Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Soul

2008-11-26T00:51:51Z

RightOfCenter:

[[Image:Soul.jpg|right]]
The '''soul''' is a vital concept within many [[religion|religious]] traditions, including [[Christianity]]. The soul is considered to be the eternal element of an individual.

Most Christians regard the soul as the immortal essence of a human - the seat or locus of human [[will]], [[understanding]], [[morality]] and/or [[personality]].

Scientists generally ignore or dismiss the soul as unsuitable for study. To be precise, the [[methodological naturalism]] of modern science is unable to handle the concept of the soul. Anything which is not material is deliberately excluded from consideration, and as the soul is not a material thing scientists accordingly refuse to study it. This has implications for the study of human [[Psychology]]. There is also the question of when the soul enters the body, as this is important for the debate on [[abortion]] from a theological position.

It should be noted that there was once a study made at the turn of the 20th century by Duncan MacDougall of the loss of weight at the time of death. The scientist doing the measurements concluded that this loss of weight (approximatly three quarters of an ounce) was due to the soul leaving the body.<ref>http://www.bio.miami.edu/dywang/Soul-Searching.html</ref> He also did a similar experiment with dogs, but found no change in weight, which would match the Chistian concept that of God's creations on the earth, humans alone have souls. No known attempts to follow up his work have ever been made, but many have noticed that women tend to gain weight when they become pregnant, possibly indicating the presence of an additional soul.

==References==
<References/>

[[category:religion]]
[[category:philosophy]]

Swimming

2008-11-26T00:25:51Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Swimming''' refers to any combination of bodily movements employed by [[animals]] as a means of propelling themselves through [[water]]. [[Humans]] can learn to swim, although water is not their natural habitat. [[Fish]], marine [[mammals]], and other aquatic creatures swim by instinct as their primary means of locomotion.

Swimming is an [[Olympic]] sport. American [[Michael Phelps]] is probably considered to be the best human swimmer to have ever lived.

[[category:Sports]]

Firefly (TV series)

2008-05-12T16:16:21Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Firefly''' was an American [[science-fiction]] [[television]] program created by Joss Whedon. It was introduced as a mid-season replacement on the [[Fox Network|Fox]] channel in 2002. Fox cancelled the program after airing 11 of the 14 produced episodes. However, the show captured a small but extremely devoted fan following, and high DVD sales led to the production of a follow-up feature film directed by Whedon, "Serenity," in 2005.

The show is set 500 years in the future, after humanity has fled [[earth]] and terraformed the planets and moons of a neighboring [[solar system]]. The story follows the crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity, whose captain and first mate are former members of the Independants, a recently defeated military movement against the system's centralized government, known as the Alliance. The war for Indpendence in the Firefly universe has strong parallels to the [[American Civil War]], and indeed despite its space-opera setting Firefly's locations and characters are strongly reminiscent of American westerns.

The show is notable for its total lack of [[aliens]] and its use of muted sounds in space, both of which are unusual in space opera.

==External Links==
*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/
*http://www.scifi.com/firefly/

[[Category:Television]]

Talk:Firefly (TV series)

2008-05-12T16:00:52Z

RightOfCenter:

Shouldn't this article be called "Firefly (television)" or something like that? Saving the title "firefly" for the cool little bugs that glow in the dark? [[User:Human|Human]] 15:18, 15 May 2007 (EDT)
:Fine by me except I can't figure out how to move/edit article titles so someone else'll have to do it [[User:RightOfCenter|RightOfCenter]] 12:00, 12 May 2008 (EDT)

Battlestar Galactica

2008-05-09T18:39:44Z

RightOfCenter: /* Artistic Notes */

[[Image:Bsg.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
'''Battlestar Galactica''' is a television show on the [[SciFi Channel]]. It is a revival of a 1970's era [[cult classic]] of the same name. However, unlike the 1970's version, Battlestar Galactica is critically acclaimed, and won one of Time magazine's "Best of 2005: Television" awards.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1141640,00.html</ref>

==The 2004 Revival==
===Background===
The show follows the conflict between the human race, as represented by the residents of the Twelve Colonies of [[Kobol]], and the [[Cylon]] race, a robotic race created by the humans fifty years prior to the events of the television show. Shortly after their creation, these [[Cylons]], appearing as metallic robots, rebelled and fought a long war against the humans. At great loss, humanity was victorious.

===Main Plot===
In the main plot of the show, the [[Cylons]] return to fight the human race. However, the [[Cylons]] have evolved - or developed themselves - to appear human. Using various sleeper agents, they permeate the Twelve Colonies and bring about a massive surprise attack, leaving only around 40,000 humans alive.

The first season describes humanity's escape from the Twelve Colonies after the [[Cylon]] attack. The second follows humanity's attempt to forge a political system within the fleet, ending in a presidential election and the settlement of a new planet. The third season covers humanity's recuperation from the fall-out from both of these events, and the search for the elusive "Thirteenth Colony," [[Earth]], a world shrouded in mythology, which the humans believe will be their safe haven from the [[Cylons]]. The third season also significantly develops the prophetic plotline, and reveals a great secret of the show - the identity of four of the Final Five [[Cylon|Cylons]]. The fourth and final season will most likely focus on the search for [[Earth]] as well as Starbuck's destiny and the identity of the final Cylon. <ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407362/</ref>

===Artistic Notes===
Common themes involve the topics of prophetic religions in society, the tension between liberty and safety in a world riddled with terrorism, interfamily conflicts, and the meaning of "survival" after a catastrophic event.

The show can be noted for its use of muted sounds in space combat - an artistic flourish that, while strictly factual, has been absent from mainstream [[science fiction]] like [[Star Wars]] or the [[Star Trek]] series. It is thought that the producers of the show drew heavily from [[Joss Whedon]]'s short running television show, [[Firefly]], which muted all noises in space scenes.

== Other titles ==
'''The Original Series''': It was similar to the 2004 revival. It related how humanity struggles to survive against the Cylon threat

'''1980 Version''': It was a continuation of the Original Series. The Galacica and the fleet discover Earth; only it is in a primitive stage in the year 1980. The crew of the Galactica decides to try and advance Earth civilization subtly to the point where they can help battle the Cylons.

== Common Characters ==

'''Adama''': Adama is the commander of the ship called Galactica. This also means he is the commander of the entire colonial military in all of the Battlestar Galactica series.
In the Original Series and the 1980 version he was also a member the Quroum of Twelve that was the colonial government. In the 2004 series his name was changed from Adama to William Adama.

'''Starbuck''': Starbuck was a male fighter pilot in the Original Series and a female fighter pilot in the 2004 version. In the 2004 series she also became a field officer. Her real name is Kara Thrace; "Starbuck" being a callsign.

'''Boomer''': Boomer was a male fighter pilot in the Original Series and a female fighter pilot in the 2004 series. In the 1980 version he took on the role as the executive officer (second in command) of the Galactica.
In the 2004 series she was once again a fighter pilot and mechanic. Her real name was Sharon Valeri and used the callsign Boomer. She was later found to be a Humanoid Cylon sleeper agent, although being a sleeper she did not realize this herself until an exact replica of her got on board the Galactica and shot Adama. Another copy of Boomer was found by Helo, a pilot trapped on Caprica. She helped him escape, falling in love with him in the process. Being a Cylon she was imprisoned when the pair rejoined the fleet. She helped the fleet avoid Cylon attacks, and rescue other refugees from Caprica. She became pregnant through an unmarried relationship with Helom and gave birth to a Cylon-human cross breed. Her Cylon title was Number 8.

'''Apollo''': Apollo is Adama's son (in all series). He was a fighter pilot, although in the 2004 series he advanced to command his own ship, the ''Pegasus''. In the 2004 series he is named Lee Adama, with "Apollo" being his callsign.

'''Tigh''': Tigh is the executive officer for the Galactica in the Original and the 2004 versions. In the 2004 series he is named Saul Tigh. In the third season finale, he discovers that he is a Cylon humanoid, like Boomer.

'''Baltar''': Baltar is a traitor to the colonials. In the original series he was a member of the Quroum of Twelve, who helped the Cylons attack the colonies. This was used for his personal ambition to rule over Cylons and humans. However he had to escape the fleet and join the Cylons as the commander of a Cylon basestar. In the 2004 version he was a timid scientist who became the vice-president, and later the president.
He created a defense grid around the twelve colonies that the Cylons were able to hack. He was seduced by a humanoid Cylon (number 6) who appeared to him but not to anybody else. During his brief presidency the fleet built a city on New Caprica. This was captured by Cylons and Baltar was forced to sign the surrender of the colonies. When the people from New Caprica were rescued Baltar was captured and forced to stand trial.

==References==
<references/>
[http://www.Battlestarwiki.org Battlestarwiki]
[[Category:Television Shows]]
[[category:Science fiction]]

Firefly (TV series)

2008-05-09T18:32:56Z

RightOfCenter: New page: '''Firefly''' was an American science-fiction television program created by Joss Whedon. It was introduced as a mid-season replacement on the Fox channel in 2002. Fox cancelled the...

'''Firefly''' was an American [[science-fiction]] [[television]] program created by Joss Whedon. It was introduced as a mid-season replacement on the Fox channel in 2002. Fox cancelled the program after airing 11 of the 14 produced episodes. However, the show captured a small by extremely devoted fan following, and high DVD sales led to the production of a follow-up feature film directed by Whedon, "Serenity," in 2005.

The show is set 500 years in the future, after humanity has fled [[earth]] and terraformed the planets and moons of a neighboring [[solar system]]. The story follows the crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity, whose captain and first mate are former members of the Independants, a recently defeated military movement against the system's centralized government, known as the Alliance. The war for Indpendence in the Firefly universe has strong parallels to the [[American Civil War]], and indeed despite its space-opera setting Firefly's locations and characters are strongly reminiscent of American westerns.

The show is notable for its total lack of [[aliens]] and its use of muted sounds in space, both of which are unusual in space opera.

Battlestar Galactica

2008-05-09T17:51:36Z

RightOfCenter: no longer accurate

[[Image:Bsg.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
'''Battlestar Galactica''' is a television show on the [[SciFi Channel]]. It is a revival of a 1970's era [[cult classic]] of the same name. However, unlike the 1970's version, Battlestar Galactica is critically acclaimed, and won one of Time magazine's "Best of 2005: Television" awards.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1141640,00.html</ref>

==The 2004 Revival==
===Background===
The show follows the conflict between the human race, as represented by the residents of the Twelve Colonies of [[Kobol]], and the [[Cylon]] race, a robotic race created by the humans fifty years prior to the events of the television show. Shortly after their creation, these [[Cylons]], appearing as metallic robots, rebelled and fought a long war against the humans. At great loss, humanity was victorious.

===Main Plot===
In the main plot of the show, the [[Cylons]] return to fight the human race. However, the [[Cylons]] have evolved - or developed themselves - to appear human. Using various sleeper agents, they permeate the Twelve Colonies and bring about a massive surprise attack, leaving only around 40,000 humans alive.

The first season describes humanity's escape from the Twelve Colonies after the [[Cylon]] attack. The second follows humanity's attempt to forge a political system within the fleet, ending in a presidential election and the settlement of a new planet. The third season covers humanity's recuperation from the fall-out from both of these events, and the search for the elusive "Thirteenth Colony," [[Earth]], a world shrouded in mythology, which the humans believe will be their safe haven from the [[Cylons]]. The third season also significantly develops the prophetic plotline, and reveals a great secret of the show - the identity of four of the Final Five [[Cylon|Cylons]]. The fourth and final season will most likely focus on the search for [[Earth]] as well as Starbuck's destiny and the identity of the final Cylon. <ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407362/</ref>

===Artistic Notes===
Common themes involve the topics of prophetic religions in society, the tension between liberty and safety in a world riddled with terrorism, interfamily conflicts, and the meaning of "survival" after a catastrophic event.

The show can be noted for its use of muted sounds in space combat - an artistic flourish that, while strictly factual, has been absent from mainstream [[science fiction]] like [[Star Wars]] or the [[Star Trek]] series. It is thought that the producers of the show drew heavily from [[Joss Wheedon]]'s short running television show, [[Firefly]], which muted all noises in space scenes.

== Other titles ==
'''The Original Series''': It was similar to the 2004 revival. It related how humanity struggles to survive against the Cylon threat

'''1980 Version''': It was a continuation of the Original Series. The Galacica and the fleet discover Earth; only it is in a primitive stage in the year 1980. The crew of the Galactica decides to try and advance Earth civilization subtly to the point where they can help battle the Cylons.

== Common Characters ==

'''Adama''': Adama is the commander of the ship called Galactica. This also means he is the commander of the entire colonial military in all of the Battlestar Galactica series.
In the Original Series and the 1980 version he was also a member the Quroum of Twelve that was the colonial government. In the 2004 series his name was changed from Adama to William Adama.

