Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Cotton

2009-02-26T00:42:40Z

MHes:

'''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]]. 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 colour, eliminating the need for dyes.

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

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Agriculture]]

Avocado

2009-02-26T00:40:47Z

MHes:

[[Image:Avocado.jpg|thumb|200px|A Hass avocado]]
== Avocado ==

The '''avocado''' is a pear-shaped, edible [[fruit]] that grows on a tree. It has a greenish black leathery outer skin, a soft light-green inner fruit, and a single large seed called a pit in America or a stone in Britain. The outer layer is easily peeled from the fruit and in most varieties turns from a green colour to greenish black as it ripens.

The tropical American avocado tree (''Persea americana'') originated in [[Mexico]], sometime between 7,000 and 5,000 B.C. Cultivation of wild avocados began around 750 B.C. <ref> http://www.avocado.org/ </ref>

There are many varieties of avocado, some of the most popular are the: Hass, Fuerte, Bacon, Gwen, Lamb Hass, Pinkerton, Reed, and Zutano. All are similar in size, appearance and taste.
Avocados have a mild taste and can be eaten raw, or cooked in other foods. "[[Guacamole]]" is a popular dip that is made from avocado. <ref> http://www.thefruitpages.com/chartavocado.shtml </ref>

== Nutritional Qualities ==

The avocado is rich in [[Vitamin]]s A and C, B vitamins, [[glutamine]] and [[potassium]], and has low [[sodium]] and no [[cholesterol]]. A medium avocado contains on average about 180 [[calorie|calories]], 4 grams of [[protein]], 10 grams of fiber, and about 5 grams of fat. <ref> http://www.obesidad.net/english2002/meals4.shtml </ref> <ref>
http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/fruit-nutrition-chart.html#Avocado </ref>

Avocados are sometimes called alligator pears because of their shape and the colour of their skin.

== Agriculture ==

Avocados are commonly grown throughout [[Mexico]] and [[South America]]. In the United States, [[California]] is the leading avocado producer in the nation. An avocado tree will normally bear fruit after two or three years, and a mature tree will produce on average around 60 pounds (about 150 pieces) of fruit each year. <ref> http://www.avocado.org/ </ref> <ref> http://www.healthrecipes.com/avocado_information.htm </ref>

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Fruits]]

Politically correct

2009-02-26T00:39:31Z

MHes:

'''Politically correct''' restrictions on what we can say and how we say it have been imposed by [[liberals]]. These restrictions enforce a regime of '''political correctness''' similar to that of the Nazi and Communist regimes of Europe. Some are linguistic, but all are ideological.

Paul Weyrich, founder of the Heritage Foundation, said, "The ideology usually known as ‘Political Correctness,’ which is really the cultural Marxism of the infamous Frankfurt School, is using every type of cultural institution in our country to achieve its purpose, which is the destruction of traditional Western culture and the Christian religion." [http://www.familyresearchinst.org/Default.aspx?tabid=145]

[[Image:PC-PILGRIM.JPG|thumb|400px|Horsey cartoon 11-22-2007 parodies PC]]

The modern politically correct movement began at the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]; one of the most [[liberal]] institutions in the [[United States]] and is often viewed as a liberalist degrading of the [[First Amendment|freedom of speech]]. George Orwell's ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' famously incorporated the notion of limiting thought through language (see [[Newspeak]]). Words or actions that violate '''political correctness''' are called [[politically incorrect]].

At American universities, [[Liberal]]s began imposing '''political correctness''' to prevent recognition of differences among gender, religion, belief system, sexual orientation and nationality. In the 1960s, [[feminists]] began to demand that the neutral pronouns ''he'', ''him'' and ''his'' be replaced with expressions like "he or she", "him or her", "them", etc. They argued that no one would be able to understand that the masculine gender included the feminine gender in neutral contexts. But this was just part of their campaign to redefine the social roles traditionally associated with masculinity and femininity.

