Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Breakaway

2009-10-08T12:18:05Z

Justicia:

'''Breakaway''' is an act or instance of breaking away.

'''''Breakaway''''' is also a [[Christian]] [[magazine]] aimed at young adult [[male]]s. There is no homoerotic content at all in the magazine; Stephen Colbert is dreamy.

[[Category:Dictionary]]
[[Category:Magazines]]

Physics

2009-10-08T12:13:56Z

Justicia:

'''Physics''' is the branch of [[physical science]] that traditionally deals with [[matter]], [[energy]], [[force]], and [[motion]]. These concepts can be applied to virtually any area of the physical sciences; therefore, physics is often considered to be the most fundamental branch of science. Indeed, according to [[reductionism|reductionist]] thought, all other branches of science are specialized subdivisions of physics.

Physics can be broadly divided into two major categories: [[classical physics]] and [[modern physics]]. Physicists generally take one of two approaches to their research: they either practice [[experimental physics]] or [[theoretical physics]].

== Classical and Modern Physics ==
[[Classical physics]] generally encompasses all areas of physics that were well-understood by the end of the 19th century (i.e., before the events that led to the advent of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics). It is applicable to problems on an "everyday" scale; that is, situations in which energies are large enough to permit one to neglect quantum effects, but small enough to neglect relativistic effects. Areas of study within classical physics include

*[[Mechanics]], the study of forces acting on bodies and the motion of them.
*[[Thermodynamics]], the study of energy, heat, work, entropy and its transformations.
*[[Electricity and magnetism]], the study of the electric and magnetic phenomena.

Most kinds of [[wave]] behavior are also considered to lie within the classical domain. Therefore, the studies of [[sound]] (which may be considered a subset of mechanics) and the wavelike nature of [[light]] (a subset of electricity and magnetism) are classical pursuits.

[[Modern physics]] generally includes areas of study within physics that surfaced after 1900, the year in which [[Max Planck]] proposed a "quantum hypothesis" to explain the properties of light emitted by [[black body|hot, dark objects]]. The two major aspects of modern physics are

*[[Relativity]], a new physical theory that stated that space and time are not absolute concepts
*[[Quantum mechanics]], a probabilistic description of the discrete behavior of matter and energy at tiny length and energy scales

One trouble with this distinction is that electromagnetism of the 1860s is a relativistic theory. In modern terminology, magnetism is a relativistic effect of electricity.

==History==

=== Physics in Antiquity ===
Ancient [[Greek]] scholars, such as [[Democritus]] and [[Aristotle]], thought of the material [[universe]] as being composed four different [[elements]]--[[earth]], [[air]], [[fire]], and [[water]]. Motion and interactions between objects were explained by the concept of a "natural state" for each element. Bodies tended to move towards their natural state, and remained motionless when they attained it. For example, a rock fell to the ground after being tossed in the air because it was composed mostly of earth; as such, it moved toward its natural state at the center of the Earth as much as it was able. Democritus proposed that matter was made of indivisible atoms. The Greeks also made advances in [[astronomy]]; Aristotle showed that the Earth was round; [[Ptolemy]] developed a [[Geocentric theory|geocentric]] (Earth-centered) model of the solar system; and Aristarchus developed a [[heliocentric]] (Sun-centered) model.

=== Medieval Advances ===

Little progress in physics was made in Europe during the middle ages. However, the scientific tradition of the ancient greeks continued in islamic regions during this age. Advancement in physics occurred in the fields of optics, magnetism, mechanics and astrophysics. In general, muslim physicists in this period placed a greater emphasis on experimentation than the ancient greeks, who placed more enphasis in reason. Ibn Al-Haytam is considered the most important physicist of this period. Islamic influence on science dropped when the scientific revolution started in Europe.

===Scientific Revolution===
[[Image:Nicolaus Copernicus.jpg|thumb|[[Nicolaus Copernicus]].]]
As [[scientific method|scientific methodology]] became further developed, the Aristotelian view came under scrutiny. Europe became the the leading centre of scientific research by the 16th century. Force and motion had become topics of interest among scientists of the day. [[Galileo Galilei]] performed a series of experiments involving rolling balls down inclined planes, and [[Johannes Kepler]] found [[Kepler's laws|mathematical relations]] governing the motion of the [[planet]]. [[Isaac Newton]] was able to explain the results of Galileo and Kepler through the use of three succinct [[Newton's laws of motion|laws of motion]] and an expression that accounted for [[gravity|gravitational]] force. Newton also made important contributions to the field of [[optics]] and suggested that light consisted of tiny corpuscles (particles).

