Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

2008-04-17T04:42:19Z

BlotchesRepent:

'''''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed''''' is a documentary claiming to reveal how [[intelligent design]] supporters are suppressed and persecuted within schools, universities and the scientific community.<ref>[http://www.expelledthemovie.com/news.php Expelled the movie website]</ref>
The documentary is hosted by [[Ben Stein]] and set for release in the spring of 2008.

Tom Bethel wrote:
:The film, a documentary, is about scientists and researchers who acknowledge the scientific evidence for the intelligent design of life and who have been ostracized or denied tenure as a result. In a word, they have been "expelled" from the academy. <ref>http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12759</ref>

The film is described in its online trailer as “a startling revelation that freedom of thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled from publicly-funded high schools, universities and research institutions.” <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/science/27expelled.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2</ref>

The film cites several academic disputes to argue that [[scientist]]s and [[educator]]s who promote intelligent design are persecuted by the scientific establishment.<ref name=pressrelease>{{cite web |author=Lesley Burbridge-Bates|publisher=[http://www.premisemedia.com/ Premise Media]|date=[[2007-08-22]] |url=http://www.premisemedia.com/EXPELLED-PressRelease_08-22-07.pdf |title=''Expelled'' [[Press Release]] |accessdate=2007-09-29 |format= |work=}}</ref>
Examples given by the film include [[Richard Sternberg]], a [[biology|biologist]] and an unpaid research associate at the National Museum of [[natural history|Natural History]], and [[Guillermo Gonzalez]], a pro-[[Intelligent design]] [[astrophysics|astrophysicist]] denied tenure at [[Iowa State University]] in 2007.<ref name="nyt">[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/science/27expelled.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Scientists Feel Miscast in Film on Life's Origin], New York Times, 27 September 2007</ref>

In the film's trailer, Stein states that there are "people out there who want to keep science in a little box where it can’t possibly touch God" and that "freedom of thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled from publicly-funded high schools, universities and research institutions."<ref name="nyt"/>

Stein links Darwinism to the Holocaust, which was perpetrated in part by eugenicists inspired by Darwin's [[theory of evolution]]. "[[Charles Darwin]]'s evolutionary theory was quickly applied to human beings and social structure. The term 'survival of the fittest' was coined and seen to be applicable to humans."<ref>http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1484488</ref>

==Filmmaker statements==

{{quotebox|"If you acknowledge this idea that [[design]] can be detected scientifically in the universe, then you open up the door to saying, 'Maybe this [[atheist]]ic view isn't true,' [and] the entire worldview of people who are atheists crashes down around them," Mathis said. "This is a foundational concept for people who believe this way. So they defend it with incredible vigor."<ref>[http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?id=27761 Intelligent Design foes no match for Stein in 'Expelled'] - Baptist Press </ref> }}

==Reception==
===Reviews===

[[Carl Wieland]]:
{{QuoteBox|This powerful documentary is all about the persecution and censorship of any scientist who dares to oppose the Darwinist paradigm, by even suggesting the relatively modest hypothesis that the universe shows detectable evidence of design.<ref>Wieland, Carl, [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5638/ Cracking the wall in science] 20th February, 2008, (Creation Ministries International).</ref>}}

Roger Friedman, a [[liberal]] who writes articles on the website for the [[Fox News Channel]] (as part of their ongoing goal to remain balanced), criticized the movie in a celebrity gossip column by personally attacking Ben Stein, and claiming that the movie's "warped premise" that "somehow the theory of evolution is so evil that it caused the [[Holocaust]]" is actually [[anti-Semitic]]:
{{QuoteBox|"Expelled" is a sloppy, all-over-the-place, poorly made (and not just a little boring) "expose" of the scientific community. It’s not very exciting. But it does show that Stein... is either completely nuts or so avaricious that he’s abandoned all good sense to make a buck..... Who cares, really, if "Expelled" is anti-Semitic? It will come and go without much fanfare.<ref>Friedman, Roger, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,348468,00.html#2 Ben Stein:Win his career], 9th April, 2008, Fox News</ref>}}

===Critical response===

Predictably, complaints about the film from liberals have not addressed the film's premise. [[Richard Dawkins]] claimed he was tricked into appearing, indicating that he had been told it would be a movie named ''Crossroads'' that would be focused on "exploring the controversy." (Two others who were similarly "deceived" said they would have appeared anyway.) In response, Ben Stein said that no one he interviewed asked what the film would be about, and the co-producer Walt Ruloff said at the preview that interviewees were paid and were even told ahead of time what the questions would be.<ref>Bethell, Tom, [http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12759 No Intelligence Allowed] ''The American Spectator'', 19th February, 2008.</ref>

The stridently pro-[[evolution]] science magazine ''[[Scientific American]]'' criticized the film, calling it "intellectually dishonest," and detailed their objections with the film and intelligent design in a series of inflammatory articles.<ref>http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=sciam-reviews-expelled</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Origins debate]]
*[[Theory of evolution]]
*[[Creation-evolution controversy]]
*[[Design detection]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091617/ Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed] at the [[IMDB|Internet Movie Database]]
*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5007508 Intelligent Design and Academic Freedom] by Barbara Bradley Hagerty at NPR.com

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:Intelligent Design]]
[[Category:Evolution]]

Glen Campbell

2008-04-04T04:33:24Z

BlotchesRepent: Artist can refer to people who work in a multitude of mediums, including music or clay.

Born on April 22, 1936 in Delight, Arkansas, '''Glen
Campbell''' began playing [[guitar]] as a youth
without ever learning to read music. By the time
he was eighteen, he was touring the South as part
of the Western Wranglers. In 1958, he moved to
Los Angeles to become one of the most sought
after studio musicians in town.

