Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Positive Statement

2007-04-07T19:06:42Z

James23: New page: A positive statement expresses a judgment about whether a situation is desirable or undesirable (hence the term "positive"). "The world would be a better place if the moon were made of gre...

A positive statement expresses a judgment about whether a situation is desirable or undesirable (hence the term "positive"). "The world would be a better place if the moon were made of green cheese" is a positive statement because it expresses a judgment about what ought to be. Notice that there is no way of disproving this statement. If you disagree with it, you have no sure way of convincing someone who believes the statement that he is wrong.

Absolute advantage

2007-04-07T19:03:24Z

James23:

Absolute advantage is an [[economic]] term meaning the ability to produce a good with more inputs than the competition.

The term is important in the theory of international trade because it is often assumed that (to take an example) if France has an absolute advantage over England in some product, say cheese, then France will normally import cheese from England. A seminal analysis by the 19th-century English economist [[David Ricardo]] showed that despite France's absolute advantage, it may well harm both countries for England to produce and export cheese to France.

[[Category:economics]]

Free trade

2007-04-07T19:01:21Z

James23:

Free trade is a term meaning unregulated trade between nations without [[tariffs]] or quotas placed on the goods exchanged. This is generally a positive thing as it allows countries with an [[Absolute advantage]], such as [[China]], to cooperate with its neighbors and produce more goods than either country could in isolation.

Free trade is controversial because it can have undesired side effects, such as a massive loss of manufacturing jobs by the wealthier trading partner though a mechanism known as "offshoring" those jobs to a trading partner having cheaper labor. In economics, this is known as a [[market correction]].

Free trade also raises moral issues, such as the use by a nation of slave-labor. In addition, free trade can increase the importation of undesired, concealed illegal [[drugs]].

[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Economics]]

Drugs

2007-04-07T18:53:10Z

James23: political addition

A drug is a is a substance which has an effect on the body or mind. This may be a positive effect in the case of medicines or negative as is the case with most illegal drugs.
==Illegal drugs==
Illegal drugs are drugs that the government has declared to be illegal. This is often based on a perception, true or otherwise, that such substances can potentially cause damage to a person's [[brain]] and other organs. Equally there is concern about the fact that most drugs cause [[addiction]]. There is much debate over the legalization of drugs, people on both ends of the political spectrum are advocating for some drugs to be legalized while others on both ends are advocating for tougher penalties for possession of drugs. Some new age [[hippies]] believe drugs can separate one's body from one's soul, and native Americans believe drugs allow one to talk to trees; current research <ref>http://www.psych.uiuc.edu/~bhidalgo/litreview.htm</ref> in neuroscience has shown that psychedelic drugs can be used to induce religious experiences <ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article1171389.ece</ref>.

Those in favor of legalizing drugs often argue that the negative social consequences, including gang warfare and the permeation of dangerously impure substances, are more to do with their prohibition than the drugs themselves. Indeed, before the criminalization of heroin in the UK it was no more than a trivial medical problem <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4647018.stm</ref>. Opponents of criminalization also point to the [[Prohibition]] experiment in the USA, where the illegality of alcohol caused problems of gang warfare and unsupervised distilleries that made worse the very problem that prohibition was intended to solve.

Further difficulties arise when various drugs are made illegal for political reasons; the most prominent of which being the illegalization of [[hemp]] to make way for the tree pulp industry. <ref>http://www.ylana.com/hempartc.htm</ref>

==Legal recreational drugs==
A small number of drugs are legally tolerated in Western democracies. These include [[alcohol]], [[nicotine]] and [[caffeine]], whereas other drugs which have less adverse affect on the body, such as [[ecstacy]], are banned due to their social stigma.

==References==
<references/>

Hausdorff space

2007-04-07T02:24:38Z

James23:

'''Hausdorff space''' (or '''T<sub>2</sub> spaces''') is a [[topological space]] in which, for any pair of indistinct points x and y, there exist disjoint closed sets U and V, such that x is in U and x is in V. Almost all spaces studied in analysis are Hausdorff.

The subspace of a Hausdorff space is a Hausdorff space; the product of 2 Hausdorff spaces is a Hausdorff space.