'''Starbuck''': Starbuck was a male fighter pilot in the Original Series and a female fighter pilot in the 2004 version. In the 2004 series she also became a field officer. Her real name is Kara Thrace; "Starbuck" being a callsign.

'''Boomer''': Boomer was a male fighter pilot in the Original Series and a female fighter pilot in the 2004 series. In the 1980 version he took on the role as the executive officer (second in command) of the Galactica.
In the 2004 series she was once again a fighter pilot and mechanic. Her real name was Sharon Valeri and used the callsign Boomer. She was later found to be a Humanoid Cylon sleeper agent, although being a sleeper she did not realize this herself until an exact replica of her got on board the Galactica and shot Adama. Another copy of Boomer was found by Helo, a pilot trapped on Caprica. She helped him escape, falling in love with him in the process. Being a Cylon she was imprisoned when the pair rejoined the fleet. She helped the fleet avoid Cylon attacks, and rescue other refugees from Caprica. She became pregnant through an unmarried relationship with Helom and gave birth to a Cylon-human cross breed. Her Cylon title was Number 8.

'''Apollo''': Apollo is Adama's son (in all series). He was a fighter pilot, although in the 2004 series he advanced to command his own ship, the ''Pegasus''. In the 2004 series he is named Lee Adama, with "Apollo" being his callsign.

'''Tigh''': Tigh is the executive officer for the Galactica in the Original and the 2004 versions. In the 2004 series he is named Saul Tigh. In the third season finale, he discovers that he is a Cylon humanoid, like Boomer.

'''Baltar''': Baltar is a traitor to the colonials. In the original series he was a member of the Quroum of Twelve, who helped the Cylons attack the colonies. This was used for his personal ambition to rule over Cylons and humans. However he had to escape the fleet and join the Cylons as the commander of a Cylon basestar. In the 2004 version he was a timid scientist who became the vice-president, and later the president.
He created a defense grid around the twelve colonies that the Cylons were able to hack. He was seduced by a humanoid Cylon (number 6) who appeared to him but not to anybody else. During his brief presidency the fleet built a city on New Caprica. This was captured by Cylons and Baltar was forced to sign the surrender of the colonies. When the people from New Caprica were rescued Baltar was captured and forced to stand trial.

==References==
<references/>
[http://www.Battlestarwiki.org Battlestarwiki]
[[Category:Television Shows]]
[[category:Science fiction]]

Baldness

2008-05-09T17:28:12Z

RightOfCenter: New page: Baldness, in humans, is the condition of having no or very little hair, especially on the top of the head. It has a variety of causes. The most common is male-pattern baldness, whi...

Baldness, in humans, is the condition of having no or very little [[hair]], especially on the top of the [[head]]. It has a variety of causes. The most common is male-pattern baldness, which is a genetic trait that leads to hair loss in adult males.

Despite various cultural stigmas, baldness is not harmful in and of itself, and male-pattern baldness does not signal a loss or lack of virility in men. Furthermore, cultural attitudes about male baldness are widely varied, and many regard it as a sign of masculinity. Despite this, a number of medical treatments have been developed for baldness, ranging from [[drug]] therapies to hair replacement surgery.

Talk:Go

2008-05-09T15:48:11Z

RightOfCenter: /* Handicap */

==Handicap==
The reference I used is from a Go Wiki, so it may need replaced by a better reference, but Sensei's library is a solid Wiki without appreciable vandalism, so the information is good. I will try to find an AGA link later.[[User:Boomcoach|Boomcoach]] 14:26, 6 March 2008 (EST)

==origins==
Someone smarter than me should really research that claim that Go originated in the third millenium BC. It probably isn't nearly that old, and stories that say it is are probably just legends. The earliest historical records of the game date from around 500 BC. There are legends that Socrates invented chess, too, but that doesn't mean he did. [[User:RightOfCenter|RightOfCenter]] 11:48, 9 May 2008 (EDT)

Talk:Bank run

2008-05-09T15:38:06Z

RightOfCenter: New page: This... this is nonsense, right? The article describes a run on a bank, leading to bank failure. That's a real thing, but it is not even close to being a suitable definition of panic, whic...

This... this is nonsense, right? The article describes a run on a bank, leading to bank failure. That's a real thing, but it is not even close to being a suitable definition of panic, which is an emotional state and can have a variet of causes. [[User:RightOfCenter|RightOfCenter]] 11:38, 9 May 2008 (EDT)

Talk:Chess

2008-05-09T15:22:23Z

RightOfCenter:

My gosh, there is no context given for the second half of the article, not describing what the pieces are. --[[User:Hojimachong|'''Hojimachong''']][[User_Talk:Hojimachong|talk]] 12:41, 1 April 2007 (EDT)

: What's the source on the pieces being added? Curious to read more.-'''AmesG'''[http://www.conservapedia.com/User_talk:AmesG yo!] 15:26, 13 April 2007 (EDT)

I'll get on it. By the way, is anybody interested in playing email chess? [[User:MountainDew|MountainDew]] 17:13, 14 April 2007 (EDT)

: RedHotPawn, same username.-'''AmesG'''[http://www.conservapedia.com/User_talk:AmesG yo!] 17:14, 14 April 2007 (EDT)

I'll do the email chess MD; 
ON Topic: we're going to need diagrams for to spell out moves and strategies, as chess is such a visual game. I don't have a clue where to get them though. Also a section on chess notation would be handy.[[User:Rob Pommer| Cracker]][[User_talk:Rob_Pommer|talk]] 16:14, 15 April 2007 (EDT)

I'm kansaspatzer if anyone is on Gameknot.

A section on chess notation would be excellent! [[User:MountainDew|MountainDew]] 16:18, 15 April 2007 (EDT)

==Image==
I like the shot of the individual pieces; can it be flipped, R-L? that way the text will correspond more naturally with the photo; conversely we can rev the text. Your call.[[User:Rob Pommer| Cracker]][[User_talk:Rob_Pommer|talk]] 16:20, 15 April 2007 (EDT)

== several small edits ==

Since this article looks like the hard work of probably one editor, I wanted to call attention to the fact that I just made several small edits in a row. You might want to look at each one to make sure I didn't mess up your article. By the way, is the "descriptive" method of noatation coming soon? [[User:Human|Human]] 16:04, 12 May 2007 (EDT)

== Break article up into smaller articles? ==

This article is rather long, perhaps should we break some of it off into separate articles, such as one on chess notation? [[User:DanH|DanH]] 21:13, 30 October 2007 (EDT)

==elitist game?==

"The game used to be treated as a status symbol of education and aristocracy but in recent times has become to be known as an elitist's game."

This is highly questionable and frankly sounds absurd to me, esp. without any citation to back it up. If anything, the rise of the internet has broadened the appeal of chess and made it less of an elitist game in recent times. [[User:RightOfCenter|RightOfCenter]] 11:22, 9 May 2008 (EDT)

Chess

2008-05-09T15:17:00Z

RightOfCenter: /* Pieces */

[[Image:Staunton chess set.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A typical chess set and tournament clock.]]

'''Chess''' is a turn-based [[board game]] for two players, and is one of the most popular games in the world. The goal of the game is to place the opposing king into ''checkmate'', that is, a position in which the king is under attack but cannot escape. The game used to be treated as a status symbol of education and aristocracy but in recent times has become to be known as an [[elitist]]'s game.

Modern international chess has a powerful, sweeping [[queen]] who was not in the original game. The long reach of bishops today was also lacking at first. Maneuvers such as castling or capturing ''en passant'' have been developed within the past few hundred years.

Today, chess is one of the most popular board games in the world. International competition, including world [[champion]]ship events, is organized by an organization called FIDE and American competition organized by the USCF (United States Chess Federation). The only American world champion was [[Bobby Fischer]], although [[Paul Morphy]] of [[Louisiana]] was likely the strongest player in the world in the 1850s, before a formal world champion was determined. The current world champion is [[India | Indian]] Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand.

==Origins==
Chess has its roots in [[India]], where locals played a game called Shaturanga. The earliest extant description of the game is contained in the [[Bhavishya Purana]], which dates from A.D. 300 to A.D. 600. Shaturanga used [[dice]], but [[Hinduism]] bans gambling. As a result, the game of chess developed free from any dice or chance. The exact rules of Shaturanga are not known, but the game developed further in Persia into something very like its modern form. The Persian game Shatranj - which remains popular in the middle east today - is nearly identical to modern chess. By A.D. 1200 the game reached southern Europe, and in the late fifteenth century the Europeans adopted a number of changes: the queen, which had formerly been a very weak piece, became the strongest piece on the board, and allowing pawns to move two squares on the first move became standard. These changes had the effect of speeding up play, and they brought the game into the form we know today.

There has been some speculation that chess has roots in [[China]]. It's clear that chess is in some way related to [[XiangQi]] (Chinese Chess) and [[Shogi]] (Japanese Chess), but scholars disagree about whether either of these variants predates Shaturanga.

==The Board==
The chess board is a square, divided into 64 smaller squares arranged in eight rows of eight. The squares are alternating light and dark, with a light square in the bottom right hand corner. A chess board is the same as a [[Checkers|checker board]].

The horizontal rows of squares are referred to as "ranks" and the vertical rows are referred to as "files".

==Pieces==
[[Image:StauntonPieces.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Staunton Style chess pieces. From left to right: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn.]]
Each player has a total of 16 pieces; 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 queen, and 1 king. 

===Relative Value of Pieces===
There are several different ideas about the relative value of the pieces. It is important to note that the "points" used to assign a value to each piece are hypothetical and do not constitute a score; they are merely an attempt to quantify the relative power that each piece can hypothetically exert upon the board.

The method most often used is:
*[[Image:chesspawn.jpg|20px]] Pawn--1
*[[Image:chessknight.jpg|20px]] Knight--3 (some say 2.5)
*[[Image:chessbishop.jpg|20px]] Bishop--3
*[[Image:chessrook.jpg|20px]] Rook--5
*[[Image:chessqueen.jpg|20px]] Queen--9
*[[Image:chessking.jpg|20px]] King--Priceless
 (The value to the player of some pieces will actually vary during the course of the game, for instance, in an endgame, the King has an attacking power of about 3)

===Style===
The most popular style of pieces are known as Staunton style pieces, the tournament standard for chess pieces, although other types exist. Often, popular themed chess sets will appear with characters from [[popular culture]] or [[fiction]] taking the places of the more common Staunton style pieces. These novelty pieces are not tournament sanctioned however, and can sometimes cause confusion during game play as to which piece is which.

Although chess pieces can come in a variety of materials, [[marble]] and [[glass]] tend to be very popular, but for most chess tournaments, simple [[plastic]] pieces are usually favored. Also, while many home chess sets use heavy boards made out of [[wood]] or [[stone]] or some [[polymer]] material, tournament boards are actually roll-able mats with the board printed on it.

==Gameplay ==

The object of the game is to checkmate the other player's '''King''' before he checkmates your king. When a pawn reaches the far side of the board, it may be promoted to any other piece (except a King).

*The players alternate moving until the game has ended.
*The player with the White pieces always moves first.

===Initial Conditions===
The pieces are put on the board in each player's side as follows:
*In the first row from left to right (with the leftmost square being black): '''rook''', '''knight''', '''bishop''', '''queen''', '''king''', '''bishop''', '''knight''' and '''rook'''.
*The second row is filled with '''pawns'''.

===Movement===
The pieces move as follows.
*The '''pawn''' moves one square forward, except when moving from its opening position, when it can optionally move two. The pawn is the only piece that captures in a way different from the way it moves. It captures opposing pieces by capturing one square diagonally forward. When another piece is on the square directly in front of a pawn it cannot move unless it is making a capture. 
*The '''knight''', which is the only piece that can jump over other pieces, moves one square in one straight direction and two in the other. 
*The '''bishop''' can move as many squares as desired diagonally. 
*The '''rook''' can move as many squares as desired in a straight direction. 
*The '''queen''' is the most powerful piece in the board. It can move as many squares as desired (without jumping over another piece), either straight or diagonally. 
*The '''king''', which is the most important piece on the board, moves one square, either straight or diagonally.

====Capturing====

All pieces except for the pawn capture along their lines of motion. A capture is made by moving a piece to a square occupied by one of the opponent's pieces, and removing the opponent's piece from the board. If a piece can move to occupy the location of an opponent's piece, it can capture that piece. The '''pawn''', can only capture by moving diagonally forward one square. A piece is said to be undefended if it has no piece "supporting" its position - i.e., preventing an opponent from capturing it by threat of losing his attacking piece.