“Turn Around. Look At Me” was the first of
more than 40 visits to the Hit Parade for Glen with
“Gentle On My Mind,” “By The Time I Get To
Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “It’s
Only Make Believe,” “Rhinestone Cowboy” and
“Southern Nights establishing him as a superstar
and host of televisions top rated Glen Campbell
Goodtime Hour.”

Besides appearing on many popular TV shows, as
an actor, Glen appeared in the motion pictures
“True Grit,” “Norwood” and “Strange Homecoming.”

Glen Campbell was inducted into the Country
Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and nominated at the
Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2007.

[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Artists]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Glen}}

Idealism

2008-03-30T05:00:37Z

BlotchesRepent: adding idealism.

Idealism is the philosophical concept that everything we know is composed of [[ideas]]. The easiest way of explaining this concept is that, while we may see an [[apple]], the apple's existence ''is an idea'' and already known to us. The apple, therefore, exists only in our mind, and the universe itself is completely built from within our mind.

Despite this, however, most idealists accept that God exists.

In extreme cases of this point of view, as originally proposed by [[Decartes]], is that nothing exists but one's self, as it's the only thing that can be, in fact, proven. The Proof, according to Decartes, comes from the fact that he can think, as summed up in his famous quote, "I think, therefore, I am [existing]".

[[Category:philosophy]]

Materialists

2008-03-30T04:52:58Z

BlotchesRepent: Reworded the article and removed incorrect examples of materialism; materialism in and of itself is a belief, and most of those examples are physics or cosomlogy related.

Materialism is the philosophical argument that the whole of existence if composed of matter. It is the philosophical opposite of [[Idealism]], which holds that the universe is composed of ideas.

A materialist believes that all phenomena can be explained based on physical matter, and the interactions between this phyiscal matter and nothing else. As such, spirituality, for example, could be explained as some sort of rubbing of atoms.

Outside of Philosophical discussions, Materialism refers to a person who actively seeks and/or values 'material' things, such as money or [[sports car|sports cars]], over spiritual enlightenment.
[[category:philosophy]]

Monster

2008-02-20T04:37:07Z

BlotchesRepent: Hide a comment that seemed to be unneeded for the general user; also, I think we need a citation for the paragraph about the use of the term in medicine.

A [[monster]] ([[Latin]] ''monstrum'' portent or unnatural event, from ''moneo'' I warn) is either:
*A creature of legend, containing parts of various species of animal and sometimes including human body parts.
*An ugly or frightening animal, especially if that animal has a reputation for attacking, killing, and consuming human beings.
*A grotesquely abnormal or malformed animal or human.
*A very wicked person, especially one who commits especially gross [[sin]]s against a particular [[moral]] code.
*A very large animal or other object.
*An artificial form of life usually built by genetic recombination and almost always limited to the [[Animal Kingdom|Animal]] or [[Plant Kingdom|Plant]] Kingdom.

Monsters are a frequent device of [[science fiction]]. In such works, their purpose is almost always to warn mankind not to play with forces beyond his comprehension or ability to control. Some stories feature monsters that are works of man. The novel ''[[Frankenstein]], or the Modern Prometheus'' by [[Mary Shelley]] was probably the first of these.

In [[medicine]], a "monster" is usually an infant suffering from congenital abnormalities that often kill or cripple the patient or threaten to make the patient unsightly in the extreme and likely to elicit only revulsion from all who look upon him, absent a corrective measure such as plastic surgery.

The word ''monster'' could also apply to the field of [[biology]], to encompass any hybrid creature that a biologist might build in his laboratory. Most biologists dislike this term, because of its connotation of ''horror''--which is, strictly speaking, the state of shuddering from fright (from the [[Latin]] ''horreo'' I shudder) or something that makes one shudder. Yet the word ''monster'', if one takes the word at its original meaning, might suggest a warning against a treatment of the stuff of human life in an ethically or morally reprehensible manner.

== Reference ==
* [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=monster Definition of "monster"] from the ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', copyright 2006 by Random House, Inc.



[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Mythology]]

Fire Safety

2008-02-20T04:30:32Z

BlotchesRepent: Converting the section to point form, the various tips seemed rather short and disjointed, good for point form, but bad for paragraphs/ sentiences.

'''Fire safety''' is an important set of principles that is too often forgotten. In 2006, 3,245 civilian [[fire]]-related fatalities were reported in the [[United States]], killing more Americans than all other natural disasters combined. <ref>http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/quickstats/index.shtm</ref>
[[Image:Smkdetector sm.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
==Important fire safety tips==

*Every bedroom and floor in a house should have a working [[smoke detector]], which should be tested yearly.
*Home [[Fire Drill|fire drills]] should be practiced regularly! At least twice a year.
[[Image:HomePlan.gif|right|thumb|250px|Every Home Should Have an Evacuation Plan With a Safe Meeting Place!]]
*Electrical outlets should not be overloaded.
*Also, electrical receptacles within reach of young children should be covered, as children often stick metal objects into them. Electrical receptacles cause over 5,000 fires annually. <ref>http://www.firesafety.gov/directory/public/electrical.shtm</ref>
*Similarly, lighters and matches should be kept away from children, and children should never be allowed to use fireworks. <ref>http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07223.html</ref>
*When a fire is discovered in a home, the building should be evacuated immediately, without stopping to collect valuables. 911 should be called from a neighbor's house.
*Smokers should never smoke in bed.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Safety]]

Mutagen

2008-02-20T04:03:39Z

BlotchesRepent: creating article about mutagens

A '''mutagen''' is a substance that causes [[mutation]]s to [[DNA]] and an organism's genome. This causes a number of diseases and is closely related to [[Carcinogen|Carcinogenic]] substances. In some cases, things like radioactive materials, can cause both cancer, as well as birth defects.

