. density 2000: 79.6 people per sq. mi.).
*Ethnic groups (2002): Kazakh 55.8%, Russian 28.3%, Ukrainian 3.3%, Uzbek 2.6%, German 1.8%, Uyghur 1.5%, other 5.0%.
*Religion: Sunni Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%.
*Language: Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. Kazakh language has the status of the "state" language, while Russian is declared the "official" language. Russian is used routinely in business; 64.4% of population speaks the Kazakh language.
*Health (2006 est.): Infant mortality rate--28.3/1,000. Life expectancy--66.89 years (male 61.56 yrs.; female 72.52 yrs.). *Health care (2005 est.)--30.3 doctors and 68.2 hospital beds per 10,000 persons.
*Education: Mandatory universal secondary education. School system consists of kindergarten, primary school (grades 1-4), secondary school (grades 5-9), and high school (grades 10-11). Literacy rate--98.4%.
*Work force (2005, 7.85 million): Industry and construction--18.1%; agriculture and fishing--32.9%; services--49%.

==Government and Political Conditions==
Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency. It is divided into 14 oblasts and the two municipal districts of Almaty and Astana. Each is headed by an akim (provincial governor) appointed by the president. Municipal akims are appointed by oblast akims. The Government of Kazakhstan transferred its capital from Almaty to Astana on June 10, 1998.

The president is the head of state. The president also is the commander in chief of the armed forces and may veto legislation that has been passed by the Parliament. President Nursultan Nazarbayev has been in office since Kazakhstan became independent. In 1995, President Nazarbayev called for a referendum that expanded his presidential powers: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities. The prime minister, who serves at the pleasure of the president, chairs the Cabinet of Ministers and serves as Kazakhstan's head of government. There are three deputy prime ministers and 16 ministers in the Cabinet.

Kazakhstan has a bicameral Parliament, comprised of a lower house (the Mazhilis) and upper house (the Senate). Single mandate districts popularly elect 67 seats in the Mazhilis; there also are 10 members elected by party-list vote. The Senate has 39 members. Two senators are selected by each of the elected assemblies (Maslikhats) of Kazakhstan's 16 principal administrative divisions (14 regions, or oblasts, plus the cities of Astana and Almaty). The president appoints the remaining seven senators. Mazhilis deputies and the government both have the right of legislative initiative, though the government proposes most legislation considered by the Parliament.

Elections to the Mazhilis in September 2004 yielded a lower house dominated by the pro-government Otan party, headed by President Nazarbayev. Two other parties considered sympathetic to the president, including the agrarian-industrial bloc AIST and the Asar party, founded by President Nazarbayev’s daughter, won most of the remaining seats (Asar and Otan subsequently merged in July 2006 to form the new Otan party). Opposition parties, which were officially registered and competed in the elections, won a single seat during elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. The opposition party Ak Zhol refused to take the seat in protest of the flawed elections.

In December 2005, President Nazarbayev won a new 7-year term in an election that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. Official results gave the president 91% of the vote, although independent exit polls found this figure to be somewhat inflated. Opposition candidates Zharmakhan Tuyakbay (For a Just Kazakhstan) and Alikhan Baymenov (Ak Zhol) were able to compete freely in this election.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President--Nursultan Nazarbayev
*Head of Presidential Administration--Adilbek Dzhaksybekov
*Prosecutor General--Rashid Tusupbekov
*National Security Committee (KNB) Chairman--Amangeldy Shabdarbayev
*Prime Minister--Karim Masimov
*Deputy Prime Minister--Aslan Musin
*State Secretary--Oralbay Abdykarimov

===Foreign Relations===
Kazakhstan has stable relationships with all of its neighbors. Kazakhstan is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and North Atlantic Cooperation Council. It also is an active participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan also is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization along with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community in 2000 to re-energize earlier efforts at harmonizing trade tariffs and the creation of a free trade zone under a customs union. Kazakhstan is the founding member of the Conference for Interaction and Confidence in Asia. Kazakhstan also engages in regional security dialogue with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

==Economy==
Kazakhstan's economy grew by 8.5% in 2006. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 9.4% in 2005, 9.1 % in 2004, 9.2% in 2003, 9.5% in 2002, and 13.2% in 2001.

Kazakhstan's monetary policy has been well managed. In 2006, inflation remained relatively steady at 8.6%, up from 7.5% in 2005. Inflation from 2001-2003 was 6.4%, 6.6%, and 6.8%, respectively. Because of its strong macroeconomic performance and financial health, Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to repay all of its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2000, 7 years ahead of schedule. In March 2002, the U.S. Department of Commerce graduated Kazakhstan to market economy status under U.S. trade law. The change in status recognized substantive market economy reforms in the areas of currency convertibility, wage rate determination, openness to foreign investment, and government control over the means of production and allocation of resources.
*GDP (2007): $102.5 billion.
*Exchange rate (period average): 122.55 KZT/U.S. $1 in 2007.
*GDP growth rate: 9.5% (2002); 9.2% (2003); 9.6% (2004 est.); 9.7% (2005 est.); 10.7% (2006); 8.5% (2007).
GDP per capita (2007, purchasing power parity): $11,100.
*Inflation rate: 6.6% (2002); 6.8% (2003); 6.7% (2004 est.); 7.5% (2005); 8.4% (2006); 18.8% (2007 year-over-year); 10.8% (2007 average).
*Trade: Exports (2007 est.)--$44.88 billion. Imports (2007 est.)--$29.91 billion.
*Gross external debt: $18.2 billion (2002); $22.9 billion (2003); $32.71 billion (2004); $43.40 billion (2005); $73.46 billion (2006); $96.37 billion (2007).
*Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves: $4.96 billion (2003); $7.07 billion (2005 est.); $19.04 billion (Feb. 2008).
*National (oil) fund reserves: $3.6 billion (2003); $5.1 billion (2004); $10.1 billion (2006); $22.6 billion (Feb. 2008).
*Officially recognized unemployment rate: 8.7% (2003); 8.4% (2004 est.); 8.1% (2005 est.); 7.4% (2006 est.); 7.1% (2007 est.).
*Population below poverty line: 13.8% (2007).

In September 2002, Kazakhstan became the first country in the former Soviet Union to receive an investment-grade credit rating from a major international credit rating agency. Estimated level of external debt in 2005 was $41.66 billion. In 2004, Kazakhstan's gross foreign debt was about $26.03 billion. Kazakhstan has been successful in reducing the ratio of debt to GDP in recent years. In 2005, total governmental debt was $5 billion, which amounts to 8.9% of GDP. In 2000, total government debt equaled 21.7% of GDP.

The upturn in economic growth, combined with the results of earlier tax and financial sector reforms, dramatically improved government finances from the 1999 budget deficit level of 3.5% of GDP to a deficit of 0.5% of GDP in 2005. Government revenues grew from 19.8% of GDP in 1999 to 22.6% of GDP in 2001 to 25.7% of GDP in 2005. In 2000, Kazakhstan adopted a new tax code in an effort to consolidate these gains. On November 29, 2003 the Law on Changes to Tax Code was adopted, which reduced the value added tax (from 16% to 15%), the social tax (from 21% to 20%), and the personal income tax (from 30% to 20%). Kazakhstan furthered its reforms by adopting a new land code on June 20, 2003 and a customs code on April 5, 2003.

Oil and gas is the leading economic sector. Production of oil and gas condensate in Kazakhstan amounted to 61.9 million tons in 2005, which was 4.3% more than in 2004. Kazakhstan exported 52.4 million tons of oil and gas condensate a year in 2004 and 2005. Natural gas production in Kazakhstan in 2005 amounted to 14.5 billion cubic meters, a 25% increase from 2004. Kazakhstan holds about 4 billion tons of proven recoverable oil reserves and 3 trillion cubic meters of gas. Industry analysts believe that planned expansion of oil production, coupled with the development of new fields, will enable the country to produce as much as 3 million barrels per day by 2015, lifting Kazakhstan into the ranks of the world's top 10 oil-producing nations. Kazakhstan's 2005 oil exports were valued at $17.4 billion, representing over 70% of overall exports. Major oil and gas fields and their recoverable oil reserves are Tengiz (7 billion barrels); Karachaganak (8 billion barrels and 1,350 billion cubic meters of natural gas); and Kashagan (7-9 billion barrels). Starting in 2004, the Government of Kazakhstan increased its take of oil deals by increasing taxation of new oil projects.

Kazakhstan instituted an ambitious pension reform program in 1998. There are 14 saving pension funds, one of which is state controlled. The National Bank oversees and regulates the pension funds. The pension funds' growing demand for quality investment outlets triggered rapid development of the debt securities market. Pension fund capital is being invested almost exclusively in corporate and government bonds, including Government of Kazakhstan Eurobonds. The Kazakhstani banking system is developing rapidly. Its capitalization now exceeds $1 billion. The National Bank has introduced deposit insurance in its campaign to strengthen the banking sector. Several major foreign banks have branches in Kazakhstan, including ABN-AMRO, Citibank, and HSBC.

====Agriculture====
Agriculture accounted for 10.3% of Kazakhstan's GDP in 2005. Grain (Kazakhstan is the seventh-largest producer of wheat in the world) and livestock are the most important agricultural commodities. Agricultural land occupies more than 220 million hectares, about 68% of which consists of pasture and hay land. Chief livestock products are dairy goods, leather, meat, and wool. The country's major crops include wheat, barley, cotton, and rice. Wheat is the leading agricultural commodity in Kazakhstan's export trade. Kazakhstan harvests 14-15 million tons of wheat per year.

====Natural Resources====
Oil, gas, and mineral exports are key to Kazakhstan's economic success. Since 1993, Kazakhstan’s extractive industries have attracted $30.7 billion in foreign investment, which represents almost 76% of the total foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan for that period. Kazakhstan has significant deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, uranium, and gold.

==History==
Nomadic tribes have been living in the region that is now Kazakhstan since the first century BC, although the land has been inhabited at least as far back as the Stone Age. From the fourth century AD through the beginning of the 13th century, the territory of Kazakhstan was ruled by a series of nomadic nations. Following the Mongolian invasion in the early 13th century, administrative districts were established under the Mongol Empire, which eventually became the territories of the Kazakh Khanate. The major medieval cities of Taraz and Turkestan were founded along the northern route of the Great Silk Road during this period.

Traditional nomadic life on the vast steppe and semi-desert lands was characterized by a constant search for new pasture to support the livestock-based economy. The Kazakhs emerged from a mixture of tribes living in the region in about the 15th century and by the middle of the 16th century had developed a common language, culture, and economy. In the early 1600s, the Kazakh Khanate separated into the Great, Middle and Little (or Small) Hordes--confederations based on extended family networks. Political disunion, competition among the hordes, and a lack of an internal market weakened the Kazakh Khanate. The beginning of the 18th century marked the zenith of the Kazakh Khanate. The following 150 years saw the gradual colonization of the Kazakh-controlled territories by tsarist Russia.

The process of colonization was a combination of voluntary integration into the Russian Empire and outright seizure. The Little Horde and part of the Middle Horde signed treaties of protection with Russia in the 1730s and 1740s. Major parts of the northeast and central Kazakh territories were incorporated into the Russian Empire by 1840. With the Russian seizure of territories belonging to the Senior Horde in the 1860s, the tsars effectively ruled over most of the territory belonging to what is now the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Russian Empire introduced a system of administration and built military garrisons in its effort to establish a presence in Central Asia in the so-called "Great Game" between it and Great Britain. Russian efforts to impose its system aroused the resentment of the [[Kazakh people]], and by the 1860s, most Kazakhs resisted Russia's annexation largely because of the disruption it wrought upon the traditional nomadic lifestyle and livestock-based economy. The Kazakh national movement, which began in the late 1800s, sought to preserve the Kazakh language and identity. There were uprisings against colonial rule during the final years of tsarist Russia, with the most serious occurring in 1916. The destruction of the nomadic life, prior to and during the Communist period, created a Kazakh diaspora in neighboring countries, especially western China. Since independence in 1991, the government has encouraged the return of ethnic Kazakhs by offering subsidies for returnees.

Although there was a brief period of autonomy during the tumultuous period following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Kazakhs eventually succumbed to Soviet rule. In 1920, the area of present-day Kazakhstan became an autonomous republic within Russia and, in 1936, a Soviet republic.

Soviet repression of the traditional elites, along with forced collectivization in late 1920s-1930s, brought about mass hunger and led to unrest. Soviet rule, however, took hold, and a communist apparatus steadily worked to fully integrate Kazakhstan into the Soviet system. Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of thousands exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and later became home for hundreds of thousands evacuated from the Second World War battlefields. The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) contributed five national divisions to the Soviet Union's World War II effort.

The period of the Second World War marked an increase in industrialization and increased mineral extraction in support of the war effort. At the time of Soviet leader Josif Stalin's death, however, Kazakhstan still had an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy. In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the ambitious "Virgin Lands" program to turn the traditional pasturelands of Kazakhstan into a major grain-producing region for the Soviet Union. The Virgin Lands policy, along with later modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, sped up the development of the agricultural sector, which to this day remains the source of livelihood for a large percentage of Kazakhstan's population.

Growing tensions within Soviet society led to a demand for political and economic reforms, which came to a head in the 1980s. In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs took place in Almaty to protest the methods of the communist system. Soviet troops suppressed the unrest, and dozens of demonstrators were jailed. In the waning days of Soviet rule, discontent continued to grow and find expression under Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost. Caught up in the groundswell of Soviet republics seeking greater autonomy, Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty as a republic within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) in October 1990. Following the August 1991 abortive coup attempt in Moscow and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991.

The years following independence have been marked by significant reforms to the Soviet command-economy and political monopoly on power. Under Nursultan Nazarbayev, who initially came to power in 1989 as the head of the Kazakh Communist Party and was eventually elected President in 1991, Kazakhstan has made significant progress toward developing a market economy, for which it was recognized by the United States in 2002. The country has enjoyed significant economic growth since 2000, partly due to its large oil, gas, and mineral reserves.

{{License|license = This work 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 US Code.| source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5487.htm]}}

[[Category:Asian Countries]]
[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]]

Talk:Hamburg

2009-04-08T14:26:39Z

FredCorps: /* Slander */

== Slander ==
Ole von Beust is homosexual - that is known at least since 2003<ref>http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/980/398765/text/ Sueddeutsche Zeitung (in German)</ref>. I just don't know whether this information should be in the article.
[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 08:50, 8 April 2009 (EDT)

:Does it inform his policies? I don't know anything about him, but if so it ought to be in here.--[[User:FredCorps|FredCorps]] 10:26, 8 April 2009 (EDT)

== References ==
<references />

Stephen Colbert

2009-04-08T04:49:08Z

FredCorps:

[[Image:Stephencolbert2.jpg|thumb]]

'''Stephen Colbert''' is a writer, comedian and actor. Colbert is a [[Catholic]], a Sunday school teacher<ref>http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/07/13/ask-tv-squad-stephen-colbert-teaches-sundayschool/</ref>, and a self-proclaimed [[Democrat]], however one of his political heroes is [[Richard Nixon]]<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/jon_stewart_stephen_colbert_americas_anchors/page/4 Rolling Stone Interview, Oct 31, 2006</ref>, as he claims he was the last 'liberal president'.