====Special Moves====
*'''Castling'''- When a player has no pieces between a rook and his king, and he has not moved either piece, he can move the king two squares in the direction of the rook, and then place the rook on the square that the king passed over. A player cannot castle if the King is currently in check, would be in check after castling, or would move through a square which is under attack.
*'''en passant'''- French for "In passing." In chess, if a player pushes his pawn far down to the end of the board, and his opponent pushes a starting pawn 2 spaces ahead, to put the pawn on the same row to avoid confrontation, the player may choose to invoke the "en passant" move, which treats the enemy pawn as though it had only moved one space. The player may capture diagonally on the square '''behind''' the enemy pawn, and remove the enemy pawn. The principle is that the two space rule for a pawn's first move cannot be used to avoid confrontation between two pawns. However, the player may only invoke "en passant" on the first turn after the opponent pushes his pawn. He cannot make it after than turn.

===The end of the game===
A chess game may end in a number of ways.
*'''Checkmate''': The winning player checkmates his opponent's King (see below).
*'''Resignation''': The losing player, facing an inevitable future checkmate, ''resigns'' rather than play out an extended series of hopeless moves. A player may indicate resignation by toppling his king on its side.
*'''Loss on Time''': In games with a time limit, a player may lose by failing to make a time control, causing his clock to run out.
*'''Draw''': The game may end in a draw, in which case neither player wins.

====Checkmate====
Checkmate is achieved when the following conditions are met.
* The King is ''in check''; that is, it is directly attacked by an opponent's piece.
* Every square that the King can move to is also attacked by an opponent's piece.
* The Piece that is attacking the King cannot be captured.
* Another Piece cannot be interposed between the attacking piece and the King to block the check.
When a King is checkmated, the game is over, and the player initiating the checkmate is the winner.

====Draw====
There are several ways that the game can end in a draw.
*'''Stalemate''': A player is said to be ''stalemated'' when he cannot make a legal move, and is not in check.
*'''Draw by agreement''': The players mutually agree to a draw. In competitive chess, a player may make a draw offer after he has made his move, but before he has started his opponent's clock.
*'''Draw by repetition''': Either player may claim a draw if the same position has appeared on the board three times. The three occasions need not be consecutive.
*'''50 move rule''': Either player may claim a draw if fifty moves have transpired without a capture or a pawn move.

==Notation==
Chess notation is used to record the moves of a chess game. This has several uses. Notation can be used to record games for review at a later time. There are two major methods of chess notation, Algebraic and Descriptive.

====For all forms of Notation====
The notation for a chess game is taken like this. At the top of the page are the players — white listed first — with their names under their colors. Numbers go down the left side of the page to indicate the move number. (see below) 
White, Black 
Name Name
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

Moves are recorded in columns, separated by commas.

Space is usually allotted on the top of tournament scoresheets to record the date and location of the game, and sometimes to record the time limit and opening name.

=====Pieces=====
Each piece is designated by its corresponding letter as follows: 
K = King 
Q = Queen 
R = Rook 
B = Bishop 
N = Knight (notice 'K' is reserved for the King) 
P = Pawn

(In strict chess parlance, the pawns are not considered pieces; officially, a standard chess set consists of sixteen pieces and sixteen pawns.)

=====Moves=====
- Moves to
x Captures
+ Check
++ Checkmate
0-0 Castles king-side
0-0-0 Castles queen-side
e.p. en passant
/ to indicate which square a piece moved from (only when needed to clarify)
/Q Pawn promotion. (use /Q for queen, /R for rook, etc.)
! A good move
!! A very good move
!? An interesting move
?! A dubious move
? A questionable move
?? A blunder

===Algebraic===
Algebraic is the most commonly used method of notation. [[Image:Chessboardanote1.jpg|right]]

====The Board====
In algebraic notation, each file is assigned a letter, and each rank is assigned a number. Each square is designated by the letter and number from it's rank and file. a1 is the square in the bottom left corner for the white player.

====Movement====
Moves are recorded by indicating the piece to be moved followed by a hyphen (-) and the square it is to be moved to. Example if white wants to move his night out and to the left to start the game the notation would be:
White Black
1. N-f3, ....

In algebraic notation, a P is not used to indicate the pawn. A pawn move is implied when no piece is indicated. So if white wants to advance his king pawn 2 squares, and black responds by advancing his king pawn 2 squares, the notation would be:
White Black
1. e4, e5,
2. ....

Occasionally, two pieces of the same type can move to the same square. To eliminate ambiguity, the unique rank or file of the moving piece is identified after the piece symbol. For example, suppose both of Black's Rooks are on the 8th rank (on the squares f8 and a8), and there are no pieces in between them. Black moves the f8 Rook to d8. In other circumstances, the move would be annotated
17. .... Rd8
but because either Rook could have moved to d8, the identifying file for the f8 Rook must be included, as in
17. .... Rfd8

====Captures====
Captures by a piece or pawn are indicated by first transcribing the symbol for the piece performing the capture, followed by an 'x', followed by the square the capturing piece or pawn moved to. For example, if White uses his Queen to capture a piece on the square h7 on move 23, the correct notation is
23. Qxh7, ....

Because pawns are not designated with a symbol, the system is slightly different for pawn captures. The file originally occupied by the pawn is used to identify the pawn performing the capture. If a black pawn on e5 captures a white piece or pawn on d4 on move 5, the notation is
5. ...., exd4

===Descriptive===
In the more archaic descriptive notation, squares are described according to the starting piece positions. The square originally occupied by the Rook on the Queenside is referred to as "Queen's Rook One" (QR1), while "Queen's Rook Four" is the square directly in front of the Queen's Rook on the fourth rank. Thus, a typical opening move is described as "Pawn to King Four", and is written as
1. P-K4, ....

Note that in descriptive notation, pawns have the designation 'P'. The notation's disadvantages become apparent over the course of a complex game, especially because the same square has different names depending on the perspective of the White and Black pieces. King's Bishop Three (KB3) for White is King's Bishop Six (KB6) for Black.

Captures in descriptive notation operate similar to algebraic notation; for example,

45. .... R-xQN7

means that on his 45th move, Black captured a piece or pawn on his Queen's Knight Seven square (the b2 square in algebraic notation).

==Tactics and strategy==
Chess players often refer to shorter, forcing sequences of moves that lead to clear advantages as ''tactics'', while moves designed to create or nurture long-term advantages are called ''strategic.''

For more information on specific tactics, see [[chess tactics]]. For more information on specific strategic themes, see [[chess strategies]].

==Chess Variants==
There are a number of games based on chess with rule variations, and these are referred to as ''chess variants''. One of the most popular of these is ''Bughouse'', a partner-based game in which a player who captures his opponent's piece can give it to a partner on another board to drop on a square of his choosing. Another is ''Kriegspiel'', a game in which a player can see his pieces but not that of his opponent. [http://www.chessvariants.com/incinf.dir/kriegspiel.html] A simpler variant is ''Antichess'', which is also called ''Suicide chess'', in which a player must make a capturing move if any legal captures exist on the board, and in which the goal is to run out of pieces first.

In 1996, [[Bobby Fischer]] introduced a variant called FischerRandom Chess, which involves scrambling the positions of the pieces on the first and eighth ranks before starting play. A number of rules govern the precise manner in which the pieces can be arranged; for example, the king must be somewhere between the two rooks, so that castling to either side is still possible, and the black and white positions must mirror one another. The rules provide for 960 possible starting positions, and for this reason the game is sometimes called Chess960. Fischer hoped his variant would encourage creative thinking and avoid the memorization associated with opening play in modern chess.

==Computer Chess==
Deep Blue, a computer developed by IBM, was the first computer engine to beat a human world champion in 1997, when it defeated Garry Kasparov in a six game series. This series was a rematch of 1996 series which Kasparov won, although Deep Blue had been upgraded since the first series. It should be noted that during this second match, Deep Blue was also upgraded between games to avoid falling into the same type of trap more than once.

Chess engines have increased in strength in recent years to the point where humans are falling behind. In 2005, Michael Adams, one of the top fifteen players in the world, played a six game match against the engine Hydra, and lost five games with only one draw. Chess writer Eric Schiller, who uses computer assistance in writing his books, admits that "computers have taken some of the fun out of (chess)."

==External links==
:[http://www.fide.com/ FIDE] - World Chess Federation
:[http://www.uschess.org USCF] - United States Chess Federation
:[http://www.iccf.com/ ICCF] - International Correspondence Chess Federation
:[http://www.chess-players.org/eng/index.html ACP] - Association of Chess Professionals
:[http://www.freechess.org FICS] - Free Internet Chess Server

[[Category:Chess]]

Chess

2008-05-09T15:04:13Z

RightOfCenter: /* Relative Value of Pieces */

[[Image:Staunton chess set.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A typical chess set and tournament clock.]]

'''Chess''' is a turn-based [[board game]] for two players, and is one of the most popular games in the world. The goal of the game is to place the opposing king into ''checkmate'', that is, a position in which the king is under attack but cannot escape.

Modern international chess has a powerful, sweeping [[queen]] who was not in the original game. The long reach of bishops today was also lacking at first. Maneuvers such as castling or capturing ''en passant'' have been developed within the past few hundred years.

Today, chess is one of the most popular board games in the world. International competition, including world [[champion]]ship events, is organized by an organization called FIDE and American competition organized by the USCF (United States Chess Federation). The only American world champion was [[Bobby Fischer]], although [[Paul Morphy]] of [[Louisiana]] was likely the strongest player in the world in the 1850s, before a formal world champion was determined. The current world champion is [[India | Indian]] Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand.

==Origins==
Chess has its roots in [[India]], where locals played a game called Shaturanga. The earliest extant description of the game is contained in the [[Bhavishya Purana]], which dates from A.D. 300 to A.D. 600. Shaturanga used [[dice]], but [[Hinduism]] bans gambling. As a result, the game of chess developed free from any dice or chance. The exact rules of Shaturanga are not known, but the game developed further in Persia into something very like its modern form. The Persian game Shatranj - which remains popular in the middle east today - is nearly identical to modern chess. By A.D. 1200 the game reached southern Europe, and in the late fifteenth century the Europeans adopted a number of changes: the queen, which had formerly been a very weak piece, became the strongest piece on the board, and allowing pawns to move two squares on the first move became standard. These changes had the effect of speeding up play, and they brought the game into the form we know today.

There has been some speculation that chess has roots in [[China]]. It's clear that chess is in some way related to [[XiangQi]] (Chinese Chess) and [[Shogi]] (Japanese Chess), but scholars disagree about whether either of these variants predates Shaturanga.

==The Board==
The chess board is a square, divided into 64 smaller squares arranged in eight rows of eight. The squares are alternating light and dark, with a light square in the bottom right hand corner. A chess board is the same as a [[Checkers|checker board]].

The horizontal rows of squares are referred to as "ranks" and the vertical rows are referred to as "files".

==Pieces==
[[Image:StauntonPieces.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Staunton Style chess pieces. From left to right: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn.]]
Each player has a total of 16 pieces; 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 queen, and 1 king. 

===Relative Value of Pieces===
There are several different ideas about the relative value of the pieces. It is important to note that the "points" used to assign a value to each piece are hypothetical and do not constitute a score; they are merely an attempt to quantify the relative power that each piece can hypothetically exert upon the board.

The method most often used is:
*[[Image:chesspawn.jpg|20px]] Pawn--1
*[[Image:chessknight.jpg|20px]] Knight--3 (some say 2.5)
*[[Image:chessbishop.jpg|20px]] Bishop--3
*[[Image:chessrook.jpg|20px]] Rook--5
*[[Image:chessqueen.jpg|20px]] Queen--9
*[[Image:chessking.jpg|20px]] King--Priceless
 (The value to the player of some pieces will actually vary during the course of the game, for instance, in an endgame, the King has an attacking power of about 3)

===Style===
The most popular style of pieces are known as Staunton style pieces, the tournament standard for chess pieces, although other types exist. Often, popular themed chess sets will appear with characters from [[popular culture]] or [[fiction]] taking the places of the more common Staunton style pieces. These novelty pieces are not tournament sanctioned however, and can sometimes cause confusion during game play as to which piece is which.

Although chess pieces can come in a variety of materials, [[marble]] and [[glass]] tend to be very popular, but for most chess tournaments, simple [[plastic]] pieces are usually favored. Also, while many home chess sets use heavy boards made out of [[wood]] or [[stone]] or some [[polymer]] material, tournament boards are actually roll-able mats with the board printed on it.

==Gameplay ==

The object of the game is to checkmate the other player's '''King''' before he checkmates your king. When a pawn reaches the far side of the board, it may be promoted to any other piece (except a King).

*The players alternate moving until the game has ended.
*The player with the White pieces always moves first.