'''Political correctness''' or '''P.C.''' also means the alteration of ones choice of words in order to avoid either offending a group of people or reinforcing a stereotype considered to be disadvantageous to the group. More specifically, groups which (or whose putative "leaders" or other activists) claim some status as systemically oppressed or discriminated against will periodically attempt to change the terms by which they are referred to and demand that society as a whole change its usage of words as well.

==Examples==

An example of political correctness is the changing terminology used to described handicapped people. In the past the term "crippled" was perfectly acceptable and not considered offensive. At some point, somebody decided "crippled" was degrading and the preferred term changed to "handicapped". This, too, was eventually deemed offensive and "disabled" became the preferred term. Today, "disabled" is now considered degrading and "differently abled" and "physically challenged" are now the politically correct terms. The same can be said for the changing uses of terms for Black Americans: "Negro" and "coloured", once perfectly acceptable terms, were declared degrading and offensive by some activists during the 1970s and "Afro-American" and "Black" came into use, which in turn gave way to "[[African Americans|African-American]]", and in broader usage, "people of colour".

The distinction for example between "coloured people" (1950's-60's usage) and "people of colour" (today) is an important one which illustrates the basis of political correctness.

The question of politically correct language has spilled over from the use of racially descriptive words and affected the use of traditional language. In 1999, an aide to the mayor of Washington DC described a budget decision as "niggardly" (a word meaning "stingy," unrelated to the racial slur). The aide immediately came under criticism and was forced to resigned even though he had not said anything racially charged. However, his name was cleared within a matter of days and was offered to return to his previous position. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/williams/williams020499.htm</ref>

As well as language, political correctness discourages the use of racial or stereotypes in fiction out of concern that these stereotypes may become self-perpetuating. For example, frequently seeing the image black gang-members decked out in gold chains, carrying guns and listening to rap may pressure young black people into seeing this lifestyle as the more 'acceptable' choice for their racial group. The common image of female-dominated occupations (nurses, secretaries, care workers, etc) and of male-dominated occupations (IT workers, military, machinery operators, mechanics, etc.) can discourage individuals of either gender from considering those occupations traditionally belonging to the other. Additionally films like "The Siege" and "True Lies" have been criticized by pro-Islamic groups as having Muslims portrayed as terrorists, despite the fact that most current terrorists are in fact Muslims. Thus political correctness becomes the consideration of all public statements and media for their unintentional social impact.

Political correctness can even affect terminology that's viewed by secularists as too "pro-religion" or an alleged "violation of the separation of church and state" in the United States. The best example of this is the active promotion of the use of C.E. and B.C.E. as the abbreviations used after dates (instead of the commonly and traditionally used A.D. and B.C.).

==Differing Opinions==

Demands for politically correct language usage are rooted in the notion widely promoted among left-wing academics and sociologists that Western culture promotes systemic oppression against some groups by marginalizing them and excluding them from the "norm"; the groups thus supposedly systemically marginalized are referred to as "the Other" by these left-wing academics.{{fact}} The implication is that these groups are systemically excluded from the mainstream. "Coloured people" is therefore deemed offensive because the order of words puts "coloured" first, emphasizing their difference from the mainstream, while "people of colour" is acceptable because putting the term "people" first emphasizes that they are people and thus does not emphasize their difference from the "norm".

Some people allege that instead of encouraging supposedly marginalized groups to integrate with and assimilate into the mainstream of Western culture, political correctness ironically encourages them to emphasize and indeed to wallow in their marginalization from society, and to make a public display of such. This is known as [[identity politics]]. According to this view, gays and lesbians are therefore encouraged to label themselves as "queer" and make public displays of "queerness" calculated to disturb the sensibilities of mainstream people, rather than integrate into the mainstream themselves;{{fact}} Black Americans are encouraged to adopt [[Afrocentrism]] and convert to [[Islam]] or to conform to stereotypical black behavior, etc.{{fact}}