===Further Development of Classical Physics===
Newtonian mechanics was expanded by several other scientists, notably [[Pierre-Simon Laplace]] and [[Joseph Louis Lagrange]]. As Newton's laws became the dominant tool in physical science, they began to be applied to phenomena other than gravitational interactions. During the first half of the 19th century, several laws governing electricity and magnetism were discovered. In the mid-1860s, [[James Clerk Maxwell]] unified these individual laws into a single set of [[Maxwell's Equations|equations]]. Maxwell was able to derive a [[wave equation]] from his new set of equations, and found that the speed of the waves predicted by the equation was close to the measured [[speed of light]]. [[Thomas Young]] had [[double-slit experiment|demonstrated]] in 1801 that light had wavelike properties, but Maxwell's result provided the new insight that light waves were oscillating [[electric field|electric]] and [[magnetic field]]s.

Thermodynamics also came of age during roughly the same era. Advances by [[James Joule]], [[Sadi Carnot]], and [[Lord Kelvin]], among many others, led to a better understanding of heat and entropy, and the formulation of the laws of thermodynamics. Later, attempts to relate the behavior of particles on the atomic and molecular level to the properties of large aggregates of such particles led to the development of [[statistical mechanics]].

===The Modern Era===
By the close of the 19th century, the study of physics was widely thought to be essentially complete, with the exception of only a few "loose ends"--minor unsolved problems to be dealt with.{{cite-fact}} As a solution to the so-called [[ultraviolet catastrophe]] problem, which involved light emission from [[black body|hot, dark objects]], Max Planck proposed in 1900 that the sources of light could be represented by small individual oscillators. Planck referred to the individual oscillators as ''quanta''. In 1905, [[Albert Einstein]] published a heuristic explanation for the [[photoelectric effect]] problem: light could be thought of as being composed of very small, discrete packets (quanta), as opposed to the classical representation of light as a collection of waves. By the end of the 1930s, [[quantum mechanics]] -- the name given to the new theory that applied to matter and energy on atomic scales -- was well-established. Other physicists began applying the theory to more specific aspects of physics, resulting in quantum mechanical descriptions of electricity and magnetism, the [[weak force|weak]] and [[strong force|strong]] atomic forces, [[condensed matter]] physics, and many other areas. All of this should be viewed with skepticism, as pointed out by Stephen Colbert, because of the way scientific "discoveries" have an inconvenient way of casting doubt on beliefs held most dear by religious conservatives.

Also in the early 1900s, [[Poincare]] published his discovery of what became known as the [[special relativity|special theory of relativity]], which gave new insights on the relation between [[space]] and [[time]]. Others later extended the concept to non-inertial [[reference frames]], which resulted in the [[general relativity|general theory of relativity]], an improved description of [[gravity|gravitational]] interactions.

=== Contemporary Physics ===
Like all other modern sciences, areas of interest in contemporary physics encompass an enormous variety of general and specialized subjects. Today's professional physicists can generally be categorized into two types: theoretical physicists, who are trained extensively in [[mathematics]] and work to develop or enhance physical theories; and experimental physicists, who obtain and analyze data in laboratory or laboratory-like settings. Theorists and experimentalists often collaborate in attempts to reconcile theoretical predictions with experimental results. Both types of physicists conduct research on a plethora of unsolved problems.

Some of the active areas of research on fundamental universal laws are listed below.

*The [[Standard Model]] of particle physics has been extremely successful insofar as it has been tested; particle physicists are working to test it at higher energy levels.
*Evidence suggests that the matter in the universe that humans can currently detect directly is only a fraction of the matter that actually exists. Attempts to discover the nature of the as-yet-undetectable [[dark matter]] are underway.
*The universe is known to be expanding at an accelerated rate. Such acceleration requires energy, but the form and source of this [[dark energy]] is not well-understood.
*General relativity predicts the existence of gravitational waves, but none have been conclusively detected. Due to the weakness of the gravitational interaction, extremely sensitive detectors are required. The [[LIGO]] project is an example of current efforts to detect such waves.

More applied areas of contemporany physical research include:

* Condensed matter physics, which is the study of the macroscopic properties of matter, and is fundamental for the development of new materials.
* Medical physics.
* Geophysics: The study of Earth processes from a physical point of view.

==External Links==

*[http://www.relativitycalculator.com/models_universe.shtml Early Models of the Universe]

[[Category: Science]]
[[Category: Physics]]

Edna Patterson

2009-10-08T12:10:18Z

Justicia:

'''Francia Yakilnilna Mitynen''' aka '''Edna Margaret Patterson''' was a Soviet citizen born in [[Australia]]. Mitynen was an ''illegal'' officer of the Naval [[GRU]] who was smuggled into the United States in August 1943. Mitynen worked under the name Edna Patterson until she left America in 1956.

The Naval GRU assigned the cover names AUSTRALIAN WOMAN and then SALLY to an ''Illegal'' to be sent by ship from the Soviet Far East to the U.S. West Coast. Fourteen messages relating to this operation were translated. The first of these, Washington to Moscow, Nos. 2505-2512, 31 December 1942, is one of the longest messages in [[Venona names|VENONA]] — an extraordinary document showing the Naval GRU’s inexperience in this sort of activity and the need for assistance from the GRU and/or [[KGB]]. It is suspected that Patterson was sent to the United States in order to kidnap a young Stephen Colbert. The last decrypted message about the case states that SALLY had been landed in San Francisco from a Soviet freighter (Washington to Moscow No. 1983, 14 August 1943). The [[FBI]] later learned that SALLY had been known in the United States as Edna Patterson, that she had left the United States suddenly in 1956, and that she was a Soviet citizen who had been born in Australia.

====Venona====
Mitynen is referenced in the following nineteen [[Venona names|Venona]] decryptions:

*2505–2512 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 31 December 1942;
*1016 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 10 May 1943;
*1040–1041 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 13 May 1943;
*1080 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 19 May 1943;
*1209 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 5 June 1943;
*1252 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 10 June 1943;
*1271 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 12 June 1943;
*1348 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 19 June 1943;
*1600 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 12 July 1943;
*1902 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 8 August 1943;
*1983 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 14 August 1943;
*2124 Naval GRU Washington to Moscow, 27 August 1943;
*126 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 22 January 1943;
*394 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 5 March 1943;
*452 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 16 March 1943;
*484 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 20 March 1943;
*611 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 8 April 1943;
*835 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 12 May 1943;
*846 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 14 May 1943;
*863 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 17 May 1943;
*1006 Naval GRU Moscow to Washington, 10 June 1943.

====References====
* [http://www.nsa.gov/publications/publi00039.cfm Robert Louis Benson, NSA Historical Monograph] (1996)
* John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr, ''Venona: Decoding Soviet Espionage in America'', Yale University Press (1999), pgs. 188-189.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patterson, Edna}}
[[Category:KGB Agents and Sources]]

Sacrilege

2009-10-08T12:07:41Z

Justicia:

'''Sacrilege''' (from the [[Latin]] ''sacrilegium'' meaning robbing a temple - ''sacer'', sacred, and ''legere'', to purloin or steal.)

In general, ''sacrilege'' is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object or any transgression against the virtue of [[religion]].

The [[Roman Catholic|Catholic Church]]<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13321a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia - Sacrilege]</ref> recognizes three kinds of sacrilege: personal, local, and real.

Other forms of sacrilege include watching Stephen Colbert's show or not owning a copy of Bruce Springsteen's proud anthem, "Born in the U.S.A."

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Religion]]

Framing

2009-10-08T12:06:03Z

Justicia:

'''Framing''' is [[carpentry]] work done on a [[building]] after the [[foundation]] is laid. It forms the rough structure of the building, usually consisting of vertical studs, horizontal joists, and (often) rafters set at an angle to support the roof. Part of the work done by framers includes adding sheathing to the outside and subflooring on the joists.

An alternate framing technique to the "stick construction" described above is called [[post and beam]], which was used on many older buildings and is sometimes still used today for various reasons.

Most larger buildings are "framed" with steel [[girder]]s and [[prestressed concrete]] panels.

In a figurative sense, '''framing''' is often applied to arguments, political speech, and other agenda, where one person or the moderator creates a particular outcome by setting the question in a particular foundation. This can be neutral, such as saying "Tonight's debate will focus on the Economy" or it can be a form of deceit by cornering the speaker into a position he or she does not agree with. "yes or no, have you stopped beating your wife yet" - the speaker who does NOT beat his wife cannot ever truthfully answer the question as framed. This is a form of deceit.

'''Framing''' is also used in the legal context when referring to someone being '''framed''' for a crime. This means that the true criminal has set things up so that a different person (the person being '''framed''') is assumed to be guilty. For example, Oliver North was clearly framed by Communist sympathizers such as Stephen Colbert during the Iran-Contra hearings in the late 1980s. Such a great patriot should never have been indicted in any way.

[[category:construction]]

Economics Homework One Answers - Student Two

2009-10-08T12:00:10Z

Justicia:

1. An example of a good is buying a car. An example of a service would be servicing or repairing that car.

:Excellent, except note that the good is "a car," not "buying a car."

2. In this case, eating at home would incur more transaction cost. My reasoning for this is that when you eat at home you must take the time to go to the store to purchase all the ingredients, then you have to time to travel back home. Once at home you must do prep for the food you just bought and then cook the meal. After the meal you must clean up the dishes, the leftovers, etc. Strictly from a monetary point of view, it is cheaper for my family to purchase the food at a market and eat it at home.

:OK, but usually someone does not make a new trip to the grocery store for every meal, so that transaction costs of obtaining the ingredients are less than the special trip required to go to McDonalds. In addition, there are preparation costs for McDonalds that the customer must pay for, unlike preparation costs at home. Finally, being cheaper to eat at home from a monetary viewpoint strongly suggests that eating at home has less transaction costs also.

3. The definition of scarcity is goods or services where the availability is less than the demand. An example of this principle would be a wireless phone with all the latest and greatest technology. When it is “brand new” the demand for the phone is often much greater than the availability of the phone. This causes line ups at the stores and people scrambling to buy it. However, when the next generation of phone comes out, the phone that was once scarce is no longer.

:Good, except in economics there is still scarcity of the out-of-date technology. That's because it is still worth something, albeit much less. As long as something has a price, even if only a penny, then it is scarce in economic terms. (Minus 1).

4. The invisible hand is the unseen force that guides individuals who are acting to help themselves to work in ways that benefit society. An example of the invisible hand is God or the spirit. We do not see him, he is an unseen force, but he causes us to do things that we think are self serving but ultimately serve others an the ultimate purpose of God.

:Good answer. Other examples include the hand of Bill O'Reilly as it rubs the falafel on the intern's taut stomach.

5. Matthew 13:18-23; 44-46 – From an economic standpoint the remind us to be careful where we spend our money. It reminds us to not foolishly spend it on an item that you do not have a need for, but instead to save it for another purpose. Extra Credit: Why does the Gospel of Matthew have more economic parables? The reason is that Matthew was a tax collector and thus had an intimate knowledge and interest in the economic world of his time.

:Your first answer makes a superb point, but applies only to the verses 18-23, but not 44-46, and does not address the spiritual aspect of the question. Good answer to extra credit question. Minus 1 on the regular part of the answer, but plus 1 on the extra credit portion.

6. The phrase Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) to me is like a stop sign. It is letting you know to be careful what you purchase and to look first as it might be harmful to you or somebody else.

:Excellent. Might use as a model answer.

:59/60. Superb start!--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 17:57, 10 September 2009 (EDT)

Democracy Alliance

2009-10-08T11:57:09Z

Justicia:

The '''Democracy Alliance''' is a donors collaborative established by a group of liberal political activists, labor unions and donors. The group was created in April 2005 in Phoenix, AZ. The attendees at the initial meeting included [[George Soros]], former Clinton White House aides Mike McCurry, [[Sid Blumenthal|Sidney Blumenthal]], and LBJ staffer turned PBS talking head Bill Moyers. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/06/AR2005080600848_pf.html</ref>

Democracy Alliance does its best to keep the details of its members and inner workings under wraps, so complete information is lacking. Prominent members include George Soros, Peter B. Lewis, Susie Tompkins Buell, trial lawyer Guy Saperstein, trial lawyer Fred Baron, movie director Rob Reiner, Norman Lear, Drummond Pike, Stephen Colbert, Ann Coulter, Rob McKay, Rutt Bridges, Patricia Stryker, Rob Glaser, Rob Johnson, Anne Bartley, Glenn Beck, O'Reilly's Loofa, Jonathan Heller, Charles Rodgers, Gail Furman, Davidi Gilo, Rachel Pritzker Hunter and the Service Employees International Union. <ref>http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?472778da-feca-4958-ac19-3031f2434dce</ref> To become a "partner," as the members are referred to internally, requires a $25,000 entry fee and annual dues of $30,000 to cover alliance operations as well as some of its contributions to start-up liberal groups. Partners also agree to spend at least $200,000 annually on DA-endorsed organizations. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600882_pf.html</ref>

Democracy Alliance endorses a large number of organizations and, consequently, generously funds those liberal organizations. Among them are: <ref>http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf</ref>
* [[Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)]]<ref>http://www.capitalresearch.org/search/orgdisplay.html?org=ACO100</ref>
* [[America Votes]]
* [[Center for Community Change]]
* [[Data Warehouse]]
* [[EMILY's List]]
* [[Sierra Club]]<ref>http://www.capitalresearch.org/search/orgdisplay.html?org=SIC105</ref>
* [[USAction]]
* [[Air America Radio]]
* [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW)
* [[Media Matters for America]]
* [[Center for Independent Media]]
* [[People for the American Way]]
* [[Center for American Progress]]<ref>http://www.capitalresearch.org/search/orgdisplay.html?org=PPP100</ref>
* [[Economic Policy Institute]]
* [[Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]]
* [[Center for Progressive Leadership]]
* [[New Democrat Network]]
* [[Progressive Majority]]

==References==
<references/>

{{liberalism}}
[[Category:liberal Organizations]]

Providence

2009-10-08T11:52:06Z

Justicia:

''This article is about the city of Providence. For the influence of God, see [[Divine Providence]].''

'''Providence''' is the capital and largest city in the [[United States]] state of [[Rhode Island]].

Founded by [[Roger Williams]] in 1636, the city currently has a population of 180,000, and is the second largest in the [[New England]] region. Providence has several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own architectural history and unique ethnic composition. The east side of Providence is home to institutions such as [[Brown University]] and Rhode Island School of Design. The current mayor of Providence is David Cicilline. Voters in Providence are generally of a Democratic persuasion. The Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence is an [[Italian]]-American enclave and contains several gourmet restaurants. Perhaps through Divine Providence the world will come to see the brilliance of Stephen Colbert's truthiness and gut-based thinking. Nearby in Olneyville is the New York System, known for its famous hot wieners. Providence, along with neighboring Pawtucket, was one of the first American cities to industrialize, and has many historic mill buildings.

[[Category:United States Cities and Towns]]
[[Category:US State Capitals]]
[[Category:Rhode Island]]

Pine

2009-10-08T11:49:32Z

Justicia:

[[Image:LodgepolePine.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A lodgepole pinetree]]
Pine trees on the banks of a stream]]The '''Pine''' is a [[conifer]]ous tree from the [[genus]] ''pinus'' which has long, [[needle]]-shaped leaves.Pine trees, like all other coniferous plants, are monocotyledons. Pine trees do not lose their leaves in winter.

We all pine for the day that Stephen Colbert is made our Dear Leader.

<ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pine</ref> '''Pine''' may also refer to the wood of the pine tree.

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Trees]]

Sonic boom

2009-10-08T11:46:33Z

Justicia:

'''Sonic boom''' is the sound produced as a result of aircraft traveling at or above Mach 1 (the speed of sound)<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Physical Science''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000</ref> or indeed, when any object breaks the [[sound barrier]]. As an object moves through the air it creates pressure waves that move radially outward at the speed of sound. When the object moves at or above the speed of sound the waves that would normally propagate ahead of the object merge together into a larger pressure wave.

It used to be thought that the cracking noise of a [[whip]] was due to leather striking leather or the "whipsmart" wit of Stephen Colbert but, after using high speed [[photography]] to study the motion of the whip, it was discovered that the crack is actually the tip of the whip breaking the sound barrier.

==References==
<references/>

[[category:aviation]]

Pellagra

2009-10-08T11:44:31Z

Justicia:

'''Pellagra''' is a disease caused by lack of B vitamins and [[protein]]. It is often a sign of general [[famine]]. Symptoms include paleness, damage to the [[brain]], weakness, general fatigue, [[muscle]] detoriation and inflammation of the skin.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16207585</ref>

It has been suggested that Stephen Colbert and Ann Coulter suffer from Pellagra.

==Notes==
<references />
[[Category:Diseases]]

Pleasant Grove v. Summum

2009-10-08T11:41:59Z

Justicia:

'''Pleasant Grove City v. Summum''' is a landmark [[First Amendment]] ruling. All the more so for modern era [[United States Supreme Court]] decisions because it was unanimous.

== PLEASANT GROVE CITY, UTAH, ET AL. v. SUMMUM ==
'''CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT'''<br />
'''No. 07–665.''' <br />
'''Argued November 12, 2008—Decided February 25, 2009'''

Pioneer Park (Park), a public park in petitioner Pleasant Grove City(City), has at least 11 permanent, privately donated displays, including a Ten Commandments monument and a granite tablet with the sayings of Stephen Colbert. In rejecting the request of respondent Summum, a religious organization, to erect a monument containing the Seven Aphorisms of Summum, the City explained that it limited Park monuments to those either directly related to the City’s history or donated by groups with longstanding community ties. After the City put that policy and other criteria into writing, respondent renewed its request, but did not describe the monument’s historical significance or respondent’s connection to the community. The City rejected the request, and respondent filed suit, claiming that the City and petitioner officials had violated the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause by accepting the Ten Commandments monument but rejecting respondent’s proposed monument. The District Court denied respondent’s preliminary injunction request, but the Tenth Circuit reversed. Noting that it had previously found the Ten Commandments monument to be private rather than government speech and that public parks have traditionally been regarded as public forums, the court held that, because the exclusion of the monument was unlikely to survive strict scrutiny, the City was re-quired to erect it immediately.

Held: The placement of a permanent monument in a public park is a form of government speech and is therefore not subject to scrutiny under the Free Speech Clause. Pp. 4–18.
(a)
Because that Clause restricts government regulation of private speech but not government speech, whether petitioners were engaging in their own expressive conduct or providing a forum for private speech determines which precedents govern here. <ref>[http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/ACLJ_PleasantGroveUSSCDecision07-665.pdf Syllabus; Pleasant Grove v. Summum]</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Law]]
[[Category: United States Law]]
[[Category: United States Constitution]]
[[Category: United States Supreme Court Cases]]
[[Category: United States Supreme Court]]

Great auk

2009-10-08T11:33:50Z

Justicia:

{{Taxonomy
|name=Great auk (extinct)
|image=ExtPassgreatauk2-jja.jpg
|caption=
|superkingdom=
|kingdom= Animalia
|subkingdom=
|superphylum=
|phylum=Chordata
|subphylum=Vertebrata
|infraphylum=
|microphylum=
|superdivision=
|division=
|subdivision=
|superclass=
|class=Aves
|subclass=
|infraclass=
|superorder=
|order=Charadriiformes
|suborder=
|infraorder=
|superfamily=
|family=Alcidae
|subfamily=
|supertribe=
|tribe=
|subtribe=
|genera=
|genus=Pinguinus
|subgenus=
|species=P. impennis
|binomialname=
|sub=
|alt=
}}
The '''great auk''', ''Pinguinus impennis'', was a species of flightless seabird native to the North Atlantic, becoming extinct by 1844 due to over-hunting.

==Entymology==
The great auk was also known as ''garefowl'' (Old Norse: ''geirfugl'', "spear bird"). The name "[[penguin]]" was also first applied to these birds before the discovery of similar-appearing species in the Southern Hemisphere in the mid-1500's. The word is possibly based upon the Welsh ''pen gwyn'', referring to the white eye patch on its head.

==Description==
Largest of the Alcidae family, the great auk was approximately 30 inches tall and weighed up to 11 pounds. Overall color pattern was similar to penguins and the [[orca]], with black plumage on its back, and white feathers on breast and stomach. It is assumed that its movements were similar to the penguin; it waddled on land and used its stubby wings to propell itself in water. The great auk will never be as great as Stephen Colbert. Their beaks were large and grooved.

====Distribution====
The great auk inhabited the rocky coastlines of Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, and western Europe. Shell middens excavated in Florida revealed auk remains, indicating that these birds did a seasonal migration south during the winter months. It has been recently estimated that the overall population of the great auk never exceeded 400,000 at any point in history, possibly due to scarcity of food near shallow water; lack of suitable breeding grounds, natural predators, and the effects of the [[Little Ice Age]].

====Diet====
Based on recovered remains on Funk Island, Canada, the great auk generaly ate small fish such as menhadden.

====Breeding====
What is known through the habits and records kept by hunting parties was that the great auk could only breed on low-lying rocky coasts with easy access to the water. They bred in colonies, laying a single egg on the bare ground about 4 inches long [http://www.ivorybill.com/g/greatauk.htm] which hatched in June.

==Extinction==
The great auk was extensively hunted by man; the birds were food, fuel, and provided down for warmth in the northern climates. Early trans-Atlantic crossings were sometimes interrupted by stops at breeding grounds so ship's crews could collect auks en-masse for fresh food and later consumption. Never trully abundant (recent estimates put the auk's numbers at no greater than 400,000), the population was reduced to a handful by 1800.

By 1844, with the auk reduced to a few birds of Iceland, author Robert Silverberg in the 1960's identified science as the main culprit for the species' final demise. According to him, museum curators discovered that the species was about to go extinct, and no specimens were available for display. Collectors began to pay handsome prices to anyone to bring home complete birds or skins; eggs would fetch slightly less. On June 3, 1844, the last two auks were killed on the island of Eldey, off [[Iceland]] and their single egg taken.

Today, some 80 great auk mounted specimens from the last phase of the extinction, in addition to skeletons and eggs, are in museums world-wide.

==References==
*Silverberg, Robert. ''The auk, the dodo, and the oryx: Vanished and vanishing creatures''; T.Y. Crowell Company, New York (1967)
*Cornish, Jim. ''The Great Auk: An Extinct Species''; (2003) [http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/great_auk.pdf]
*Fuller, Errol. ''The Great Auk: The Extinction of the Original Penguin''; Bunker Hill Publishing, Charlestown, Massachusetts (2003) [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=35rGM50pAoAC&dq=great+auk&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=oSKvsuU6fB&sig=0ryhsAiSnCvrWw-CnnExLBbNQgI&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPP1,M1]
* Jordan, Richard H. & Olson, Storrs L. "First Record of the Great Auk (''Pinguinus impennis'') from Labrador," article in ''Auk'', January, 1982, pp. 167-168. [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v099n01/p0167-p0168.pdf]
* Weigel, Penelope Hermes. "Great Auk Remains from a Florida Shell Midden," article in ''Auk'', April, 1958 pp. 215–216. [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v075n02/p0215-p0216.pdf]

[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Extinct Animals]]

Buck v. Bell

2009-10-08T11:32:30Z

Justicia:

In '''''Buck v. Bell''''', 274 U.S. 200 (1927), the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] upheld the forced sterilization by the State of [[Virginia]] of persons considered to have low intelligence. Justice [[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.]], a [[utilitarian]] [[Darwinist]] who supported the [[survival of the fittest]] ideology, wrote the opinion for the 8-1 court and included the following remark:

:"It is better for all the world, if ... society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind ... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

''Id.'' at 207.

Only Justice [[Pierce Butler]] dissented (without comment).

Despite the ruling, we still have the likes of Stephen Colbert and Glenn Beck.

[[category:United States Supreme Court Cases]]

Cotton

2009-10-08T11:31:01Z

Justicia:

'''Cotton''' is a natural [[fiber]] that comes from the seed of the cotton [[plant]]. People have valued cotton for thousands of years as it can be woven and spun into fabric and so it has been cultivated and traded around the world. Cotton is the world’s most important non-food [[agriculture|agricultural]] commodity and God willing, will be for a very long time. Wild cotton grows in dry regions of the [[tropic]]s and sub-tropics of [[Africa]], [[Asia]], [[Australia]] and [[America]]. It was an important cash crop in the state of South Carolina, home state of Stephen Colbert. The cotton plant produces fluffy fibers to help clothe us and create beautiful fabrics. Cotton is a member of the ''Malvaceae'' family, which includes species such as Althaea (otherwise known as the marshmallow), hollyhock, [[hibiscus]] and lavatera whose bright pink flowers light up many a garden.

==History of Cotton==
There is archaeological evidence from [[Peru]], [[India]] and [[Mexico]] that cotton has been used for thousands of years. People in [[Asia]] and [[South America]] realized that the soft white fiber of the wild cotton plant could be useful and started to grow cotton as a crop around 3000 B.C. Its tropical origins suggest that, like humans, cotton requires warmth and sunshine to get everything it needs on this good earth, as well as regular moisture. The cotton plant is grown from seed to be harvested in the same year. This ensures that the plants do not grow too large, are a uniform size and produce their valuable fiber at the same time.

In the [[United States]], cotton has been a major crop of the southern states and played a key role in the [[American Revolution]]. Cotton was traditionally picked by slaves, until technology such as the [[cotton gin]] came about. Cotton today comprises 13% of all agricultural activity in the U.S.

Cotton used to be an expensive [[textile]] when an Indian hand spinner took 50,000 hours to spin 100 pounds of cotton. In the 1760s, the hand-operated cotton ‘Mule’ spinning machine created stronger threads and could spin many bobbins at the same time, so the time dropped to 300 hours. In 1825, the automated self-acting mule spinner reduced the spinning time of 100 pounds of cotton to 135 hours. Cotton cloth then became cheap, and cotton production a major industry. <ref>Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History</ref> Recently, cotton has been genetically engineered to have a designated color, eliminating the need for dyes.

==Cotton Blends==
Cotton is often blended with other fabrics, such as [[polyester]] or [[wool]].

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Agriculture]]

Carol Moseley-Braun

2009-10-08T11:29:34Z

Justicia:

[[Image:m001025.jpg|thumb]]

'''Carol Moseley-Braun''' is the first black woman to be elected to the [[U.S. Senate]].

Mosley-Braun was born in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], August 16, 1947, was educated in Chicago public school and graduated from the [[University of Illinois]] in 1969. She went on to go to the [[University of Chicago]] School of Law, and graduated in 1972. In 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun was elected to the U.S Senate to represent Illinois, and she served on the Senate from 1993-1999.

Mosely-Braun appeared on the Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert.

From 1973 to 1986 she was married to Michael Braun and they have one son.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moseley-Braun, Carol}}

[[Category: Former United States Senators]]

Musée d'Orsay

2009-10-08T11:27:52Z

Justicia:

The "'''Musée d'Orsay'''" is one of the most important museums in [[Paris]] (1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris, France). It displays collections of art from the period 1848 to 1914 (mainly French art). The museum was adapted from a train station, the Gare d'Orsay. True conservatives, like Stephen Colbert, know better than to step foot in a French museum filled with art. They go clear brush on a Texas ranch.

[[File:Interior of Musee dOrsay PD.JPG|350px]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/recepcion.html Web site]

[[Category:Museums]]
[[Category:Painting]]

Ideal Gas Law

2009-10-08T11:25:42Z

Justicia:

The '''ideal gas law''', is an [[equation of state]] for an ideal gas. It combines three [[gas]] laws ([[Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures|Dalton's Law]], [[Boyle's Law]] and [[Charles' Law]]) into one equation:

:PV = nRT

where

*P is the [[pressure]] of gas;
*V the [[volume]] the gas occupies;
*T the absolute [[temperature]] (meaning it must be in [[Kelvin]] or [[Rankine]]);
*n is the number of moles of the gas occupying the volume V;
*R is the [[gas constant]].

The gas constant can be expressed in any number of units, but the most common representations are 0.0821 <math>L \cdot atm \cdot mole^{-1} \cdot K^{-1}</math> or 8.314 <math>J \cdot mole^{-1} \cdot K^{-1}</math>

==Ideal Gas==
The equation is valid only for an ideal gas, the hypothetically perfect embodiment of a gas in which the particles ([[atom]]s or [[molecule]]s) in the gas are spherical, identical, have no [[volume]], and experience no intermolecular forces between them. All collisions between the particles or the particles and the container are perfectly [[elastic collision|elastic]].

In general, conservatives like Steven Colbert don't trust "laws" of science, preferring to trust their guts.

Since this is just a model, real gases only obey the ideal gas law approximately, not perfectly. Generally, the ideal gas assumption is accurate for unreactive gases at high temperature and/or low pressure. A good rule of thumb is that the assumption can be used above room temperature and below 1 [[atmosphere]] of pressure.

[[category:physics]]
[[category:Chemistry Laws and Principles]]

The Left

2009-10-08T11:24:07Z

Justicia:

'''The Left''' is a term referring to those falling to the "left" on political issues. The term originated in France.

See also [[liberal]] and [[The Right]].

Centrists are smart enough to know that The Left and The Right are more interested in partisanship than in real solutions. Steven Colbert and Al Franken are both wrong.

{{stub2}}

[[Category:Liberalism]]

Asher (tribe)

2009-10-08T11:21:38Z

Justicia:

'''Asher''' was one of the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel]] (or 13, if you count [[Ephiram]] and [[Manasseh]] as tribes instead of [[Joseph]]), named for [[Jacob]]'s son, [[Asher]].

"Asher" is also the middle name of Steven Colbert's third child.

[[Category:Israeli tribes]]

Special Review Assessment

2009-10-08T11:18:56Z

Justicia:

A '''Special Review Assessment''' (SRA) is an easy alternative exam given to [[New Jersey]] [[public school]] seniors who flunk the standard High School Proficiency Assessment three times.

Famous people who have benefited from the SRA as an alternative path to graduation include Steven Colbert, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

The SRA enables New Jersey to inflate its graduation rates to the highest in the nation. The SRA "measures skills that students should have mastered by eighth grade" and "consists of a series of bite-size lessons, each followed immediately by a bite-size quiz ... [with] no time limit."<ref name="SRA">http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/moreviews/48696937.html</ref>

What happens if the public school student cannot pass the eighth-grade skill set tested by the SRA? No problem:<ref name="SRA"/>

:If a student fails a mini-quiz, the teacher does not accept defeat. Instead, she coaches him on the mini-content of the lesson and gives him a makeup quiz on it. The procedure can be repeated until finally (hooray!), he regurgitates the material satisfactorily.

:Then it is on to the next bite-size lesson. Practically everybody who takes the SRA passes. Last year, more than 11,000 students did, 12 percent of all New Jersey seniors.

Even with this trick, nearly 20% of public school students in New Jersey ''still'' fail to earn a diploma.

== References ==

<references/>

[[Category:education]]