===Initial Conditions===
The pieces are put on the board in each player's side as follows:
*In the first row from left to right (with the leftmost square being black): '''rook''', '''knight''', '''bishop''', '''queen''', '''king''', '''bishop''', '''knight''' and '''rook'''.
*The second row is filled with '''pawns'''.

===Movement===
The pieces move as follows.
*The '''pawn''' moves one square forward, except when moving from its opening position, when it can optionally move two. The pawn is the only piece that captures in a way different from the way it moves. It captures opposing pieces by capturing one square diagonally forward. When another piece is on the square directly in front of a pawn it cannot move unless it is making a capture. 
*The '''knight''', which is the only piece that can jump over other pieces, moves one square in one straight direction and two in the other. 
*The '''bishop''' can move as many squares as desired diagonally. 
*The '''rook''' can move as many squares as desired in a straight direction. 
*The '''queen''' is the most powerful piece in the board. It can move as many squares as desired (without jumping over another piece), either straight or diagonally. 
*The '''king''', which is the most important piece on the board, moves one square, either straight or diagonally.

====Capturing====

All pieces except for the pawn capture along their lines of motion. A capture is made by moving a piece to a square occupied by one of the opponent's pieces, and removing the opponent's piece from the board. If a piece can move to occupy the location of an opponent's piece, it can capture that piece. The '''pawn''', can only capture by moving diagonally forward one square. A piece is said to be undefended if it has no piece "supporting" its position - i.e., preventing an opponent from capturing it by threat of losing his attacking piece.

====Special Moves====
*'''Castling'''- When a player has no pieces between a rook and his king, and he has not moved either piece, he can move the king two squares in the direction of the rook, and then place the rook on the square that the king passed over. A player cannot castle if the King is currently in check, would be in check after castling, or would move through a square which is under attack.
*'''en passant'''- French for "In passing." In chess, if a player pushes his pawn far down to the end of the board, and his opponent pushes a starting pawn 2 spaces ahead, to put the pawn on the same row to avoid confrontation, the player may choose to invoke the "en passant" move, which treats the enemy pawn as though it had only moved one space. The player may capture diagonally on the square '''behind''' the enemy pawn, and remove the enemy pawn. The principle is that the two space rule for a pawn's first move cannot be used to avoid confrontation between two pawns. However, the player may only invoke "en passant" on the first turn after the opponent pushes his pawn. He cannot make it after than turn.

===The end of the game===
A chess game may end in a number of ways.
*'''Checkmate''': The winning player checkmates his opponent's King (see below).
*'''Resignation''': The losing player, facing an inevitable future checkmate, ''resigns'' rather than play out an extended series of hopeless moves. A player may indicate resignation by toppling his king on its side.
*'''Loss on Time''': In games with a time limit, a player may lose by failing to make a time control, causing his clock to run out.
*'''Draw''': The game may end in a draw, in which case neither player wins.

====Checkmate====
Checkmate is achieved when the following conditions are met.
* The King is ''in check''; that is, it is directly attacked by an opponent's piece.
* Every square that the King can move to is also attacked by an opponent's piece.
* The Piece that is attacking the King cannot be captured.
* Another Piece cannot be interposed between the attacking piece and the King to block the check.
When a King is checkmated, the game is over, and the player initiating the checkmate is the winner.

====Draw====
There are several ways that the game can end in a draw.
*'''Stalemate''': A player is said to be ''stalemated'' when he cannot make a legal move, and is not in check.
*'''Draw by agreement''': The players mutually agree to a draw. In competitive chess, a player may make a draw offer after he has made his move, but before he has started his opponent's clock.
*'''Draw by repetition''': Either player may claim a draw if the same position has appeared on the board three times. The three occasions need not be consecutive.
*'''50 move rule''': Either player may claim a draw if fifty moves have transpired without a capture or a pawn move.

==Notation==
Chess notation is used to record the moves of a chess game. This has several uses. Notation can be used to record games for review at a later time. There are two major methods of chess notation, Algebraic and Descriptive.

====For all forms of Notation====
The notation for a chess game is taken like this. At the top of the page are the players — white listed first — with their names under their colors. Numbers go down the left side of the page to indicate the move number. (see below) 
White, Black 
Name Name
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

Moves are recorded in columns, separated by commas.

Space is usually allotted on the top of tournament scoresheets to record the date and location of the game, and sometimes to record the time limit and opening name.

=====Pieces=====
Each piece is designated by its corresponding letter as follows: 
K = King 
Q = Queen 
R = Rook 
B = Bishop 
N = Knight (notice 'K' is reserved for the King) 
P = Pawn

=====Moves=====
- Moves to
x Captures
+ Check
++ Checkmate
0-0 Castles king-side
0-0-0 Castles queen-side
e.p. en passant
/ to indicate which square a piece moved from (only when needed to clarify)
/Q Pawn promotion. (use /Q for queen, /R for rook, etc.)
! A good move
!! A very good move
!? An interesting move
?! A dubious move
? A questionable move
?? A blunder

===Algebraic===
Algebraic is the most commonly used method of notation. [[Image:Chessboardanote1.jpg|right]]

====The Board====
In algebraic notation, each file is assigned a letter, and each rank is assigned a number. Each square is designated by the letter and number from it's rank and file. a1 is the square in the bottom left corner for the white player.

====Movement====
Moves are recorded by indicating the piece to be moved followed by a hyphen (-) and the square it is to be moved to. Example if white wants to move his night out and to the left to start the game the notation would be:
White Black
1. N-f3, ....

In algebraic notation, a P is not used to indicate the pawn. A pawn move is implied when no piece is indicated. So if white wants to advance his king pawn 2 squares, and black responds by advancing his king pawn 2 squares, the notation would be:
White Black
1. e4, e5,
2. ....

Occasionally, two pieces of the same type can move to the same square. To eliminate ambiguity, the unique rank or file of the moving piece is identified after the piece symbol. For example, suppose both of Black's Rooks are on the 8th rank (on the squares f8 and a8), and there are no pieces in between them. Black moves the f8 Rook to d8. In other circumstances, the move would be annotated
17. .... Rd8
but because either Rook could have moved to d8, the identifying file for the f8 Rook must be included, as in
17. .... Rfd8

====Captures====
Captures by a piece or pawn are indicated by first transcribing the symbol for the piece performing the capture, followed by an 'x', followed by the square the capturing piece or pawn moved to. For example, if White uses his Queen to capture a piece on the square h7 on move 23, the correct notation is
23. Qxh7, ....

Because pawns are not designated with a symbol, the system is slightly different for pawn captures. The file originally occupied by the pawn is used to identify the pawn performing the capture. If a black pawn on e5 captures a white piece or pawn on d4 on move 5, the notation is
5. ...., exd4

===Descriptive===
In the more archaic descriptive notation, squares are described according to the starting piece positions. The square originally occupied by the Rook on the Queenside is referred to as "Queen's Rook One" (QR1), while "Queen's Rook Four" is the square directly in front of the Queen's Rook on the fourth rank. Thus, a typical opening move is described as "Pawn to King Four", and is written as
1. P-K4, ....

Note that in descriptive notation, pawns have the designation 'P'. The notation's disadvantages become apparent over the course of a complex game, especially because the same square has different names depending on the perspective of the White and Black pieces. King's Bishop Three (KB3) for White is King's Bishop Six (KB6) for Black.

Captures in descriptive notation operate similar to algebraic notation; for example,

45. .... R-xQN7

means that on his 45th move, Black captured a piece or pawn on his Queen's Knight Seven square (the b2 square in algebraic notation).

==Tactics and strategy==
Chess players often refer to shorter, forcing sequences of moves that lead to clear advantages as ''tactics'', while moves designed to create or nurture long-term advantages are called ''strategic.''

For more information on specific tactics, see [[chess tactics]]. For more information on specific strategic themes, see [[chess strategies]].

==Chess Variants==
There are a number of games based on chess with rule variations, and these are referred to as ''chess variants''. One of the most popular of these is ''Bughouse'', a partner-based game in which a player who captures his opponent's piece can give it to a partner on another board to drop on a square of his choosing. Another is ''Kriegspiel'', a game in which a player can see his pieces but not that of his opponent. [http://www.chessvariants.com/incinf.dir/kriegspiel.html] A simpler variant is ''Antichess'', which is also called ''Suicide chess'', in which a player must make a capturing move if any legal captures exist on the board, and in which the goal is to run out of pieces first.

In 1996, [[Bobby Fischer]] introduced a variant called FischerRandom Chess, which involves scrambling the positions of the pieces on the first and eighth ranks before starting play. A number of rules govern the precise manner in which the pieces can be arranged; for example, the king must be somewhere between the two rooks, so that castling to either side is still possible, and the black and white positions must mirror one another. The rules provide for 960 possible starting positions, and for this reason the game is sometimes called Chess960. Fischer hoped his variant would encourage creative thinking and avoid the memorization associated with opening play in modern chess.

==Computer Chess==
Deep Blue, a computer developed by IBM, was the first computer engine to beat a human world champion in 1997, when it defeated Garry Kasparov in a six game series. This series was a rematch of 1996 series which Kasparov won, although Deep Blue had been upgraded since the first series. It should be noted that during this second match, Deep Blue was also upgraded between games to avoid falling into the same type of trap more than once.

Chess engines have increased in strength in recent years to the point where humans are falling behind. In 2005, Michael Adams, one of the top fifteen players in the world, played a six game match against the engine Hydra, and lost five games with only one draw. Chess writer Eric Schiller, who uses computer assistance in writing his books, admits that "computers have taken some of the fun out of (chess)."

==External links==
:[http://www.fide.com/ FIDE] - World Chess Federation
:[http://www.uschess.org USCF] - United States Chess Federation
:[http://www.iccf.com/ ICCF] - International Correspondence Chess Federation
:[http://www.chess-players.org/eng/index.html ACP] - Association of Chess Professionals
:[http://www.freechess.org FICS] - Free Internet Chess Server

[[Category:Chess]]

Swimming

2008-05-08T23:55:24Z

RightOfCenter: New page: Swimming refers to any combination of bodily movements employed by animals as a means of propelling themselves through water. Humans can learn to swim, although water is not th...

Swimming refers to any combination of bodily movements employed by [[animals]] as a means of propelling themselves through [[water]]. [[Humans]] can learn to swim, although water is not their natural habitat. [[Fish]], marine [[mammals]], and other creatures of the [[sea]] swim by instinct as their primary means of locomotion.

Talk:Spider-Man

2008-05-08T23:15:43Z

RightOfCenter: New page: Whoops Should be Spider-Man instead of Spider-man but I don't know how to move pages, help pls ~~~~

Whoops
Should be Spider-Man instead of Spider-man but I don't know how to move pages, help pls [[User:RightOfCenter|RightOfCenter]] 19:15, 8 May 2008 (EDT)

Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies

2008-05-08T23:10:57Z

RightOfCenter:

Conservative movies exist, and some are immensely popular. Here is our growing list (in no particular order):

#''[[Invasion of the Body Snatchers]]'' (1956), a science fiction condemnation of [[communism]]
#''[[The Exorcist]]'' (1973) (not for children), a portrayal of evil with sympathy to Christianity. At its time it became the top-grossing film ever.
#''[[Iron Eagle]]'' (1986)
#The first ''[[Spider-Man]]'' (2002), which praises moral virtue (hard-working teenager, devout aunt and well-meaning uncle) and pokes fun at assumed [[liberals]] (entertainers and journalist). Hero chooses [[abstinence]]. This was one of the most profitable films ever made.
#''[[Gone With the Wind]]'', which celebrates a strongly ''feminine'' heroine who is the antithesis of a modern [[feminist]]
#''[[Ben-Hur]]'', celebrates honor and duty to family and country, with a pro-Christian ending
#''[[The Sound of Music]]'', solid family entertainment
#''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]''
#''[[The Ten Commandments]]''
#''[[Mr. Smith Goes To Washington]]''
#''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''
#''[[Star Wars]]'' series - simple truths about the triumph of good over evil
#''[[King of Kings]]''
#''[[On The Waterfront]]'' - a simple but hardworking longshoreman takes on his Mafia-controlled union
#''[[Sergeant York]]''
#''[[Knute Rockne: All-American]]''
#''[[Ninotchka]]''
#''[[Forbidden Planet]]''
#''[[Rudy]]''
#''[[The Prince of Egypt]]''
#''[[Strategic Air Command (film)|Strategic Air Command]]''. Actor (and Brigadier [[General]]) [[James Stewart]]'s story of the real [[Strategic Air Command]] and its transition from prop planes to jet planes.
#''[[A Gathering of Eagles]]''. Illustrates duty, honor, and the burden of command.
#''[[Red Dawn]]''
#''[[Harry's War]]''
#''[[The Patriot]]'' (2000) (the one starring Mel Gibson, there are several other movies with this name)
#''[[Ladder 49]]''
#''[[Rocky]]'' (perseverance and talent can overcome all odds)
#''[[October Sky]]''
#''[[Amazing Grace (film)|Amazing Grace]]''
#''[[Bruce Almighty]]''
#[[World Trade Center]] (highlights the bravery of the firemen and police in [[9/11]])
#''[[Flight 93]]''
#''[[A Man For All Seasons]]''
#''[[Chariots of Fire]]''
#''[[One Foot In Heaven]]''
#''[[Quo Vadis?]]''
#''[[The Lost Weekend]]'' (dangers of alcohol)
#''[[Little Miss Sunshine]]'' (importance of family)
#''[[The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (anti-communist in general, but with a swipe at [[Joseph McCarthy]])
#''[[The Green Berets]]'' Vivid defense of our troops' conduct in the Vietnam War.
#''[[My Son John]]'' (1952). A small-town couple's world is turned upside-down by the discovery that their adult son is a Communist.
#''[[True Lies]]'', starring the future Republican governor of California, [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. Teaches conservative values like marital loyalty, and political incorrect facts such as the fact that most terrorists are Middle Eastern Arabic speakers who don't value human life.
#''[[The Island]]'' (2005) Pro-life statement against cloning to harvest organs.
#''[[Evelyn]]'' (2002) True story of Irish father's legal struggle to recover his kids from an orphanage.
#''[[Shane]]'' (1953) Western about defending a homesteading family.
#''[[Hero]]'' (1992) Even those with character flaws can do good.
#''[[The Day of the Jackal]]'' (1973) celebrates conservative values like honor and duty.
#''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'' (1996) a film from the [[Star Trek]] franchise in which the crew of the Enterprise battle the Borg, an alien race that symbolizes [[communism]].

== References ==
<references/>

Please add your best conservative picks.

[[Category:Essays]]

Spider-Man

2008-05-08T23:09:02Z

RightOfCenter:

Spider-man is a Marvel Comics [[superhero]] created by Stan Lee in 1962. The Spider-Man comics were considered groundbreaking from their inception in that the hero's alter-ego, Peter Parker, often faced personal struggles more closely associated with everyday life than usual superhero fare.

Spider-Man is, along with [[Batman]] and [[Superman]], one of the most famous and widely-recognized characters of the superhero genre. 2002 saw the release of a major [[Hollywood]] film based on the character, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire. The film was a financial success, and two sequels followed.

Spider-Man

2008-05-08T23:08:02Z

RightOfCenter:

Spider-man is a Marvel Comics [[superhero]] created by Stan Lee in 1962. The Spider-Man comics were considered groundbreaking from their inception in that the hero's alter-ego, Peter Parker, often faced personal struggles more closely associated with everyday life than usual superhero fare.

Spider-Man is, along with [[Batman]] and [[Superman]], one of the most famous and widely-recognized characters of the superhero genre. 2002 saw the release of a major Hollywood film based on the character, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire. The film was a financial success, and two sequels followed.

Spider-Man

2008-05-08T23:06:09Z

RightOfCenter: Wow, really? no spidey article? for shame, conservapedia. expand pls

Spider-man is a Marvel Comics [[superhero]] created by Stan Lee in 1962. The Spider-Man comics were considered groundbreaking from their inception in that the hero's alter-ego, Peter Parker, often faced personal struggles more closely associated with everyday life than usual superhero fare.

Spider-Man is, along with [[Batman]] and [[Superman]], one of the most famous and widely-recognized characters of the superhero genre. 2002 saw the release of a majory Hollywood film based on the character, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire. The film was a financial success, and two sequels followed.

San Francisco

2008-05-08T22:44:08Z

RightOfCenter:

'''San Francisco''' is a city in [[California]] and is generally considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. <ref>http://www.globosapiens.net/travel-information/San+Francisco-638.html</ref> It is well known for its excellent public transit systems, including MUNI subway and streetcars, BART trains to suburbs, and the famous San Francisco cable cars. <ref>http://www.reserve-hotel.com/HBOImages/destinations/usa/sanfran/transportation.asp</ref> The city has survived two extremely damaging earthquakes, one in 1906 and another one about 75 miles away in 1989.<ref>http://www.sfmuseum.org/1906/89.html</ref><ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php</ref> Fear of another earthquake is the reason that no freeway through the city exists. Indeed, it is impossible to access the Golden Gate Bridge without driving on city streets.

The downtown area of the city is laid out on two grids, with a 45 degree offset between them. Market Street separates the two grids. Many tourists come to visit the Civic Center, Embarcadero, and Union Square areas, all of which are north of Market.

Its mayor, [[Gavin Newsom]] ordered the city clerk to issue marriage licenses [[same-sex marriage | to same-sex couples]] despite the practice being explicitly illegal under California law. The marriages were nullified by the courts shortly thereafter, as the mayor and clerk were violating California state law.<ref>http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/feb/07020106.html</ref>

Famous San Francisco landmarks include the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], [[Fisherman's Wharf]], and [[Alcatraz Island]].

San Francisco is part of the San Francisco Bay Area, which includes [[Oakland]], [[San Jose]], Berkeley, and other smaller towns like Cupertino, Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Mateo, Saratoga, and Menlo Park. The city is home to several large companies, including Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Cnet. San Francisco has been overtaken in population and economic significance by [[San Jose]] and the rest of [[Silicon Valley]].

==History==
San Francisco was founded as a mission by Franciscan monks in 1776, a census conducted at the time showed a total of 814 people living in and around the mission.<ref>The Annals of San Francisco Part I Chapter 3</ref>

== Bill O'Reilly and San Francisco Values ==
[[Image:Wicked.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The book ''When the Wicked Seize a City'' by Dr. [[Chuck McIlhenny]] recounts he and his church were terrorized by [[homosexuality|homosexual]] activists in San Francisco.]]
There is much antipathy between the liberal San Franciscans and [[Bill O'Reilly]] who has made many comments about [[San Francisco values]]. For example, the [[San Francisco Chronicle]] devoted two-thirds of its front page to a picture of Bill O'Reilly and had a extremely large story about him when he stated that San Francisco should secede from the [[United States]] and form its own country.<ref>http://www.chronwatch-america.com/blogs/363/Bill-OReillys-comments-upset-the-liberal-San-Francisco-crowd.html</ref>

Mr. O'Reilly has stated the following regarding San Francisco values:
{{cquote|But back to San Francisco values, as listed in my book, [[Culture Warrior]]. Here they are. Cradle-to-grave entitlements for the poor, with a punishing tax rate to pay for them. Legalized drugs. Unfettered [[abortion]] rights. No parental notification for minors having abortions, and rehab, not punishment, for many dangerous criminals.

No restrictions on the Southern border. San Francisco welcomes all illegal aliens. An anti-[[Christianity|Christian]] attitude. Remember last March? The supervisors condemned a rally by a [[Conservative Christianity|conservative Christian]] youth group – kids. The supervisors called it anti-gay and anti-choice. But the city apparently is comfortable with militant gays dressing up as nuns in a public parade and mocking said nuns. No proclamation condemning that.

This is just a few of the "values" San Franciscans embrace in their [[Secular progressive movement|secular progressive]] paradise.<ref>http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2006/11/10/01</ref>}}

A notable incident involving the issue of San Francisco values was the [[Hamilton Square Baptist Church riot]] and the persecution of Dr. [[Chuck McIlhenny]].

=== Homosexual Public Indecency Tolerated in San Francisco ===
[[Image:HamSquare.jpg|thumbnail|150px|left|[[Hamilton Square Baptist Church Riot|Hamilton Square Baptist Church]]]]
''For more on this topic see:'' [[Homosexual Public Indecency Tolerated in San Francisco]]

In San Francisco there has been notable cases of [[homosexual]] public indecency that has been tolerated. [[Christianity Today]] states the following regarding Pastor David Innes regarding the [[Hamilton Square Baptist Church Riot|Hamilton Square Baptist Church riot]]:
{{cquote|Innes says he blames not police, but those in political control of the city, particularly the board of supervisors. "You really can't compare San Francisco with any other city," says Innes. "Homosexual advocates infiltrate and dominate the political structures here. Police are in straitjackets. They can't do their job. They've been instructed not to arrest homosexuals."<ref>Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 p57</ref>}}

Pastor Innes then cites a Stember 30, 1993 letter published in the [[San Francisco Chronicle]] from a veteran police officer who was "highly embarrassed" when people asked him he was not making any arrests in regards to totally naked males engaging in lewd behavior at the San Francisco Folsom Street Fair. The officer stated that "At least a dozen times I had to painstakingly explain that we were to take a position of 'high tolerance' and not to create an incident." <ref>Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57</ref>

In 1990 and 1991 extreme public lewdness was exhibited at the [[San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Parades|Gay and Lesbian Parades in San Francisco]] and when police authorities were asked why there were no arrests they offered various excuses such as the primary responsibility was to "reflect community standards and maintain crowd control."<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/marco/special/spc12.html</ref>

==Sports==

San Francisco is home to two major professional sports teams: the San Francisco Giants [[baseball]] team and the San Francisco 49ers [[football]] team.

== See also ==
* [[Emperor Norton]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:California Cities and Towns]]
[[Category:San Francisco]]

Table

2008-05-08T22:35:39Z

RightOfCenter:

A '''table''' is flat surface. In the furniture industry, tables are supported by 3 or more [[legs]]. Tables are built, and used, for many purposes; many are designed as a place setting for meals, while others are built specifically for medical examinations or procedures.

Tables have been built since Biblical times, and are featured prominantly in many legends. Many versions of the [[King Arthur]] stories mention a round table in Arthur's court.

{{stub}}

Urine

2008-05-08T22:13:59Z

RightOfCenter: we're not the only ones that pee, lol

'''Urine''' is liquid biological waste excreted by the [[kidney]]s. The [[human]] body produces urine, as do all [[mammals]], [[reptile|reptiles]], [[birds]], [[fish]], and [[amphibian|amphibians]].
[[category:anatomy]]

Heat death of the universe

2008-05-08T22:02:17Z

RightOfCenter:

According to [[secular]] physicists, the heat death of the universe is one possible scenario for the final fate of the [[universe]]. It speculates that, over time, all [[energy]] in the universe will eventually be converted to heat energy, which will then be spread more or less evenly over all space in accordance with the second law of [[thermodynamics]]. With all energy so widely distributed, the universe will revert to an extremely cold state, and nowhere will there be a sufficient concentration of energy to sustain any physical activity or movement.

Heat death of the universe

2008-05-08T22:01:38Z

RightOfCenter:

According to [[secular]] physicists, the heat death of the universe is one possible scenario for the final fate of the [[universe]]. It speculates that, over time, all [[energy]] in the universe will eventually be converted to heat energy, which will then be spread more or less evenly over all space in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics. With all energy so widely distributed, the universe will revert to an extremely cold state, and nowhere will there be a sufficient concentration of energy to sustain any physical activity or movement.

Heat death of the universe

2008-05-08T22:01:12Z

RightOfCenter: New page: According to secular physicists, the heat death of the universe is one possible scenario for the final fate of the universe. It spectulates that, over time, all energy in the u...

According to [[secular]] physicists, the heat death of the universe is one possible scenario for the final fate of the [[universe]]. It spectulates that, over time, all [[energy]] in the universe will eventually be converted to heat energy, which will then be spread more or less evenly over all space in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics. With all energy so widely distributed, the universe will revert to an extremely cold state, and nowhere will there be a sufficient concentration of energy to sustain any physical activity or movement.

Predator

2008-05-08T21:49:32Z

RightOfCenter: another edit for accuracy; a scavenger also eats meat, but is not necessarily a predator

A '''predator''' is an [[animal]] that preys on other animals. Animals that are not predators are called [[herbivore]]s ([[vegetarian]]s) or [[scavenger]]s. Some common predatory animals include [[bear]]s, [[lion]]s, and [[shark]]s.

In [[Job]] 40:15 [[The Bible]] may teach us that all animals were [[herbivore]]s before their expulsion from the [[Garden of Eden]] and there were no predators. Different interpretations of the [[fossil record]] support different points of view.<ref>[http://objectiveministries.org/creation/dinosaurs.html] Objective Ministries: Dinosaurs</ref><ref>[http://www.sixdaycreation.com/facts/flood/june99.html] Six Day Creation: Noah's Flood and Dinosaur Extinction </ref>

::"I give every green plant for food" —[[God]], [[Genesis]] 1:30

While commonly interpreted that this means there were no predators in the Garden, it is held by some that this means that all plants were given by God as food; that all plants could be eaten. This interpretation does not preclude the existence of predators.

==References==

<references/>

[[category:zoology]]

Predator

2008-05-08T21:42:50Z

RightOfCenter: false, or at least misleading; a predator can still be the prey of another, larger predator

A '''predator''' is an [[animal]] that preys on other animals, which is basically the same thing as a [[carnivore]]. Animals that are not predators are called [[herbivore]]s or [[vegetarian]]s. Some common predatory animals include [[bear]]s, [[lion]]s, and [[shark]]s.

In [[Job]] 40:15 [[The Bible]] may teach us that all animals were [[herbivore]]s before their expulsion from the [[Garden of Eden]] and there were no predators. Different interpretations of the [[fossil record]] support different points of view.<ref>[http://objectiveministries.org/creation/dinosaurs.html] Objective Ministries: Dinosaurs</ref><ref>[http://www.sixdaycreation.com/facts/flood/june99.html] Six Day Creation: Noah's Flood and Dinosaur Extinction </ref>

::"I give every green plant for food" —[[God]], [[Genesis]] 1:30

While commonly interpreted that this means there were no predators in the Garden, it is held by some that this means that all plants were given by God as food; that all plants could be eaten. This interpretation does not preclude the existence of predators.

==References==

<references/>

[[category:zoology]]

Cat

2008-05-08T21:38:00Z

RightOfCenter:

{{Taxonomy|image = cat.jpg|kingdom = Animalia|phylum = Chordata|subphylum = Vertebrata|class = Mammalia|order = Carnivora|family = Felidae|genus = Felis|species = F. silvestris|sub = F. s. catus (Domesticated cat)}}

'''Cats''' are a group of [[carnivore|carnivorous]] [[mammals]] with sharp [[teeth]] and retractable [[claw]]s (except in the case of the [[cheetah]]) on their paws, originally distributed worldwide apart from [[Australasia]], [[Madagascar]] and [[Antarctica]]. Several of the larger kinds of cat can be dangerous to man.

The domestic cat, believed to derive from the [[Africa]]n wildcat, has been used to control [[vermin]] or kept as a pet for thousands of years, and worshipped as a god by the ancient [[Egyptian]]s, amongst others. Today the domestic cat remains extremely popular as a [[pet]]; there are an estimated 76 million pet cats in the [[United States]].

Species of cat include the [[lion]], [[tiger]], [[leopard]], [[cheetah]], [[jaguar]], [[puma]], [[ocelot]], [[lynx]], [[caracal]], [[serval]] and many smaller types.

==External Links==

*[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290840,00.html | FOXNews.com - Oscar the Cat Predicts Nursing Home Deaths]

{{Nb_zl_felines}}
[[Category:Felines]]
[[Category:Domestic Animals]]

Jorge Luis Borges

2008-05-08T21:10:52Z

RightOfCenter: New page: Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) was an Argentine fiction writer and essayist, and an early example of the post-modern movement in literature. He is most famous for his shor...

Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) was an [[Argentina|Argentine]] [[fiction]] writer and essayist, and an early example of the post-modern movement in literature. He is most famous for his short stories, which feature labrynthine examinations of such themes as memory and nature of knowledge, frequently through the use of some fantastical plot device. One famous story, "August 25th, 1983" features a conversation between two men that takes place in a dream. During the conversation, the two men determine not only that they are dreaming, but that they are the same person, although one is speaking from twenty years later, on his deathbed. Both men identify themself as Borges.

Borges was interested in framing his fiction in ways that subverted reader expectation. To this end, one story might pretend to be a literary essay ("Pierre Manard, Author of the Quixote") while another might be introduced as an ancient manuscript of a lost civilization that Borges had merely found and edited ("The Lottery in Babylon").

Borges suffered from congenital eye problems and was completely [[blind]] by at least 1955.

Edgar Allan Poe

2008-05-08T20:44:02Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Edgar Allan Poe''' is a famous American [[author]], [[poet]] and editor known for his dark and morbid themes. Among his most famous works are "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart".

His short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is considered the first detective story.<ref>[http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/historydf.htm Origins of Detective Fiction]</ref>

"The Gold-Bug" is an imaginative tale that gives an example of elementary [[cryptanalysis]] (code-breaking).

== Life ==

Poe was born in Boston in 1809, and was raised in Richmond, Virginia, after his mother's death in 1811. He was educated in England and in Virginia.

In 1836, he married his first cousin Virginia Clemm, three months before her 14th birthday. Poe was an alcoholic, and drank increasingly after his wife's death in 1847. In 1849, he was found on the streets in Baltimore and died soon after. The cause of Poe's death remains unknown.<ref>The Poe Museum, [http://www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/index.html "Poe's Life"], by James Southall Wilson</ref>

== Literary Impact ==

Poe's works had a mixed, but largely negative, reception among literary circles during his life, but they were to have great influence on writers, particularly European writers, after his death. He remains one of the first American writers to be widely admired by European audiences, who in the 19th century had little respect for American literature.

<blockquote>
But because of his use of imagination and his diving into the grotesque, the absurd, and darkness of dreams, he is linked with the creation of the surrealism movement and, from his staunch ideas on writing, inspired whole new genres to acquire the fame and fortune that eluded him. The famous pseudo-science fiction writer [[Jules Verne]] lists Poe as his main inspiration, as have other foreign writers, including [[Jorge Luis Borges]], [[Franz Kafka]], and the contemporary author [[Carlos Fuentes]]. As American author Joyce Carol Oates put it, "Who has not been influenced by Poe?"<ref> [http://news.research.ohiou.edu/perspectives/archives/9902/poe_main.htm A Writer of Influence]</ref>
</blockquote>

==Works==

===Poetry===

* O, Tempora! O, Mores! (1825)
* Song (1827)
* Imitation (1827)
* Spirits of the Dead (1827)
* A Dream (1827)
* Stanzas (1827)
* Tamerlane (1827)
* The Lake (1827)
* Evening Star (1827)
* A Dream (1827)
* To Margaret (1827)
* The Happiest Day (1827)
* To The River (1828)
* Romance (1829)
* Fairy-Land (1829)
* To Science (1829)
* To Isaac Lea (1829)
* Al Aaraaf (1829)
* An Acrostic (1829)
* Elizabeth (1829)
* To Helen (1831)
* A Paean (1831)
* The Sleeper (1831)
* The City in the Sea (1831)
* The Valley of Unrest (1831)
* Israfel (1831)
* The Coliseum (1833)
* Enigma (1833)
* Fanny (1833)
* Serenade (1833)
* Song of Triumph from Epimanes (1833)
* Latin Hymn (1833)
* To One in Paradise (1833)
* Hymn (1835)
* Politician (1835)
* May Queen Ode (1836)
* Spiritual Song (1836)
* Bridal Ballad (1837)
* To Zante (1837)
* The Haunted Palace (1839)
* Silence, a Sonnet (1839)
* Lines on Joe Locke (1843)
* The Conqueror Worm (1843)
* Lenore (1843)
* Eulalie (1843)
* A Campaign Song (1844)
* Dream-Land (1844)
* Impromptu. To Kate Carol (1845)
* To Frances (1845)
* The Divine Right of Kings (1845)
* Epigram for Wall Street (1845)
* The Raven (1845)
* A Valentine (1846)
* Beloved Physician (1847)
* An Enigma (1847)
* Deep in Earth (1847)
* Ulalume (1847)
* Lines on Ale (1848)
* To Marie Louise (1848)
* Evangeline (1848)
* A Dream Within A Dream (1849)
* Eldorado (1849)
* For Annie (1849)
* The Bells (1849)
* Annabel Lee (1849)
* Alone (1875)

===Tales===

* Metzengerstein (1832)
* The Duc De L'Omelette (1832)
* A Tale of Jerusalem (1832)
* Loss of Breath (1832)
* Bon-Bon (1832)
* MS. Found in a Bottle (1833)
* The Assignation (1834)
* Berenice (1835)
* Morella (1835)
* Lionizing (1835)
* The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall (1835)
* King Pest (1835)
* Shadow - A Parable (1835)
* Four Beasts in One - The Homo-Cameleopard (1836)
* Mystification (1837)
* Silence - A Fable (1837)
* Ligeia (1838)
* How to Write a Blackwood Article (1838)
* A Predicament (1838)
* The Devil in the Belfry (1839)
* The Man That Was Used Up (1839)
* The Fall of the House of Usher (1839)
* William Wilson (1839)
* The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion (1839)
* Why the Little Frenchman Wears His Hand in a Sling (1840)
* The Business Man (1840)
* The Man of the Crowd (1840)
* The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841)
* A Descent into the Maelstrom (1841)
* The Island of the Fay (1841)
* The Colloquy of Monos and Una (1841)
* Never Bet the Devil Your Head (1841)
* Eleonora (1841)
* Three Sundays in a Week (1841)
* The Oval Portrait (1842)
* The Masque of the Red Death (1842)
* The Landscape Garden (1842)
* The Mystery of Marie Roget (1842)
* The Pit and the Pendulum (1842)
* The Tell-Tale Heart (1843)
* The Gold-Bug (1843)
* The Black Cat (1843)
* Diddling (1843)
* The Spectacles (1844)
* A Tale of the Ragged Mountains (1844)
* The Premature Burial (1844)
* Mesmeric Revelation (1844)
* The Oblong Box (1844)
* The Angel of the Odd (1844)
* Thou Art the Man (1844)
* The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq. (1844)
* The Purloined Letter (1844)
* The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (1845)
* Some Words with a Mummy (1845)
* The Power of Words (1845)
* The Imp of the Perverse (1845)
* The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether (1845)
* The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar (1845)
* The Sphinx (1846)
* The Cask of Amontillado (1846)
* The Domain of Arnheim (1847)
* Mellonta Tauta (1849)
* Hop-Frog (1849)
* Von Kempelen and His Discovery (1849)
* X-ing a Paragrab (1849)
* Landor's Cottage (1849)

===Essays===

* Maelzel's Chess Player (1836)
* The Daguerreotype (1840)
* The Philosophy of Furniture (1840)
* A Few Words on Secret Writing (1841)
* The Rationale of Verse (1843)
* Morning on the Wissahiccon (1844)
* Old English Poetry (1845)
* The Philosophy of Composition (1846)
* The Poetic Principle (1846)
* Eureka (1848)

===Hoaxes===
* The Balloon-Hoax (1844)

===Novels===
* The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1837)
* The Journal of Julius Rodman (1840)

===Plays===

* Scenes From 'Politian' (1835)

===Others===

* The Conchologist's First Book (1839)
* The Light-House (1849)

==References==

<References/>

==External Links==
[http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/p#a481 Poe's Works at Project Gutenberg]

== See also ==

*[[D. H. Lawrence]]
*[[Washington Irving]]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Poe, Edgar Allan}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame honorees]]
[[Category:Poets]]
[[Category:Writers]]

Pegasus

2008-05-08T20:26:21Z

RightOfCenter:

In [[Greek]] mythology, '''Pegasus''' was a winged [[horse]], the son of the sea-god [[Poseidon]] and [[Medusa]] the [[Gorgon]].

[[Liberals]] sometimes cite the Pegasus myth as evidence that [[transitional form|transitional forms]] exist as they attempt to defend [[evolution]].
[[Category:Greek Mythology]]

Pegasus

2008-05-08T20:25:56Z

RightOfCenter:

In [[Greek]] mythology, '''Pegasus''' was a winged [[horse]], the son of the sea-god [[Poseidon]] and [[Medusa]] the [[Gorgon]].

[[Liberals]] sometimes cite the Pegasus myth as evidence that [[transitional forms]] exist as they attempt to defend [[evolution]].
[[Category:Greek Mythology]]

Pegasus

2008-05-08T20:24:47Z

RightOfCenter:

In [[Greek]] mythology, '''Pegasus''' was a winged [[horse]], the son of the sea-god [[Poseidon]] and [[Medusa]] the [[Gorgon]].

[[Liberals]] sometimes cite the Pegasus myth as evidence that transitional forms exist as they attempt to defend [[evolution]].
[[Category:Greek Mythology]]

Hate speech

2008-05-08T20:17:14Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Hate speech''' is said to be widely provocative speech to denigrate a legally protected class or group of citizens defined by [[legislation]]. These protected groups can include gender, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, disability, and sometimes age. While language to protect other victim classes has been proposed, the [[Democrat|Democratically]] controlled [[110th Congress]] has rejected protections against the [[military]], pregnant and battered women, or the homeless.Source needed. Under some legal codes, hate speech can be considered a [[hate crime]].

Under a new Swedish law, any person who demonstrates disrespect (Swedish: “missaktning”) for people’s sexual orientation may be sentenced up to four years in prison. Needless to say, although the [[Bible]] is clear about God’s love to fallen mankind and that “God so loved the world….” there are many passages in the Bible that warns about sodomy and its dangers to both individuals and to society at large. Those passages – although expressing disrespect for the depraved act of sodomy - may erroneously be interpreted by some people to express disrespect for the people who engage in such activity. Or as the the Kalmar Court verdict against Pastor Green reads: “It is the opinion of this Court that Åke Green, through his statements, has deeply offended the homosexuals as a group and the purpose of his sermon was clearly aimed at showing disrespect for the homosexuals as a group.” [http://www.akegreen.org/]

Hate speech, even when legally defined as such, is not a crime in the [[United States]] because speech is protected under the [[first amendment]]. In some instances, however, hate speech may be entered as evidence that a separate crime, such as assault, should qualify as a [[hate crime]].

==See also==
*[[H.R. 1592: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007]]
*[[Hate crime]]

[[category:politics]]

Faust

2008-05-08T18:33:58Z

RightOfCenter:

Faust is a famous German and [[Christian]] legend about the titular character, Faust, who sells his soul to [[Satan]] in exchange for earthly power and extraordinary experiences. There are many recountings of the tale in literature, including plays, operas, and short stories. The most famous of these is a closet drama (a play not intended for production) written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe between 1806 and 1832.

The final fate of Faust varies from version to version; in most early versions he is damned at the end of the story, but later authors, including Goethe, opted for him to be redeemed at the last moment.

Faust

2008-05-08T18:31:39Z

RightOfCenter:

Faust is a famous German and Christian legend about the titular character, Faust, who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly power and extraordinary experiences. There are many recountings of the tale in literature, including plays, operas, and short stories. The most famous of these is a closet drama (a play not intended for production) written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe between 1806 and 1832.

The final fate of Faust varies from version to version; in most early versions he is damned at the end of the story, but later authors, including Goethe, opted for him to be redeemed at the last moment.

Faust

2008-05-07T23:43:11Z

RightOfCenter: New page: Faust is a famous German and Christian legend about the titular character, Faust, who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly power and extraordinary experiences. There are man...

Faust is a famous German and Christian legend about the titular character, Faust, who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly power and extraordinary experiences. There are many recountings of the tale in literature, including plays, operas, and short stories. The most famous of these is a closet drama (a play not intended for production) written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe between 1806 and 1832.

The final fate of Faust varies from version to version; in most eary versions he is damned at the end of the story, but later authors, including Goethe, opted for him to be redeemed at the last moment.

Romanticism

2008-05-07T23:30:58Z

RightOfCenter:

[[Image:JWW1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[John William Waterhouse]]'s ''The Lady of Shalott'', 1888.]]

'''Romanticism''' was a major artistic, musical and literary movement in the 1800s which emphasized expressed thoughts, feelings, and nature. The Romantic period of art was also a period of rebirth for religious philosophy.

The term "Romanticism" was coined because it originated in European regions of the "Romance Languages", namely French, Spanish and Italian. German and British Romanticism followed soon after. Other countries such as [[America]] and [[Canada]] also had Romantic art movements.

Romanticism is contrasted with [[neo-classicism]], a movement that preceded it.

==Key Artists==

*[[William Blake]]
*[[Henry Fuseli]]
*[[Francisco Goya|Francisco de Goya]]
*[[Eugene Delacroix]]
*[[William Turner]]
*[[John Constable]]

==Key Authors==
*[[Johann Wolfgang Goethe]]
*[[Mary Shelley]]
*[[Edgar Allen Poe]]

==Links==

*[http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/romanticism/arthistory_romanticism.html Romanticism Art History Archive]

[[Category:Artistic Movements]]
[[Category:Music]]

Edgar Allan Poe

2008-05-07T23:24:19Z

RightOfCenter: /* Literary Impact */

'''Edgar Allan Poe''' is a famous American [[author]], [[poet]] and editor known for his dark and morbid themes. Among his most famous works are "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart".

His short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is considered the first detective story.<ref>[http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/historydf.htm Origins of Detective Fiction]</ref>

"The Gold-Bug" is an imaginative tale that gives an example of elementary [[cryptanalysis]] (code-breaking).

== Life ==

Poe was born in Boston in 1809, and was raised in Richmond, Virginia, after his mother's death in 1811. He was educated in England and in Virginia.

In 1836, he married his first cousin Virginia Clemm, three months before her 14th birthday. Poe was an alcoholic, and drank increasingly after his wife's death in 1847. In 1849, he was found on the streets in Baltimore and died soon after. The cause of Poe's death remains unknown.<ref>The Poe Museum, [http://www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/index.html "Poe's Life"], by James Southall Wilson</ref>

== Literary Impact ==

Poe's works had a mixed, but largely negative, reception among literary circles during his life, but they were to have great influence on writers, particuarly European writers, after his death. He remains one of the first American writers to be widely admired by European audiences, who in the 19th century had little respect for American literature.

<blockquote>
But because of his use of imagination and his diving into the grotesque, the absurd, and darkness of dreams, he is linked with the creation of the surrealism movement and, from his staunch ideas on writing, inspired whole new genres to acquire the fame and fortune that eluded him. The famous pseudo-science fiction writer [[Jules Verne]] lists Poe as his main inspiration, as have other foreign writers, including [[Jorge Luis Borges]], [[Franz Kafka]], and the contemporary author [[Carlos Fuentes]]. As American author Joyce Carol Oates put it, "Who has not been influenced by Poe?"<ref> [http://news.research.ohiou.edu/perspectives/archives/9902/poe_main.htm A Writer of Influence]</ref>
</blockquote>

==Works==

===Poetry===

* O, Tempora! O, Mores! (1825)
* Song (1827)
* Imitation (1827)
* Spirits of the Dead (1827)
* A Dream (1827)
* Stanzas (1827)
* Tamerlane (1827)
* The Lake (1827)
* Evening Star (1827)
* A Dream (1827)
* To Margaret (1827)
* The Happiest Day (1827)
* To The River (1828)
* Romance (1829)
* Fairy-Land (1829)
* To Science (1829)
* To Isaac Lea (1829)
* Al Aaraaf (1829)
* An Acrostic (1829)
* Elizabeth (1829)
* To Helen (1831)
* A Paean (1831)
* The Sleeper (1831)
* The City in the Sea (1831)
* The Valley of Unrest (1831)
* Israfel (1831)
* The Coliseum (1833)
* Enigma (1833)
* Fanny (1833)
* Serenade (1833)
* Song of Triumph from Epimanes (1833)
* Latin Hymn (1833)
* To One in Paradise (1833)
* Hymn (1835)
* Politician (1835)
* May Queen Ode (1836)
* Spiritual Song (1836)
* Bridal Ballad (1837)
* To Zante (1837)
* The Haunted Palace (1839)
* Silence, a Sonnet (1839)
* Lines on Joe Locke (1843)
* The Conqueror Worm (1843)
* Lenore (1843)
* Eulalie (1843)
* A Campaign Song (1844)
* Dream-Land (1844)
* Impromptu. To Kate Carol (1845)
* To Frances (1845)
* The Divine Right of Kings (1845)
* Epigram for Wall Street (1845)
* The Raven (1845)
* A Valentine (1846)
* Beloved Physician (1847)
* An Enigma (1847)
* Deep in Earth (1847)
* Ulalume (1847)
* Lines on Ale (1848)
* To Marie Louise (1848)
* Evangeline (1848)
* A Dream Within A Dream (1849)
* Eldorado (1849)
* For Annie (1849)
* The Bells (1849)
* Annabel Lee (1849)
* Alone (1875)

===Tales===

* Metzengerstein (1832)
* The Duc De L'Omelette (1832)
* A Tale of Jerusalem (1832)
* Loss of Breath (1832)
* Bon-Bon (1832)
* MS. Found in a Bottle (1833)
* The Assignation (1834)
* Berenice (1835)
* Morella (1835)
* Lionizing (1835)
* The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall (1835)
* King Pest (1835)
* Shadow - A Parable (1835)
* Four Beasts in One - The Homo-Cameleopard (1836)
* Mystification (1837)
* Silence - A Fable (1837)
* Ligeia (1838)
* How to Write a Blackwood Article (1838)
* A Predicament (1838)
* The Devil in the Belfry (1839)
* The Man That Was Used Up (1839)
* The Fall of the House of Usher (1839)
* William Wilson (1839)
* The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion (1839)
* Why the Little Frenchman Wears His Hand in a Sling (1840)
* The Business Man (1840)
* The Man of the Crowd (1840)
* The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841)
* A Descent into the Maelstrom (1841)
* The Island of the Fay (1841)
* The Colloquy of Monos and Una (1841)
* Never Bet the Devil Your Head (1841)
* Eleonora (1841)
* Three Sundays in a Week (1841)
* The Oval Portrait (1842)
* The Masque of the Red Death (1842)
* The Landscape Garden (1842)
* The Mystery of Marie Roget (1842)
* The Pit and the Pendulum (1842)
* The Tell-Tale Heart (1843)
* The Gold-Bug (1843)
* The Black Cat (1843)
* Diddling (1843)
* The Spectacles (1844)
* A Tale of the Ragged Mountains (1844)
* The Premature Burial (1844)
* Mesmeric Revelation (1844)
* The Oblong Box (1844)
* The Angel of the Odd (1844)
* Thou Art the Man (1844)
* The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq. (1844)
* The Purloined Letter (1844)
* The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (1845)
* Some Words with a Mummy (1845)
* The Power of Words (1845)
* The Imp of the Perverse (1845)
* The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether (1845)
* The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar (1845)
* The Sphinx (1846)
* The Cask of Amontillado (1846)
* The Domain of Arnheim (1847)
* Mellonta Tauta (1849)
* Hop-Frog (1849)
* Von Kempelen and His Discovery (1849)
* X-ing a Paragrab (1849)
* Landor's Cottage (1849)

===Essays===

* Maelzel's Chess Player (1836)
* The Daguerreotype (1840)
* The Philosophy of Furniture (1840)
* A Few Words on Secret Writing (1841)
* The Rationale of Verse (1843)
* Morning on the Wissahiccon (1844)
* Old English Poetry (1845)
* The Philosophy of Composition (1846)
* The Poetic Principle (1846)
* Eureka (1848)

===Hoaxes===
* The Balloon-Hoax (1844)

===Novels===
* The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1837)
* The Journal of Julius Rodman (1840)

===Plays===

* Scenes From 'Politian' (1835)

===Others===

* The Conchologist's First Book (1839)
* The Light-House (1849)

==References==

<References/>

==External Links==
[http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/p#a481 Poe's Works at Project Gutenberg]

== See also ==

*[[D. H. Lawrence]]
*[[Washington Irving]]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Poe, Edgar Allan}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame honorees]]
[[Category:Poets]]
[[Category:Writers]]

Moral relativism

2008-05-07T22:14:35Z

RightOfCenter:

Moral relativism is the philosophy that moral standards should vary from society to society, and from time to time in history. Under this theory, ethical principles are not universal and are merely social products. This theory teaches that there is no objective moral order or absolute [[truth]]. It has been linked to [[atheism]] and to [[Communist]] and [[Nazi]] ideology.

Less often, the term moral relativism can refer to the belief that sexual relationships between relatives are [[morality|moral]]. When used in this sense it is closely linked to [[homosexuality|moral homosexualism]].<ref>http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/law/lwsch/journals/bclawr/41_2/02_TXT.htm</ref>
[[category:philosophy]]
[[Category:Liberal Falsehoods]]

Fiction

2008-05-07T21:53:51Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Fiction [[books]]''' are an invented or feigned [[narrative]] (an imaginative form of narrative).<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2007-11-12|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/FICTION|format=HTML|language=English|work=Dictionary.com|title=fiction}}</ref> Fiction is one of the two most general categories in the hierarchy that books are classified in (the other being [[non-fiction]] - a composition that its authors believe to be truthful).