Colbert began his career at Comedy Central in the year 2000 with the show [[Strangers with Candy]], he later left to become a correspondent on [[The Daily Show|The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]], where he began to build what would later be the character he would play on [[Colbert Report|The Colbert Report]]. He was well-regarded on the show, occasionally guest-hosting when Stewart had to be elsewhere.

For his work on The Daily Show, he won three [[Emmy Awards]] and two [[Peabody Awards]] along with the other writers.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0170306/awards IMDB List of Stephen Colbert Awards </ref> <ref>http://128.192.29.189/news/pressrelease.asp?ID=151 List of 2007 Peabody Award Winners</ref>

==The Colbert Report==
''Main article: [[Colbert Report|The Colbert Report]]''

In 2005, Colbert left "The Daily Show" to become the host of a spinoff, "The Colbert Report".

In the show, Colbert plays a satirical right-wing political talk show host, largely based on [[Bill O'Reilly]], who has a friendly rivalry with the show.

"The Colbert Report" has a very loyal following which the Colbert character often uses for his various pranks, for example, in every public vote for naming something, Colbert urges his fans to vote for him.

In his recurring segment "The Word," a parody of O'Reilly's "Talking Points," Colbert coined the word "truthiness" to refer to the quality possessed by statements which, though factually false, are repeated by supporters who feel in their hearts that they ''ought'' to be true, and regard it as quibbling to object to their falsehood.

Colbert has poked fun at [[Wikipedia]] and its apparent democratization of truth. He has coined the word "Wikiality" (as opposed to "reality,") and caused trouble for Wikipedia by suggesting that his listeners alter articles. In August of 2006, he encouraged users to state that the population of African [[elephants]] had tripled in the last decade. Colbert's point was that if enough people believe something, it becomes "the truth." Wikipedia responded by reverting and locking down the pages to prevent further vandalism.

== See also ==

*[[The Daily Show]]
*[[Colbert Report|The Colbert Report]]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT: Colbert, Stephen}} 
[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:Television Show Hosts]]
[[Category:Comedians]]

Heaven

2009-04-08T04:45:55Z

FredCorps: Undo revision 650181 by UhhKris (Talk)

'''Heaven''' (literally 'the sky') is the place where [[God]] dwells. It is a location (either physical or spiritual) reserved as the afterlife in many religions, especially the [[Abrahamic religion|Abrahamic faiths]].
[[Image:Gustave Dore Heaven.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Gustave Doré's illustration to the Divine Comedy, Paradiso Canto 1.]]

==Christianity==
In [[Christianity]] heaven is being in the presence of God with places prepared for the faithful by [[Jesus]] and is viewed as eternal bliss beyond that which can currently be known. Those who are allowed into heaven are said to be given new bodies that do not decay and death will be gone. [[Marriage]] is not a part of heaven. It is also possible there are different 'levels' of heaven. The conditions to enter heaven in Christianity, (the state of "[[salvation]]"), often revolve around some standard of piety achieved through knowing [[Jesus]].

===The essence of heaven===

Though there is much conjecture about what Heaven is like, its central core is that we will be with Jesus Himself. He has entered back into the presence of the [[God the Father|Father]] and has conveyed to us that the redeemed of the Lord will likewise be with Him where He is. Paradise may be to Heaven as the foyer may be to the inner room of a great Mansion. Without a doubt, Jesus responded to the penitent thief on the cross who turning to Him and said "Remember me Lord, when you come in Your Kingdom", saying, "I tell you most definitly, today, you will be with me in Paradise". He also said, "Where I am, there you will be also." And speaking of the time that we will be in the presence of Jesus, [[John the Apostle]] says, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He really is."

With regard to what Heaven actually looks like, little information is given, and it is likely that the reality is beyond earthly comprehension. Artistic depictions of Heaven are usually characterized by bright, shining light; [[Dante's Paradiso]] is an example, although the overwhelming light there is at least partly a metaphor for divine [[love]].

===Entering Heaven===
Different Christian [[denomination]]s tend differ on the matter of what a person must do to be admitted to Heaven (see [[salvation]]).
==== Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity ====
In [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox]] and [[Catholic|Catholic Christianity]], belief in Jesus and proper works are often considered necessary and go hand in hand. [[Sin]]s of earth must first be cleansed through [[Purgatory]] before one can enter heaven. In some versions sufficient good deeds can lead to entering heaven even without belief in Jesus if one never had the chance to know about Jesus, such as pious Jews who died prior to the coming of Jesus.

==== Protestant Christianity ====
In [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity there is no one standard, but most denominations were started with the understanding that salvation comes from belief in [[Jesus]] and acceptance of Him as a "personal Lord and Savior". This doctrine is know as [[Sola fide]]. [[Luther]] summed it up as salvation by faith alone. Much of Protestant and Catholic views can overlap with Catholics emphasizing good works and Protestants emphasizing a relationship with Jesus - which then shows its 'fruits' through good works, although purgatory is usually not a concept that Protestant churches follow. [[Anglicans]], who have a theology and church practice similar to Catholics, take a view very close to the view taken by Catholicism. Some Protestants, such as [[Calvinists]], believe that salvation is [[predestination|pre-destined]] by God. Those He has chosen will follow Him. Still others are universalist and hope that eventually everyone will enter heaven (although some of purging of sins may be necessary).

== Judaism ==
[[Judaism]] focuses much less on the nature and method of entering heaven, for which the [[Old Testament]] says little, but emphasize good deeds (''mitzvot'') on this earth and generally follows univeralist tendencies. Even [[Orthodox Jews]] rarely discuss the afterlife which is seen as unimportant, instead putting more emphasis on Philosophy, Mysticism, and especially Ethics.

== Islam ==
[[Islam]] emphasizes belief in God and acceptance of [[Muhammed]] as God's Prophet. There is also a physical component not found in Christianity and Judaism. Amongst certain fring, fundamentalist sects of contemporary Islam, if one dies in [[Jihad]], no matter how bad he had been during his life, he is immediately lifted to heaven and given 72 virgins. This view is emphasized among terrorists, who believe it applies to them when they kill "infidels" who they believe stand in the way of Islam.

==See Also==
* [[Paradise]]
* [[Hell]]

[[Category:Abrahamic Religions]]

DNA files of potential criminals

2009-04-08T04:44:54Z

FredCorps: /* Trivia */

[[Liberal crime detection]] refers to the scheme proposed by Gary Pugh of [[Britain|Britain's]] [[Scotland Yard]] for detecting crime before it has been committed. Pugh, the [[DNA]] spokesman for the '''Association of Chief Police Officers''' plans that all children should be monitored and if they exhibit "''any behavior that is consider worrisome''" their DNA should be taken from them and stored for use later.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/mar/16/youthjustice.children ''Put young children on DNA list, urge police''] [[The Guardian]] 16 March 2008. Accessed 18 March 2008</ref> He says this is a way "of identifying offenders before they offend". One of the leading [[left-wing]] newspapers, [[The Guardian]], asserted that government "''criminologists are understood to be confident that techniques are able to identify future offenders.''"

==Trivia==
*It is not known whether Pugh has read ''[[Minority Report]]'', the short story by [[Philip K. Dick]] where in the future, criminals are caught before the crimes they would commit, which was first published in 1956 in the magazine ''Fantastic Universe''.

==References==
{{reflist|small}}

[[Category:Crime]]

Hiccup

2009-04-08T04:43:59Z

FredCorps:

A '''hiccup''' or '''hiccough''' is a semi-common involuntary reflex that causes a sudden expulsion of air due to a spasmatic contraction of the [[diaphragm]]. It usually continues for a period of time in regular intervals. Largely annoying, there are a number of purported remedies to 'cure' hiccups, including a sudden scare and drinking water.

[[Category:Reflexes]]

B-25 Mitchell

2009-04-08T04:36:02Z

FredCorps: /* B-25 in Fiction */

[[Image:B-52mitchell.jpg|150px|right|thumb|A B-25 Mitchell bomber approaches the runway April 17 at Randolph Air Force Base, [[Texas]]. The flight celebrated the 65th anniversary of the [[Doolittle raid]].]]

The '''B-25 Mitchell''' was an [[United States of America|American]] medium bomber used in both theaters in [[World War II]]. Named after General [[Billy Mitchell]], it is the only plane in the American [[military]] to be named after an individual. The plane was a highly devastating bomber and the design was also used to make photo recon planes. Its most famous mission was the [[James Doolittle|Doolittle]] Raid of April 1942.

On July 28, 1945, a B-25 crashed into the [[Empire State Building]], killing 14 people.[http://www.withthecommand.com/2002-Jan/NY-empireplane.html]

==B-25 in Fiction==
The B-25 figures prominently in the film ''[[Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo]]'', and the Joseph Heller novel ''[[Catch-22]]''.

[[category:World War II aircraft]]

B-25 Mitchell

2009-04-08T04:35:32Z

FredCorps: /* B-25 in Fiction */

[[Image:B-52mitchell.jpg|150px|right|thumb|A B-25 Mitchell bomber approaches the runway April 17 at Randolph Air Force Base, [[Texas]]. The flight celebrated the 65th anniversary of the [[Doolittle raid]].]]

The '''B-25 Mitchell''' was an [[United States of America|American]] medium bomber used in both theaters in [[World War II]]. Named after General [[Billy Mitchell]], it is the only plane in the American [[military]] to be named after an individual. The plane was a highly devastating bomber and the design was also used to make photo recon planes. Its most famous mission was the [[James Doolittle|Doolittle]] Raid of April 1942.

On July 28, 1945, a B-25 crashed into the [[Empire State Building]], killing 14 people.[http://www.withthecommand.com/2002-Jan/NY-empireplane.html]

==B-25 in Fiction==
The B-25 figures prominently in the film ''[[Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo]'', and the Joseph Heller novel ''[[Catch-22]]''.

[[category:World War II aircraft]]

Professor values

2009-04-08T04:24:15Z

FredCorps:

'''Professor values''' refer to the common value system embraced by a large percentage of [[professor]]s, just as [[Hollywood values]] refers to the common value system of many in [[Hollywood]] and the entertainment industry.
Professor values are currently one of the most prevalent forms of [[liberal]] indoctrination.

An extremely high percentage of professors disagree with [[conservative]] principles.<ref>"90 percent of United States professors called themselves liberal or moderate .[http://www.bepress.com/forum/vol3/iss1/art2/]</ref> Professors' common value system typically includes [[atheism]], [[censorship]], [[socialism]], unjustified claims of expertise and knowledge (for example, the dogmatic promotion of the theory of [[evolution]],<ref>For example, a $100,000 "environmental" prize was awarded for work on a [[politically correct]] "theory of convergent evolution." [http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2008/4/4/briefBiologyProfAwardedEnvironmentalAchievementPrize]</ref> [[liberal]] beliefs, [[liberal grading]], [[liberal bias]],<ref>http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2005/08/26/johnson</ref> anti-patriotism, lack of productivity, [[bullying]] or discouraging [[conservative]] students (for example, homeschoolers),<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/21/AR2008032101451.html</ref><ref>http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/news/488/NCliberalbiasagnstcons060104.htm</ref> and promotion of sexual immorality.<ref>http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2001/oct_2001_4.html</ref><ref>http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/1998/october_1998_1.html</ref>)
In a [[Zogby]] poll, 58% of [[Americans]] said that the bias of professors is a serious problem, while 39% said it is a "very serious" problem.<ref name="zogby">http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1334</ref> The survey demonstrated further that "an overwhelming majority also believe that job security for college professors leaves them less motivated to do a good job than those professors who do not enjoy a tenured status - 65% said they believe non-tenured professors are more motivated to do a good job in the classroom."<ref name="zogby" /> One study in 2008 found that "[[Texas]] university professors overwhelmingly favor
[[Democratic]] candidates in their campaign contributions."<ref>http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5753471.html</ref>

Professors sometimes engage in wrongdoing while completing research. "About 1,000 potential incidents of fabrication, falsification or plagiarism in scientific research go unreported every year, according to a survey that suggests such misconduct is far more prevalent than suspected. ... 22 percent was by a professor or senior scientist."<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aYFanemP24yM&refer=home</ref>

Faculty boards have been known to (on multiple occasions) block the granting of a tenured professorship to candidates for tenure who:

* criticize the [[theory of evolution]]<ref>"As reported last week, two members of the department that denied tenure to astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez at Iowa State University (ISU) have publicly admitted that Gonzalez's work on intelligent design played a role in his denial of tenure." [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2007/05/iowa_state_avoids_key_question.html]</ref>
* criticize [[feminism]]
* criticize [[abortion]]
* oppose the [[homosexual agenda]]
* criticize the [[liberal bias]] in [[academia]] itself

For example, professors at [[Washington University]] wore white armbands to protest an award of an honorary degree to [[Phyllis Schlafly]], a noted [[conservative]], in an act of political partisanship and utter unprofessionalism.<ref>http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1279565&sectionID=1</ref> At the [[University of Chicago]], more than one hundred professors signed a letter to protest a proposal to honor [[conservative]]-leaning [[Nobel Prize]]-winning colleague [[Milton Friedman]].<ref>http://bourdaghs.com/blog.html?p=484</ref>

Politicians are routinely given high-ranking academic positions. Examples include:

* [[Al Gore]]<ref>Beginning early in 2001, "Gore will be [at UCLA] to develop a new curriculum for family-centered community building, a multidisciplinary approach that brings together authorities from such fields as education, business and public policy to work on problems that ail our society and affect our children. ... He also will be teaching at three other universities - Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and Fisk University in Nashville - in addition to his teaching and research work at UCLA." [http://spotlight.ucla.edu/special-guests/al-gore_teach/]</ref>
*[[Alexander Downer]]<ref>Downer is so pro-[[abortion]] that, as Foreign Minister of Australia, he "asked for a review of the government's ban on funding for abortion services in other countries."[http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51731.php]</ref>
*[[Michael Dukakis]]
*[[Gary Hart]]
*[[Bob Kerrey]]
*[[Tony Blair]]<ref>Blair was given a prestigious visiting lectureship.</ref>
*[[Tom Kean]]
*[[Noam Chomsky]]

==Crimes and Alleged Crimes by Professors and Former Professors==

*A Goucher College professor, Leopold Munyakaz, who is "accused of genocide in his native Rwanda has been arrested on suspicion of being in the United States illegally, U.S. immigration authorities said yesterday."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020504117.html</ref>

*Brandon Millay, 41, a professor at Owensboro Community & Technical College, was indicted on Dec. 2, 2008, on steroid distribution charges.<ref>http://www.news25.us/dsp_story.cfm?storyid=10071?</ref>

*Retired Bucknell University professor Jack Harclerode pled guilty on Dec. 1, 2008, on 20 felony counts of child pornography for having 245 images of child pornography on his computer and a portable hard drive. He faced a maximum sentence of 140 years in state prison.<ref>http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_11119182</ref>