[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Biology]]

Conspiracy theory

2008-02-20T03:30:54Z

BlotchesRepent: added some

A '''conspiracy theory''' is a belief often held by liberals and [[non-Patriots]] that the official report, event, or explanation on a major event or subject is inaccurate or blatantly false in order to cover up an unattractive occurrence. Generally, conspiracy theories are dismissed by the public as nonsense. Some of the most notable are:
*The theory that the [[lunar landing]] was fake.
*Various [[9/11 conspiracy theories]].
*The [[JFK]] assassination conspiracy theory.
*The [[Vast right-wing conspiracy theory]] of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]].
*The theory that a [[neocon]] [[cabal]] controls the [[George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] and is responsible for the [[War in Iraq]].
*The theory that the Iraq War was started by [[Big Oil]] in order to gain access to cheap [[petroleum]].
*That the United States of America's Government is covering up Alien contact, etc.

[[Category:Terms]]

Parasite

2008-02-20T03:28:04Z

BlotchesRepent: Removing liberial deceit

A '''parasite''' is a living organism that depends upon another organism for its continued survival. Parasitism is a form of one-sided [[symbiosis]] where the parasite benefits and the host is harmed. While it used to be thought that parasites were very simple creatures generally with little impact on their [[ecosystem|ecosystems]];<ref>"Only now are scientists thinking seriously about how parasites may be as important to ecosystems as lions and leopards."(xxi-xxii) "Carl Zimmer's ''Parasite Rex''</ref> however, biologists now understand that parasites can be very sophisticated, precisely created to take advantage of their hosts and that parasites can have significant effects on their environment and on their host's life. A common parasite in humans is [[Toxoplasmosis]], and [[Malaria]].<ref>Carl Zimmer's ''Parasite Rex''</ref>

Unlike many bacterias and viruses, Parasites can have extremely long lifespans; Tapeworms, for example, can life up to 10 years, or more, in a host.

[[Young Earth Creationism|Young earth creationists]] see parasites, along with diseases, as coming about as a result of [[Adam]]'s [[sin]] against [[God]] and are one of the problems that arose on Earth because of the beginning of sin.<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c026.html</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/death_suffering.asp</ref> For example, [[virus|viruses]] are categorized as [[Obligate Intracellular parasite|obligate intracellular parasites]], and are ‘infectious particles’ rather than organisms.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref> [[Creation science|Creation scientist]] Dr. [[Jerry Bergman]] asserts that [[God]] did not make [[Pathogenic virus|pathogenic viruses]] and that it is a result of a post [[Fall of Man|fall]] world.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref> Dr. Bergman states that in relation to pathogenic viruses that "[[pathogenesis]] is evidence of something gone wrong, a [[mutation]] or the accidental movement of [[gene]]s, and not evidence of a system deliberately designed to cause human [[disease]] and suffering.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref>
In addition, creation scientists point out that the elimination of some parasites cannot be explained vis a vis the [[theory of evolution]].<ref>http://www.icr.org/article/146/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/5044</ref> For example, [[Creation Ministries International]] states the following:
{{cquote|Carnivorous [[fish]] such as the Oriental sweetlip and the coral rock cod normally feed voraciously upon [[shrimp]]s and smaller fish. But these photographs show them placidly allowing cleaner wrasse and cleaner shrimp to crawl around tongue, gill chamber and vicious-looking teeth—and the cleaners don’t seem to be at all reticent to enter the 'jaws of death'. And when the [[wrasse]] and shrimp have finished picking off parasites, the large fish let the cleaners go again without eating them.

The 'cleaning [[symbiosis]]' benefits both species, but evolutionary mutation/selection can’t explain how it arose. Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgi summed up the evolutionary puzzle presented by such symbiotic relationships (he was actually referring to a much simpler relationship between a young herring gull and its parent): ‘All this had to be developed simultaneously [like the cleaner entering the big fish’s mouth at the same time the big fish suspends his 'normal' (post-Fall) habit of eating small fish], which as a mutation has the probability of zero. I am unable to approach this problem without supposing an innate drive in matter to perfect itself.'<ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/5044</ref>}}
==See Also==
*[[Homosexuality and Parasites]]
==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Biology]]

Rwanda

2008-02-20T03:15:14Z

BlotchesRepent: re-arrange + links

{{Country
|name =''Repubulika y'u Rwanda République du Rwanda''
|map =Rwanda rel96.jpg
|flag =Flag of Rwanda.png
|arms =Arms of Rwanda.PNG
|capital =Kigali
|capital-raw =
|government =Republic
|government-raw =
|language =Kinyarwanda, French, English
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Paul Kagame
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Bernard Makuza
|pm-raw =
|area =10,169 sq mi
|pop =8,648,248
|pop-basis =2005
|gdp =$11.24 billion
|gdp-year =2005
|gdp-pc =$1,300
|currency =Rwandan franc
|idd =
|tld =
}}
The '''Republic of Rwanda''' is a small country in east-central [[Africa]]. It is bordered by [[Uganda]], [[Tanzania]], [[Burundi]], and the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. Its capital and largest city is Kigali. It has a population of approximately 9 million, and an area of 26,336 km2. In 1994, Rwanda was the scene of a major modern [[genocide]], when the ethnic group known as [[Hutu]] murdered as many as a million [[Tutsi]]. Then-President [[Bill Clinton]] and US Ambassador to the UN [[Madeleine Albright]] refused to take action to stop or slow the genocide.

==Geography==
Rwanda's countryside is covered by grasslands and small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. The divide between the Congo and Nile drainage systems extends from north to south through western Rwanda at an average elevation of almost 9,000 feet. On the western slopes of this ridgeline, the land slopes abruptly toward Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River valley, which form the western boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and constitute part of the Great Rift valley. The eastern slopes are more moderate, with rolling hills extending across central uplands at gradually reducing altitudes, to the plains, swamps, and lakes of the eastern border region.

