Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Bat

2007-10-05T16:39:23Z

Miriam:

A '''bat''' is a winged [[mammal]] that senses it surroundings via echolocation. Most bats are nocturnal and are the most active at night or twilight. There are around 1,100 species of bats in the world <ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.batworld.org/main/main.html }}</ref>, divided into insect-eating bats, fruit bats, and vampire bats. Although there is a common myth that bats feed on human blood, only 3 species actually eat blood, and none of them are harmful to humans <ref>http://www.batworld.org/myths_facts/myths_facts.html</ref>. Bat guano (droppings) makes great agricultural fertilizer, and bats can live more than 20 years <ref>http://www.users.bigpond.com/rdoolan/bats.html</ref>.

The bat is the only mammal that can fly, and also the only mammal that is also categorized as a [[bird]] <ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/lev11.html#19</ref>. Bats are an abomination<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/lev11.html#13</ref> and must not be eaten, and are known carriers of [[rabies]] {{fact}}, but is still, against the efforts of Christian missionaries, considered a delicacy in remote areas of Africa, in some islands of the South Pacific and the Asian Islands <ref>http://www.incrediblebats.com/tract/tract1.html</ref>.

{{expand}}
[[Category:Mammals]]

Elton John

2007-10-05T12:59:35Z

Miriam:

'''Elton John''' (born Reginald Dwight in [[London]], 1947) is a [[homosexual]][http://www.seafox.com/eltonjohn.html] English singer/songwriter who achieved prominence in the early 1970s. In 1976 he confessed his homosexuality in an interview. He quickly became a 'gay icon', embracing the homosexual lifestyle, and started abusing cocaine, marijuana and alcohol, amongst other addictions [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-252633-bio--Elton-John]. In 2005 he 'married' his long-term partner [[David Furnish]] in a Civil Partnership Ceremony.

He has been a strong influence for other musicians[http://en.allexperts.com/q/John-Elton-493/Influences-Elton-John.htm] and is popular amongst, and possibly a role model for, youths, despite being openly homosexual. As parents can't always know all what music their children listen to[http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/67276.html], there is a strong possibility that many American youths idolizes this homosexual without their parents knowing about his sinful life.

==Musical Style and Voice==
In his early years, his classical-influenced piano melodies, combined with lyrics by [[Bernie Taupin]] and a set of orchestral arrangements by [[Paul Buckmaster]], and his rich tenor voice, set him apart from the other singer-songwriters of the time. For many years, John would switch from his normal tenor to a falsetto in most of his songs. In most cases, soft rock is his main genre, but he often sings songs in the genre of country rock, hard rock, and emotional, moving ballads.

In 1986, Elton John received surgery to remove polyps from his vocal cords, which was likely brought upon by years of marijuana abuse starting during the recording of ''Rock of the Westies''. After the surgery, he discovered that he could not sing falsetto anymore, and he now has a lower vocal register.

==Views on Religion==

In 2006, John stated that he would support "ban[ning] religion completely". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6140710.stm]

==Discography==
*1969 - ''Empty Sky''
*1970 - ''Elton John''
*1971 - ''Tumbleweed Connection''
*1971 - ''Friends'' Soundtrack
*1971 - ''11-17-10'' (''17-11-70'' in [[Britain]])
*1972 - ''Madman Across the Water''
*1972 - ''Honky Chateau''
*1973 - ''Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player''
*1973 - ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road''
*1974 - ''Caribou''
*1974 - ''Greatest Hits''
*1975 - ''Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy''
*1975 - ''Rock of the Westies''
*1975 - ''Here and There''
*1976 - ''Blue Moves''
*1977 - ''Greatest Hits Vol. 2''
*1978 - ''A Single Man''
*1979 - ''Victim of Love''
*1980 - ''21 at 33''
*1981 - ''The Fox''
*1982 - ''Jump Up!''
*1983 - ''Too Low For Zero''
*1984 - ''Breaking Hearts''
*1985 - ''Ice on Fire''
*1986 - ''Leather Jackets''
*1987 - ''Live in Australia With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra''
*1988 - ''Reg Strikes Back''
*1989 - ''Sleeping With the Past''
*1990 - ''The Very Best of Elton John''
*1992 - ''The One''
*1993 - ''Rare Masters''
*1993 - ''Duets''
*1994 - ''The Lion King'' Soundtrack
*1995 - ''Made in England''
*1995 - ''Love Songs''
*1997 - ''The Big Picture''
*1999 - ''Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida''
*1999 - ''The Muse'' Soundtrack
*2000 - ''The Road to El Dorado'' Soundtrack
*2000 - ''One Night Only''
*2001 - ''Songs From the West Coast''
*2004 - ''Peachtree Road''
*2006 - ''The Captain and the Kid''