*The head of the Economics Department at Bard College, 54-year-old Professor Kristie Feder, was arrested on drug charges on November 14, 2008 "after State Police found 16 marijuana plants growing in her home ... ranging in size from eighteen inches to seven feet."<ref>http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/arrested_1258699___article.html/charges_professor.html</ref>

* Sociology professor Hassan Diab arrested for his involvement in the 1980 bombing of a synagogue which killed four. <ref>http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081113/diab_arrest_081113/20081113?hub=TopStories</ref>

* "A college professor accused of intercepting the e-mail of a student with whom he had an affair has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Stephan Grzeskowiak, 34, entered the plea .... A federal grand jury has indicted the former assistant professor of marketing ... on five counts of intercepting electronic communications and one count of computer fraud. He is accused of intercepting e-mails and instant messages on a computer used by the woman in May 2007."<ref>http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-professor-hacking,0,2077856.story</ref>

* "Vanderbilt University professor James J. Lang was arrested Friday evening in Fairview on a charge of receipt of child pornography."<ref>http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080913/NEWS03/809130338/1017/news01</ref>

* Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor Jeffrey Hunker, 51, "was charged with drunken driving three times in eight days" in August 2008 and, as a result, prosecutors asked the judge to imprison him. He had worked in the Clinton Administration and was driving his new BMW when stopped for the third time.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,412801,00.html</ref>

* University of Iowa political science professor "Arthur H. Miller, 66, has been accused of demanding sexual favors from students in exchange for better grades .... He was arrested on four counts of bribery, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison ...."<ref>http://iowaindependent.com/3876/ui-mired-in-another-sex-scandal</ref> After being released without bail, Miller then disappeared and police wasted thousands of dollars looking for him.<ref>http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/NEWS/27671323/0/FRONTPAGE</ref> Later his body was found in a park. "He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound."<ref>http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/NEWS/80826009/-1/LIFE04</ref>

* Arkansas Tech University chemistry professor Albert Snow, 33 years old, was sentenced to 10 years in jail "on a charge he stalked a person he believed was a teenage girl on the Internet." "Snow was arrested in January 2007 after showing up at a Russellville apartment complex where police say he expected to meet a 15-year-old girl."<ref>http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=8803789</ref>

* At Northern Kentucky University, language and literature professor Sally Jacobsen incited some of her students to vandalize a pro-life display by Northern Right to Life, the campus pro-life group. Jacobsen herself also participated in the vandalism, which involved destroying rows of white crosses symbolizing the graves of aborted children. Jacobsen justified the vandalism as free speech, stating, "I did, outside of class during the break, invite students to express their freedom-of-speech rights to destroy the display if they wished to." Jacobsen was unrepentant until given the choice of facing criminal charges of theft, criminal mischief and criminal solicitation or apologizing. Jacobsen chose the latter and also paid Northern Right to Life for damage to the display. Jacobsen was suspended by the university and subsequently retired.<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/state3207.html</ref>

* College of New Jersey adjunct professor of engineering Bruce R. McKenna, 43, "surrendered to authorities after allegedly having sexually explicit conversations with an undercover officer posing as a teenage girl." He was "charged with six counts of attempting to endanger the welfare of a child, six counts of attempted sexual contact, sexual assault and attempted luring. ... Before McKenna was arrested, the situation escalated to the point where the professor was allegedly trying to meet with a 13-year-old girl."<ref>http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/local/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1218698712309020.xml&coll=8</ref>

* "A [[South Korea]]n court Monday sentenced a former university art professor to 18 months in jail for forging her [[US]] degree certificates, officials said. The Seoul District Criminal Court found Shin Jeong-Ah guilty of forging undergraduate and master's degrees from the [[University of Kansas]] and [[Yale University]] to secure a job at Seoul's Dongguk university."<ref>http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jCfPQ1_mqM2VaXzQUSy-mXwQIvXQ</ref>

* [[Villanova University]] professor Edward R. Ritter was arrested on March 21, 2008, and charged with selling marijuana to undercover police officers, and a subsequent search of his home uncovered 19 bags of marijuana.<ref>http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20080322_Villanova_professor_arrested_on_drug_charges.html</ref>

* Kansas State University English professor Thomas Murray was a popular teacher, but he was convicted of murdering his ex-wife with 17 stab wounds and blunt trauma to her head. She "was found dead in her bedroom atop a dresser."<ref name="ctv">http://www.courttv.com/trials/murray/backgrounder_ctv.html</ref> Professor Murray had written several books, including "The Language of Sadomasochism."<ref name="ctv" /> He did not testify in his defense and spoke only at sentencing, where he called the state's case a "fairy tale."<ref>http://www.kansaspublicradio.org/newsstory.php?itemID=5892</ref>

* Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Anatomy associate professor Peter Alan Rogers, 59, was arrested on Apr. 21, 2008 on a charge of possession of child pornography on a school laptop computer.<ref>http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/04/24/professor_0425.html</ref>

* Shortly after the end of the school year and his contract, Marshall University Psychiatry associate professor John M. Adams burglarized and murdered Bobby Burns on July 2, 2003, and then kidnapped two women and forced them to drive him across the Ohio River.<ref>http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/07/29/loc_ohprofessor29.html</ref>

* University of South Florida professor Sami al-Arian pled guilty to "aiding a terrorist group" and was "sentenced to 57 months in prison."<ref name="nysun">http://www.nysun.com/article/72228</ref><ref>http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=7961089&nav=menu577_2_1</ref> He then "spent more than a year in civil contempt after refusing to appear before two grand juries investigating Islamic charities in Northern Virginia."<ref name="nysun" />

* Claremont McKenna College visiting professor Kerri Dunn was sentenced to a year in state prison after she was found guilty of staging a phony [[hate crime]], in which she "spray-painted her car with racist and anti-Semitic slurs and then reported a hate crime on campus."<ref>http://www.knbc.com/education/3998600/detail.html</ref>

* University of Hawaii professor Marc Fossorier was arrested and later convicted and sentenced to one year in jail for attempting a sex crime with a girl apparently only 15 years old.<ref>http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/4582/40/</ref>

* A [[New Jersey]] Cumberland County College professor "was arrested on charges of harassment, trespassing and stalking."<ref>http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/NEWS01/80305019/1002</ref>

* University of Central Florida political science professor Michael Shawn Reichert was arrested for having "a stash of more than 100 child pornography pictures on his work computer," "plus three pornographic movies."<ref>http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_orlandocrime/2007/07/ucf-professor-a.html</ref>

* [[University of Wisconsin]] adjunct professor Victor M. Zamudio-Taylor resigned after being charged with viewing child-pornography in a campus computer laboratory.<ref>http://badgerherald.com/news/2002/03/19/uwmilwaukee_professo.php</ref>

* Concordia University professor Valery Fabrikant shot and killed four other professors in 1992. <ref>http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/01/25/qc-valeryfabrikant0125.html</ref>

* A [[British]] university professor was jailed for ten months for plotting to defraud a hospital trust. <ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010626/ai_n14398964</ref>

* [[French]] [[Marxist]] [[structuralist]] [[philosopher]] Professor [[Louis Althusser]] (1918-1990) killed his wife in 1980 and was afterwards confined to a psychiatric hospital.{{fact}}

* Professor Daniel Storm, of the University of Washington, flushed 4 liters of the flammable solvent ethyl ether down the sink, rather than pay the safe disposal fees. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Oesterle said that his using an axe to open the containers was particularly dangerous because a spark could easily have ignited the ether. <ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003607035_uwprof08m0.html</ref>

* An Associate Professor at Youngstown State University was locked up and fined $50 after baring his buttocks in front of children at a county fair. <ref>http://www.thejambar.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=38283b71-1223-4e85-929f-ba0f932d5366</ref>

* Philosophy professor [[Abimael Guzman]] of the National University of San Cristobal de Huamanga in [[Peru]] founded the bloodthirsty [[Shining Path]] organization, one of the most violent terrorist groups of recent decades.{{fact}}

* A childcare lecturer at Athlone Institute of Technology, [[Ireland]], was convicted of sexual assault while on a trip to [[Amsterdam]]. Despite this, AIT let him keep his job - until the crime was exposed in the local media.<ref>http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2008/0415/ireland/mhojqlidcwid/</ref>

* A lecturer in sexual health at the University College of Medicine, [[Cardiff]], [[United Kingdom]] was fined £3,000 for child pornography offenses. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1497151.stm</ref>

* Professor Antonio Lasagna of the ultra-liberal [[Yale]] university was convicted of child pornography and of molesting a child. The crimes were committed on campus.<ref>http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=359</ref>

* University of Tennessee Physics professor, J. Reece Roth has been found guilty of passing U.S. Air Force secrets to [[China]] and [[Iran]]. Jury concluded he was guilty on 18 counts of conspiracy, fraud and violating the Arms Export Control Act. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/us/professor_secrets/2008/09/03/127312.html Tenn. Professor Guilty of Passing Military Secrets] AP, September 3, 2008</ref>

==Immoral, Unethical, or Bizarre Behavior==
*In 2009, CCSU [Cen. Conn. State University] student John Wahlberg gave an in-class presentation on gun control. Wahlberg made the point that if students were permitted to carry concealed weapons on campus, school shootings could be stopped easier. Wahlberg's professor, Paula Anderson, complained to campus police who interrogated him about the location of all his firearms. <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198172/posts</ref>

*Arthur Butz, professor of electrical engineering at [[Northwestern University]], is a prominent [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust denier]]. His most infamous book is ''The Hoax of the Twentieth Century'', one of the first major works of Holocaust denial written in [[English]].<ref>''[http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/butz.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=2&item=butz Arthur Butz]'' Extremism in America. [[ADL]]</ref>

*A Texas Southern University professor is being investigated for allegedly plagiarizing his grant proposal <ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6085039.html]</ref>

*The President of the University of Texas-Pan American is under investigation after allegations that she [[Plagiarism|plagiarized]] her 1974 dissertation <ref>http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jigNGLtg9PtFNelXVdVdNFVfb48wD943SDH03</ref>.

* An [[Iowa]] community college [[president]] resigned after publication of a photo that appeared to show him pouring beer into a young woman's [[mouth]]. But the [[school]]'s board of trustees approved a [[severance package]] that officials said was [[value]]d at about $400,000 plus benefits.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,413101,00.html</ref>

* A Kansas university professor, Fort Hays State University debate coach William Shanahan, "is under fire after a video showing him mooning a room full of students and faculty during a heated debate found its way onto YouTube." He "is shown on the video in a profane, in-your-face argument with his counterpart from the University of Pittsburgh ...."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403781,00.html Kansas Professor in Trouble for Mooning Incident</ref>

*Emory University History Professor of History [[Michael Bellesiles]], a [[gun control]] advocate, wrote a book entitled ''Arming America, The Origins of a National Gun Culture'' (2000). Gary Wills gave it a glowing review in ''The New York Times'', but admitted later that "I was took. The book is a fraud."<ref>Jonah Goldberg, [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/guests/s_501644.html ''Reports of the 2nd Amendment's death have been greatly exaggerated ...''] Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Apr. 8, 2007.</ref> Bellesiles resigned from his position as Professor of History when an independent committee of scholars examined his work and concluded that "his scholarly integrity is seriously in question."<ref>http://hnn.us/articles/1069.html</ref>

*According to one columnist, 88 Duke professors -- more than 10 percent of the Duke professorial faculty - endorsed and published an advertisement hurtful to students who had been wrongly accused of rape during a lacrosse team party, which "helped create the lynch-mob atmosphere."<ref>http://www.nypost.com/seven/03232007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/duke__who_wont_pay_opedcolumnists_john_podhoretz.htm</ref>

* When student Rebecca Beach circulated an email at Warren Community College in New Jersey disclosing that decorated Iraq war hero Lt. Col. Scott Rutter would be visiting, English professor John Daly replied: "Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47461</ref>

*[[Ward Churchill]] was fired from the University of Colorado for fabricating his research and for plagiarizing the work of others. He had falsely claimed to be of Native American descent in applying for the post. He was later to insult victims of 9/11 as 'Little Eichmanns.'{{fact}}

*[[Richard Lenski]] of Michigan State University was rude and demeaning when replying to a member of the public who asked about his research.{{fact}}

* When challenged to provide data, professors who support evolution evade the question <ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservapedia_talk:Lenski_dialog#Lead_author_won.27t_answer_simple.2C__basic_questions</ref>

*Madonna Constantine, a Columbia University professor claimed she was the victim of racism in the fall of 2007 when a noose was found on her office door. Now she has been fired for plagiarizing the work of other professors and even her own students! <ref>http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/25/plagiarism.professor/</ref>

*Vulgar and viciously bigoted anti-religion (mainly Christianity) University of Minnesota Morris professor and blogger [[Paul Zachary Myers|PZ Myers]] recently raised the hackles of Catholics by stating his desire to desecrate a Holy Communion wafer (viewed by Catholics as the Body of Christ).<ref>http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1459</ref> The resultant outcry from Catholics resulted in the university removing all links to Myers' blog from their website.<ref>http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1460</ref>

*3,200 educators, most of them [[professors]], have signed a letter supporting unrepentant domestic [[terrorist]] and fellow professor [[William Ayers]]. They claim Ayers bombing of the [[Pentagon]] and other [[government]] buildings, his direct involvement in at least three [[deaths]], were just "[[history]]." Notable signers include Professor Rashid Khalidi (No. 5), known for his call to destroy Israel and former professor Ward Churchill (No. 814), claiming the 9/11 victims were Nazis. George Leef, director of research for the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, Raleigh, N.C., said, "History should be important to [[teachers]]." <ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/22/academics-sign-pro-ayers-petition/ More Than 3,000 Academics Sign Pro-Ayers Petition] Fox News, October 22, 2008</ref>
*Professors engage in [[grade inflation]], giving their students artificially high grades—whether they deserve them or not. In addition, classes have been dumbed down at most universities and require much less work than previously.{{fact}}

==Crimes against humanity==
*[[Time magazine]]'s Atomic deacon [[William G. Pollard]] has pointed out how professors victimize students, robbing them from experiencing the supernatural and transcendent world (i.e., [[God]]):

<blockquote>
"Throughtout the whole wide range and diversity of human experience, with the sole exception of the West in the nineteeth and twentieth centuries, the world of nature has been alive with, and immersed within, a supernatural world which everywhere made contact with it, although was transcendent to it. It is this whole dimension of reality which the scientific age has lost the capacity to experience or know. An age such as ours which has lost a genuine capacity for knowing and responding to some great segment of reality is actually, without knowing it, in a dark age.... We really have lost a genuine capacity which the rest of mankind has possessed and actively exercised, and we have become a people trapped and in bondage within the prison of space, time, and matter....'''It is primarily the business of the universtiy...to maintain the imprisonment of our time. It saddens me to see a new generation being victimized by this all pervasive spirit of the epoch."<ref> [http://books.google.com/books?id=VpafCAIMCowC ''Faith and Knowledge''], Douglas Sloan, [[Westminster John Knox Press]], 1994, ISBN 0664228666, ISBN 9780664228668, 272 pages, page 194 </ref>
</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_178.asp?referrer=list National Center for Educational Statistics, "Table 178, Historical Summary of faculty, students, degrees, and finances in degree-granting institutions: Selected years, 1869-70 through 2005-06"]

==Links==
[http://liberal-education.com Liberal-education.com] A user created list of professors with liberal bias, highlighting examples of liberal bias in the classroom.