Although located only two degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda's high elevation makes the climate temperate. The average daily temperature near Lake Kivu, at an altitude of 4,800 feet (1,463 meters) is 73o F (23o C). During the two rainy seasons (February-May and September-December), heavy downpours occur almost daily, alternating with sunny weather. Annual rainfall averages 80 centimeters (31 in.) but is generally heavier in the western and northwestern mountains than in the eastern savannas.

==History==
According to folklore, Tutsi cattle breeders began arriving in the area from the Horn of Africa in the 15th century and gradually subjugated the Hutu inhabitants. The Tutsis established a monarchy headed by a mwami (king) and a feudal hierarchy of Tutsi nobles and gentry. Through a contract known as ubuhake, the Hutu farmers pledged their services and those of their descendants to a Tutsi lord in return for the loan of cattle and use of pastures and arable land. Thus, the Tutsi reduced the Hutu to virtual serfdom. However, boundaries of race and class became less distinct over the years as some Tutsi declined until they enjoyed few advantages over the Hutu. The first European known to have visited Rwanda was German Count Von Goetzen in 1894. He was followed by missionaries, notably the "White Fathers." In 1899, the mwami submitted to a German protectorate without resistance. Belgian troops from Zaire chased the small number of Germans out of Rwanda in 1915 and took control of the country.

After World War I, the League of Nations mandated Rwanda and its southern neighbor, Burundi, to Belgium as the territory of Ruanda-Urundi. Following World War II, Ruanda-Urundi became a UN Trust Territory with Belgium as the administrative authority. Reforms instituted by the Belgians in the 1950s encouraged the growth of democratic political institutions but were resisted by the Tutsi traditionalists who saw in them a threat to Tutsi rule. An increasingly restive Hutu population, encouraged by the Belgian military, sparked a revolt in November 1959, resulting in the overthrow of the Tutsi monarchy. Two years later, the Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement (PARMEHUTU) won an overwhelming victory in a UN-supervised referendum.

During the 1959 revolt and its aftermath, more than 160,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries. The PARMEHUTU government, formed as a result of the September 1961 election, was granted internal autonomy by Belgium on January 1, 1962. A June 1962 UN General Assembly resolution terminated the Belgian trusteeship and granted full independence to Rwanda (and Burundi) effective July 1, 1962.

Gregoire Kayibanda, leader of the PARMEHUTU Party, became Rwanda's first elected president, leading a government chosen from the membership of the directly elected unicameral National Assembly. Peaceful negotiation of international problems, social and economic elevation of the masses, and integrated development of Rwanda were the ideals of the Kayibanda regime.

Relations with 43 countries, including the United States, were established in the first 10 years. Despite the progress made, inefficiency and corruption began festering in government ministries in the mid-1960s. On July 5, 1973, the military took power under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Juvenal Habyarimana, who dissolved the National Assembly and the PARMEHUTU Party and abolished all political activity.

In 1975, President Habyarimana formed the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (MRND) whose goals were to promote peace, unity, and national development. The movement was organized from the "hillside" to the national level and included elected and appointed officials.

Under MRND aegis, Rwandans went to the polls in December 1978, overwhelmingly endorsed a new constitution, and confirmed President Habyarimana as president. President Habyarimana was re-elected in 1983 and again in 1988, when he was the sole candidate. Responding to public pressure for political reform, President Habyarimana announced in July 1990 his intention to transform Rwanda's one-party state into a multi-party democracy.

On October 1, 1990, Rwandan exiles banded together as the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and invaded Rwanda from their base in Uganda. The rebel force, composed primarily of ethnic Tutsis, blamed the government for failing to democratize and resolve the problems of some 500,000 Tutsi refugees living in the diaspora around the world. The war dragged on for almost 2 years until a cease-fire accord was signed July 12, 1992, in Arusha, Tanzania, fixing a timetable for an end to the fighting and political talks, leading to a peace accord and power sharing, and authorizing a neutral military observer group under the auspices of the Organization for African Unity. A cease-fire took effect July 31, 1992, and political talks began August 10, 1992.

====1994 Genocide====
On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying President Habyarimana and the President of Burundi was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Both presidents were killed. As though the shooting down was a signal, military and militia groups began rounding up and killing all Tutsis and political moderates, regardless of their ethnic background.

The prime minister and her 10 Belgian bodyguards were among the first victims. The killing swiftly spread from Kigali to all corners of the country; between April 6 and the beginning of July, a genocide of unprecedented swiftness left up to 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead at the hands of organized bands of militia--Interahamwe. Even ordinary citizens were called on to kill their neighbors by local officials and government-sponsored radio. The president's MRND Party was implicated in organizing many aspects of the genocide.

The RPF battalion stationed in Kigali under the Arusha accords came under attack immediately after the shooting down of the president's plane. The battalion fought its way out of Kigali and joined up with RPF units in the north. The RPF then resumed its invasion, and civil war raged concurrently with the genocide for 2 months. French forces landed in Goma, Zaire, in June 1994 on a humanitarian mission. They deployed throughout southwest Rwanda in an area they called "Zone Turquoise," quelling the genocide and stopping the fighting there. The Rwandan Army was quickly defeated by the RPF and fled across the border to Zaire followed by some 2 million refugees who fled to Zaire, Tanzania, and Burundi. The RPF took Kigali on July 4, 1994, and the war ended on July 16, 1994. The RPF took control of a country ravaged by war and genocide. Up to 800,000 had been murdered, another 2 million or so had fled, and another million or so were displaced internally.

The international community responded with one of the largest humanitarian relief efforts ever mounted. The United States was one of the largest contributors. The UN peacekeeping operation, UNAMIR, was drawn down during the fighting but brought back up to strength after the RPF victory. UNAMIR remained in Rwanda until March 8, 1996.