==Elton John Band==
*Elton John - [[piano]]/keyboards, vocals
*Bernie Taupin - lyrics
*Davey Johnstone - electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, backing vocals
*Bob Birch - bass guitar, backing vocals
*Nigel Olsson - drums, backing vocals
*John Mahon - percussion, backing vocals
*Guy Babylon - keyboards

===Past Members===
*Dee Murray - bass guitar, backing vocals
*Caleb Quaye - guitars, backing vocals
*Ray Cooper - percussion
*Roger Pope - drums
*Kenny Passarelli - bass, backing vocals
*James Newton-Howard - keyboards

{{DEFAULTSORT:John, Elton}}

[[Category: Musicians]]

Earthquake

2007-10-03T19:34:13Z

Miriam:

An '''earthquake''' is the alleged shaking caused when so-called "[[plate tectonics|tectonic activity]]" in an area causes the release of stored [[energy]] from the rock. Earthquakes are said to be commonly occurring on tectonic plate boundaries{{fact}}, earthquakes also occur along [[fault]]s where previous movement has occurred{{fact}}.

"Earthquakes" are reportedly a significant natural [[hazard]] to populations living in areas prone to "earthquakes" and responses to the hazard vary with economic development{{fact}}.

The most powerful earthquakes occur at destructive tectonic plate boundaries{{fact}}.

==The truth about "earthquakes"==

The earth is fixed, and cannot be shaken (Psalms 104:5, "Thou didst fix the earth on its foundation so that it never can be shaken"), and numerous theories have surfaced to explain why so-called "earthquakes" still are reported from all over the world.

Possible theories include:

* Some "earthquakes" has been a way for communist countries to cover-up for damage caused by war<ref>http://voyage.typepad.com/china/heilongjiang/</ref>.

* A phenomenon resembling an "earthquake" can be caused by nuclear weapons testing<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200501/FOR20050107b.html</ref>. Although this would not make the earth actually "shake", the powerful [[infra sound]] caused by nuclear weapons<ref>http://www.borderlands.com/archives/arch/gavreaus.htm</ref> might make the earth appear to shake.

* Unexplained "earthquakes" are suspected to be caused by mass hallucinations or other sources of infra sound waves.

There is no evidence that earthquakes actually occur, and the "scientific study" of earthquakes, called "[[seismology]]", is under strong dispute<ref>http://www.univie.ac.at/Wissenschaftstheorie/heat/heat-3/heat383f.htm</ref>.

[[Category:Seismology]]
[[Category:Natural Disasters]]

Elton John

2007-10-03T13:01:56Z

Miriam: Added warnings about homosexuality

'''Elton John''' (born Reginald Dwight in [[London]], 1947) is a [[homosexual]]<ref>http://www.seafox.com/eltonjohn.html</ref> English singer/songwriter who achieved prominence in the early 1970s. In 1976 he confessed his homosexuality in an interview. He quickly became a 'gay icon', embracing the homosexual lifestyle, and started abusing cocaine, marijuana and alcohol, amongst other addictions <ref>http://music.yahoo.com/ar-252633-bio--Elton-John</ref>. In 2005 he 'married' his long-term partner [[David Furnish]] in a Civil Partnership Ceremony.

He has been a strong influence for other musicians<ref>http://en.allexperts.com/q/John-Elton-493/Influences-Elton-John.htm</ref> and is popular amongst, and possibly a role model for, youths, despite being openly homosexual. As parents can't always know all what music their children listen to<ref>http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/67276.html</ref>, there is a strong possibility that many American youths idolizes this homosexual without their parents knowing about his sinful life.