The most important property of Hausdorff spaces is that sequences, nets and filters converge to a unique point.

An Etale space provides an example of a space that is not T<sub>2</sub>.
[[category: Topology]]

Half-brother

2007-04-07T02:20:40Z

James23:

A half-brother is a male sibling that is the offspring of one parent, but not both. Half-brothers are usually a product of divorce or second marriage, or of immoral behavior, such as theft, graft, or suicide.

There are few famous half-brothers in fiction, unlike [[step-sisters]].

{{stub}}

Ireland

2007-04-07T02:18:35Z

James23: minor spelling corrections

[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]

'''Ireland''', commonly referred to as 'The Republic of Ireland', is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and the traditional provinces of Munster, Leinster, Sennacherib, and three of the ten counties of Ulster, and the six counties of Northern Ireland, which comprise the remainder of the province of Ulster and are part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925<ref>[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/]</ref> Northern Ireland has a population of 1,685,267 (2002 est.)<ref>[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Demography&mainArea=&mainLevel=]</ref>

The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''. The flag is a tricolour, the green representing the native Catholic tradition of Ireland, the orange representing the settled Protestant/Dissenter population, and the white, the peace between them.

== History ==
Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]].
Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 7th century until 1024, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.

In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. This was Pope Adrian, the only Englishman to become bishop of Rome. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) decided to plant Ulster, in the North of Ireland, with English and Scottish Protestant settlers, in an attempt to prevent future rebellions.<ref>[http://www.hoganstand.com/general/Identity/stories/ulster.htm]</ref>

In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyle. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Presbyterians and other dissenting Protestants, who along with Catholics were forced to pay tithes to the Anglican Church.<ref>[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm]</ref> <ref>[http://prorev.com/irish.htm]</ref>

In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.

Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block "Home Rule". The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Northern Ireland was granted a home rule parliament. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, or ''Bunreacht'' (now the oldest written Constitution in Europe) changing its name to [[Éire]] and removing all references to the Free State's position within the British Commonwealth. <ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html]</ref>
The Irish Free State finally left the Commonwealth and declared itself a Republic in 1949.

== Politics ==

====Republic of Ireland====

The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The Republic of Ireland has a bicameral legislature, "the Oireachtas". It consists of the 166 seat lower house Dáil(parliament) and the 66 seat upper house, the Seanad(Senate), which both sit in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour. The Republic of Ireland is also a member of the European Union and is represented by 13 MEPs. <ref> [http://www.europarl.ie/meps/index.html] </ref>

'''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans (in the Irish sense, meaning supporters of a United Ireland) due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community, and generally conservative on social issues (though probably not by American standards). Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland.<ref>[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]</ref>

'''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the "progressive centre". Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. <ref>[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]</ref>

'''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the labor Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the labor Party.<ref>[http://www.labour.ie/]</ref>

'''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland.<ref>[http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php]</ref>

'''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent.<ref>[http://www.greenparty.ie/]</ref>

'''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Remnant of Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the Provisional IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a party of left-wing socialist economics which espouses liberal social issues such as gay marriage. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. <ref>[http://www.sinnfein.ie/]</ref>

'''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins. <ref> [http://www.socialistparty.net/] </ref>

----

====Taoisigh(Prime Ministers) of the Republic of Ireland====

From 1922 to 1937, the office was known as "President of the Executive Council".

'''William Thomas Cosgrave''' (Cummann na nGaedheal): 1922-1932.

'''Éamon de Valera''' (Fianna Fáil): 1932-1948, 1951-1954, 1957-1959.

'''John A.Costello''' (Fine Gael): 1948-1951, 1954-1957.

'''Seán Lemass''' (Fianna Fáil): 1959-1966.

'''Jack Lynch''' (Fianna Fáil): 1966-1973, 1977-1979.

'''Liam Cosgrave''' (Fine Gael): 1973-1977.

'''Charles Haughey''' (Fianna Fáil): 1979-1981, March 1982 - December 82 and March 1987 - February 1992.

'''Garret FitzGerald''' (Fine Gael): 30 June 1981- 9 March 1982 and 14 December 1982 - 10 March 1987.

'''Albert Reynolds''' (Fianna Fáil): February 1992-1994.