Following an uprising by the ethnic Tutsi Banyamulenge people in eastern Zaire in October 1996, a huge movement of refugees began which brought more than 600,000 back to Rwanda in the last 2 weeks of November. This massive repatriation was followed at the end of December 1996 by the return of another 500,000 from Tanzania, again in a huge, spontaneous wave. Less than 100,000 Rwandans are estimated to remain outside of Rwanda, and they are thought to be the remnants of the defeated army of the former genocidal government, its allies in the civilian militias known as Interahamwe, and soldiers recruited in the refugee camps before 1996.

In 2001, the government began implementation of a grassroots village-level justice system, known as gacaca, in order to address the enormous backlog of cases. Despite periodic prison releases, including the most recent January 2006 release of approximately 7,000 prisoners, tens of thousands of individuals remain in the prison system, some scheduled to face the traditional court system, some awaiting trial by gacaca courts, some convicted by gacaca courts and returned to serve their sentences. By the end of 2006, 818,000 genocide suspects had been identified by the gacaca courts. These courts hope to complete their caseload by the end of 2008.

==People==
Rwanda's population density, even after the 1994 genocide, is currently the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly every family in this country with few villages lives in a self-contained compound on a hillside. The urban concentrations are grouped around administrative centers. The indigenous population consists of three ethnic groups. The Hutus, who comprise the majority of the population (85%), are traditionally farmers of Bantu origin. The Tutsis (14%) are traditionally a pastoral people who arrived in the area in the 15th century. Until 1959, they formed the dominant caste under a feudal system based on cattle holding. The Twa (1%) are thought to be the remnants of the earliest settlers of the region. Over 70% of the adult population is literate, but not more than 5% have received secondary education. During 1994-95, most primary schools and more than half of prewar secondary schools reopened. The national university in Butare reopened in April 1995; enrollment is over 7,000. Rebuilding the educational system continues to be a high priority of the Rwandan Government.
*Population (2006 est.): 8,648,248.
*Annual growth rate (2006 est.): 2.43%.
*Ethnic groups: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Twa 1%.
*Religions: Christian 93.5%, traditional African 0.1%, Muslim 4.6%, 1.7% claim no religious beliefs.
*Languages: French, English, Kinyarwanda.
*Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--75% (prewar). Literacy--70.4%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate (2006 est.)--89.61 deaths/1,000. Life expectancy (2005 est.)--47.3 years.
*Work force: Agriculture--90%; industry and commerce, services, and government--8%.

==Government and Political Conditions==
After its military victory in July 1994, the RPF organized a coalition government similar to that established by President Habyarimana in 1992. Called "The Broad Based Government of National Unity," its fundamental law is based on a combination of the June 1991 constitution, the Arusha accords, and political declarations by the parties. The MRND Party was outlawed. In April 2003, the transitional National Assembly recommended the dissolution of the Democratic Republican Party (MDR), one of eight political parties participating in the Government of National Unity since 1994. Human rights groups noted the subsequent disappearances of political figures associated with the MDR, including at least one parliamentarian serving in the National Assembly. On May 26, 2003, Rwanda adopted a new constitution that eliminated reference to ethnicity and set the stage for presidential and legislative elections in August and September 2003. The seven remaining political parties endorsed incumbent Paul Kagame for president, who was elected to a 7-year term on August 25, 2003. Rwanda held its first-ever legislative elections September 29 to October 2, 2003. A ninth political party formed after these 2003 elections. In the spring of 2006, the government conducted local non-partisan elections for district mayors and for sector and cell executive committees.

Challenges facing the government include promoting further democratization and judicial reform; prosecuting hundreds of thousands of individuals for crimes relating to the 1994 genocide, either by the regular court system or the gacaca system; preventing the recurrence of any insurgency among ex-military and Interahamwe militia who remain in eastern Congo; and the continuing work on medium- and long-term development planning.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President--Paul Kagame
*Prime Minister--Bernard Makuza
*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Charles Murigande
*Ambassador to the United States--James Kimonyo
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Joseph Nsengemana

===Foreign Relations===
Rwanda is an active member of the international community and has remained in the international spotlight since the genocide. Rwanda is an active member of the UN, having presided over the Security Council during part of 1995. The UN assistance mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR), a UN Chapter Six peacekeeping operation, involved personnel from more than a dozen countries. Most of the UN development and humanitarian agencies have had a large presence in Rwanda. At the height of the humanitarian emergency, more than 200 nongovernmental organizations were carrying out humanitarian operations. In addition to receiving assistance from the international community, Rwanda has also contributed to international peacekeeping missions. They have sent peacekeeping forces to many hotspots on the African continent. In 2004, Rwanda deployed 392 peacekeepers in support of the UN Mission to the Sudan. In 2005, Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) deployed 1,898 soldiers in support of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS).

Several west European and African nations, including Canada, China, Egypt, Libya, Russia, the Vatican, and the European Union maintain diplomatic missions in Kigali.

In 1998, Rwanda, along with Uganda, invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) to back Congolese rebels trying to overthrow then-President Laurent Kabila. Rwandan troops pulled out of the D.R.C. in October 2002, in accordance with the Lusaka cease-fire agreement.

In the fall of 2006, Rwanda broke diplomatic relations with France, following a French judge’s indictment of senior Rwandan officials on charges of having participated in the shooting down of the presidential jet in 1994. Rwanda rejects these charges. Rwanda, along with Burundi, will join the East African Community in 2007.

==Defense==
The military establishment is comprised of a well-trained army and a small, rotary-wing air force. Defense spending continues to represent a disproportionate share of the national budget, largely due to continuing security problems along the frontiers with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi in the aftermath of the war. Following withdrawal of Rwandan Armed Forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in October 2002, the government completely restructured the military and launched an ambitious plan to demobilize thousands of soldiers. At end state, Rwanda will have a small, well-equipped army of 25,000 soldiers.