Fiction differs from [[lie|lying]] because the listener knows the story isn't true.
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Fiction| ]]

Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies

2008-05-07T21:45:06Z

RightOfCenter:

Conservative movies exist, and some are immensely popular. Here is our growing list (in no particular order):

#''[[Invasion of the Body Snatchers]]'' (1956), a science fiction condemnation of [[communism]]
#''[[The Exorcist]]'' (1973) (not for children), a portrayal of evil with sympathy to Christianity. At its time it became the top-grossing film ever.
#''[[Iron Eagle]]'' (1986)
#The first ''Spider-Man'' (2002), which praises moral virtue (hard-working teenager, devout aunt and well-meaning uncle) and pokes fun at assumed [[liberals]] (entertainers and journalist). Hero chooses [[abstinence]]. This was one of the most profitable films ever made.
#''[[Gone With the Wind]]'', which celebrates a strongly ''feminine'' heroine who is the antithesis of a modern [[feminist]]
#''[[Ben-Hur]]'', celebrates honor and duty to family and country, with a pro-Christian ending
#''[[The Sound of Music]]'', solid family entertainment
#''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]''
#''[[The Ten Commandments]]''
#''[[Mr. Smith Goes To Washington]]''
#''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''
#''[[Star Wars]]'' series - simple truths about the triumph of good over evil
#''[[King of Kings]]''
#''[[On The Waterfront]]'' - a simple but hardworking longshoreman takes on his Mafia-controlled union
#''[[Sergeant York]]''
#''[[Knute Rockne: All-American]]''
#''[[Ninotchka]]''
#''[[Forbidden Planet]]''
#''[[Rudy]]''
#''[[The Prince of Egypt]]''
#''[[Strategic Air Command (film)|Strategic Air Command]]''. Actor (and Brigadier [[General]]) [[James Stewart]]'s story of the real [[Strategic Air Command]] and its transition from prop planes to jet planes.
#''[[A Gathering of Eagles]]''. Illustrates duty, honor, and the burden of command.
#''[[Red Dawn]]''
#''[[Harry's War]]''
#''[[The Patriot]]'' (2000) (the one starring Mel Gibson, there are several other movies with this name)
#''[[Ladder 49]]''
#''[[Rocky]]'' (perseverance and talent can overcome all odds)
#''[[October Sky]]''
#''[[Amazing Grace (film)|Amazing Grace]]''
#''[[Bruce Almighty]]''
#[[World Trade Center]] (highlights the bravery of the firemen and police in [[9/11]])
#''[[Flight 93]]''
#''[[A Man For All Seasons]]''
#''[[Chariots of Fire]]''
#''[[One Foot In Heaven]]''
#''[[Quo Vadis?]]''
#''[[The Lost Weekend]]'' (dangers of alcohol)
#''[[Little Miss Sunshine]]'' (importance of family)
#''[[The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (anti-communist in general, but with a swipe at [[Joseph McCarthy]])
#''[[The Green Berets]]'' Vivid defense of our troops' conduct in the Vietnam War.
#''[[My Son John]]'' (1952). A small-town couple's world is turned upside-down by the discovery that their adult son is a Communist.
#''[[True Lies]]'', starring the future Republican governor of California, [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. Teaches conservative values like marital loyalty, and political incorrect facts such as the fact that most terrorists are Middle Eastern Arabic speakers who don't value human life.
#''[[The Island]]'' (2005) Pro-life statement against cloning to harvest organs.
#''[[Evelyn]]'' (2002) True story of Irish father's legal struggle to recover his kids from an orphanage.
#''[[Shane]]'' (1953) Western about defending a homesteading family.
#''[[Hero]]'' (1992) Even those with character flaws can do good.
#''[[The Day of the Jackal]]'' (1973) celebrates conservative values like honor and duty.
#''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'' (1996) a film from the [[Star Trek]] franchise in which the crew of the Enterprise battle the Borg, an alien race that symbolizes [[communism]].

== References ==
<references/>

Please add your best conservative picks.

[[Category:Essays]]

Internet slang

2008-05-07T16:25:02Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Internet slang''' is slang that Internet users have created and used, often in instant messaging and forum discussions. They are frequently acronyms, designed to save keystrokes in an attempt to speed up communication.

== List of Internet slang ==

*'''2:''' Substitution for to, too, and two.
*'''4:''' Substitution for for and four.
*'''AFAICT:''' As far as I can tell.
*'''AFAIK:''' As far as I know.
*'''AFAIR:''' As far as I recall/remember.
*'''AFAIAW:''' As far as I am aware.
*'''AFK:''' Away from keyboard.
*'''ASL:''' A request for Age, Sex, and Location.
*'''ATM:''' At The Moment.
*'''BBL:''' be back later.
*'''BBIAB:''' be back in a bit.
*'''bewbs:''' breasts.
*'''BRB:''' Be Right Back.
*'''btw:''' By the way.
*'''ch00b:''' Person who acts like a n00b, but has skill levels or a kill/death ratio of someone who is considered 1337. Typically spends time bragging, flaming, and asking question he or she should know.
*'''D00d:''' [[L33tsp43k]] spelling of "dude".
*'''ftw:''' For the win.
*'''GDR:''' Grinning, Ducking and Running. Usually typed right after making a groan-inducing joke.
*'''g2g:''' got to go, gotta go.
*'''gg:''' Good game. Somtimes an 'a' is added to make gga: good game all.
*'''IANAL:''' Sometimes IANALB, "I am not a lawyer (but)" said right before (usually) poor legal advice.
*'''IIRC:''' If I remember correctly.
*'''IM:''' Abbreviation for Instant Messaging.
*'''IMHO''' In My Humble Opinion
*'''l8r:''' later.
*'''1337''' Leet. Usually means good, but some say it stands for Elite. Also the name for turning letters into numbers and symbols.
*'''LMAO''' Laughing My Ass Off
*'''LOL:''' Laugh Out Loud.
*'''lvl:''' Level.
*'''Newb''' Person is unskilled at whatever task they are trying to perform due to lack of experience.
*'''Noob''' Person is unskilled at whatever task they are trying to perform due to lack of experience and refuse to acknowledge their difficulty with the task.
*'''Omgwtfbbq''' is an internet slang term used in many MMORPG games like World of Warcraft. It is used as an expression of confusion and when someone asks an absurd newbie question. It is usually meant to be taken sarcastically. Although it can occasionally be used when someone is utterly confused by something that was said. It's various parts stand for, respectively, "Oh My G_d," "what the f___," and "barbecue," each of which can also appear individually, although "bbq," alone, is not actually considered internet slang.
*'''Pwn:''' Defeat someone, misspelling of "own".
*'''Pwnt:''' If someone "pwns" you, you have been pwnt. Usually spelled with an 'ed' rather than a 't'.
*'''ROFL:''' Rolling On The Floor Laughing.
*'''Roflcopter:''' An extreme version of "rofl," or, "rolling on the floor laughing."
*'''TMI:''' Too much information.
*'''U:''' Substitution for you.
*'''Ur:''' Substitution for your, you're, you are.
*'''WYSIWYG:''' What you see is what you get, also a word processing editor type.
*'''ZOMG:''' An extreme version of "Oh my God!"

[[category:internet culture]]

Conception

2008-05-06T17:29:38Z

RightOfCenter:

'''Conception''' is the fertilization of an egg by a sperm to form a new [[organism]]. In [[humans]], conception is the moral beginning of a new individual person.
[[category:biology]]

Ben Stein

2008-05-06T17:16:34Z

RightOfCenter: /* Quotes */

[[Image:Image554836x.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Benjamin Jeremy Stein''' (born November 25, 1944 in Washington, DC) is a [[conservative]] writer, speaker and social activist. Stein earned a law degree from [[Yale]]. Having been a speech writer and lawyer for former United States Presidents [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Gerald Ford]] as well as a publisher of conservative thought in newspapers, Stein unexpectedly turned up with a new career on television after getting his start in the movie ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' as the most boring high school teacher on the planet due to his monotone voice. Most of the scene was unscripted. In a sense Ben showed a key knowledge for understated humor.

== TV ==
A man of considerable intellect, Stein starred in his own gameshow, ''Win Ben Stein's Money'', which would culminate in Stein taking on the winning contestant in a ten-question round to see who could answer more of the questions correctly. Most of the time Stein would emerge victorious. Stein had a subtle form of comedy playing the mostly straight man to Jimmy Kimbell as the joking cohost.

Stein went on to host his own talk show ''Turn Ben Stein On''.

Today Stein can still be seen on television with his "dry humor" such as in the "dry eyes" commercial.

Stein has never lost his conservative roots or his desire to engage in intelligent dialogue. He has appeared many times on [[Fox News]] discussing politics and finance. Ben Stein also writes his "Diary" in every issue of ''[[The American Spectator]]'', and is a regular weekly contributor to the Business Section of the [[New York Times]].

== Intelligent Design ==
Stein co-wrote and appears as the narrator<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091617/fullcredits#writers IMDB listing] for ''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed''</ref> in a movie (''[[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]]''), released in the US in April 2008 which portrays "Big Science" as suppressing [[Intelligent design]] from being discussed and considered in academic settings.

== Quotes ==
:"I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat."<ref>http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/benstein2.asp</ref>

:"I'm a rebel to my core ... and happy to be in an uphill struggle, as long as the cause is right."<ref>[http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?id=27761 Intelligent Design foes no match for Stein in 'Expelled' ] </ref>

:"Bueller... Bueller... Bueller..."<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2luAeK0Tuu8</ref>

== Works ==

====Voice-overs====
*''Dukeman''
*''Fairly Odd Parents''
*''Loony Toon''

====Movies====
*''The Mask''
*''Ferris Bueller's Day Off''
*''Expelled'' (due for release in April 2008)

====Books====
*''Yes, You Can Become a Successful Income Investor!''
*''The Gift Of Peace: Guideposts on the Road to Serenity''
*''How to Ruin Your Life''
*''How to Ruin Your Love Life''
*''How to Ruin Your Financial Life''

====Articles====
''American Spectator'':
*[http://spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11280 "Sharpton in the Morning"]
*[http://spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11392 "Bush Much Greater"]
*[http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10928 "The Lynching of the President"]
*[http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10434 "Hypocrisy, Democrat Style"]
*[http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10160 "How to Lose to Terrorists"]
*[http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10007 "Why I Am a Republican"]
*[http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10092 "Eretz Israel"]

''Yahoo! Finance'':
*[http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/24513 "To Get Rich, Just Follow the Instructions"]
*[http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/34125 "Playing Politics at the Pump"]

''CBS Sunday Morning Commentary'':
*[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/28/sunday/main2405061.shtml "Bush Is Not All Bad"]
*[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/31/sunday/main2318344.shtml "Ben Stein Remembers President Ford"]

''New York Times''
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/business/13every.html "Dear Watchdogs: Rein In Wall Street"]

==Further Readings==
*[http://www.benstein.com/ Ben Stein's personal site]
*[http://www.expelledthemovie.com/home.php The movie ''Expelled'']

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stein,Ben}}

[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[category:Authors]]
[[Category:Actors]]

Star Wars

2008-05-06T17:06:58Z

RightOfCenter:

[[Image:462px-Star wars dvd cover.jpg|right|thumb|Cover of the 2004 [[DVD]] widescreen release of Star Wars Trilogy.]]
:''Note: This article deals with the science fiction saga, not the American [[Strategic Defense Initiative]] (SDI).''

'''Star Wars''' is a science fiction film saga and fictional universe created by American director [[George Lucas]]. The original Star Wars movie (Episode IV) came out on May 25th, 1977. The earlier set of Star Wars movies ''(Episodes IV, V, and VI)'' are renowned as classics of cinema, and were some of the first "summer blockbusters" ever made. Episodes I, II and III were released in 1999, 2002 and 2005 respectively. All six movies are amongst the top 25 highest grossing films of all time.<ref>http://imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross</ref>
In 1984 and 1985, two spinoff movies to the original trilogy (Episode IV, V, and VI) were made featuring the Ewok characters seen in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

==Development of the Monomyth==

[[George Lucas]] built on the idea of the [[monomyth]] - a dominant mythic structure that resounds strongly with the human psyche - in structuring his narrative. He consulted closely with [[Joseph Campbell]], author of the book, "Hero of a Thousand Faces," in his utilizing of the [[monomyth]] structure for the movie. In ''Star Wars'' (now known as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), the reluctant hero is [[Luke Skywalker]], the teacher [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]], and the inner world the galaxy at large.

==Fan Films==
There have been many short films created by Star Wars Fans. One major website is www.fanfilms.com; which contains many fanfilms including TROOPS, The Essense of The Force, The Jedi Hunter, the Pink Five trilogy, Revelations, and Ryan Vs. Dorkman 1 and 2. One major high-quality fan based movie is I.M.P.S: The Relentless; which can be found at www.impstherelentless.com, and is the first chapter of a future full-length, chapter-based movie based on the Emperial Starship Relentless and her crew.

==Extended Universe==
Since the success of the film franchise, Lucasfilm has licensed a number of novels, comic books, and video games that take place in the Star Wars universe. These often take place before, after or in between the films, and feature characters not shown or only very briefly shown in the films. All officially licensed works are considered canon. There was also three TV movies, two about the Ewoks and the Star Wars Holiday Special, which represented a secularized version of [[Christmas]].

===Miscellaneous===

Star Wars became forever linked to politics when a [[Strategic Defense Initiative|missile-defense plan]] was devised under the Reagan administration which was nick-named Star Wars.

Many novels have been written as follow ups to the films.

== See also ==
* [[Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith]]

[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:Science fiction]]