[[Category:Academics]]
[[Category:Liberal Traits]]

Chicago Cubs

2009-04-08T04:17:35Z

FredCorps: /* Outfielders */

[[Image:Wrigley Field GNU LICENCE.jpg|right|240px|Wrigley Field]]
The '''Chicago Cubs''' are a [[Major League Baseball]] team based in [[Chicago, Illinois]]. Along with the [[Atlanta Braves]], they are the only founding members of the [[National League]] that are still playing in that league. They currently play in the National League's Central Division. The Cubs have been based in Chicago since their inception as the '''Chicago White Stockings''' in 1869, founded in response to the success of the all-professional [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinatti Red Stockings]].

The Chicago Cubs have played in venerable [[Wrigley Field]] since 1914, although the stadium had held previous names before 1926. Previously, they played in [[Municipal Stadium]].

The team is currently managed by [[Lou Piniella]].

The Cubs have not won the [[World Series]] since winning consecutive crowns in 1907-08, the longest championship drought in major professional sports, and have not played in the Series since 1945, when they lost to the [[Detroit Tigers]]. Ever since the [[Boston Red Sox]] broke their "curse" with their 2004 championship win, the Cubs are considered the most cursed team in professional sports.

Rivals: [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]].
==Roster==
<nowiki>*Not on active roster</nowiki> 
<nowiki>**Not on 40 man roster</nowiki>
===Pitchers===
*58 - Jose Ascanio
*4 - Neil Cotts
*46 - Ryan Dempster
*57 - Chad Gaudin
*63 - Kevin Gregg
*37 - Angel Guzman
*40 - Rich Harden
*22 - Kevin Hart
*30 - Ted Lilly
*49 - Carlos Marmol
*45 - Sean Marshall
*29 - Jeff Samardzija
*52 - Jeff Stevens
*36 - Randy Wells
*51 - Luis Vizcaino
*38 - [[Carlos Zambrano]]

===Catchers===
*55 - Koyie Hill
*18 - Geovany Soto

===Infielders===
*5 - Ronny Cedeno
*17 - Mike Fontenot
*6 - Micah Hoffpauir
*25 - [[Derrek Lee]]
* - Aaron Miles
*16 - [[Aramis Ramirez]]
* - Justin Sellers
*2 - Ryan Theriot

===Outfielders===
*21 - Milton Bradley
*1 - Kosume Fukudome
*9 - Jake Fox
*27 - Sam Fuld
*2 Joey Gathright
*9 - Reed Johnson
*75 - Brad Snyder
*12 - [[Alfonso Soriano]]

==Minor League Affiliates==
The minor league affiliates of the Cubs are:
*AAA - Iowa Cubs
*AA - Tennessee Smokies
*A Adv. - Daytona Cubs
*A - Peoria Chiefs
*SS - Boise Hawks

== External links ==
*[http://cubs.mlb.com/ Official Team Website]
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=chc ESPN - Team News]

{{Nb_sl_mlb_national}}
[[Category:Illinois]]
[[Category:Chicago]]

Chicago Cubs

2009-04-08T04:16:57Z

FredCorps: /* Catchers */

[[Image:Wrigley Field GNU LICENCE.jpg|right|240px|Wrigley Field]]
The '''Chicago Cubs''' are a [[Major League Baseball]] team based in [[Chicago, Illinois]]. Along with the [[Atlanta Braves]], they are the only founding members of the [[National League]] that are still playing in that league. They currently play in the National League's Central Division. The Cubs have been based in Chicago since their inception as the '''Chicago White Stockings''' in 1869, founded in response to the success of the all-professional [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinatti Red Stockings]].

The Chicago Cubs have played in venerable [[Wrigley Field]] since 1914, although the stadium had held previous names before 1926. Previously, they played in [[Municipal Stadium]].

The team is currently managed by [[Lou Piniella]].

The Cubs have not won the [[World Series]] since winning consecutive crowns in 1907-08, the longest championship drought in major professional sports, and have not played in the Series since 1945, when they lost to the [[Detroit Tigers]]. Ever since the [[Boston Red Sox]] broke their "curse" with their 2004 championship win, the Cubs are considered the most cursed team in professional sports.

Rivals: [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]].
==Roster==
<nowiki>*Not on active roster</nowiki> 
<nowiki>**Not on 40 man roster</nowiki>
===Pitchers===
*58 - Jose Ascanio
*4 - Neil Cotts
*46 - Ryan Dempster
*57 - Chad Gaudin
*63 - Kevin Gregg
*37 - Angel Guzman
*40 - Rich Harden
*22 - Kevin Hart
*30 - Ted Lilly
*49 - Carlos Marmol
*45 - Sean Marshall
*29 - Jeff Samardzija
*52 - Jeff Stevens
*36 - Randy Wells
*51 - Luis Vizcaino
*38 - [[Carlos Zambrano]]

===Catchers===
*55 - Koyie Hill
*18 - Geovany Soto

===Infielders===
*5 - Ronny Cedeno
*17 - Mike Fontenot
*6 - Micah Hoffpauir
*25 - [[Derrek Lee]]
* - Aaron Miles
*16 - [[Aramis Ramirez]]
* - Justin Sellers
*2 - Ryan Theriot

===Outfielders===
* - Milton Bradley
*1 - Kosume Fukudome
*9 - Jake Fox
*27 - Sam Fuld
*2 Joey Gathright
*9 - Reed Johnson
*20 - Felix Pie
* - Richie Robnett
*75 - Brad Snyder
*12 - [[Alfonso Soriano]]

==Minor League Affiliates==
The minor league affiliates of the Cubs are:
*AAA - Iowa Cubs
*AA - Tennessee Smokies
*A Adv. - Daytona Cubs
*A - Peoria Chiefs
*SS - Boise Hawks

== External links ==
*[http://cubs.mlb.com/ Official Team Website]
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=chc ESPN - Team News]

{{Nb_sl_mlb_national}}
[[Category:Illinois]]
[[Category:Chicago]]

Chicago Cubs

2009-04-08T04:16:36Z

FredCorps: /* Pitchers */

[[Image:Wrigley Field GNU LICENCE.jpg|right|240px|Wrigley Field]]
The '''Chicago Cubs''' are a [[Major League Baseball]] team based in [[Chicago, Illinois]]. Along with the [[Atlanta Braves]], they are the only founding members of the [[National League]] that are still playing in that league. They currently play in the National League's Central Division. The Cubs have been based in Chicago since their inception as the '''Chicago White Stockings''' in 1869, founded in response to the success of the all-professional [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinatti Red Stockings]].

The Chicago Cubs have played in venerable [[Wrigley Field]] since 1914, although the stadium had held previous names before 1926. Previously, they played in [[Municipal Stadium]].

The team is currently managed by [[Lou Piniella]].

The Cubs have not won the [[World Series]] since winning consecutive crowns in 1907-08, the longest championship drought in major professional sports, and have not played in the Series since 1945, when they lost to the [[Detroit Tigers]]. Ever since the [[Boston Red Sox]] broke their "curse" with their 2004 championship win, the Cubs are considered the most cursed team in professional sports.

Rivals: [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]].
==Roster==
<nowiki>*Not on active roster</nowiki> 
<nowiki>**Not on 40 man roster</nowiki>
===Pitchers===
*58 - Jose Ascanio
*4 - Neil Cotts
*46 - Ryan Dempster
*57 - Chad Gaudin
*63 - Kevin Gregg
*37 - Angel Guzman
*40 - Rich Harden
*22 - Kevin Hart
*30 - Ted Lilly
*49 - Carlos Marmol
*45 - Sean Marshall
*29 - Jeff Samardzija
*52 - Jeff Stevens
*36 - Randy Wells
*51 - Luis Vizcaino
*38 - [[Carlos Zambrano]]

===Catchers===
* -Paul Bako
*55 - Koyie Hill
*18 - Geovany Soto

===Infielders===
*5 - Ronny Cedeno
*17 - Mike Fontenot
*6 - Micah Hoffpauir
*25 - [[Derrek Lee]]
* - Aaron Miles
*16 - [[Aramis Ramirez]]
* - Justin Sellers
*2 - Ryan Theriot

===Outfielders===
* - Milton Bradley
*1 - Kosume Fukudome
*9 - Jake Fox
*27 - Sam Fuld
*2 Joey Gathright
*9 - Reed Johnson
*20 - Felix Pie
* - Richie Robnett
*75 - Brad Snyder
*12 - [[Alfonso Soriano]]

==Minor League Affiliates==
The minor league affiliates of the Cubs are:
*AAA - Iowa Cubs
*AA - Tennessee Smokies
*A Adv. - Daytona Cubs
*A - Peoria Chiefs
*SS - Boise Hawks

== External links ==
*[http://cubs.mlb.com/ Official Team Website]
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=chc ESPN - Team News]

{{Nb_sl_mlb_national}}
[[Category:Illinois]]
[[Category:Chicago]]

Vermont

2009-04-08T04:08:46Z

FredCorps: removed obvious parody

{{USState
|name=Vermont
|flag=Vermont_State_Flag.gif
|motto="Freedom and Unity"
|nick=The Green Mountain State
|capital=Montpelier
|language=None
|governor=Jim Douglas
|gparty=Republican
|senator1=Patrick Leahy
|s1party=Democrat
|s1phone=(202) 224-4242
|s1email=mailto:senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov Contact
|senator2=Bernie Sanders
|s2party=Independent
|s2phone=(202) 224-5141
|s2email=http://sanders.senate.gov/comments/ Contact
|population=
|date=March 4, 1791 (14th)
}}
'''Vermont''' is located in the Northeastern region of the [[United States]] and on March 4, 1791 became the fourteenth state to enter into the Union. Its name comes from the French term for 'Green Mountain.' The capital of Vermont is [[Montpelier]] and its largest city is Burlington. The current governor of Vermont is Jim Douglas, a [[Republican]].

Since 2000, Vermont has offered [[civil union]]s, similar to [[same sex marriage]].<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>

On April 7, 2009 activist legislators voted legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont, the first time in the nation's history that a legislature has ignored the voters' will on the issue.
==Statewide Officials==
* Senator [[Patrick Leahy]]
* Senator [[Bernie Sanders]]

== See also ==

*[[State Governors]]

{{USstates}}
[[Category:States of the United States]]

Guardian (UK)

2009-04-08T04:06:45Z

FredCorps:

A [[UK]] national daily [[newspaper]] known for its [[liberal]], left-wing stance, being pro-[[abortion]] on demand, anti-[[Bush]] and anti-[[American]], pro-[[Obama]] and critical of [[Tony Blair]]'s support for the war in [[Iraq]]. ''The Guardian'' has just celebrated the publishing of its 50,000th edition.

Originally known as the [[Manchester]] Guardian, since it was originally published there, it is owned by a charitable organisation, the Scott Trust.

Regardless of its political stance, the great strength of ''The Guardian'' is that it rarely (in comparison to most other common newspapers in the UK) publishes sensationalist articles, preferring a quieter more balanced (and researched) approach. This is achieved by The Guardian organising its contents into two groups: articles about the news and opinion pieces (editorials, blogs, letters, etc.). News articles tend to be factually researched and factually accurate and written from a centre-left point of view, whereas opinion pieces are individual submissions that can range from the mid-right of the political spectrum to the mid-left, depending on the view of the writer, although submissions from the mid-left outnumber the submissions from the mid-right, due to the stance The Guardian takes on many issues. It also expresses its bias by the sin of ommission, neglected to report and publish articles counter to its stance.

Given its openly left-wing stance, a blogger whose article appeared in The Guardian has stated that the new movie An American Carol is "propaganda masquerading as entertainment.” <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2008/oct/01/1 Does An American Carol signal the rise of the Hollywood right? Guardian, October 1, 2008</ref>

The Guardian also runs the largest internet forum of any British newspaper in the form of Guardian Unlimited Talk.
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:United Kingdom Newspapers]]

Richard J. Daley

2009-04-08T04:02:44Z

FredCorps:

'''Richard J. Daley''' was the mayor of [[Chicago]] from 1955 to his death in 1976. He was a [[Democrat]], and the leader of the [[Democratic]] political machine. He was very influential among [[Democrats]] at the time, including presidents [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Lyndon Johnson]]. He was also a huge supporter of [[Adlai Stevenson]]. His Democratic political machine was widely known to be corrupt, a legacy that Chicago and all of Illinois still carries today. Daley also led the catastrophic 1968 [[Democratic]] political convention, which was marked by riots, violence, brutality and anger.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daley, Richard}}

[[Category:United States Mayors]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]

SNAP benefits

2009-04-08T04:00:05Z

FredCorps:

'''Food stamps''' are part of a Federal government program, run by the [[Department of Agriculture]] (USDA). Though designed to help lower income earners supplement their [[nutrition]]al budgets, in reality the stamps can be spent on numerous types of goods.

Further information: [http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ USDA website]

[[Category:United States Political Terms]]

Louis Farrakhan

2009-04-08T03:57:10Z

FredCorps:

'''Louis Abdul Farrakhan''' (born '''Louis Eugene Walcott''' in [[Massachusetts]], 1933)
is the leader of the [[Nation of Islam]].
He has attracted a lot of attention for his outspoken [[black nationalism]], his negative remarks about Caucasians, and his [[anti-Semitic]] remarks.
He organized the [[Million Man March]] in 1995. In 1996, speaking at the Nation of Islam's Saviour's Day gathering in Chicago, <ref>[http://www.aim.org/wls/author/louis-farrakhan/ Louis Farrakhan] Accuracy In Media</ref>

{{cquote| “God will destroy America by the hands of the Muslims. . . . God will not give Japan or Europe the honor of bringing down the United States; this is an honor God will bestow upon Muslims.”}}

Seven months before the U.S. liberated Iraq, Farrakhan talks with the Islamic Affairs Minister Abdul Munem Saleh from the Iraq News Agency. “The Muslim American people are praying to the almighty God to grant victory to Iraq [over U.S. forces].”

His support of [[Barack Obama]] for President was rejected by Obama only after being directly confronted by [[Hillary Clinton]] in a debate.

==See also==
*[[Jeremiah Wright‎]]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrakhan, Louis}}

[[Category: Nation of Islam]]
[[Category: Black Nationalists]]

Sophocles

2009-04-08T03:55:13Z

FredCorps:

'''Sophocles''' lived from 495 to 406 BC. He was a Greek playwright from [[Athens]]. He was the son of a wealthy merchant, and enjoyed luxuries accordingly. By age sixteen, his attractive physical attributes helped him be chosen to lead a choir at a celebration of victory at the [[Battle of Salamis]]. At age twenty-eight, he defeated Aeschylus at the City Dionysia, which was a yearly competition held at the Theatre of Dionysis, after which he never won less than second place and achieved first place eighteen times. He acted in many of his own plays, and was quite an accomplished juggler. However, his weak voice eventually led to his persuit of other interests. He wrote over 120 plays, only seven of which have survived. He was known for his use of [[tragedy]], and his works frequently won dramatic competitions. Some of his famous works are ''[[Antigone]]'', ''[[Oedipus Rex]]'', and ''[[Oedipus the King]]'' (Theban plays).