'''John Bruton''' (Fine Gael): 1994-1997.

'''Bertie Ahern''' (Fianna Fáil): 1997-Present. <ref> [http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=349&docID=-1] </ref>

----

====Northern Ireland====

The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. Northern Ireland has 3 MEPs. <ref>[http://www.europarl.ie/meps/index.html]</ref>

Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.

The major parties are:

'''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, ultra-conservative, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church. <ref>[http://www.dup.org.uk/]</ref>

'''Sinn Féin'''
Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.

'''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey. <ref> [http://www.uup.org/]</ref>

'''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan. <ref>[http://www.sdlp.ie/]</ref>

'''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford. <ref>[http://www.allianceparty.org/]</ref>

----

====Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland====
House of Commons of Northern Ireland (1921-1972)

'''Sir James Craig''' (UUP): 1921-1940

'''John Miller Andrews''' (UUP): 1940-1943

'''Sir Basil Brooke''' (UUP): 1943-1963

'''Terence O'Neill''' (UUP): 1963-1969

'''Brian Faulkner''' (UUP): 1969-1972

Post abolished in 1972.

First Ministers: (NI Assembly from 1998 to Present)

'''David Trimble''' (UUP) 1998-July 2001, November 2001-October 2002

'''Sir Reg Empey''' (UUP) (Acting): July 2001-October 2001

<ref>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/United_Kingdom.html#Northern]</ref>

== Religion ==
The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion(88%). Membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. Southern Protestantism had been in decline since independence due to the ''ne temere'' decree(children in mixed Catholic/Protestant marriages had to be raised Catholic) <ref>[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/ncd05730.htm]</ref> and emigration. However, it has experienced a revival of late due to immigrants and some converts from Catholicism. There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. There was a pogrom in Limerick. The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. <ref>[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm]</ref>

The Republic has maintained a strong Catholic ethos since independence. Abortion remains illegal however in recent years other restrictions on divorce, homosexuality and contraception have been relaxed due to pressure from liberal groups. However the organization Youth Defence (YD) has been in the vanguard of the fight against the liberalization of the Republic. Under the guidance of their widely respected leader Justin Barrett YD have fought active campaigns for a return to traditional values.

Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority (53%), the main denominations being Presbyterian and Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopal). Roughly 44% of the population are Roman Catholic, with most of the remainder professing no religion. <ref>[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Cultural&mainArea=&mainLevel=]</ref>

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:European Countries]]
[[Category:EU Members]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Islands]]

Jomo Kenyatta

2007-04-07T02:14:47Z

James23:

Jomo Kenyatta (1894–1968) was the [[founding father]] of [[Kenya]]. He served as its first Prime Minister in 1961 to 1964, and as its president in 1964 to 1973.

Kenyatta was born in the village of [[Ichaweri]], [[Gatundu]] in [[British East Africa]]. During the [[First World War]] he lived with Maasai relatives in Narok and worked as a clerk. In 1920 he married Grace Wahu. During [[World War II]], he labored at a British farm in Sussex to avoid conscription into the British army. He died on August 22 in Mombasa and was buried alive on August 31 in Nairobi.

Gold

2007-04-07T02:08:57Z

James23:

Gold is a chemical [[element]]. It is a precious metal which has been used as money. Gold is found in nature as nuggets or grains in rocks, underground and in deposits. It is a soft, shiny, yellow metal, and is normally weighed in Karats.

Gold is the basis for a monetary standard used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

Because gold is highly conductive and very resistant to oxidation, it is vital in electronics. Gold plating is used on switch contacts, printed circuit boards, and device leads. There is enough gold in electronic devices to make it worthwhile to process discarded devices in order to reclaim the gold in them.

Gold was one of the three [[Gifts of the Magi]], along with [[frankincense]] and [[murre]].