==Musical Style and Voice==
In his early years, his classical-influenced piano melodies, combined with lyrics by [[Bernie Taupin]] and a set of orchestral arrangements by [[Paul Buckmaster]], and his rich tenor voice, set him apart from the other singer-songwriters of the time. For many years, John would switch from his normal tenor to a falsetto in most of his songs. In most cases, soft rock is his main genre, but he often sings songs in the genre of country rock, hard rock, and emotional, moving ballads.

In 1986, Elton John received surgery to remove polyps from his vocal cords, which was likely brought upon by years of marijuana abuse starting during the recording of ''Rock of the Westies''. After the surgery, he discovered that he could not sing falsetto anymore, and he now has a lower vocal register.

==Views on Religion==

In 2006, John stated that he would support "ban[ning] religion completely". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6140710.stm]

==Discography==
*1969 - ''Empty Sky''
*1970 - ''Elton John''
*1971 - ''Tumbleweed Connection''
*1971 - ''Friends'' Soundtrack
*1971 - ''11-17-10'' (''17-11-70'' in [[Britain]])
*1972 - ''Madman Across the Water''
*1972 - ''Honky Chateau''
*1973 - ''Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player''
*1973 - ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road''
*1974 - ''Caribou''
*1974 - ''Greatest Hits''
*1975 - ''Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy''
*1975 - ''Rock of the Westies''
*1975 - ''Here and There''
*1976 - ''Blue Moves''
*1977 - ''Greatest Hits Vol. 2''
*1978 - ''A Single Man''
*1979 - ''Victim of Love''
*1980 - ''21 at 33''
*1981 - ''The Fox''
*1982 - ''Jump Up!''
*1983 - ''Too Low For Zero''
*1984 - ''Breaking Hearts''
*1985 - ''Ice on Fire''
*1986 - ''Leather Jackets''
*1987 - ''Live in Australia With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra''
*1988 - ''Reg Strikes Back''
*1989 - ''Sleeping With the Past''
*1990 - ''The Very Best of Elton John''
*1992 - ''The One''
*1993 - ''Rare Masters''
*1993 - ''Duets''
*1994 - ''The Lion King'' Soundtrack
*1995 - ''Made in England''
*1995 - ''Love Songs''
*1997 - ''The Big Picture''
*1999 - ''Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida''
*1999 - ''The Muse'' Soundtrack
*2000 - ''The Road to El Dorado'' Soundtrack
*2000 - ''One Night Only''
*2001 - ''Songs From the West Coast''
*2004 - ''Peachtree Road''
*2006 - ''The Captain and the Kid''

==Elton John Band==
*Elton John - [[piano]]/keyboards, vocals
*Bernie Taupin - lyrics
*Davey Johnstone - electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, backing vocals
*Bob Birch - bass guitar, backing vocals
*Nigel Olsson - drums, backing vocals
*John Mahon - percussion, backing vocals
*Guy Babylon - keyboards

===Past Members===
*Dee Murray - bass guitar, backing vocals
*Caleb Quaye - guitars, backing vocals
*Ray Cooper - percussion
*Roger Pope - drums
*Kenny Passarelli - bass, backing vocals
*James Newton-Howard - keyboards

{{DEFAULTSORT:John, Elton}}

[[Category: Musicians]]

Bat

2007-10-03T11:04:56Z

Miriam:

A '''bat''' is a winged [[mammal]] that senses it surroundings via echolocation. Most bats are nocturnal and are the most active at night or twilight. There are around 1,100 species of bats in the world <ref>http://www.batworld.org/main/main.html</ref>, divided into insect-eating bats, fruit bats, and vampire bats. Although there is a common myth that bats feed on human blood, only 3 species actually eat blood, and none of them are harmful to humans <ref>http://www.batworld.org/myths_facts/myths_facts.html</ref>. Bat guano (droppings) makes great agricultural fertilizer, and bats can live more than 20 years <ref>http://www.users.bigpond.com/rdoolan/bats.html</ref>.