==The Language Police==
Conservative scholar [[Robert Bork]] has charged that the educational system is a battleground where the future of America is being undermined and ill-served. He has counseled against the troubles which will ensue as a result of anti-religious policies in the schools, permissive attitudes toward [[homosexuality]] and [[abortion]], as well as welfare policies that have destroyed families since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s War on Poverty. <ref> Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline. by Robert Bork published by Harper Collins (c) 1997</ref>

In her book "[[The Language Police]]", [[Diane Ravitch]] documents just how easy it is to get a word, phrase or idea banned from modern textbooks and references. Textbook producers are beholden to small non-elected liberal educational boards in a few key states such as New York or California. Few citizens know anything about these boards or who holds the seats of power on these boards. It's not a difficult for an interest group to mobilize a campaign to bombard the educational board. Meanwhile, the public is not even aware that their words or values are under attack from this corrupt system, while many ''elected'' Conservatives have rallied against this polocy .

Then, once a big state makes a textbook purchase, it's very difficult for a small state or any municipality to make any changes. Thus, profound changes can be inserted into textbooks and reference books by putting pressure on a handful of educational administrators. The work of textbook selection committee's is done privately, to avoid politicizing textbooks, but the reverse has happened. It's easier to pressure a lawmaker who is not beholden to community standards, but instead is enamored with political correctness. <ref>The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Children Learn by [[Diane Ravitch]] (c) 2003 published by Knopf</ref> Ravitch has documented "''bias guidelines''" for major publishers of texts and tests. These "guidelines" consist of advice to writers and editors about words and topics that must be avoided.<ref>http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003695</ref>

==Totalitarianism and Political Correctness==

The comprehensive and detailed control of all ideas, beliefs, and statements is one of the most problematic features of [[totalitarian]] regimes.[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-3816(196002)22%3A1%3C68%3ATIAP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W]

Political correctness can trace its origins back to the world of 1920's Germany, where [[Communist]] academics sought to impose their [[Marxist]] views on students. It is now acceptable in many Universities to have courses on gender, [[homosexual]] and [[African American]] studies, which, in fact, encourage the mainstream public to become different to avoid criticism.

==Notes==

<references/>

==See also==
* [[Postmodernism]]
*[[Racial censorship]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.capc.co.uk The Campaign Against Political Correctness]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=8olE_futZogC&pg=PA378&lpg=PA378&dq=communist+%22socially+correct%22&source=web&ots=DYD85Lsf1G&sig=pkoUxDOLFJZsme40QO13zakFZw4 The Chinese Have A Word For It]
*[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=218 DiscoverTheNetworks.org - Political Correctness, Appeasement and Speech Codes in Academia]

[[Category:Political Terms]]

Pixel

2009-02-26T00:37:04Z

MHes:

A '''pixel''' (which is short for "picture element") is the smallest part of a [[digital]] image. The size of the pixel depends on the [[resolution]] of the image display, in other words, it is as large or as small as the user chooses to display it. The colour of a pixel is some combination of [[red]], [[green]] and [[blue]] (also known as RGB). Pixels are most often squares in computer displays, but they do not necessarily have to be squares.

==External links==
[http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci212793,00.html What is a pixel?]

[[Category:Computers]]

Chromium

2009-02-26T00:36:22Z

MHes:

{{Element | name=Chromium | symbol=Cr | anumber=24 | amass=52.0 amu | state=solid | class=Transition metal | cstructure=Cubic | colour=Gray | date=1797| discname=[[Louis Vauquelin]] | origname=From the Greek word ''chrôma'' (colour) | uses=Stainless steel | obtained=Chromite}}
[[Category:Metals]]

Emerald

2009-02-26T00:35:17Z

MHes:

[[Image:Emeralds.jpg‎ |right|thumb|300px|]] '''Emeralds''' are one of the 4 "[[precious stone]]s", a valued [[gemstone]] most often having a clear dark green colour. The emerald is a variety of the [[mineral]] [[beryl]] which derives its colour from [[chromium]] and [[vanadium]]. It has a hardness rating of 7.5, and Specific Gravity of: 2.65 to 2.76. These gems are often used in [[jewelry]]. Emeralds have long been mined in [[Egypt]], and are also found in [[Pakistan]] and [[Colombia]]. In the United States, emeralds have been found in [[North Carolina]].