Aside from his plays, Sophocles was a priest and served on the Board of Generals, which was a group that controlled the civil and military issues in Athens. For a time, he was the treasurer of the Delian Confederacy. Sophocles was the first playwrite to have three actors in his plays, as well as being one of the first to abandon the trilogy form of writing and making each tragedy tell its own story. He died a natural death at the age of 90.

==Source==
The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989

"Sophocles(c. 496-406 B.C.)." Moonstruck Drama Books. Moonstruck Drama Bookstore. 18 May 2008 <http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Sophocles&action=edit§ion=1>.

[[Category:Playwrights]]
[[Category:Ancient Greece]]

No taxation without representation

2009-04-08T03:54:14Z

FredCorps: /* Popular usage */

"'''No taxation without representation'''" was a slogan in the period 1763-1775 that summarized a primary grievance of the American colonists in the [[Thirteen colonies]]. The colonists complained that taxes were imposed by Parliament without the consent of the colonists, which violated the traditional rights of Englishmen dating back centuries. The point was that the colonies had no representation in Parliament; the British responded that they were "virtually" represented. The Americans said these "virtual representatives" knew nothing about America.

The Americans strenuously rejected the [[Stamp Act 1765]] (which was repealed), and in 1773 violently rejected the tax on tea imports at the Boston Tea Party. Britain retaliated against Boston in a chain of episodes that led to armed rebellion in 1775 and the [[American Revolution]]. The colonists formed militias and seized control of each colony, ousting the royal governors. The complaint was never officially over the amount of taxation (which was low), but always on the decision-making process by which taxes were decided in London, without representation for the colonists in British Parliament.

The phrase "No Taxation Without Representation!" was coined by Reverend [[Jonathan Mayhew]] in a sermon in Boston in 1750. By 1765 the term "no taxation without representation" was in use in Boston, but no one is sure who first used it. Boston politician [[James Otis]] was most famously associated with the term, "taxation without representation is tyranny." <ref>Daniel A. Smith , Tax Crusaders and the Politics of Direct Democracy (1998), 21-23</ref>

By the 1760s the Americans came to believe they were being deprived of a historic right.<ref> John C. Miller, ''Origins of the American Revolution.'' 1943. pp. 31, 99, 104</ref>

In the Virginia legislature [[Patrick Henry]] passed resolutions to the effect that Americans possessed all the rights of Englishmen; that the principle of no taxation without representation was an essential part of the English Constitution; and that Virginia alone enjoyed the right to tax Virginians. <ref> Miller p 122-25</ref>
==British perspectives==
Many British leaders agreed with the Americans, but King [[George III]] (reigned 1760-1820) and his government took a hard-line position. The British could not accept Virginia's position because it would undermine the authority of Parliament, which it insisted in the "Declaratory Act" was always the final decision-making body. In Britain representation was highly limited; only 3% of the men could vote and they were controlled by local gentry.<ref> Miller p 212</ref> Therefore the British government argued that the colonists had [[virtual representation]] in their interests. In English history "no taxation without representation" was an old principle and meant that Parliament had to pass all taxes. At first the "representation" was held to be one of land, but by 1700 this had shifted to the notion that in Parliament all British subjects had a "virtual representation." "We virtually and implicitly allow the institutions of any government of which we enjoy the benefit and solicit the protection," declared [[Samuel Johnson]] in his political pamphlet ''Taxation No Tyranny.'' He rejected the plea that the colonists, who had no vote, were unrepresented. "They are represented," he said, "by the same virtual representation as the greater part of England."<ref> See [http://books.google.com/books?id=M24FAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:taxation+inauthor:samuel+inauthor:johnson&num=30&as_brr=3#PPA4,M1]</ref>

The theory of virtual representation was attacked in Britain by Charles Pratt, the Earl of Camden, and especially by William Pitt. It was wholly rejected in the colonies, who said the "virtual" was a cover for political corruption and was irreconcilable with their [[Republicanism, U.S.|republican]] belief that government derives its just powers from the [[consent of the governed]]. Colonists said no man was represented if he were not allowed to vote. Moreover, even "If every inhabitant of America had the requisite freehold," said [[Daniel Dulany]], "not one could vote, but upon the supposition of his ceasing to become an inhabitant of America, and becoming a resident of Great Britain." The colonists insisted that representation was achieved only through an assembly of men actually elected by the persons they were intended to represent.

In an appearance before Parliament in January, 1766, Prime Minister [[William Pitt]] stated:<ref>Walford Davis Green, ''William Pitt, Earl of Chatham and the Growth and Division of the British Empire, 1708-1778.'' 1901. p. 255.</ref>
:"The idea of a virtual representation of America in this House is the most contemptible that ever entered into the head of a man. It does not deserve a serious refutation. The Commons of America, represented in their several assemblies, have ever been in possession of the exercise of this their constitutional right, of giving and granting their own money. They would have been slaves if they had not enjoyed it."

Grenville responded to Pitt, saying the disturbances in America "border on open rebellion; and if the doctrine I have heard this day be confirmed, nothing can tend more directly to produce a revolution." External and internal taxes are the same, argued Grenville. <ref> Green p. 256</ref>

==Popular usage==
The term has become common in popular usage to complain about exclusion from political participation, a distant and unreponsive government, or high taxes. It was used in the woman suffrage movement, for example, to decry the denial of the right to vote to females. In Washington DC, today, it is a powerful slogan that underscores the District's continuing lack of a vote in the US House, and any representation at all in the U.S. Senate, and appears as a motto on District license plates.

==Bibliography==
* Carpenter, William S. "Taxation Without Representation" in ''Dictionary of American History, Volume 7'' (1976)
* Miller, John C. ''Origins of the American Revolution.'' (1943). [http://www.questia.com/library/book/origins-of-the-american-revolution-by-john-c-miller.jsp online edition]
* Morgan, Edmund. ''Inventing the People: The Rise of Popular Sovereignty in England and America'' (1989)
* Pole; J. R. ''Political Representation in England and the Origins of the American Republic'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/political-representation-in-england-and-the-origins-of-the-american-republic-by-j-r-pole.jsp online edition]
* Slaughter, Thomas P. "The Tax Man Cometh: Ideological Opposition to Internal Taxes, 1760-1790." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 1984 41(4): 566-591. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0043-5597(198410)3%3A41%3A4%3C566%3ATTMCIO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-2 in Jstor]
====Notes====
<references/>

[[Category:American Revolution]]
[[Category:Taxation]]

Mark Moyar

2009-04-08T03:52:37Z

FredCorps:

'''Mark Moyar''' is a military historian who (as of 2006) serves as associate professor at the Marine Corps University. He studied international relations at Harvard and has a PhD from Cambridge University in Britain. He is the author of ''Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954-1965'' (2006), the first volume of a two-volume history of the Vietnam war from a conservative perspective.
==Vietnam==
Working in the archives of primary sources, Moyar has reported new information that other historians have overlooked. He found that every country in Asia aside from China's allies supported American intervention in Vietnam. Many of those countries made previously unknown offers of combat troops and military aid. American intervention in Vietnam persuaded the Indonesian military to oust the pro-Communist President [[Sukarno]]; the Indonesia rollback was one of America's greatest victories in the [[Cold War]].

==Iraq==
He has also written about the [[Iraq War]]. In one op-ed in the New York Times, Professor Moyar avoided any discussion of [[Islam]] and compared the Iraq situation to the Vietnam conflict, despite the very different ideologies involved. Moyar concluded that an attempt at democracy in Iraq was desirable immediately in 2006 at nearly any cost:<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/opinion/21moyar.html?_r=1</ref>

:The United States may ultimately find that no Iraqi leader can neutralize both the insurgents and the militias. The benefits of a self-sufficient Iraqi government are so great, however, that we must give [Iraq Prime Minister] Mr. Maliki the opportunity to try.
==Writings==
* Moyar, Mark. "The Current State of Military History." ''Historical Journal'' 2007 50(1): 225-240
* Moyar, Mark. ''Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954-1965'' Cambridge U. Press. 400p.
* Moyar, Mark. "Political Monks: the Militant Buddhist Movement During the Vietnam War." ''Modern Asian Studies'' 2004 38(4): 749-784, full text in [[EBSCO]]
* Moyar, Mark. ''Phoenix and the Birds of Prey: The CIA's Secret Campaign to Destroy the Viet Cong.'' Naval Institute Press, (1997) 416p.
* Moyar, Mark. "Vietnam: Historians at War." ''Aademic Questions,'' Winter 2007, Vol. 21 Issue 1, pp 37-51, online at EBSCO
===On Iraq===
* Moyar, Mark. "Iraq, five years later -- still too soon to judge." ''Christian Science Monitor'', 3/20/2008, Vol. 100 Issue 80, p. 9
* Moyar, Mark. "Before the Surge, And After." ''Wall Street Journal'' 10/10/2008, Vol. 252 Issue 86, p A15
===Evaluations===
* Miller, Edward et al. "A Roundtable on Mark Moyar's 'Triumph Forsaken: the Vietnam War, 1954-1965'" ''Passport: the Newsletter of the SHAFR'' 2007 38(3): 5-22

== References ==
<references/>
[[Category:Historians]]
[[Category:Diplomacy]]
[[Category:Cold War]]
[[Category:Middle East]]

United States Marine Corps

2009-04-08T03:47:59Z

FredCorps:

[[Image:Marineseal.jpg|right|thumb|Seal of the USMC]]
The '''United States Marine Corps''' (USMC) is a branch of the [[United States]] armed forces responsible for mounting infantry assaults from the sea utilizing the mobility of the [[United States Navy]]. The mission of the Marine Corps is to ''"wage and win wars,"'' and its motto is ''Semper Fidelis ("always faithful")''. Alongside the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps operates under the United States Department of the Navy.

==History==
While concerned almost exclusively with shipboard security service and amphibious warfare in its formative years, the Marine Corps has evolved to fill a unique, multi-purpose role within the modern United States military.

Originally organized as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 as naval infantry, the Marine Corps has evolved its mission with changing military doctrine and American foreign policy. The Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict including the [[Revolutionary War]]. It attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practice of amphibious warfare proved prescient, and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of [[World War II]]. By the early 20th century, the Marine Corps had become the dominant theorist and practitioner of amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond to regional crises has made and continues to make it an important body in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.

The U.S. Marine Corps, with 186,500 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2007, is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense (the United States Coast Guard, about one fifth the size of the Marine Corps, is under the Department of Homeland Security). The Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
!colspan=11| '''Commissioned Officers'''
|- align=center
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!'''Pay grade'''||O-10||0-9||O-8||O-7||O-6||O-5||O-4||O-3||O-2||O-1

|- align=center
||Insignia
|| [[Image:DODOfficer10.JPG|120px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer9.JPG|100px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer8.JPG|80px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer7.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer6.JPG|90px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer5.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer4.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer3.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer2.JPG|30px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer1.JPG|30px]]

|- align=center
||Title
||General
||Lieutenant General
||Major General
||Brigadier General
||Colonel
||Lieutenant Colonel
||Major
||Captain
||1st Lieutenant
||2nd Lieutenant

|- align=center

|-
|colspan=5|

|}

----
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center" width="100%"
!colspan=11| '''Warrant Officers'''
|-
!CWO-5
!CWO-4
!CWO-3
!CWO-2
!WO-1 (discontinued)
|-
!W-5
!W-4
!W-3
!W-2
!W-1
|-
|[[Image:USMC CWO 5.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC CWO 4.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC CWO 3.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC CWO 2.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC WO 1.png|center|20px]]
|}

----

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
!colspan=11| '''Enlisted'''
|- align=center
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!'''Pay grade'''||E-9||E-9||E-9||E-8||E-8||E-7||E-6||E-5||E-4||E-3||E-2||E-1

|- align=center
||Sleeve patch
|| [[Image:371px-Marine Corp Sergeant Major of the Marine Corp.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:356px-Marine Corp Sergeant Major.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:353px-Marine Corp Master Gunnery Sergeant.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:392px-Marine Corp 1stSgt.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:412px-Marine Corp MSgt.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp GySgt.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp SSGT.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp SGT.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp CPL.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp LCpl.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp PFC.jpg|60px]]
||
|- align=center

|- align=center
||Title
||Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
||Sergeant Major
||Master Gunnery Sergeant
||First Sergeant
||Master Sergeant
||Gunnery Sergeant
||Staff Sergeant
||Sergeant
||Corporal
||Lance Corporal
||Private First Class
||Private (no insignia)

|- align=center

|-
|colspan=5|

|}

==External links==
* [http://www.usmc.mil/ Official USMC website]
* [http://www.marines.com/ Official USMC Recruiting site]

[[Category:United States Armed Forces]]

Talk:World History Lecture Nine

2009-04-08T03:40:35Z

FredCorps:

I've never before heard it said that the Whigs were the anteedents of the Labour Party. The conventioanal argument is that Whig=Liberal and Tory=Conservative, but even that is a gross over-simplification of the changes in political allegiance during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is probably far truer to say that Whiggism led to economic and political Liberalism in the mid-19th century which in turn greatly influenced the 20th century Conservative Party with its individualist, free trade, laissez faire policies. Mrs Thatcher was nothing if not a classic nineteenth century Liberal. Also, in the late 19th century the Liberal Party split over Home Rule for Ireland and a large faction - known as Liberal Unionists - joined the Conservative Party (hence its full name, the Conservative and Unionist Party - nothing to do with Ulster Unionists). Yes, the late 19th century Liberal Party had trade union candidates, known as 'Lib Labs'; some of these joined the Labour Party when it was established (as the Labour Representation Committee) in 1900. But to say the Whigs developed into Labour is simply not the case. (unsigned)

'''Reply''' by [[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 10:48, 27 June 2007 (EDT):

Of course, the lecture's statement that the (leftist) modern Labour Party is a substitute for the (leftist) Whig Party of old is a simplification of this interesting facet of English history. But it is a correct simplication, as confirmed by the Columbia Encyclopedia quoted below. Admittedly, there is a step in between that entailed the more conservative Liberal Party. But the migration from leftist to Liberal to leftist does not break the chain.

From the Columbia Encyclopedia:

The Liberal party was an outgrowth of the Whig party that, after the Reform Bill of 1832 (see Reform Acts), joined with the bulk of enfranchised industrialists and business classes to form a political alliance that, over the next few decades, came to be called the Liberal party. Much of the Liberal program was formulated by an important manufacturing middle-class element of the party known as the Radicals, who were strongly influenced by Jeremy Bentham. The Liberals distinguishing policies included free trade, low budgets, and religious liberty. Their anti-imperialism reflected confidence in Britain's economic supremacy. Most Liberals believed in the economic doctrines of laissez-faire and thought labor unions, factory acts, and substantial poor relief a threat to rapid industrialization.
...

By 1914 the Liberal government had passed substantial welfare legislation but, unwilling to adopt a full socialist program, the Liberals began to lose support to the new Labour party. The party's stubborn adherence to the doctrine of free trade, arguments between the Lloyd George and Asquith factions of the party, long years of depression, the Irish problem, growing labor radicalism, and the rise of a working-class party all account for the rapid postwar decline of the Liberals.
...

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright© 2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. All rights reserved.

:: Apologies for omitting to sign above. I think (perhaps mistakenly) that you are drawing your argument and inferring a link from this section of the quotation:''By 1914 the Liberal government had passed substantial welfare legislation but, unwilling to adopt a full socialist program, the Liberals began to lose support to the new Labour party.'' Certainly there was a radical interventionist wing of the party, under Lloyd George, which fostered this 'welfare' legislation; but (as with Lloyd George's post WW1 housing programme) this was to prevent socialism by improving living standards for the poor, rather than to encourage socialism. Some individual liberal politicians moved 'left', but I maintain that there is a much stronger philosophical link between nineteenth century classical economic Liberalism and modern UK Conservatism, and indeed even between mid-C19 radicalism - most of whose exponents were enthusiastic individualists and anti-Socialists - and modern Conservatism. Anyway... thanks in any case for your considered response. [[User:Pachyderm|Pachyderm]] 11:01, 27 June 2007 (EDT)

== Religious Persecution ==

''In the 1600s in England, there was some of the worst religious persecution in the history of the world, as Protestants harshly persecuted each other and there was also continuous conflict between Protestants and Catholics. The conflict between Anglicans and Puritans in England was particularly severe, causing many Puritans to flee to New England.''

To class the examples you give as "some of the worst religious persecution in the history of the world" is completely alien to the facts. Conflict between Anglicans and Puritans was not 'particularly severe' by world standards, or even Englsish standards: no executions were involved, by contrast with the hundreds of Catholics killed in the Elizabethan and 17th century persecutions and scores of Protestants killed in the 16th century Marian persecution). Contrast that with the Holocaust, with Tsarist antisemitic pogroms, with the butcheries of the Crusades, with the massacres perpetrated during the German Religious Wars, the French Wars of Religion, the Thirty Years War; the killings of Chinese Christians during the Boxer Rising - I could go on and on. [[User:Pachyderm|Pachyderm]] 12:52, 30 August 2007 (EDT)

== Corrections ==

*You simply eliminate Edward VI and Mary I as not being 'noteworthy'. They may have had relatively short reigns but they were important nonetheless.
*To say Elizabeth I is the most popular would need some sort of reliable survey to back it up, and to clarify whether that is from a contemporary perspective or not.
*As it stands the wording suggest she was formally excommunicated before 1559, in fact this took place afterwards in 1570.
*You completely omit the Gunpowder Plot, probably the defining event of James' reign, which is still commemorated to this day.
*Charles I did accept the Petition of Right, though he never intended to abide by it.
*You label the first civil war as purely religious. This was not the case. Yes Cromwell was a Puritan but to say all Parliamentarians were is incorrect. Although there was a split along religious lines the names used for either side, Royalists and Parliamentarians tells the story much better.
*The 'remainder' of William Prynne's ears were not removed but were branded with SL for 'seditious libeller'.
*You jump straight from describing the power wielded by certain Puritans to saying that this caused them to emigrate, though this makes no sense.
*Although Cromwell was essentially a dictator it should be noted that he refused the offer of Kingship.
*The US was not the only example of a revolution that did not lead to dictatorship. Venustiano Carranza became president of Mexico after overthrowing a dictator but did not become one himself. There are of course also many non-violent revolutions that did not lead to dictatorships, especially in recent decades.
*Charles II did not immediately take over after Cromwell's death.
*The Labour Party did NOT form from the Whigs. The Whigs developed into the Liberal party (even then not a straightforward matter), which has under gone many changes to become the Liberal Democrats today, the 3rd largest party. The Labour Party was not created until the early 20th century.
*You fail to mention the Battle of the Boyne. This was a hugely significant battle between Protestant and Catholic and has ramifications to this day. It was also the last battle in which two English kings faced each other.
*Your statement regarding the French revolution ''"ended up with nearly everyone being executed by the guillotine"'' is an overstatement to say the very least!
*You criticise the arbitrary nature of some of the French declarations, but most such statements are arbitrary. The phrase 'pursuit of happiness' is extremely vague for instance.
*I think you are mistaken in attributing any significant credit to Adam Smith for economic expansion as part of the industrial revolution. He was really more of an observer of it such that his ideas were significant later on.
*The vast majority of the cotton for Britain came from its colonies, not America, with the USA being independent by pretty much the start of the industrial revolution. Britain was also engaged in hostilities with the US for some time and so significant trade of cotton was unlikely between them.
*I think your claim that Britain tried to hide the secrets of the Industrial revolution is woefully inaccurate. This portrays it as if the revolution was a single event that was tightly controlled by single group, which of course it was not.
*You suggest the industrial revolution was simply built on the use of iron for example, neglecting the fact that revolutions in the extraction of iron for instance were part of the revolution.
*James Watt did not invent the steam engine (a common misconception), he simply improved it.
*You get into a discussion on the agrarian revolution after discussing the industrial revolution, which is odd given how they occurred the other way around.
*You characterise enclosure as simply the buying up of land. In fact much of it was simply the pre-existing owners enclosing their land. Certainly much buying and selling then occurred but this was not the defining feature of enclosure.
*Again when referring to Spain and Austria-Hungary you put far too great an emphasis on the role of Adam Smith and simply dismiss the consensus amongst historians in favour of said mistake.
*This sentence ''"If you are a businessman or investor, then you love the industrial revolution because it enables you to make money without being a farmer, and gives you access to all sorts of goods and products that might not otherwise be available, such as computers"'' seems to be mixed up in its temporal context.

I hope this has been of use. [[User:RobertWDP|RobertWDP]] 23:12, 25 February 2009 (EST)

== The Virgin Queen? ==

Is it worth mentioning Elizabeth I's reputation as "The Virgin Queen"? I know historians debate how true that was, but its why one of the colonies that caused Great Britain so much trouble later on is called ''Virgin''ia. [[User:ArthurA|ArthurA]] 10:34, 25 March 2009 (EDT)

== Revolution versus Civil War? ==

Might it be worth differentiating between revolutions and civil wars, since both are covered here?

My personal definition is that its a civil war until the rebels win, then the victors get to call it a revolution, but I'm little more than an amateur historian with specific interests (mostly American history, from the <s>Late Unpleasantness</s> Civil War on.) [[User:ArthurA|ArthurA]] 10:38, 25 March 2009 (EDT)

== Prussia vs. Germany ==

To call ''Prussia the former name of Germany'' is like calling ''Maryland the former name of the USA''... [[User:ClementB|ClementB]] 09:20, 26 March 2009 (EDT)

:Look up "Prussia" in the dictionary. Merriam-Webster, 10th Ed., second meaning: "former kingdom and state of Germany." Now complain to it if you still insist on your incorrect view.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 08:10, 27 March 2009 (EDT)

::The same Merriam-Webster has this entry on Hesse: "state of Germany & formerly of West Germany including larger part of Hesse-Darmstadt & part of Hesse-Nassau "
::Prussia was a state in Germany. Prussia was never the state of Germany. Hesse, neither. So Bavaria.
::To emphasize: the kingdom of Prussia was never identical to Germany. In fact, Prussia could only become a kingdom in 1701 as it lay outside of the German Empire.
::[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 11:08, 27 March 2009 (EDT)

::: The lecture doesn't say Prussia was "identical to Germany." But Prussia was the leading state in the German empire, and hence is the predecessor (or former name) of Germany. Your analogy to Maryland is, frankly, beyond absurd.

::: Let me know when you assert your same complaint to Merriam-Webster.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 11:50, 27 March 2009 (EDT)

::::The lecture states ''Examples were Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia (the former name for Germany), and the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II of Austria.'' Does this make Frederick II a former king of Germany? Or a king of former Germany? It gives at least a wrong impression.
::::I have no problems with the Merriam-Webster, as this dictionary (not an encyclopedia, BTW) states that ''Prussia was a German state''. That's absolutely correct, but you seem to misread it as the ''former kingdom of Germany'', when all it implies that it is a ''former German kingdom''.
::::[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 12:12, 27 March 2009 (EDT)

::::As you're so adamant, I changed the entry on [[Germany]] to include this point. [[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 09:29, 29 March 2009 (EDT)

:::::Interestingly, I wasn't allowed to introduce this insight into the article on [[Germany]]. In the discussion on my home-page, Karajou linked to the MSN encarta. As the Merriam-Webster, it starts with
:::::''Prussia (German Preussen), former kingdom and state of Germany. ''
:::::But then, you find the line
:::::''Modern Prussia was successively, with geographical modifications, an independent kingdom (1701-1871); the largest constituent kingdom of the German Empire (1871-1918); a constituent state, or land, of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933); and an administrative division, comprising 13 provinces, of the centralized German Third Reich (1934-1945). ''
:::::Do you see how the first sentence never implies that Prussia ''is the predecessor (or former name) of Germany''?
:::::Please, allow me to change the lecture accordingly, i.e., from ''Examples were Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia (the former name for Germany), and the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II of Austria.'' to something like ''Examples were Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia (a former kingdom in Germany), and the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II of Austria.''
:::::If you insist on your view, the line ''A former name of [[Germany]] is [[Prussia]]'' should be added to the article on [[Germany]].
:::::[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 14:51, 29 March 2009 (EDT)

:::::: Clement, your suggested replacement is not an improvement on the lecture. An encyclopedia entry about something (e.g., Germany) obviously goes into more detail, with greater precision, than a lecture should. A good lecture informs with the goal of making something easy to learn and remember. This lecture has done that, just as the dictionary has, and your suggestion is not an improvement. Please move on, at least for now. If this still bothers you after you've focused on other issues, then we can always revisit this. Thanks and Godspeed.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 15:28, 29 March 2009 (EDT)

::::::: Dear Andrew Schlafly, I'm afraid that the matter still bothers me. I thought about it for quite a while and to get counsel, I've talked to the pastor of my former youth group. He took some time to read my entries - and some of yours - and we discussed the whole exchange at length.
:::::::* He scolded me for being overly aggressive in my replies. Even if mocked, I should have been more humble and considerate. Therefore, I apologize.
:::::::* I apologize to R. J. Jensen, too. It became obvious that he didn't want to be involved in a discussion of the statements of your lectures, but kept his contributions and these lectures separate. I should not have tried to drag him into this argument.
:::::::* You said: ''A good lecture informs with the goal of making something easy to learn and remember. '' We seem to disagree where there is the line between an allowed (over-) simplification and the outright distortion of facts. I'd like to point out that the statement ''ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny'' was kept in biology text books around the world because it is ''easy to learn and remember'', though there was no truth in it.
:::::::* I'm thankful that you considered my note on the ''Red Cross'' in your next lecture. On the other hand, you ignored my question on the beginning of the ''industrial revolution'' in Germany: There are discussions whether it was as early as in the 1830s or as late as in the 1850s, but I found no one who gave 1870 as a date. But looking back, it seemed to be prideful to expect that you'd follow all of my annotations: reading the talk pages of the other lectures shows that - seemingly - good advice is often ignored.

::::::: This said, I'll follow what I see as an example set by R. J. Jensen, i.e, I won't comment on the further ''World History Lectures''.
::::::: Yours [[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 13:05, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

:::::::: Clement, your conclusion is backhanded at best, and you still seem to push a double standard. I repeat: have you complained to Merriam-Webster yet? It says the same thing the lecture does, as I demonstrated. That you insist on complaining only here without complaining to Merriam-Webster suggests you have two different standards.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 13:36, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

::::::::: Andy, I won't complain to Merriam-Webster. Why? Because the statement: ''Prussia: former kingdom and state of Germany.'' is true. It just doesn't mean what you read into it! Merriam-Webster states that Prussia is a former kingdom. And that Prussia is a former state of Germany. It is possible to misread this very short statement as ''Prussia is the former state of Germany''. But your background in history should prevent you from such a misinterpretation! [[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 13:57, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

== Do you actually want editors to help? ==

Mr Schlafly, before I go any further in helping to edit your encyclopedia, please could you let me know if you actually want to use information contributed by editors. On the specific points you reverted,
* Mohammed is not and never has been the most common boy's name in Britain. It has regularly been in the top 20 for the last 30-40 years and famously overtook John about 10 years ago. But the most common name on a long-term basis continues to be James, as it has been for centuries, while Biblical names like Joshua and Adam and Celtic or Saxon names like Liam and Kevin are currently popular.
* There is no bar on a catholic being Prime Minister. As you surely know, the UK has no written constitution and there isn't even an official position of Prime Minister (his official title is First Lord of the Treasury). If a catholic (or muslim, hindu, sikh, jew, etc) became Prime Minister, the Queen could choose to be advised on ecclesiastical matters by the Lord Chancellor or another senior minister. Blair has never revealed why he chose to leave converting to catholicism until he left office but it wouldn't have affected his position as P.M.
So Mr Schlafly, if you'll accept input from an editor who knows what he's talking about, I'll gladly continue to contribute to Conservapedia. Otherwise, I won't waste my time. (I've read some of your talk pages and I see you're inclined to get into pointless arguments with editors who know more than you do about the subject in question. All I need to know is, do you accept input from people who know more about a subject than you do, yes or no.) [[User:JosephMac|JosephMac]] 17:46, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

: If you think you're such a genius, JosephMac, let's see how well you can do on the [[World History Midterm Exam]]. Or perhaps your skill is only acting like you know it all.

: The evidence is against both of your claims above. Moreover, you censored the statement about Muhammad rather than improving it.

: We don't welcome falsehoods, even by people who pretend to be know-it-alls. Now let's see if you even do as well as the top [[homeschooled]] students on the exam. I bet you'll run away from that opportunity to prove your immense knowledge.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 17:53, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

::*No, the evidence isn't against either of the statements above. They're both correct, as I think you actually know.
::*As you also know, I didn't censor the statement about Mohammed; I improved it to say it's in the top 20 of boy's names.
::*I'm not pretending about anything.
::*I would do your exam if I were confident that your historical knowledge was accurate enough to mark it correctly.
::*Mind your language, please.[[User:JosephMac|JosephMac]] 17:58, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

:::I'm a Brit (English) and I have nary a clue as to where you got that 'Muhammad' thing from. I don't personally know anyone called Muhammad, and I've never heard of a Christian with that name (unless they converted from another religion). In support of JosephMac, I know many people called James, so many that I call them by their last name instead of their first. [[User:LeslieHoyson|LeslieHoyson]] 18:10, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

:::: I'd too see if either you could even score 50% on the [[World History Midterm Exam]]. Looks like both you won't dare display your real knowledge.

:::: It only took 30 seconds to confirm that "Muhammad is now second only to Jack as the most popular name for baby boys in Britain and '''is likely to rise to No 1 by next year''' [2008], a study by The Times has found."[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1890354.ece]

::::: 1 c. 2 d. 3 a. 4 c. 5 c. 6 e. 7 d. 8 e. 9 c. 10 b. 11 b. 12 d. 13 b. 14 b. 15 d. 16 a. 17 d. 18 e. 19 b. 20 a. 21 e. 22 c. 23 c. 24 d. 25 d. 26 c. 27 d. 28 a. 29 b. 30 c. 31 b. 32 e. 33 d. 34 d. 35 a. 36 e. 37 a(*). 38 a. 39 b. 40 e. 41 d. 42 c. 43 d. 44 c. Extra (male) e.
(*) Your numbering is muddled. You've labelled Song as VI before Tang as V in the list. The order is Qin, Han, 3 kingdoms, Sui, Tang, Song.

:::::JosephMac, your score is is 40, and you got some of the most challenging questions! That makes a new second place among internet submissions, and ties for second best among all submissions. Good job.

:::::Also, thanks for catching the error about the dynasties! [[User:AddisonDM|AddisonDM]] 19:13, 4 April 2009 (EDT)

::::: I'd be happy to help set future exams to help you avoid ambiguous or erroneous answers, of which there are several in this exam.

::::: As for Mohammed, here's a table from the Office of National Statistics, which is the definitive record for England and Wales. [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_boys.asp] Mohammed is no. 17. [[User:JosephMac|JosephMac]] 19:30, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

:::::: I noticed several of your edits as being incorrect (e.g., replacing "Anglican" with "Protestant") or censoring information (erasing statement about Islam in France). Accordingly, I had to revert your edits. Some revisions of value may have been lost and I'll revisit Saturday. I suggest you be more careful.

:::::: Muhammad has several different spellings, obviously. Your failure to recognize that, even after I gave you an article explaining this, suggests you're more interested in censoring the truth here than in advancing knowledge. Please move elsewhere if you continue to have that attitude.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 23:10, 3 April 2009 (EDT)

Actually, JosephMac is pretty much right in his 2 original points.

There does not appear to be any data suggesting that Muhammed is currently or has ever been the most popular boys name in the UK. In 2007 it (including 14 spelling variations, although some might argue against doing this) was ranked 2nd for newborn boys. Although some said it would overtake the top name, Jack, this does not appear to have happened as of yet.

And there is NOT any legal obstacle to a Catholic becoming Prime Minister as he also correctly stated. This is often mixed up with the laws affecting the monarchy, for which reform has recently been discussed. [[User:RobertWDP|RobertWDP]] 07:24, 4 April 2009 (EDT)
:::::::Sorry but speaking as a Catholic from England I can confirm that JosephMac is quite correct there is NO legal obstacle to a Catholic becoming Prime Minister in the UK. We potentially had an atheist as Prime Minister and the main objection to him (Michael Foot) was his duffle coat! [[User:BrianNTS|BrianNTS]] 07:31, 4 April 2009 (EDT)

This story from the BBC states precisely this point about Catholicism at the end. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3746398.stm] The belief by some that there was some sort of legal restriction appears to have been heightened by the fact that Blair waited until he left office to convert to Catholicism. [[User:RobertWDP|RobertWDP]] 07:36, 4 April 2009 (EDT)

:I'm just pleased that JosephMac corrected the statement ''Prussia (the former name for Germany)'' to ''Prussia (the most powerful of the German states)'', and that A. Schlafly doesn't object any longer. [[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 07:51, 4 April 2009 (EDT)

How does "40" by JosephMac become a "new second place" among all submissions? We already have a 40 for second place, so JosephMac would tie for second place. Still a great score.

People are denying too much the ban on Catholicism for the British Prime Minister. The ban plainly does apply to the monarch and spouse of the monarch, and Tony Blair plainly did delay until after abdicating as Prime Minister before converting, and there plainly are legal restrictions that would kick in if a Prime Minister were Catholic. Why do so many Brits insist on denying the ban??? The denial is odd in itself.

ClementB's comment is misleading as I do still object to his suggested change to the Prussia/Germany statement.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 22:06, 4 April 2009 (EDT)

:You're still clinging to your statement that ''Prussia is a former name for Germany''? And your only justification for doing so is the short entry on the Merriam-Webster, [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prussia stating]

:'' '''Prussia:''' former kingdom & state of Germany * Berlin''

:You misread this entry. This becomes clear when you have a look at the entry on [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waldeck Waldeck]:

:'' '''Waldeck:''' former county, principality, & state of Germany between Westphalia & Hesse-Nassau * Arolsen''

:Your reading of the Merriam-Webster would make ''Waldeck'' a former name of Germany, too.

:[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 07:04, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

Andy, I'm afraid on the point about Catholicism and the Prime Minister you are wrong. There is NO legal restriction against a Catholic Prime Minister. The reason so many Brits 'deny' the ban? Because there isn't one. Sorry, but that fact has to be cleared up. [[User:RobertWDP|RobertWDP]] 11:20, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

: If this point is so important to you, then suggest more precise wording that does not censor the facts that the British Prime Minister has basic duties that could not be fulfilled if he were Catholic, that Prime Minister Tony Blair delayed converting to Catholicism until after he abdicated, and that there has never been a Catholic Prime Minister. And, by the way, the language obscuring how Brits celebrate the anniversary of the alleged "discovery" of the gunpowder plot is going to be corrected also.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:53, 5 April 2009 (EDT)
:: This was widely discussed at the time that Iain Duncan Smith (a Catholic) became leader of the Conservative Party, and the conclusion of constitutional scholars was that there is no barrier to a Catholic becoming prime minister -- the largely ceremonial role of the government in giving ecclesiastic advice to the monarch could be performed by ''any'' minister. Tony Blair has never given a public explanation for his decision to wait until he left office, although two explanations have been given by his friends: It had the potential to upset the delicate negotiations in Northern Ireland, and he did not wish for a purely personal decision to be interpreted as a political manoeuvre. [[User:Jalapeno|Jalapeno]] 15:09, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

::: "Constitutional scholars" make all sorts of claims, including silly ones. Nothing you say refutes the three facts I cite above, and I welcome alternative wording that does not censor the facts.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 15:23, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

(unindent) Ignoring the new material above for a moment, I should like to point out that both Joseph and I defeated Mr Schlafly's challenge of gaining more than 50% on the Midterm Exam (he with a score of 40 and I with 37), and I think that in light of his insulting and unchivalrous behaviour towards we who were trying to help, we both deserve an apology so we can all move on. [[User:LeslieHoyson|LeslieHoyson]] 15:45, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

: Apologies for my absence (owing to a misunderstanding about dynamic assignment of IP addresses). Mr Schlafly, this discussion exemplifies exactly what I said above about "pointless arguments with editors who know more than you do about the subject in question". You 've now had numerous British contributors telling you there's no constitutional bar on a catholic becoming Prime Minister. Ian Duncan Smith illustrates this perfectly. He's a Conservative (and conservative) politician who's highly respected across the whole political spectrum. Although he was a poor party leader, the fact that he's catholic was never once considered to prevent him becoming Prime Minister. Why Blair chose not to formally convert to catholicism until after he left office was entirely his own business, which he has never discussed. If the Queen had been concerned about it, she could have chosen any other minister to advise her as Head of the Church of England (although there's no sign she would have been concerned, as her PMs have included two Presbyterians, a Baptist and a Methodist). I must ask you to respect the knowledge of British people on this subject. I will edit Lecture 9 appropriately. [[User:JosephMac|JosephMac]] 16:49, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

::If I may add my six-penn'orth, Schlafers is completely wrong on this (as he is on the Prussia/Germany question too). Some humilityy and open-mindedness, such as he demands of Liberals, wuld be welcome. [[User:ThomasF|ThomasF]] 18:06, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

Godspeed to you, ThomasF. You are the classic definition of a troll. --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 19:07, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

== Religious Conflict: Ireland ==

I've started improving the part of the 'Religious Conflict in England' section that deals with Ireland. There's a lot of work to do so if anyone else would like to help out, that would be great (I'll be away for a few days). The Protestant/Catholic thing needs to be toned down a bit. Although that dispute is highly visible, the origins of Irish Republicanism were more political than religious - Wolfe Tone was a protestant, the original Fenians were protestant industrial workers from Belfast, etc. [[User:JosephMac|JosephMac]] 20:12, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

: You should include the fact that there is some reason why there are anti-Catholic laws in GB, most importantly, the reason that a Catholic can't be monarch is becasue it would be insulting! The British monarch is the official head of the Anglican Church, having a Catholic monarch would be like having a muslim Pope!!--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 22:23, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

== Non-German 'Great' Composers==

I notice you claim that "most great composers were German". Musicologists, composers, music students and fans of Boulez, Borodin, Berlioz, Bartok, Mahler, Liszt, Karajan, Holst, Haydn, Grieg,Gould, Vivaldi, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Sullivan, Stravinsky, Strauss, Sibelius, Shostakovich, Schubert, Schoenberg, Satie, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Puccini, Prokofiev, Penderecki, Mussorgsky, Paganini, Mozart, or Monteverdi would disagree with you, I suspect. [[User:KBinbota|KBinbota]] 21:25, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

: Good list of mostly obscure composers. Only a few of them would be considered to be in the same league as the great German composers, and even they wouldn't be considered as great as the Germans.

: I know, I know. You probably think all languages are equal, all religions are equal, and ... all nationalities are equal with respect to composers. Well, we tell the truth here. I recommend Wikipedia if you prefer pushing political correctness instead.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:32, 5 April 2009 (EDT)

:: You certainly seem to have a very unusual definition of 'obscure'. [[User:KBinbota|KBinbota]] 21:41, 5 April 2009 (EDT)
::: What a great example of liberal corruption! Denying that Germans are the greatest composers is like denying that the Dutch are superior artists or that Americans are superior inventors!! (Yankee ingenuity anyone)
:::But I have to agree that Strauss was a great composer! Unfortunately for you, he's '''German'''!--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 22:23, 5 April 2009 (EDT)
:: Just out of curiosity, who do you consider the great German composers? I can only really think of Bach, Handel, Wagner, Strauss, Schumann and Brahms, and of course Beethoven, amongst the most popular composers in the world. There are certainly many composers of the same calibre from other countries.

:::The mention of Beethoven is problematic. ''"The greatest composer in the history of the world"'' is an opinion shared by many, though are very many others who would claim the same of Mozart (Austrian), Bach or others. The problem, however, is not that people might disagree with your assessment of Beethoven, but that a composer's greatness cannot be quantified. Things like a composer's technical skill, fame during their lifetime, posthumous reception and their influence on later composers can be approximately known. By these criteria, Beethoven was certainly ''among'' the greatest composers who ever lived. But because of the imprecise nature of this evaluation, we must be content with approximate judgments.

:::Next, the description of his achievements, that he ''"revolutionized instrumental music and took it to new heights never before thought possible"'' is one which was also true of many composers before and since. Perhaps you could say something specific to Beethoven, such as how his 32 piano sonatas have been referred to as "The New Testament of the Piano" (the Old Testament being Bach's 48 preludes and fugues), or that in particular he revolutionized the concept of the Symphony as an art form. Prior to him, the symphony was just a four-movement work for orchestra. Mozart wrote over 50 of them. Haydn wrote over 100. Beethoven's 9 symphonies (from the 3rd onward) expanded the scale, the seriousness, and the emotional breadth of what a symphony could be. Another quotation (I don't have sources for these, as I can't remember who said them) is that every symphonic composer since Beethoven has been writing in his shadow.

:::Finally, the phrase ''"A German like most great composers..."'' is most problematic of all. Beethoven was from a Flemish family, was born and raised in Cologne, which at the time was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire, and spent the majority of his life in Vienna. To say he was "German" is an oversimplification. To say that most great composers were also Germans is thus a distortion of history: Bach and Handel would not have been considered as members of the same country during their lifetimes. Second, it is simply not true that the majority of great composers were German. Even if Germany has had more great composers than other countries, the total number of great non-German composers easily dwarfs the total number of great German composers. (do you claim that the best composers were German, or that the German composers were best? The two claims are not the same) Lastly, ''even if'' your statement was true, what point are you trying to make? What conclusion do you expect your students to draw? That the German people are innately superior to non-Germans, at least as far as music is concerned? Surely the reason for great German composers is that there has been a long culture of music-making, which meant that talented children could be directed towards music (and would have the opportunity to get a better music education than their peers in France)? Such cultures, like the Rugby-playing culture in New Zealand, tend to be self-perpetuating once they get started. --[[User:Eoinc|Eoinc]] 09:01, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

:::: Your real discomfort is apparently in observing that one nationality to be better than others at something. Let me guess: you'd also insist that no language is superior to another, and that no religion is superior to another.

:::: You're in the wrong place if you think we're going to sacrifice the truth for political correctness. We don't. Welcome the truth yourself and you'll won't regret it.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 09:16, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

:::::Regarding nationalities, it does not disturb me in the slightest to observe one nationality be better than others at something. I will take the example of German composers (because I would rather not go any further off-topic). Let us suppose, for the sake of argument, that Germany has had a disproportionately large number of great composers compared to other European nations. Leave aside the problems I mentioned above. What this would indicate is that Germany has a long culture of music-making: great concert halls were built there; archbishops commissioned new music all the time; great concert halls were built; the public went to hear music being performed; the greatest teachers moved there; and that, therefore, German children with a natural talent for music would have had their talents nurtured and would have had a better musical education. Such cultures, as I said, are self-perpetuating. It is a cycle which feeds into itself. The alternative possibility, that there is something in the water in Germany, or that Germans have something in their DNA which the rest of us lack, is racist and has no supporting evidence. Or would there be an alternative explanation?

:::::As for languages, I wouldn't insist that that all languages are equal in every respect, though I would have a hard time ranking them in any order of superiority. For ease of learning, and intuitive grammatical sense, Esperanto is superior to Japanese. For the ability to communicate with a large number of people all around the world, English is superior to Swedish. For singing in a classical style, Italian is superior to English. Is this what you're referring to?

:::::And as for religions, I do not consider them all equal. Some religions contain beliefs which are harmful to oneself or others when acted upon, and the number of such beliefs is not the same in every religion.

:::::I am not interested in political correctness, or in censoring the truth. I am glad that you share my opinion. My statements on Beethoven, I repeat are: first, that the title of "world's greatest composer", unlike the title of "world's tallest building", cannot be awarded with truthful objectivity. Your preference for Beethoven is an opinion, not a fact. It would be better to describe Beethoven as being "one of the greatest composers". Second, that what you say about Beethoven is rather vague and conveys little useful information, and would be better and more interesting if it were made more specific. Third, that it is historically imprecise to describe him as German, and that it is potentially misleading to draw the conclusions you did. --[[User:Eoinc|Eoinc]] 09:58, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

Andy, can a musicologist jump in here? I, for one, find nothing contentious about calling Beethoven the "greatest composer" - in fact, my dissertation is over Beethoven, so I'm completely in sympathy with this statement. (That being said, it's been my perception that just as many musicians and music lovers say that either Bach or Mozart are the greatest.) However, I feel that the other posters here bring up a fair point, in that it's problematic to call Beethoven a German, since his heritage was Dutch, and because he found his success from an early age in Vienna, where he lived for most of his life. It's the same problem with Handel, who was German, but most people think of him as an English composer, because he wrote the ''Messiah''.

As far as "most of the great composers" being German, you can only say that if you're willing to leave out a great deal of the most beloved composers: Mozart, Haydn, Schubert (all three Austrians), Chopin (a Pole working in France) Verdi and Puccini (Italians), Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff (Russians), etc. If you polled classical music-lovers, your top ten list would surely include Germans like the "3 B's," but you'd definitely also have Mozart, most likely Chopin, as well as the aforementioned Russians and Italians.

There's nothing "politically correct" about this point. This is about accuracy. Beethoven (or Bach or Mozart) is widely considered to be the greatest composer, but right up there nearby are a pantheon of Russian, French, Italian, Polish, and Czech composers. Why is this such a contentious point? [[User:JDWpianist|JDWpianist]] 11:26, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

: You're most welcome to "jump in here," but it's clear from Eoinc's comment that his objection is ideological. He won't admit that some languages, or religions, are superior to others, and from that liberal point of view he resists admitting that most great composers were German. In fact, he even implies that such an observation might be racist!

: I can't tell if you come from the same liberal camp. You strain mightily -- and unsuccessfully -- to find some other basis for objecting to the observation. A discussion would be more meaningful if you first rejected Eoinc's point of view and considered the issue with an open mind. The truth is not contorted by political correctness.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 17:09, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

::Did I not say that some languages are superior to others? Depending on what criteria you choose (my examples were: ease of learning, ability for widespread use in communication around the world, suitability for use in singing), certain languages are superior to others.

::Did I not also say that I do not consider all religions to be equal? I said that some religions contain harmful beliefs. The implication (which I will now state rather than imply) is that a religion which does not contain harmful beliefs is superior to one which does.

::Next, my implication of racism would only apply '''if''' one claimed that most great composers were German ''for reasons which had nothing to do with German culture''. I don't "resist admitting" that most great composers were German: that implies that I secretly know it to be true, but pretend I don't. I simply doubt that it is the case. I am willing to be shown otherwise. There is no reason why Germany could not have a disproportionately large number of musicians in its population (or for France to have the most chefs, or Italy the most painters, or England the most poets). I allow for the possibility, provided that one does not draw the conclusion from that that German people are innately more musical than people from anywhere else. [[User:Eoinc|Eoinc]] 17:28, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

::: "Did I not say ...." No, you didn't admit that some languages are superior to others, and you still won't admit it. Superior not just "on what criteria you choose," but overall. You're just babbling nonsense to deny that. It would like a mathematician pretending that some numbers are not larger than others. Some are. Ditto for religion, as you won't admit that some religions are superior (and more truthful) than others. Some obviously are.

::: If won't admit things that are obviously true, then there's little point in trying to hold a logical discussion with you. First open your mind, please, for your sake.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 18:02, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

::::When talking about languages, I qualified my remarks in the way I did because I am simply not aware of any one language which is superior to ''every'' other and in ''every'' respect. It's not that I "won't admit" it.

::::When talking about religions, I wrote in terms of harmful beliefs, because it's easier to agree about that. It goes without saying that some religions are more truthful than others, but I didn't want to get drawn into an off-topic discussion about religion.

::::Now, can we please return to the topic of Beethoven? JDWPianist and I raised some concerns about the wording in the lecture. Specifically:

::::* I don't think it is possible to say definitively which composer is the greatest. "One of the greatest", certainly, without a doubt.

::::* Beethoven grew up in an area which is now part of Germany, but was not at the time. His family was from Holland. He spent most of his life in Vienna. To say that "Beethoven was German" is therefore not really accurate.

::::* Many of the greatest composers in music history were from the area now known as Germany. But it is untrue to claim that most great composers were German, unless you ignore Vivaldi, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, Verdi, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Mahler, and dozens more. --[[User:Eoinc|Eoinc]] 18:31, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

::It makes no difference to me what Eoinc's point of view is, because both you and he have gone very far-afield of the subject at hand. You seem to misunderstand my objection, by attempting to read a political motivation behind it. But this is not politics or religion, this is about great music. And being a musician with a passion for the subject myself, it's simply my belief that there are embarrassing riches of great music in the repertoire, a lot of it by Germans, a lot by Austrians, and greatness as well from the French, Russians, and Italians too. To me, the relative greatness of my favorite composers is so hard to quantify as to be irrelevant. As a student of music history, I also have dealt with the issue that since musicians moved around frequently (no differently from today), speaking of a composer's nationality is less useful than organizing it by musical centers: i.e. Vienna, Paris, Leipzig, London, etc.

::If I wasn't clear enough about my objection in the last post, let me re-state it here: to assert that the best composers were all German is a gross over-simplification at best, and accuracy matters. That's all.

::Does anyone make the claim that the greatest painters were Flemish? Of course not, because there were various centers of artistic activity all over Europe across a 400-year period. No one tries to compare El Greco to Caravaggio, much less to Monet. Similarly, I don't know of anyone who tries to compare the greatness of Debussy to the greatness of Brahms, because they both represented the perfection of a certain aesthetic ideal, but were very different in their aims.

::My point is, there are many more accurate ways you can express your point, which is indeed based on truth: that there was a golden age of music based in German-speaking countries which occurred in the 18th and 19th-centuries. I simply can't understand why you insist on such an unnuanced assertion, when there is so much evidence to the contrary. Is it such an odious compromise to qualify your statement so that other great composers fit? [[User:JDWpianist|JDWpianist]] 18:47, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

::: Neither of you above will admit that some languages are superior to others. So it's obviously pointless to discuss whether some nationalities have achieved more in composing than others. You implicitly deny that ''anything'' cultural related to nationality can be ranked. Hence this debate ends before it even begins. Your view is like that of a child who insists that no number is larger than 4. It's pointless to debate with that child whether 10 is greater than 9.

::: I suggest you revisit your premise of artificial equality. Just saying that different languages/religions/composers are equal doesn't make it so. At Conservapedia, we're not afraid to tell the truth. I suggest you start welcoming the truth also, and set your mind free.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:55, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

:::: A composer's skill has nothing to do with national heritage. All of a nation's history and culture is not inbred in a native of that country, otherwise America would be composed of George Washington clones, Italy of Caesar clones, and on and on. According to your logic everyone in Germany should be on their 9th symphony.

:::: Also how do you claim that one language is superior to another? Word order? Number of words? I have learned Spanish over many years and have found that many times conventions there (turning verbs into nouns, lack of helper verbs, lax use of gerunds, and very specific verb tenses) to be very useful, but othertimes illogical and useless. For example if an action is being performed for a person (i.e. "I helped Shawn") you need a small word known as the "personal a" making the sentence "Yo ayudo a Shawn". The "a" is usually used to denote "to" (as in "to a location" or "to a person"). Also in German one of my favorite words is "Schadenfreude" which has no exact word in English but has a very useful meaning (shameful joy, joy stemming from the misfortune of others).

::::Respectfully, --[[User:StevenB|StevenB]] 22:23, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

::::: So StevenB also denies that some languages are superior to others. No problem: that view seems to be the [[Holy Grail]] of the liberal ideology. I haven't yet found a [[liberal]] who admits that some languages are superior to others.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 22:41, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

:::::: Weren't we talking about composers?? [[User:JimP|JimP]] 23:09, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

:::::::Beethoven was German: Though his father's family originate from the Flamish Mecheln, his Grandfather has lived and worked in Bonn, the residence of the elector of [[Cologne]], and his father was born and raised there. So, he's at least a second generation German on his father's site, while the family of his mother came from the electorate of [[Trier]].
:::::::To deny that [[Trier]] and [[Cologne]] were - and are - German, is absurd: Both were integral parts of the Holy Roman Empire (but - at the time of Beethoven's birth - not of [[ Prussia]], which was only partly in the Holy Roman Empire then).
:::::::There seems to be a mix-up with the provenience of Mozart: He was born in the sovereign Archbishopric of [[Salzburg]], at the time of his birth an area independent of [[Austria]], but incorporated into it in 1803. This lead to some claims that Mozart wasn't really Austrian, while there was little doubt about the nationality of Beethoven.
:::::::But what does ''most of the greatest composers were German'' really mean? Most of the greatest two? Most of the greatest three? Here, A. Schlafly could be right by including Bach and Beethoven. But if you try to compile a list of ten, I doubt it (my list of ten includes - at this moment, there is always some flux - Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Shostakovich, Verdi, Brahms, Mahler, Schubert, Schumann, Handel: at most five of those have been German)
:::::::[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 23:12, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

:::::::: BTW: A. Schlafly, which language is the most superior? (A superlative of a comparative? That hurts! better, perhaps, ''la langue suprême'' ...)[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 23:14, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

This seems more of an inquisition, than an intellectual dialog, ClementB. --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 00:01, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:I beg to differ: Granted, it is a little bit inquisitive to be asked
:*whether all nations are equal
:*whether there is a ranking of languages
:*what's the true religion
:before you can change a somewhat subjective statement in an article, but I wouldn't call it ''inquisition''. It seems to be a genuine interest in the position of the editor on A. Schlafly's side - and I'm interested in which language is the best according to A. Schlafly. He implied earlier that there exists an absolute order for the languages, so there should be a best and a worst one.
:And for the sake of the debate: TK, what's your list of the best ten composers? Is it even more German-centric than mine?
:[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 07:18, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:: Clement, no one inquired about your three issues. What I observed was how Eoinc and JDWpianist deny that some languages, and religions, are superior to others. As long as they deny that obvious fact, truthful or productive dialog with them in this context is impossible.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 08:28, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:::Could you give some examples for languages which are ''superior [to others] not just "on what criteria you choose," but overall.''? Schopenhauer thought that German was only second to Greek and Latin, the French think that their language allows for more precision than any other, Italian is the language of ''belcanto'', and I suppose that even some Eskimo dialects are preferable to English when you are going to hunt seals.
:::So, I think it isn't easy to compare the quality of languages and I don't think that there is a '''true''' language, in opposite to religions.
:::[[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 09:44, 7 April 2009 (EDT)
::::An interesting topic, this, most certainly! ASchlafly, you claim that the Germans were the best composers - would you also agree that the Dutch were the best painters? [[User:FUnger|FUnger]] 11:01, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:::Andy, I've said all I intend to in this debate. It's become clear that you're not going to change your mind, so I don't intend to press the point further. But just to clear my name of a few accusations:
:::*I never "denied" that some languages or religions are superior to others. I tried to keep the exchange centered around music, which you weren't content to do.
:::*I never said that all composers or artworks are "equal." There's of course acres of musical trash for every masterwork. My point was that there's still a wealth of musical masterworks, and to compare their relative greatness to each other is pointless.
:::*I always stayed civil with you, and tried to bring my expertise into a debate over parts of your writing and suggest alternatives, all without questioning your motives. You responded by calling me a child and suspecting that I'm an ideologue.
:::So, now that I've said my peace, I'll go back to making productive contributions to your encyclopedia. You're welcome. [[User:JDWpianist|JDWpianist]] 11:03, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:::: You're right: you didn't "deny" that some languages or religions are superior to others. You just won't admit it. That's not a meaningful distinction.

:::: I didn't call you "a child." I pointed out how unproductive it is to debate this issue with someone who won't even admit that some languages or religions are superior to others. If the person won't admit that, then they'll never admit, no matter how compelling the evidence is, that most great composers were of one nationality. Honest intellectual dialog and progress grind to a halt.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 11:15, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

::::: Fine, I'll come out and say it: no language is superior to another. Each evolved in the context of its society to fit the specific needs of that society. Is German or English better than one of those tiny Amazonian languages that doesn't have words for numbers greater than two? For us, yes. But for them, it works, and that's all that matters. Is German better than English? Considering one split off from the other a mere thousand or so years ago (could be wrong on that), they're almost identical. So, no, German is not the superior language. Nor is any other.

:::::Andy, it's unproductive to debate this issue with someone who won't even admit that languages can't be objectively quantified. If the person won't admit that, then they'll never admit, no matter how compelling the evidence is, that there are great composers of every nationality.--[[User:FredCorps|FredCorps]] 23:40, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

*I couldn't give a "top ten" list of old composers (as opposed to "new" ones; Gershwin, Rogers & Hart, Zappa), but I can narrow my personal preferences to 20:

#. Ludwig Van Beethoven
#. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
#. Johann Sebastian Bach
#. Richard Wagner
#. Joseph Haydn
#. Johannes Brahms
#. Franz Schubert (highly complex music, and loved Beethoven's music!)
#. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
#. George Frideric Handel
#. Igor Stravinsky
#. Robert Schumann
#. Frederic Chopin
#. Felix Mendelssohn
#. Claude Debussy
#. Franz Liszt
#. Antonin Dvorak
#. Giuseppe Verdi
#. Gustav Mahler
#. Hector Berlioz
#. Antonio Vivaldi

Some time ago I saved this comment about some of those composers, because it was apt:

<blockquote>
Mozart wrote music in his head and then merely had to write them down. Beethoven composed while deaf. Bach consolidated one of the most important schools of harmony and on top of that, was a masterful organist and organ inspector. Chopin was the master of emotion and chromatics. Liszt was a showman that kept people riveted. Tchaikovsky composed amazingly for the ballet in a way few have rivaled and he had a brilliance for catchy melodies. Haydn could churn out music on command (over 100 symphonies!) Brahms was king of melodrama (not that its a bad thing in music). Schoenberg created a whole new school of tonality...or lack thereof.
</blockquote>

And what of Shostakovich? Mention should also be given of Henry Purcell, an Englishman, whose music is sometimes great, but always good listening. And as the grandson of an Austrian (he came from the same small village as Arnold Schwarzenegger, albeit decades before), while they are part of the Germanic people, they take great exception to being called German! --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 15:16, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:Through out this whole thing two things come to mind 1) What would the ideal ("perfect") language be? How would it sound? How would it be structured? (with these properties established you could qualitatively evaluate a language) and 2) Some nations' ''accomplishments'' have far exceedede those of other nations but they all have the same ''potential''. Who's to say that Brazil or Thailand won't produce the next generation of Bachs, William Shakespeares, or Henry Fords? Past records do not always indicate future performance. --[[User:StevenB|StevenB]] 15:51, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

::I count at most seven Germans in TK's well-thought-out list of his top twenty ''old'' composers, at most five in my list of ten. It would seem to me that the claim '''"most great composers were German"''' is a little bit to bold, and should be reworded - at least, until A. Schlafly shows us his list which may corroborate his statement. [[User:ClementB|Clement ♗]] 16:12, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

:::I think this "dispute" is typical of most liberal thought. Arguably, by most standards, "Most great composers were German" is completely correct, and I think it was reasonable that people should assume Andy included anyone "Germanic" in his thinking. Liberals editing on CP tend to try to deflect and impede progress by being overly picky and qualifying in their disputes. --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 19:28, 7 April 2009 (EDT)