==Economy==
The Rwandan economy is based on the largely rain-fed agricultural production of small, semi-subsistence, and increasingly fragmented farms. It has few natural resources to exploit and a small, uncompetitive industrial sector. While the production of coffee and tea is well suited to the small farms, steep slopes, and cool climates of Rwanda, farm size continues to decrease, especially in view of government ownership of all land and the resettlement of displaced persons. Agribusiness accounts for 37.6% (2005 est.) of Rwanda’s GDP and 70% of exports. Tea accounts for 60% of export earnings, followed by coffee and pyrethrum (whose extract is used in insect repellant). Mountain gorillas serve as a potentially important source of tourism revenue, but Rwanda’s tourism and hospitality sector requires further development. Rwanda is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Some 34% of Rwanda’s imports originate in Africa, 90% from COMESA countries. The genocide continues to impact Rwanda’s economy; as of 2003, 30% of the Rwanda Development Bank’s outstanding non-performing loans originated from the period of 1994 genocide. The Government of Rwanda has sought to privatize several key firms. Rwandatel, the government fixed-line provider and the country’s second-largest mobile phone provider, was sold to American-led Terracom in 2006. The government in the last several years also sold off several government-owned tea estates, and made great strides in completing privatization of the banking sector. Electrogaz, the utility monopoly, remains to be privatized, as do several other parastatals.
*GDP (2005 est.): $1.817 billion.
*Real GDP growth rate (2006 est.): 5.8%.
*Per capita income (2004 est.): $206. Purchasing power parity (2006 est.): $1,600.
*Average inflation rate (2006 est.): 6.7%.
*Agriculture (2006): 39.4% of GDP. Products--coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes, livestock.
*Industry (2006): 23.3% of GDP. Types--cement, agricultural products, beer production, soft drinks, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals.
*Services (2006): 37.3%
*Trade (2006 est.): Exports--$135.4 million: tea, coffee, coltan, cassiterite, hides, iron ore, and tin. Major markets--China, Belgium, and Germany. Imports (2006 est.)--$390.4 million f.o.b.: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement, and construction material. Major suppliers--Kenya, Germany, Belgium, France, Uganda, and Israel.

During the 5 years of civil war that culminated in the 1994 genocide, GDP declined in 3 out of 5 years, posting a dramatic decline at more than 40% in 1994, the year of the genocide. The 9% increase in real GDP for 1995, the first postwar year, signaled the resurgence of economic activity, due primarily to massive foreign aid.

In the immediate postwar period--mid-1994 through 1995--emergency humanitarian assistance of more than $307.4 million was largely directed to relief efforts in Rwanda and in the refugee camps in neighboring countries where Rwandans fled during the war. In 1996, humanitarian relief aid began to shift to reconstruction and development assistance.

Since 1996, Rwanda has experienced steady economic recovery, thanks to foreign aid (averaging $200 million to over $400 million per year) and governmental reforms. Since 2002, the GDP growth rate has ranged from 3%-9% per annum, and inflation had ranged between 2%-8%. Rwanda depends on significant foreign imports ($243-$300 million per year). Export rates remain weak at $135.4 million per year. Private investment remains below expectations despite an open trade policy, a favorable investment climate, cheap and abundant labor, tax incentives to businesses, stable internal security, and crime rates that are comparatively low. Investment insurance also is available through the Africa Trade Insurance Agency or the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. The weakness of exports as well as low domestic savings rates have had a negative impact on the current account for Rwanda, thus requiring a recent currency devaluation and debt restructuring measures.

The Government of Rwanda remains committed to a strong and enduring economic climate for the country. To this end the government focuses on poverty reduction, infrastructure development, privatization of government-owned assets, expansion of the export base, and liberalization of trade. The implementation of a value added tax of 18% and improved tax collections are having a positive impact on government revenues and thereby services rendered. Banking reform and low corruption also are favorable current trends. Agricultural reforms, improved farming methods, and increased use of fertilizers are improving crop yields and national food supply. Moreover, the government is pursing educational and healthcare programs that bode well for the long-term quality of Rwanda’s human resource skills base.

Many challenges remain for Rwanda. Rwanda is dependent on significant foreign aid. Exports continue to lag far behind imports and will continue to affect the current account. Inflation may become a problem should the government resort to over-printing currency for short-term gains. The persistent lack of economic diversification beyond the production of tea, coffee, and coltan keeps the country vulnerable to market fluctuations. Rwanda’s landlocked situation necessitates strong highway infrastructure maintenance, and good transport linkages to neighboring countries, especially Uganda and Tanzania, are critical. Transportation costs remain high and, therefore, burden import and export costs. Rwanda has no railway system for port access in Tanzania, although the nearest railhead from Kigali is 380 kilometers away at Isaka, Tanzania. The development of small manufacturing and service industries is needed, and the tourism industry has far greater potential given the current stability, travel infrastructure, and available animal parks as well as other potential tourist sites. In 2006, Rwanda completed the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) debt initiative, significantly lowering its foreign debt load.

American business interest in Rwanda, other than in tea and telecommunications, is weak, and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has yet to make a significant impact in Rwanda. Energy needs will stress natural resources in wood and gas, but hydroelectric power development is underway, albeit primarily in the planning stages. Rwanda does not have nuclear power or coal resources. Finally, Rwanda’s fertility rate--averaging 5.43 births (2006 est.) per woman--will continue to stress services, and diseases such as AIDS/HIV transmission, malaria, and tuberculosis will have a major impact on human resources.

Rwanda's government-run radio broadcasts 15 hours a day in English, French, and Kinyarwanda, the national languages. News programs include regular re-broadcasts from international radio such as Voice of America, BBC and Deutsche Welle. There is one government-operated television station. In addition to government-operated Radio Rwanda, there are nine independent FM radio stations. There are few independent newspapers; most newspapers publish in Kinyarwanda on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. Several Western nations, including the United States, are working to encourage freedom of the press, the free exchange of ideas, and responsible journalism.