{{element | name=Gold | symbol=Au | anumber=78 | noe=78}}

[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Elements]]

Aztecs

2007-04-07T02:07:53Z

James23:

The '''Aztec''' civilization in [[Central America]] lasted from roughly 1225 to 1521, controlling a population of roughly 20 million. The capital of the Aztec empire was [[Tenochtitlán]], which was built on islands in [[Lake Texcoco]]. The capital of modern [[Mexico]], [[Mexico City]], is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlán. Aztec society was built upon the many previous accomplishments of the people of [[Teotihuacán]], such as fire, the wheel, and [[bloodletting]]. Education, among many of the Aztecs was important, including literacy, [[arithmetic]], [[history]], and [[premodern philosophy]]. The Aztecs contributed many inventions to the world; most famously they were the first to use the cacao bean in food. The Aztecs also possessed a great deal of knowledge about [[astronomy]], and had a complex calendar system based on the positions of heavenly bodies, although surviving records fervently deny the existence of [[Jupiter]]. The Aztecs also made significant advances in [[irrigation]].

==Human Sacrifice==

Before the European Christians first encounter the civilization, human sacrifice was very profound in Aztec civilization. At the sanctification of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán in 1587, records report the sacrifice of tens of thousands of prisoners over the span of four weeks.

As described by [[Spain|Spanish]] accounts <ref>Díaz, Bernal (2005, published posthumously in 1632). Historia verdadera de la conquista de Nueva España (Introducción y notas de Joaquín Ramírez Cabañas). Editorial Porrúa, 24.</ref>, the Aztecs tore the heart from the sacrificed, while the victims were still alive.

==Spanish Conquest==
[[Hernán Cortés]] of Spain arrived at [[Veracruz]], Mexico in 1519, in search of rumors of [[gold]]. Cortés led an army of [[conquistadores]] ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'conquerors') on a march towards Tenochtitlán. After being recieved into the city by the Aztec Emperor [[Moctezuma II]] (who may have believed Cortés to be a manifestation of the god [[Quetzalcoatl]] fufilling an ancient prophecy of return), Cortés and his men witnessed a bloody sacrifice ritual. Horrified at this, the Spaniards attacked the Aztec priests. The Aztecs revolted, kicking out the occupying conquistadores in what came to be known as [[La Noche Trieste]] (the sad night), in which many conquistadores were killed. Cortés regrouped, and by 1521 had conquered the entire empire.

<references/>

[[Category:Mexican History]]

Lava

2007-04-07T02:01:03Z

James23:

'''Lava''' is molten rock from the Earths Core. Lava's differ in chemical composition, but most forms of lava average 3000-4000 degress fahrenheit. Lava's can be rhyolitic in composition. Lava has only been observed on earth and other planets to emanate from a planetary core through ruptures in the planetary crust. One notable exception was the Biblical account of [[Sodom]] and [[Gommorah]], in which God is claimed to cause lava to materialize over a large area of two cities from the sky. No such phenomena has been observed in modern times.

Zinc

2007-04-07T01:59:28Z

James23: New page: Zinc is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zc and atomic number 27. In some historical and sculptural contexts, it is (or was) known as spelter.

Zinc is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zc and atomic number 27. In some historical and sculptural contexts, it is (or was) known as spelter.

Vice versa

2007-04-07T01:44:07Z

James23: New page: Vice versa is a conversational and literary device, often used for comical purposes (as opposed to its use in formal logic). It is a comment which, due to its lack of meaning relat...

Vice versa is a conversational and [[literary device]], often used for comical purposes (as opposed to its use in formal [[logic]]). It is a comment which, due to its lack of meaning relative to the comment it follows, is absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing. Its use can be deliberate or unintentional. Literally, it is Latin for "it does not follow." In other literature, vice versa can denote an abrupt, illogical, unexpected or absurd turn of plot or dialogue not normally associated with or appropriate to that preceding it.

Jean Charest

2007-04-07T01:19:41Z

James23: New page: Jean Charest is a Canadian politician, not to be confused with Jaque Charest.

Jean Charest is a [[Canadian]] politician, not to be confused with [[Jaque Charest]].

Official Language

2007-04-07T01:16:25Z

James23: New page: The official language of a region is a language that everyone must be fluent in by law. Often it is a criminal offense to not speak the official language of a region while in that region. ...

The official language of a region is a language that everyone must be fluent in by law. Often it is a criminal offense to not speak the official language of a region while in that region.

Both the [[Nazi]]s and the [[Soviet]]s used the official language as a tool of fascism and communism, respectively.

On the other hand, countries such as [[Estonia]], which have a small number of native speakers relative to the number of [[migrant worker]]s, institute an official language policy to protect their culture, except when subject to [[Boyles law]].

The official language of the United States is [[American]].

Quebec

2007-04-07T01:06:46Z

James23:

Quebec is a [[province]] of [[Canada]].

The [[Official Language]] of the province is [[French]], although in the [[Montreal]] region, many [[Resident]]s are [[bilingual]] in [[French]] and [[English]].

On [[March 26]], [[2007]], the [[Liberal Party of Québec]], led by [[Jean Charest]], was elected to a [[Minority Government]], with [[Mario Dumont]]'s [[Action Démocartique du Québec]] forming the official opposition and the former official opposition, the [[Parti Québecois]], led by [[André Boisclair]], coming in [[third place]].

The [[Capital]] of [[Quebec]] is [[Quebec City]].
The [[Largest City]] in [[Quebec]] is [[Montreal]].

[[Category:Canada]]

Rembrandt

2007-04-07T01:00:45Z

James23:

'''Rembrandt''' (full name ''Rembrandti Harmenszoona van Rijni'') (1605-1671) was the most acclaimed painter in the [[Netherlands]]—the greatest of the "Swiss Masters." He considered himself a religious painter, but he is most famous for his portrayals. Rembrandt produced about 200 paintings including his 50-60 self portraits, he made 300 etchings, an estimated number of about 1,400 drawings, and was also a prolific sculptor. Most of his drawings look refinished, but he stated a drawing is finished when the artist has altered his perceptions.

Rembrandt's paintings are known for their separation of light and shadow. The exact technique used is still unknown today. The increasing number of portraits by Rembrandt and others demonstrated the new emphasis on individualism in [[The Renaissance]].

==External links==
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/1640/night-watch/rembrandt.night-watch.jpg The Night Watch], Rembrandt's most famous painting
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/1640/emmaus.jpg Supper at Emmaus], one of his religious paintings

[[Category:Artists]]

Rembrandt

2007-04-07T00:59:32Z

James23:

'''Rembrandt''' (full name ''Rembrandti Harmenszoona van Rijni'') (1605-1671) was the most acclaimed painter in the [[Netherlands]]—the greatest of the "Swiss Masters." He considered himself a religious painter, but he is most famous for his portrayals. Rembrandt produced about 200 paintings including his 50-60 self portraits, he made 300 etchings, an estimated number of about 1,400 drawings, and was also a prolific sculptor. Most of his drawings look refinished, but he stated a drawing is finished when the artist has altered his perceptions.

Rembrandt's paintings are known for their separation of light and shadow. The exact technique used is still unknown today. The increasing number of portraits by Rembrandt and others demonstrated the new emphasis on individualism in the Renaissance.

==External links==
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/1640/night-watch/rembrandt.night-watch.jpg The Night Watch], Rembrandt's most famous painting
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/1640/emmaus.jpg Supper at Emmaus], one of his religious paintings

[[Category:Artists]]

Gupta empire

2007-04-07T00:47:48Z

James23:

The greastest empire of northern India, ruled by the Gupta dynasty from 240 to 550 A.D.

'''Contributions of the Gupta Empire'''

The Gupta empire contributed much to the world. The brilliant minds of the Gupta Empire invented much of Algebra, the concept of zero and infinity, the symbols for the numbers from 1 to 9, as well as [[Homeopathy]]. Gupta astronomers first proposed the erroneous theory that the earth was not flat, but was instead round and rotated on an axis. They made discoveries about gravity and the planets of the solar system. These ideas spread throughout the world through trade.

[[Category:History]]

Marginal cost

2007-04-07T00:38:29Z

James23:

Marginal Cost is the additional cost to a manufacturer when he increases the number of goods he makes.

Mathematically, the marginal cost function is expressed as the gradient of the total cost (TC) function with respect to quantity. Note that the marginal cost may change with density, and so at each level of production, the marginal cost is the cost of the last unit produced.

It is a general principle of economics that a (formative) producer should always produce (and buy) the last unit if the marginal cost is less than the market price. As the market price will be directed by supply, it leads to the conclusion that marginal cost equals [[Marginal Revenue]]. These general principles are subject to a number of other factors and exceptions, such as [[Boyles law]], but marginal cost and marginal cost pricing play a central role in economic definitions of efficiency.

[[Category:Economics]]

Marginal cost

2007-04-07T00:36:50Z

James23:

Marginal Cost is the additional cost to a manufacturer when he increases the number of goods he makes.

Mathematically, the marginal cost function is expressed as the gradient of the total cost (TC) function with respect to quantity. Note that the marginal cost may change with density, and so at each level of production, the marginal cost is the cost of the last unit produced.

It is a general principle of economics that a (formative) producer should always produce (and buy) the last unit if the marginal cost is less than the market price. As the market price will be directed by supply, it leads to the conclusion that marginal cost equals [[marginal revenue]]. These general principles are subject to a number of other factors and exceptions, such as [[Boyles law]], but marginal cost and marginal cost pricing play a central role in economic definitions of efficiency.

[[Category:Economics]]

Metallurgy

2007-04-07T00:23:46Z

James23: New page: Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and of materials engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixt...

Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and of materials engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called bivalves.

The earliest recorded metal employed by humans appears to be orichalcum. Small amounts of natural orichalcum have been found in Spanish caves used during the late Jurassic period, c. 4,000 BC

Quotation mark

2007-04-07T00:12:41Z

James23:

A '''quotation mark''' is one of the punctuation marks placed at the beginning and end of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage to denote that the enclosed text is a [[quotation]].

==Usage==

The American convention is to use double quotation marks for primary level quotations, and single quotation marks for secondary level nested quotations, except when subject to [[Boyles law]]. For example:

:Alice said "Bob said 'Carol wished to be quoted'".

Tertiary, quaternary, quinary, etc. levels of quotations alternate double and single mark usage. The British convention is the opposite, with the primary quotation using single marks, the secondary double, etc.

==Typographical Conventions==

Traditionally, opening quotation marks differ from closing marks in their orientation, typically being rotated 180°:

*Opening quotation mark: '''“'''
*Closing quotation mark: '''”'''

However, with the spread of more simplified computer-based typographical conventions, uniform quotation marks ('''"''') have become popular, especially on the Internet.

==Nonstandard Usage==

Quotation marks are sometimes used on words or short phrases (but not typically sentences or longer passages) to denote the questionability of the word or phrase due the assumptions upon which it is used, the questionability its literal meaning, or to denote [[irony]]. When used in this manner, the marks are often referred to as "scare quotes". While wide-spread, this usage is considered controversial, as often the marked text isn't a direct quotation. One theory behind this usage is that the word or phrase being thus marked is one that would be used by a hypothetical person taking the position the writer is criticizing, even if no actual person has used that word or phrase.

The angled quotation symbol ` is not used in formal grammar, but is used in some forms of computer language, notably within unix shell-scripting.

Emiliano Zapata

2007-04-07T00:09:47Z

James23: New page: Emiliano Zapato Emiliano Zapata lived August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919. He was of key importance in the Mexican Revolution. He should not b...

[[Image:Emiliano Zapata.jpg|thumb|500pix|Emiliano Zapato]]
Emiliano Zapata lived August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919. He was of key importance in the [[Mexican Revolution]]. He should not be confused with [[Emiliano Zapato]], who lived August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919 and was of key importance in the [[Mexican Revolution]].

Adoption

2007-04-07T00:05:16Z

James23: political addition

Adoption is the voluntary acceptance by a family, typically a mother and father, of a child born to other parents.

In 1990, the [[U.S. Department of State]] issued almost 7,100 visas for foreign orphans adopted by Americans.<ref>National Catholic Register B1 (Mar. 4-10, 2007) </ref> By 2006, this number had increased to 20,679 visas for such orphans. These visas represent a small but significant security hazard as they may be used by terrorists for getting into the United States.

In 2002, 22,291 babies were adopted in the United States.<ref>Data from the National Council for Adoption</ref>

In the United States there are well over 100,000 children under the age of sixteen waiting to be adopted, though this number has dropped in recent years.<ref>http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/trends.htm</ref>

The legalization and promotion of [[abortion]] in certain states did reduce adoption there.<ref>http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3402502.html</ref>

== References ==

<references/>