The bat is the only mammal that can fly, and also the only mammal that is also categorized as a [[bird]] <ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/lev11.html#19</ref>. Bats are an abomination<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/lev11.html#13</ref> and must not be eaten, and are known carriers of [[rabies]] {{fact}}, but is still, against the efforts of Christian missionaries, considered a delicacy in remote areas of Africa, in some islands of the South Pacific and the Asian Islands <ref>http://www.incrediblebats.com/tract/tract1.html</ref>.

{{expand}}
[[Category:Mammals]]

Wandering Jew

2007-10-01T20:39:29Z

Miriam:

[[Image:Asdf.JPG|right|thumb|18th century [[French]] woodcut of the Wandering Jew]]

The legend of the '''Wandering Jew''' was a popular [[anti-Semitic]] myth. The story began in the 13th century, but did not identify with a Jew until the seventeenth. It was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. According to the legend, the wandering [[Jew]] was condemned by [[Christ]] to wander the earth until the [[Second Coming]] because he mocked Jesus on the way to the [[crucifixion]]. The story underwent many changes over the course of the centuries. During the middle ages, the Wandering Jew was said to have been seen in numerous areas, and later he was also said to have appeared in the [[United States]]. The Wandering Jew is not mentioned in [[Bible|The Bible]] and is completely made-up.

==References==
[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=33&letter=W ''Wandering Jew'' at Jewish Encyclopedia]

[[category:Anti-Semitic Myth]]

Military

2007-10-01T20:34:34Z

Miriam:

'''Military''' (''latin: militaris - a soldier'') is an [[adjective]] meaning relating to, or characteristic of members of the armed forces.

'''''The military''''' is a noun that refers either to the armed forces of a country, or the personnel . [[Homosexual|Homosexuals]] are allowed to serve in the Military as long as they keep their perversions secret.

[[category:military]]

Boy Scouts of America

2007-10-01T20:29:57Z

Miriam: Changed title: keeping boys out of sin is not a "controversy"

The '''Boy Scouts of America''' was founded on February 8, 1910 by James West. The movement began two years earlier in England, where Lieutenant-General [[Robert Baden-Powell|Sir Robert Baden-Powell]], a hero of the Boer Wars, founded the Boy Scouts.

Today the Scout Movement is the largest voluntary youth group in the world. Its membership exceeds 28 million, counting boys and girls. Most (95 of 155 National Scout Organizations) are now mixed at at least some ages.

Baden-Powell wrote in a pamphlet "Scouting & Christianity" (1917): "Scouting is nothing less than applied Christianity." Since then, various Scouting Organizations have been founded for members of other religions, or which are not specific to any religion.

Many presidents have praised and addressed the Boy Scouts over the years. President [[Calvin Coolidge]] said this to a group of Boy Scouts in 1924:

<blockquote>The three fundamentals of scouthood are reverence for nature ... reverence for law ... and reverence for God. It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Doubters do not achieve. ... No man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is part of an unending plan.</blockquote>

In designing the Scouting program, Baden-Powell drew ideas from the Japanese warrior's ''bushido'' code, on educational methods of the African Zulu tribes. on the Victorian "ragged schools" movement, and the educational methods of Montessori.<ref>Baden-Powell, ''Scouting for Boys"[http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0192805479&id=LdtVxcFpWFQC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&ots=j1TxsQhuis&dq=baden-powell+scouting+bushido&sig=6nhFG3I_TD7AB0mP7lzSHebCT7c#PPA44,M1]</ref><ref>[http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-bp.htm Robert Baden-Powell as an Educational Innovator</ref>

==Cub Scouting==

Cub Scouting is a program in place for boys who are not yet old enough to be Boy Scouts. Cub Scouts range in grade level from first to fifth grade. Cub Scout units are referred to as "packs" rather than "troops", and packs subdivide further into groups known as "dens" often led by "den mothers". Fourth and fifth grade Cub Scouts are called "Webelos", <ref>The acronym, thought up in the early 40s, does NOT presently stand for "Wolf, Bear, Lion, Scout" as before; it now stands for "WE'll BE LOyal Scouts!". [http://www.infinetivity.com/~blkeagle/webelos.htm]</ref>
and one of the main goals of the Webelos program is to transition boys from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. The highest award that a Cub Scout can earn is the Arrow of Light Award, which is also the only Scouting award that can remain on a Boy Scout's uniform from his Cub Scouting days.