Emerald is the [[birthstone]] for May. It is also the special gemstone of the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]], one of the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel]].

[[Category:Gems]]
[[Category:Birthstones]]
[[Category:minerals]]
[[Category:Luxury]]

Purple

2009-02-26T00:34:46Z

MHes:

'''Purple''' is a non-primary colour. It is made by combining [[blue]] and [[red]]. Purple has been considered to be the colour of royalty.

[[Category: Colours]]

Brown

2009-02-26T00:34:19Z

MHes:

'''Brown''' is a mixture of [[red]], [[blue]], and [[yellow]], three additive primary colours.
[[Category:Colors]]

Green

2009-02-26T00:34:04Z

MHes:

'''Green''' is a colour made by combining [[yellow]] and [[blue]]. Green is the colour of many plants and living things.

In the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay", [[Robert Frost]] wrote:

<blockquote>''Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold.''<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/gold.htm</ref></blockquote>

Green is also a term used to refer to environmentally friendly products. So ''green'' energy could be [[hydroelectric]] for instance, instead of [[fossil fuels]].

The colour green corresponds to [[wavelength|wavelengths]] of 520 nanometers to 565 nanometers in the [[electromagnetic spectrum]].<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/specol.html#c1</ref>

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

[[Category: Colours]]

Yellow

2009-02-26T00:33:24Z

MHes:

'''Yellow''' is one of the three primary pigments along with [[red]] and [[blue]]. Mixing yellow and red makes [[Orange (colour)|orange]] while mixing yellow and blue makes [[green]].

The colour yellow corresponds to [[wavelength|wavelengths]] of 565 nanometers to 590 nanometers in the [[electromagnetic spectrum]].<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/specol.html#c1</ref>

== References ==

<references/>

[[Category: Colours]]

Red

2009-02-26T00:32:46Z

MHes:

'''Red''' may be any of a number of similar [[colour]]s at the lowest frequencies of [[light]] discernible by the [[human]] [[eye]]. Red is one of three [[primary colours]] of light, along with [[yellow]] and [[blue]]. Red light has a wavelength range of roughly 625-760 nm. Lower frequencies are called [[infrared]], or "below red", and cannot be seen by human eyes, although some infrared frequencies can be felt as heat.<ref>http://www.flickr.com/photos/lensop/sets/72157594342268252/</ref>

Red is supposedly the first colour perceived by humans. Brain-injured persons suffering from temporary [[colour-blindness]] start to perceive red before they are able to discern any other colours.<ref>http://www.tcrwf.org/PDF/April-2006-Newsletter.pdf</ref> [[Neolithic]] hunter peoples considered red to be the most important colour endowed with life-giving powers and thus placed red [[ocher]] into graves of their deceased. This explains funds of [[skeleton]]s embedded in up to 10 kg of red powdered ocher. Neolithic cave painters ascribed [[magic]] powers to the colour red. It can be stipulated that they painted [[animal]]s in red ocher or [[iron oxide]] to conjure their fertility.

Protective powers of the colour red against evil influence were common belief. Objects, animals and trees were covered in red paint, and warriors painted their axes and spear-catapults red to endow the weapons with magic powers. Some of the Australian aborigines abide by this custom up to the present times. Neolithic hunters and Germanic warriors used to paint their weapons and even themselves in blood of slain animals. Roman gladiators drank blood of their dying adversaries to take over their strength. In other cultures, the newly born were bathed in blood of particularly strong and good looking animals.[[image:VanEyck.jpg‎|'''''Arnolfini Wedding'' by Jan Van Eyck 1434'''|center|300px]]Red painted amulets or red [[gems]], such as [[ruby]] or [[garnet]], were used as charms against the "evil eye". Wearing a red ruby was supposed to bring about invincibility. Red bed-clothes were customary in Germany up to the Middle Ages as protection against the "red illnesses", such as fever, rashes or even miscarriages (famous example is the painting Arnolfini Wedding by Jan Van Eyck, dated 1434).<ref>http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/color/reds2.html</ref>

In [[politics]], red has become the colour associated with the [[Republican]] Party since its use by the TV networks on their electoral maps for states won by George W. Bush during the presidential election of 2000.

Red is also used to symbolize [[Communism]] and is prevalent in the flags of China and Soviet Russia. The slogan, "Better Red than dead," was popularized as a way of characterizing the appeasement of [[Communism]] by [[Bertrand Russell]] and his mostly [[British]] supporters.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=uIRi0BOvTi4C&pg=PA391&lpg=PA391&dq=%22better+red+than+dead%22+%22Bertrand+Russell%22&source=web&ots=WwFRaEaAmY&sig=h5XEKBrZOQidfBaca9EqJySsISM&hl=en</ref>

The colour red corresponds to wavelengths of 625 nanometers to 740 nanometers in the electromagnetic spectrum.<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/specol.html#c1</ref>

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Colours]]

Blue

2009-02-26T00:32:43Z

MHes:

'''Blue''' is one of the three primary pigments, along with [[red]] and [[yellow]], and one of the three main colors of light along with red and [[green]]. With [[pigment]]s, such as with paint, blue is combined with yellow to make [[green]], or with red to make [[purple]].

In [[politics]], blue is the colour of the [[Democrats]]. It is sometimes associate with wealth, such as in the terms [[blue blood]] and [[blue chip]].

The colour blue corresponds to [[wavelength|wavelengths]] of 435 nanometers to 500 nanometers in the [[electromagnetic spectrum]].<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/specol.html#c1</ref>

== References ==

<references/>

[[Category: Colours]]

Flight recorder

2009-02-26T00:06:01Z

MHes: fixed minor grammar errors/obfuscated sentences

[[Image:BlackBox19850-11.jpg|right]]
A '''flight recorder''' is an [[airplane]]’s Digital Flight Data Recorder (DVDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) installed as one unit. "'''Black box'''" is the common name used in news stories.

The Flight Data Recorder was invented by an [[Australia]]n named Dr. David Warren. The original model was red, although these days they are usually orange to make them easier to find. A [[journalist]] at the launch described it as a “wonderful black box” to make the point that how it worked was complex and one didn’t really need to know, but that it worked was the important thing.<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/ra/innovations/stories/s1076167.htm</ref>

The phrase has since been commonly used to describe a device about which nothing is known of its inner workings. Computers could be considered Black Boxes, as most people who use computers know almost nothing of their apparatus. Lehigh University Professor and Intelligent Design proponent [[Michael Behe]] used this analogy in naming his book ''Darwin's Black Box'', which deals with the issue of irreducible complexity in biological cells.

==The Recovery of KAL 007's Black Box==
[[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] was a Boeing 747 shot down by the Soviets on Sept. 1, 1983 just west of the Soviet territory of Sakhalin Island off the Siberian Maritime. There were 269 passengers and crew aboard. For over 10 years the Soviets denied having retrieved the Black Box but on January 8, 1993, [[Boris Yeltsin]], under pressure from Senator [[Jesse Helms]] of the Committee on Foreign Relations, handed the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Digital Flight Data Recorder tapes from the Black Box to the International Civil Aviation Organization of the United Nations. Here are the combined Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder transcripts chronicalling the first minute and 44 seconds of the flight of KAL 007 after missile detonation.<ref>http://www.rescue007.org/faq.htm#5</ref>

==See Also==
*[http://www.rescue007.org/faq.htm#4] [http://www.rescue007.org/] The website of the International Committee for the Rescue of KAL 007 Survivors and the reliability of KAL 007's recovered BlackBox tapes and their use in reconstructing the flight.
*[[How KAL 007 was Lost]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Technology]]