==See also==
===References===
[http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2003/geos/rw.html CIA World factbook entry on Rwanda]
===Websites===
[http://www.gov.rw/ Official Website of the Government of Rwanda]
{| style="width: 100%; background:transparent; border: 2px solid #000099;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1"
!colspan=2 style="width: 100%; text-align: center; background-color: #000088; color: white; "|'''Copyright Details'''
|-
!style="background-color: #000088; color:white;"|License:
|style=" background-color: none;"| This work is in the [[Public Domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the U.S. Code
|-
!style=" background-color: #000088; color:white;"|Source:
|style="background-color: none;border-top: 2px solid black"| File available from the {{{1|[[United States Federal Government]] [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2861.htm]}}}.
|}
[[Category:African Countries]]
[[category:genocide]]

Weather front

2008-02-20T03:09:02Z

BlotchesRepent:

'''Weather fronts''' is a meteorological occurrence, formed at the boundaries of two dissimilar (different) [[air]] masses.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Physical Science''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:meteorology]]

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

2008-02-20T03:06:10Z

BlotchesRepent:

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (often abbreviated FISA court or FISC) is a [[United States]] court established by the 1978 [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]].

[[Category:Law]]

User:BlotchesRepent

2008-02-17T03:57:42Z

BlotchesRepent:

Looking to bring truth to a place of truthiness.

Mountain

2007-12-15T14:46:53Z

BlotchesRepent: Trying to present another side

A '''mountain''' is a mass of land that is taller than its surroundings. While there is no technical definition between the two, a mountain is generally regarded to be much larger than a [[hill]].

All mountains, at every elevation, have [[limestone]] deposits reflecting that they were once under seawater. The [[Great Flood]] accounts well for the presence of this limestone and the smooth, eroded surfaces found on some mountains. However, some people might contend that this is due to rock from far off being pushed up the mountain in time with the movement of tectonic plates. Such a process would take many, many years to accomplish.

There are different theories about the origin of mountains. The [[Tectonic Plate|tectonic plates]] theory speculates that some mountains rose out of the ground upon the collision of plates. These are called complex mountains, and example of which is the [[Himalayas]]. This theory cannot explain all mountains, however. Other types of mountains, such as fault-block mountains, are a result of faults pushing sections of land up higher than the surrounding areas.

Young mountains tend to be larger than older ones, due to erosional forces. One theory is that the rugged appearance of a mountain is caused by [[Glacier|glacial]] action, pinching the rock of the mountain into faces and horns. Mountains that have been free from glaciers tend to be more rounded in appearance.

[[Category:Geology]]

Mountain

2007-12-15T04:45:15Z

BlotchesRepent: Typo fix

A '''mountain''' is a mass of land that is taller than its surroundings. While there is no technical definition between the two, a mountain is generally regarded to be much larger than a [[hill]].

All mountains, at every elevation, have [[limestone]] deposits reflecting that they were once under seawater. The [[Great Flood]] accounts well for the presence of this limestone and the smooth, eroded surfaces found on some mountains.

There are different theories about the origin of mountains. The [[Tectonic Plate|tectonic plates]] theory speculates that some mountains rose out of the ground upon the collision of plates. These are called complex mountains, and example of which is the [[Himalayas]]. This theory cannot explain all mountains, however. Other types of mountains, such as fault-block mountains, are a result of faults pushing sections of land up higher than the surrounding areas.

Young mountains tend to be larger than older ones, due to erosional forces. One theory is that the rugged appearance of a mountain is caused by [[Glacier|glacial]] action, pinching the rock of the mountain into faces and horns. Mountains that have been free from glaciers tend to be more rounded in appearance.

[[Category:Geology]]

Mountain

2007-12-15T04:43:43Z

BlotchesRepent: Many mountains don't look very smooth.

A '''mountain''' is a mass of land that is taller than its surroundings. While there is no technical definition between the two, a mountain is generally regarded to be much larger than a [[hill]].

All mountains, at every elevation, have [[limestone]] deposits reflecting that they were once under seawater. The [[Great Flood]] accounts well for the presence of this limestone and the smooth, eroded surfaces found on some mountains.

There are different theories about the origin of mountains. The [[Tectonic Plate|tectonic plates]] theory speculates that some mountains rose out of the ground upon the collision of plates. These are called complex mountains, and example of which is the [[Himalayas]]. This theory cannot explain all mountains, however. Other types of mountains, such as fault-block mountains, are a result of faults pushing sections of land up higher than the surrounding areas.

Young mountains tend to be larger than older ones, due to erosional forces. One theory is that the rugged appearance of a mountain is caused by [[Glacier|glacial]] action, pinching the rock of the mountain into faces and horns. Mountains that are free form glaciers tend to be more rounded in appearance.

[[Category:Geology]]

User:BlotchesRepent

2007-12-15T04:21:42Z

BlotchesRepent: People think I'm strange for wanting to go the NSCAD with all these science courses.

Looking to bring truth to a place of truthiness.

I am a high school student in Canada, currently completing grade 12. As of yet, I have a 95% overall average in subjects such as Advanced Math, Physics, Advanced Chemistry, Geology, Communication Technology, and Multi-Media. I hope to attend the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design after graduating from high school.

User:BlotchesRepent

2007-12-15T04:09:47Z

BlotchesRepent:

Looking to bring truth to a place of truthiness.