==The Scout Oath & Law==
'''Scout Law:'''<blockquote>
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, kind, courteous, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
</blockquote>
'''Scout Oath'''<blockquote>On my honor, I will do my best: To do my duty to God and my
country, and to obey the Scout Law, To help other people at all
times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally
straight.</blockquote>

The Scout Oath & Law are the guiding principles of Scouting, and are generally recited at the beginning or end of a Troop meeting.

==Ranks==
The requirements and order of the BSA ranks have changed over the years, although the names have only changed little. The current order is as follows:
* Tenderfoot
* Second Class
* First Class
* Star Scout
* Life Scout
* Eagle Scout

==Rank of Eagle Scout==

The highest rank that may be attained by a Boy Scout is that of Eagle Scout, which less than 5% of Scouts nationwide earn. <ref>http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0410/d-news.html</ref> One of the requirements for this rank is leading a service project to benefit either the community at large, or a specific non-profit organization, such as a school or a church. Other requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges (earned over the span of the last three ranks - including 12 predetermined ones), being active in the troop for a minimum amount of time, holding a position of leadership within one's troop, and appearing before a Board of Review. A Scouts Eagle Board of Review must be completed before a candidate's 18th birthday.

==Morality==

As some consider a result of their strong adherence to traditional Christian morality, the Boy Scouts of America have come under criticism for their policy regarding [[homosexuals]]. As stated in a press release from the organization:<ref>http://www.scouting.org/media/press/2002/020206/index.html</ref>

::The BSA reaffirmed its view that an avowed homosexual cannot serve as a role model for the traditional moral values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law and that these values cannot be subject to local option choices.

This has led to several high profile lawsuits, such as the one brought by the ACLU of San Diego<ref>http://www.aclusandiego.org/boy_scouts/boy_scouts_082800.html</ref>, which proposes that the discriminatory practices of the organization should make them ineligible for the use of public funds or public lands.

Prohibition of homosexual scout leaders is not yet universal within the BSA, however. The Massachusetts Minuteman Council, for example, adopted a bylaw in 2001 barring exclusion of anyone on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation. The bylaw, which resembles the U. S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, permits homosexuals to lead troops so long as they do not discuss their sexual orientation. A few other councils have similar policies.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20010802/ai_n13920546 Mass. Scouts permit gay leaders], Chicago Sun-Times, Aug 2, 2001</ref>

Atheist Scouts have also been removed from the organization on the basis of the twelfth point of the Scout Law being "reverent". <ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/116/story_11619_1.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Service Organizations]]
[[category: U.S. Government Chartered Organizations]]

Bat

2007-10-01T15:51:57Z

Miriam:

A '''bat''' is a winged [[mammal]] that senses it surroundings via echolocation. Most bats are nocturnal and are the most active at night or twilight. There are around 1,100 species of bats in the world <ref>http://www.batworld.org/main/main.html</ref>, divided into insect-eating bats, fruit bats, and vampire bats. Although there is a common myth that bats feed on human blood, only 3 species actually eat blood, and none of them are harmful to humans <ref>http://www.batworld.org/myths_facts/myths_facts.html</ref>. Bat guano (droppings) makes great agricultural fertilizer, and bats can live more than 20 years <ref>http://www.users.bigpond.com/rdoolan/bats.html</ref>.

The bat is the only mammal that can fly, and also the only mammal that is also categorized as a [[bird]] <ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/lev11.html#13</ref>. It is unclean and should not be eaten, but is still, against the efforts of Christian missionaries, considered a delicacy in remote areas of Africa, in some islands of the South Pacific and the Asian Islands <ref>http://www.incrediblebats.com/tract/tract1.html</ref>.

{{expand}}
[[Category:Mammals]]

Bat

2007-10-01T15:38:00Z

Miriam: