Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Anschluss

2013-01-10T21:43:14Z

LeonardoR:

The '''Anschluss''' (German for "[[annexation]]") was the unification of [[Austria]] and [[Third Reich|Nazi]] [[Germany]] in the March of 1938. Austria did not put up a fight, but instead let the Germans simply march in and take over. Pro-unification sentiment in Austria had been strong in the wake of [[World War I]] and the dissolution of [[Austria-Hungary]], but the peace treaties expressly forbade unification of Germany and Austria. Austria did not regain its [[independence]] until 1955.

[[Category:European History]]

Deep time

2013-01-10T17:13:49Z

LeonardoR: Capitalized "Earth" and "Universe"; changed "supposed" to "supposedly", as it referred to the adjective "tremendous".

'''Deep time''' is the category of supposedly tremendous time spans that encompass the ages of the [[Earth]] and the [[Universe]] according to [[evolutionist]]s and [[uniformitarianism|uniformitarians]], especially in [[geology]] and [[astronomy]] but also in [[evolution]]ary [[biology]].

== History of the concept ==
The first use of the concept of deep time, if not the name, appears in 11th century [[China|Chinese]] science.<ref name=Sivin>Sivin, Nathan. ''Science in Ancient China: Researches and Reflections''. Brookfield, Vermont: Ashgate Publishing Co., 1995.</ref> In Western [[science]], [[James Hutton]] is credited with introducing the concept, and Sir [[Charles Lyell]], the inventor of geological uniformitarianism, with popularizing it. However, some authorities credit the [[Greece|Greek]] historian [[Herodotus]] with the first Western understanding of deep time; if this is true, then it predates the Chinese understanding by at least thirteen or fourteen centuries.<ref name=Palmer>Palmer, A. R., and Zen, E-an. "[http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/local/sustain2.htm The Context of Humanity: Understanding Deep Time]." [http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/ Boulder Area Sustainability Information Network]. Accessed March 12, 2008.</ref>

== Implications of the concept ==
"Deep time" is analogous to the concept of "deep space" in astronomy, i.e. the concept of stars lying vast and incomprehensible distances from our [[solar system]].<ref name=pbs>"[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/change/deeptime/low_bandwidth.html Evolution: Change: Deep Time]." Public Broadcasting System ([[United States]]). Accessed March 12, 2008.</ref> Its implications, for origins science and for education, are profound. Deep time directly defies the declaration in and by the [[Bible]] that the Earth is young.<ref name=serc>"Wenner, Jennifer M. [http://serc.carleton.edu/quantskills/methods/quantlit/DeepTime.html Deep Time - the geologic time scale]." Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College, Northfield, [[Minnesota]]. Accessed March 12, 2008.</ref> Those uniformitarians most involved in science education realize this, and have developed specific techniques for science teachers to use to persuade [[young Earth creationism|young Earth creationists]] to abandon their beliefs. Most of these techniques repose absolute confidence in the correctness of uniformitarian models and dating systems based thereon. For example, an instructor suggests that a student "work out the age" of a nearby landmark for himself, "to see how science works."<ref name=serc2>Teed, Rebecca. "[http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/earthhistory/creationism/index.html Addressing Creationism]." Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College, Northfield, [[Minnesota]]. Accessed March 12, 2008.</ref>

Deep time is a necessary concept of [[naturalism]], and of the redefinition of [[science]] to embrace naturalism and reject anything except naturalism.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Geology]]

John Smith

2013-01-10T17:06:18Z

LeonardoR: Removed unnecessary comma.

''For information on the world [[champion]] wrestler John Smith, click [[John Smith (wrestler)|here]].''

Captain '''John Smith''' (1580-1631) was the leader of the first permanent [[England|English]] settlement in [[North America]] - [[Jamestown]]. He was known for his discipline and heroism. He famously achieved order and productivity by declaring that those who did not work would not eat.

When a terrible drought hit the region and ruined the crops, John Smith went looking for food. He was captured by [[Native American]]s who inquired as to where he came from. Instead of telling the truth to the chief, Smith told him that they were fighting the Spanish and their ship had been wrecked on the their coast. When the chief asked why they had come so far into his land John Smith said it was because they were going to attack the very tribe the chief's tribe was now fighting. So peace was made between the tribe and the settlers. The peace was enhanced when a subsequent leader of the Jamestown settlement, John Rolfe, married the chief's daughter, [[Pocahontas]].

References:

David A. Price, ''Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Heart of a New Nation'' (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2003)

{{DEFAULTSORT: Smith, John}}
[[category:United States History Figures]]
[[Category:Virginia Governors]]

Soliloquy

2013-01-10T17:05:10Z

LeonardoR: Removed politically-correct "they". Besides, it didn't fit with the later use of "his".

A '''soliloquy''' is a monologue spoken by one character in a [[play]], when he is entirely alone on stage. Its purpose is to inform the [[audience]] of his thoughts and inner conflicts.

If there are other characters on the stage, they are unable to hear another character's soliloquy. Thus, it is comparable to, and may often be, an 'aside'.

Perhaps the most famous soliloquy is from [[Shakespeare|Shakespeare's]] ''[[Hamlet]]'', 'To be or not to be'.

[[Category:Literary Devices]]

Ford GT

2013-01-10T17:02:16Z

LeonardoR:

The '''Ford GT''' is a supercar [http://www.supercars.net/cars/2400.html][http://www.caranddriver.com/news/at-ford-a-supercar-delivers-a-super-headache-car-news][http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwoMkucMLy4][http://www.bustersbar.com/blog/tag/ford-gt-supercar][http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/cars/2005-ford-gt-one-of-the-most-spectacular-supercars-1.3554659][http://social.ford.com/your-ideas/technologies/performance/new-ford-gt-type-supercar/][http://www.svtoastore.com/servlet/the-3/Ford-GT--Supercar/Detail] designed and built by the Ford Motor Company. Sold during the 2005-2006 model years it was based on the world record setting [[Ford GT40]] race car of the 1960s. Only 4,083 were made. The GT had a suggested retail price of around $130k but was usually sold for much more due to the high demand.

==Design==
The GT had a mid rear mounted 5.4 liter supercharged V8 with two banks of DOHCs. It produced 550 hp through a six-speed manual transmission, giving it 333hp/ton. It went from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds and could finish a quarter-mile test in 11 seconds. It lapped Willow Springs in a time of 1.37.

==References==
[http://fordgt.org/]
[[category:cars]]

Oberon

2013-01-10T16:15:04Z

LeonardoR:

{{Planet
|image=Oberon.jpg
|caption=Oberon, taken by Voyager 2
|date=January 11, 1787<ref name=usgs>"[http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append7.html Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Planetary Body Names and Discoverers]." US Geological Survey, Jennifer Blue, ed. March 31, 2008. Accessed April 17, 2008.</ref>
|discname=William Herschel<ref name=usgs/><ref name=Hamilton>Hamilton, Calvin J. "[http://www.solarviews.com/eng/oberon.htm Entry for Oberon]." ''Views of the Solar System'', 2001. Accessed June 16, 2008.</ref>
|origname=King of the fairies in the play ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by William Shakespeare<ref name=Hamilton/><ref name=Arnett>Arnett, Bill. "[http://www.nineplanets.org/oberon.html Entry for Oberon]." ''The <s>Nine</s> 8 Planets'', December 22, 2004. Accessed June 16, 2008.</ref>
|primary=Uranus
|order=18
|periapsis=583,053 km<ref name=calc>Calculated</ref>
|apoapsis=583,987 km<ref name=calc/>
|semimajor=583,520 km<ref name=uranussatfact>Williams, David R. "[http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/uraniansatfact.html Uranian Satellite Fact Sheet]." National Space Science Data Center, [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]], November 23, 2007. Accessed June 16, 2008.</ref>
|eccentricity=0.0008<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|sidereal=13.463239 da<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|orbitspeed=3.15 km/s<ref name=Hamilton/>
|inclination=0.10°<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|siderealday=13.463239 da<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|rotatespeed=0.00411 km/s<ref name=calc/>
|axialtilt=0°<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|mass=3.01 * 1021 kg<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|density=1630 kg/m³<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|meanradius=761.4 km<ref name=uranussatfact/>
|surfacegrav=0.3469 m/s²<ref name=calc/>
|escapespeed=0.7268 km/s<ref name=calc/>
|surfacearea=7,285,102 km²<ref name=calc/>
|meantemp=61 K
|composition=Water ice and rock<ref name=Arnett/>
|color=Light brown-gray
|albedo=0.25<ref name=uranussatfact/>
}}'''Oberon''' or '''Uranus IV''' is the eighteenth [[moon]] of [[Uranus]], and the outermost of the major moons of Uranus. It is also the second largest moon of Uranus.<ref name=Arnett/><ref name=Britannica>Ingersoll, Andrew P. "[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9056637 Oberon]." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 16 June 2008.</ref>

== Discovery and naming ==
[[William Herschel]] discovered Oberon and its inner companion, [[Titania]], on January 11, 1787.<ref name=usgs/>

Sir [[John Herschel]], his son, named the planet after the king of the fairies in [[William Shakespeare]]'s comedy, ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''.<ref name=usgs/><ref name=Lassell3>Lassell, William. "[http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1852AN.....34..325./0000169.000.html Beobachtungen der Uranus-Satelliten]." ''Astronomische Nachrichten'' 34:325-328, 1852. Accessed June 16, 2008.</ref>

== Orbital characteristics ==
Oberon is in a slightly eccentric orbit around Uranus, at an average distance of 583,520 km. Its sidereal month is about 13.46 [[Earth]] days.<ref name=uranussatfact/><ref name=Britannica/>

== Rotational characteristics ==
Oberon is in [[tidal lock]] with Uranus.<ref name=uranussatfact/><ref name=Britannica/>

== Physical characteristics ==
Oberon is the second largest of the moons of Uranus. It is probably composed of [[water]] ice and rock.<ref name=Arnett/><ref name=Britannica/>

=== Surface ===
The surface of Oberon has many impact craters. Many of these have bright rays that radiate from them, similar to those found on [[Callisto]].<ref name=Hamilton/><ref name=Arnett/><ref name=Britannica/>

The surface, including many of the crater floors, is partially covered with a dark material of unknown origin. Some astronomers speculate that this material is an aqueous solution that upwelled from the interior.<ref name=Hamilton/><ref name=Britannica/>

== Problems for uniformitarian theories posed by Oberon ==
Oberon poses the same problem for [[uniformitarianism|uniformitarian]] astronomy as do all the other moons of Uranus: its orbit is inclined severely to the ecliptic, though not to Uranus' own equator. How the Uranian system came to have such an inclination has never been explained.

== Observation and Exploration ==
Oberon is visible on a dark sky through a telescope having an aperture of 30 cm or more.<ref name=Arnett/>

The only spacecraft to explore Oberon has been [[Voyager 2]]. It approached to within 470,600 km of Oberon on January 24, 1986, and took a small number of images.<ref name=Voyager1>"[http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/mission/#v2uenc Voyager Mission Description: Voyager 2 Uranus Encounter]." February 19, 1997. Accessed June 13, 2008.</ref><ref name=Smith>Smith, B.A., Soderblom, L.A., Beebe, R., ''et al.'' "[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1986Sci...233...43S Voyager 2 in the Uranian system - Imaging science results]." ''Science'' 233:43-64, July 4, 1986. Accessed June 13, 2008.</ref> No other detailed images are available.

