Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Royal Air Force

2010-05-14T19:11:23Z

Berry10:

Illegal drugs

2010-05-14T18:11:12Z

Berry10:

[[Image:Drugs.jpg|right]]
[[Drugs]] are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual. [[Drug abuse]] is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual. '''Illegal drugs''' are drugs whose possession and/or use is forbidden by law (in most jurisdictions) due to their harmfulness and, usually, lack of therapeutic use. [[The Bible]] generally prohibits the use of drugs such as these. The most common illegal drugs are:

*[[Cannabis]] (''Cannabis sativa'') is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some varying psychoactive properties. Other names for the Cannabis plant prepared for use are: Marijuana, Pot, Acapulco gold, Grass, Weed and Reefer. The main psychoactive ingredient within Cannabis is Delta-9-Tetrahydroannabinol (THC). There are three different preparations of Cannabis: Marijuana (Ground flower buds and/or leaves), Hashish (Pressed Cannabis Trichomes) and Hashish Oil (Ethanol extracted Cannabinoids). Although marijuana is illegal there are many groups researching its therapeutic properties and painkilling properties for people with chronic pain or disease.

*[[Coca]] (mostly ''Erythroxylum coca'') is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.

*[[Cocaine]] is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.

*[[Hallucinogens]] are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB, DOM, 2C-I, 2C-E), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, ayahuasca).

*[[Heroin]] is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.

*[[Opium]] is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.

*[[Opium poppy]] (''Papaver somniferum'') is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.

*[[Poppy straw]] is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use.

*[[Qat]] (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.

Legal (pharmaceutical) drugs are also often used for recreational (i.e., non-therapeutic) purposes. Such use is usually illegal. Drugs often illegally abused in this manner include:

*Some cough suppressants, mainly any formulation which contains [[dextromethorphan]] (Robitussin, Delsym), are used in high doses to produce dissociative hallucinations, much like phencyclidine or ketamine. Althouth available over the counter in most states, frequent or long-term use of these high doses can lead to toxic psychosis.

*[[Depressants]] (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan), methaqualone (Quaalude or Mandrax), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).

*[[Narcotics]] are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep or a type of "euphoria," and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), [[morphine]] (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol #3, Empirin with codeine), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose, Actiq), and others (Darvon, Vicodin, Oxycontin).

*[[Stimulants]] are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor, Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).

==Arguments for legalization==

In 2001 Portugal decriminalised the personal usage of drugs including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Statistics indicate that with the exception of marijuana drug use declined overall, the number or persons seeking treatment for drug addiction rose and levels of HIV infection dropped. Portugal has the lowest rate of marijuana use by over 15 year olds in Europe at 10%, comparatively the United States the percentage of users over the age of 12 is over 39%. <ref>http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1893946,00.html</ref>

*Crime. Some argue that the primary immorality associated with illicit drugs is the resultant drug-related crime. The cocaine industry is notoriously immoral, whilst a legal industry would almost certainly be far less so. Celerino Castillo, a twenty-year veteran of law enforcement (including twelve years in the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]), calls the drug war a "vile and despicable presence doing irreparable harm to all of the American landscape," and insists that legalization is the only real solution to eliminating drug cartels and gangs.<ref>[http://mapinc.org/newsleap/v08/n258/a06.html Drug War Doing Irreparable Harm], Brownsville Herald, 3 March 2008.</ref>

*[[Human Rights]]. It has been suggested that it is a human right to have access to recreational drugs, and that it is immoral of the government to prevent this. However, this argument is not without criticism. Drug use may lead to a user negatively affecting the lives of others.

*Futility of criminalization. The laws on illicit drugs cannot be effectively enforced and drugs are easy to procure. When a law cannot be effectively enforced, it is of questionable merit. Also, since [[alcohol]] is a dangerous, legal alternative, people will frequently turn to it instead, which is arguably no better.

==<references/>==

==External Links==
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/drugs/ What Liberals Say - Category: Drugs], [[Accuracy In Media]]

[[Category:Illegal Drugs]]

Illegal drugs

2010-05-14T18:08:38Z

Berry10: /* Arguments for legalization */ added details of the effects of decriminalisation of drugs in portugal and link

[[Image:Drugs.jpg|right]]
[[Drugs]] are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual. [[Drug abuse]] is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual. '''Illegal drugs''' are drugs whose possession and/or use is forbidden by law (in most jurisdictions) due to their harmfulness and, usually, lack of therapeutic use. [[The Bible]] generally prohibits the use of drugs such as these. The most common illegal drugs are:

*[[Cannabis]] (''Cannabis sativa'') is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some varying psychoactive properties. Other names for the Cannabis plant prepared for use are: Marijuana, Pot, Acapulco gold, Grass, Weed and Reefer. The main psychoactive ingredient within Cannabis is Delta-9-Tetrahydroannabinol (THC). There are three different preparations of Cannabis: Marijuana (Ground flower buds and/or leaves), Hashish (Pressed Cannabis Trichomes) and Hashish Oil (Ethanol extracted Cannabinoids). Although marijuana is illegal there are many groups researching its therapeutic properties and painkilling properties for people with chronic pain or disease.

*[[Coca]] (mostly ''Erythroxylum coca'') is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.

*[[Cocaine]] is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.

*[[Hallucinogens]] are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB, DOM, 2C-I, 2C-E), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, ayahuasca).

*[[Heroin]] is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.

*[[Opium]] is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.

*[[Opium poppy]] (''Papaver somniferum'') is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.

*[[Poppy straw]] is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use.

*[[Qat]] (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.

Legal (pharmaceutical) drugs are also often used for recreational (i.e., non-therapeutic) purposes. Such use is usually illegal. Drugs often illegally abused in this manner include:

*Some cough suppressants, mainly any formulation which contains [[dextromethorphan]] (Robitussin, Delsym), are used in high doses to produce dissociative hallucinations, much like phencyclidine or ketamine. Althouth available over the counter in most states, frequent or long-term use of these high doses can lead to toxic psychosis.

*[[Depressants]] (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan), methaqualone (Quaalude or Mandrax), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).

*[[Narcotics]] are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep or a type of "euphoria," and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), [[morphine]] (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol #3, Empirin with codeine), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose, Actiq), and others (Darvon, Vicodin, Oxycontin).

*[[Stimulants]] are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor, Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).

==Arguments for legalization==

In 2001 Portugal decriminalised the personal usage of drugs including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Statistics indicate that with the exception of marijuana drug use declined overall, the number or persons seeking treatment for drug addiction rose and levels of HIV infection dropped. Portugal has the lowest rate of marijuana use by over 15 year olds in Europe at 10%, comparatively the United States the percentage of users over the age of 12 is over 39%. <ref>http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1893946,00.html</ref>

*Crime. Some argue that the primary immorality associated with illicit drugs is the resultant drug-related crime. The cocaine industry is notoriously immoral, whilst a legal industry would almost certainly be far less so. Celerino Castillo, a twenty-year veteran of law enforcement (including twelve years in the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]), calls the drug war a "vile and despicable presence doing irreparable harm to all of the American landscape," and insists that legalization is the only real solution to eliminating drug cartels and gangs.<ref>[http://mapinc.org/newsleap/v08/n258/a06.html Drug War Doing Irreparable Harm], Brownsville Herald, 3 March 2008.</ref>

*[[Human Rights]]. It has been suggested that it is a human right to have access to recreational drugs, and that it is immoral of the government to prevent this. However, this argument is not without criticism. Drug use may lead to a user negatively affecting the lives of others.

*Futility of criminalization. The laws on illicit drugs cannot be effectively enforced and drugs are easy to procure. When a law cannot be effectively enforced, it is of questionable merit. Also, since [[alcohol]] is a dangerous, legal alternative, people will frequently turn to it instead, which is arguably no better.

==External Links==
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/drugs/ What Liberals Say - Category: Drugs], [[Accuracy In Media]]

[[Category:Illegal Drugs]]

Royal Air Force

2010-05-14T17:50:41Z

Berry10:

[[Image:GASJV.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A restored RAF Supermarine Spitfire. This type of aircraft played a major role in World War II (photo copyright Ian Older -- Used with permission)]]
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force of the United Kingdom and is the oldest air force in the world. Formed on the 1 April 1918 via a by a merger of its predicessor the RAC and the naval RNAS, the RAF has been a continuous force in the military history of the United Kingdom. <ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/raftimeline19181929.cfm</ref>

The RAF is most famously known for its role in the defence of the [[British Isles]] during the [[Battle of Britain]], over the course of the summer of 1940. The battle was fought against the the German [[Luftwaffe]] and the Italian Regina Aeronautica and was successful in maintaining air superiority over British soil, preventing an the planned German invasion of Britain code named 'Seelowe' or Sealion.<ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F21D57C4_9913_5321_BB9830F0BB762B4E.pdf</ref> Commenting on the actons of the RAF during this period the Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] famously said:
:''"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few"''<ref>http://century.guardian.co.uk/1940-1949/Story/0,,128255,00.html</ref>

The RAF continued to play a significant part throughout the remainder of the war, predominantly be waging a night-time bombing campaign against German cities.

The RAF currently operates 1,112 aircraft, making it the largest airforce in Europe, the second largest in NATO and the fifth largest overall. <ref>http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=160&date=2010-03-12&pubType=1&PublishTime=09:30:06&from=home&tabOption=1</ref>

<references/>

==see also==
* [[World War II in the Air]]

[[category:Air Power]]
[[category:World War II]]
[[category:World War I]]

Royal Air Force

2010-05-14T17:47:26Z

Berry10: Added informatio on the history of the RAF and references

[[Image:GASJV.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A restored RAF Supermarine Spitfire. This type of aircraft played a major role in World War II (photo copyright Ian Older -- Used with permission)]]
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force of the United Kingdom and is the oldest air force in the world. Formed on the 1 April 1918 via a by a merger of its predicessor the RAC and the naval RNAS, the RAF has been a continuous force in the military history of the United Kingdom. <ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/raftimeline19181929.cfm</ref>

The RAF is most famously known for its role in the defence of the [[British Isles]] during the [[Battle of Britain]], over the course of the summer of 1940. The battle was fought against the the German [[Luftwaffe]] and the Italian Regina Aeronautica and was sucessfull in maintaining air superiority over British soil, preventing an the planned German invasion of Britain code named 'Seelowe' or Sealion.<ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F21D57C4_9913_5321_BB9830F0BB762B4E.pdf</ref> Commenting on the actons of the RAF during this period the Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] famously said:
:''"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few"''<ref>http://century.guardian.co.uk/1940-1949/Story/0,,128255,00.html</ref>

The RAF continued to play a significant part throughout the remainder of the war, predominantly be waging a night-time bombing campaign against German cities.

The RAF currently operates 1,112 aircraft, making it the largest airforce in Europe, the second largest in NATO and the fifth largest overall. <ref>http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=160&date=2010-03-12&pubType=1&PublishTime=09:30:06&from=home&tabOption=1</ref>
==see also==
* [[World War II in the Air]]

[[category:Air Power]]
[[category:World War II]]
[[category:World War I]]

H. P. Lovecraft

2010-05-14T17:20:04Z

Berry10: grammar correction

[[Image:998907809.jpg|right|thumb|H.P Lovecraft]]
'''H. P. Lovecraft''' (1890-1937) was an [[United States of America|American]] author of fantasy and horror tales. He is the author who created the [[Cthulhu]] mythos, a fantasy world adapted by many subsequent authors. Lovecraft horror took many influences from [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. Lovecraft often openly attacked Christianity, with themes in his writings replicating his beliefs in the inability for human consciousness to comprehend the nature of reality.<ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tfrbBSFn_p8C&pg=PA103&dq=lovecraft+religion&as_brr=3&cd=7#v=onepage&q=lovecraft%20religion&f=false</ref> while admitting that they are necessary for preservation of moral values in a society.<sup>[Reference?]</sup>

Lovecraft openly held racist beliefs in addition to believing that the inhabitants of the world were stratified in terms of cultural development. He perceived that white western culture, particularly that of the Anglo-Saxon nations was superior to that of other cultures. Lovecraft also expressed disdain for 'racial inbreeding' as well as for lower class economic migrants in America. <ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fzSrmR1PRO0C&pg=PA103&dq=lovecraft+racism&hl=en&ei=H4DtS6eQFZ6XONvBmbAI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=lovecraft%20racism&f=false</ref>

==Works==
*''Dagon''
*''The Call of Cthulhu''
*''The Other Gods''
*''The Shadow Over Innsmouth''
*''At the Mountains of Madness''

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovecraft, H. P.}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Horror]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

H. P. Lovecraft

2010-05-14T17:19:01Z

Berry10: added reference

[[Image:998907809.jpg|right|thumb|H.P Lovecraft]]
'''H. P. Lovecraft''' (1890-1937) was an [[United States of America|American]] author of fantasy and horror tales. He is the author who created the [[Cthulhu]] mythos, a fantasy world adapted by many subsequent authors. Lovecraft horror took many influences from [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. Lovecraft often openly attacked Christianity, with themes in his writings replicating his beliefs in the inability for human consciousness to comprehend the nature of reality.<ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tfrbBSFn_p8C&pg=PA103&dq=lovecraft+religion&as_brr=3&cd=7#v=onepage&q=lovecraft%20religion&f=false</ref> while admitting that they are necessary for preservation of moral values in a society.<sup>[Reference?]</sup>

Lovecraft openly held racist beliefs in addition to believing that the inhabitants of the world were stratified in terms of cultural development. He perceived that white western culture, particularly that of the Anglo-Saxon nations was superior to that of other cultures. Lovecraft also expressed disdain 'racial inbreeding' as well as for lower class economic migrants in America. <ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fzSrmR1PRO0C&pg=PA103&dq=lovecraft+racism&hl=en&ei=H4DtS6eQFZ6XONvBmbAI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=lovecraft%20racism&f=false</ref>

==Works==
*''Dagon''
*''The Call of Cthulhu''
*''The Other Gods''
*''The Shadow Over Innsmouth''
*''At the Mountains of Madness''

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovecraft, H. P.}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Horror]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

H. P. Lovecraft

2010-05-14T17:08:26Z

Berry10: Spelling edit

[[Image:998907809.jpg|right|thumb|H.P Lovecraft]]
'''H. P. Lovecraft''' (1890-1937) was an [[United States of America|American]] author of fantasy and horror tales. He is the author who created the [[Cthulhu]] mythos, a fantasy world adapted by many subsequent authors. Lovecraft horror took many influences from [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. Lovecraft often openly attacked religion and idealism choosing to portray them as blind ignorance in the face of a terrifying reality, while admitting that they are necessary for preservation of moral values in a society.

Lovecraft openly held racist beliefs in addition to believing that the inhabitants of the world were stratified in terms of cultural development. He perceived that white western culture, particularly that of the Anglo-Saxon nations was superior to that of other cultures. Lovecraft also expressed disdain 'racial inbreeding' as well as for lower class economic migrants in America. <ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fzSrmR1PRO0C&pg=PA103&dq=lovecraft+racism&hl=en&ei=H4DtS6eQFZ6XONvBmbAI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=lovecraft%20racism&f=false</ref>

==Works==
*''Dagon''
*''The Call of Cthulhu''
*''The Other Gods''
*''The Shadow Over Innsmouth''
*''At the Mountains of Madness''

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovecraft, H. P.}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Horror]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

H. P. Lovecraft

2010-05-14T17:07:05Z

Berry10: Minor additional info added

[[Image:998907809.jpg|right|thumb|He is in the picture]]
'''H. P. Lovecraft''' (1890-1937) was an [[United States of America|American]] author of fantasy and horror tales. He is the author who created the [[Cthulhu]] mythos, a fantasy world adapted by many subsequent authors. Lovecraft horror took many influences from [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. Lovecraft often openly attacked religion and idealism choosing to portray them as blind ignorance in the face of a terrifying reality, while admitting that they are necessary for preservation of moral values in a society.

Lovecraft openly held racist beliefs in addition to believing that the inhabiants of the world were stratified in terms of cultural development. He perceived that white western culture, particularly that of the Anglo-Saxon nations was superior to that of other cultures. Lovecraft also expressed disdain 'racial inbreeding' as well as for lower class economic migrants in America. <ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fzSrmR1PRO0C&pg=PA103&dq=lovecraft+racism&hl=en&ei=H4DtS6eQFZ6XONvBmbAI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=lovecraft%20racism&f=false</ref>

==Works==
*''Dagon''
*''The Call of Cthulhu''
*''The Other Gods''
*''The Shadow Over Innsmouth''
*''At the Mountains of Madness''

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovecraft, H. P.}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Horror]]
[[Category:Atheists]]