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

History of Louisiana

2013-01-10T16:08:11Z

LeonardoR: Fixed Typos

The '''History of Louisiana''' covers the state from European discovery to the 21st century.
==Colonial==
[[File:Col-la.jpg|thumb|300px|The French settled Louisiana--especially and Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia in the 1740s]]
==19th century==
==20th century==
===Prohibition===
The state legislature ratified the 18th Amendment in August 1918 by a narrow margin, as north and central Louisiana "dry" interests defeated the "wet" votes of southern Louisiana and New Orleans. New Orleans opposed [[Prohibition in the United States|prohibition]] and was a center for bootlegging to dry regions throughout the Gulf South. Many establishments in the city secretly and openly defied the ban on alcoholic beverages. Despite heavy enforcement efforts, wine, beer, and liquor remained widely available in New Orleans and other cities throughout the period. Prohibition violation contributed to the rise of organized crime, gangsterism and bribery of public officials in New Orleans as in other large cities. Across the state enforcement battled popular opposition and flaunting of prohibition.<ref> Joy J. Jackson, "Prohibition in New Orleans: The Unlikeliest Crusade," '' Louisiana History'' 1978 19(3): 261-284. 0024-6816 </ref>

==21st century==
===Hurricane Katrina===
In 2005, New Orleans was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Democratic governor Kathleen Blanco and Democratic mayor Ray Nagin have been heavily criticized for their ineffective responses.

==Further reading==
====references====
<references/>

[[category:Louisiana]]
[[category:The South]]
[[category:American Civil War]]
[[category:Reconstruction]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Louisiana, History of}}

Uncle Tom

2013-01-10T16:06:51Z

LeonardoR: Removed an unnecessary repetition of "sold"

'''Uncle Tom''' was a character in the anti-[[slavery]] [[novel]] ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'', written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in the mid 1800's. In the novel, Uncle Tom is a slave who, due to the debts of his owning family, is sold to a slave trader, and eventually to Simon Legree. After Uncle Tom refuses to whip another slave on the plantation, Legree resolves to crush his spirit and devotion to [[God]]. On the verge of giving up and renouncing his faith, Tom has visions of [[Jesus]] and Eva, a white girl he befriended earlier in the novel, and remains true to his faith. After encouraging other slaves to escape, he is confronted by Legree who demands Tom tell him where they are. When Tom refuses again, he is beaten to death by Simon Legree.

==Modern Usage==

The name "Uncle Tom" Uncle Tom has become a pejorative term used by African Americans to describe a black man who is "overly submissive'' to White People, betraying his Black roots. Sometimes it is used to describe a Black person who seeks favor or acceptance with White people by way of unnecessary accommodation.

This use has been criticized by others who point out that Uncle Tom was not submissive, but was beaten to death for refusing to submit. They also dislike the term as it suggests a Black/White divide that implies interracial communication and friendship is improper.

==External Links==
* [http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/tom/ "The Tom Character"] from the museum of Racial Memorabilia
* [http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/04/post_11.html Who's an Uncle Tom?] - Bruce Walker

[[category:Novels]]

United States Constitution:Article VI

2013-01-10T16:04:37Z

LeonardoR: Minor corrections in the language

''For the full text of the U.S. Constitution, see [[Full Text of the United States Constitution]].''

'''Article VI''' of the [[United States Constitution]] establishes the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties entered by the United States as the supreme law of the land.

==Section 1==
'''Original Text'''
 ''All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.''

''This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.''

''The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.''

 '''Meaning'''
 Article VI is often referred to as the "supremacy clause" because it declares that whenever state or local law is in conflict with federal law, federal law takes precedence. Article VI also insures that all elected officials must obey and follow the Constitution. Finally, Article VI states that public officials are not required to practice (or pledge allegiance to) a particular religion to hold office.

[[Category:United States Constitution]]
[[Category:United States History]]

User:LeonardoR

2012-12-13T06:21:56Z

LeonardoR: Created page with "Hello, my name is Leonardo (you may call me Leo) and I am an Italian man currently living in France, and studying to become an English teacher. (Yes, I know - teaching English in..."

Hello, my name is Leonardo (you may call me Leo) and I am an Italian man currently living in France, and studying to become an English teacher. (Yes, I know - teaching English in France while being Italian sounds rather strange :) ) I recently discovered this website, and I thought that participating in it might help me hone my English language skills even further. Nice to meet you all!