Volcano

2007-12-15T04:06:42Z

BlotchesRepent: Added information

[[Image:Volcano.jpg|thumb|300px|Snow-covered Kanaga Volcano in Alaska erupts a small column of tephra, gas, and steam. Kanaga is a stratovolcano. View is toward the west.]]
A ''volcano'' forms when [[magma]], in the form of [[lava]], is able to breach the surface of the [[Earth]]. Many volcanoes tend to resemble [[mountains]], although some are so large that they form entire [[Island|islands]], as is the case of [[Mauna Loa]]. Volcanoes come in three main types, stratovolcano (also composite cone), shiled volcano, and cinder cone. Stratovolcanoes are renowned for their explosiveness, which is cause by the high viscosity of the magma they contain. They can grow to be very large and have steep slopes, but in some eruptions can blow themselves apart. In constrast, shield volcanoes contain magma of very low viscosity, resulting in less violent eruptions and shallow slopes. Finally, cinder cones form very fast and consist of amalgamated igneous materials. They have very steep slopes and are susceptible to erosion.

[[Category:Volcanology]]

Volcano

2007-12-15T04:02:43Z

BlotchesRepent: Rewrote - Article was fail

Mountain

2007-12-15T03:55:43Z

BlotchesRepent: Removed false information - some of the Rockies are fault-block mountains, etc. Also, this is not an article about tectonic plates.

A '''mountain''' is a mass of land that is taller than its surroundings. While there is no technical definition between the two, a mountain is generally regarded to be much larger than a [[hill]]. Mountains commonly form as a result of [[convergent zones]], where two [[Tectonic Plate|tectonic plates]] collide. These are called complex mountains, and example of which is the [[Himalayas]]. Other types of mountains, such as fault-block mountains, are a result of faults pushing sections of land up higher than the surrounding areas.

Young mountains tend to be larger than older ones. The typical rugged appearance of a mountain is caused by [[Glacier|glacial]] action, pinching the rock of the mountain into faces and horns.

[[Category:Geology]]

Valley

2007-12-15T03:47:34Z

BlotchesRepent: Added information

Geographically, a '''valley''' is an area of lower altitude with [[mountains]] or [[hills]] on either side. Most commonly, they are formed when a river cut down into bedrock, such as with the [[Grand Canyon]]. These have a V shape when seen in profile, and can have very steep slopes. When a [[glacier]] intrudes into one of these valleys, it causes the valley to widen and take on a U shape. Glacial valleys can be very wide.

Metaphorically, a '''valley''' is a time when a soul is going through tribulation, turmoil, [[depression]] or just a really bad day.

[[Category: Geology]]

Glacier

2007-12-15T03:43:42Z

BlotchesRepent:

[[Image:Icefields_Parkway.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Icefields Parkway glacier in Jasper, Canada.]]
A '''glacier''' is a large mass of slowly moving [[ice]] formed from snow falling over the years. Though solid, glaciers are able to flow due to the intense pressure of their own weight. They flow in a similar fashion to rivers, although much slower. Glaciers often advance, or grow larger, during the winter months, and recede, or grow smaller, during the summer months. Glaciers are the most powerful force of erosion, able to sculpt entire landscapes and shape [[mountains]]. [[Valley|Valleys]] formed by glaciers have a distinctive U shape in cross-section. Glaciers exist in [[Antarctica]], and mountainous areas of [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[New Zealand]]. <ref>http://nsidc.org/data/docs/noaa/g01130_glacier_inventory/</ref>
[[category:geography]]

== References ==
<references/>

Glacier

2007-12-15T03:43:11Z

BlotchesRepent:

[[Image:Icefields_Parkway.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Icefields Parkway glacier in Jasper, Canada.]]
A '''glacier''' is a large mass of slowly moving [[ice]] formed from snow falling over the years. Though solid, glaciers are able to flow due to the intense pressure of their own weight. They flow in a similar fashion to rivers, although much slower. Glaciers often advance, or grow larger, during the winter months, and recede, or grow smaller, during the summer months. Glaciers are the most powerful force of erosion, able to sculpt entire landscapes and shape [[mountains]]. [[Valleys]] formed by glaciers have a distinctive U shape in cross-section. Glaciers exist in [[Antarctica]], and mountainous areas of [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[New Zealand]]. <ref>http://nsidc.org/data/docs/noaa/g01130_glacier_inventory/</ref>
[[category:geography]]

== References ==
<references/>

User:BlotchesRepent

2007-12-14T20:51:25Z

BlotchesRepent:

Looking to bring truth to a place of truthiness.

Oops. D:

Pelean eruption

2007-12-13T19:16:56Z

BlotchesRepent: Undo revision 350770 by Special:Contributions/Aschlafly (User talk:Aschlafly) - Edit summary was unclear

In a '''Pelean''' or "Nuee Ardent" (glowing cloud) [[volcanic eruption|eruption]], such as occurred on the [[Mayan Volcano]] in the [[Philippines]] in 1968, a large quantity of [[gas]], [[dust]], [[ash]], and [[incandescent]] [[lava]] fragments are blown out of a central [[crater]], fall back, and form tongue-like, glowing [[avalanche]]s that move down-slope at velocities as great as 100 miles per hour. Such eruptive activity can cause great destruction and loss of life if it occurs in populated areas, as demonstrated by the [[devastation]] of [[St. Pierre]] during the 1902 eruption of [[Mount Pelee]] on [[Martinique]], [[West Indies]]. <ref>[http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/volcano_terminology.html Glossary of Volcano and Related Terminology (Tilling, 1985)]</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Volcanology]]

User:BlotchesRepent

2007-12-13T02:37:57Z

BlotchesRepent: New page: Looking to bring truth to a place of truthiness.

Looking to bring truth to a place of truthiness.

Grok (novel)

2007-12-13T02:00:59Z

BlotchesRepent: Discussion decided on Keep

Grok (pronounced GROCK) is a verb from Robert A. Heinlein's science fiction novel, ''Stranger in a Strange Land'' (1961). In it a Martian visits earth and brings his language from Mars. Grok means to understand, in an utterly complete and intuitive way. It's the Martian equivalent of to "get it", and the youth culture adopted this new word into the English language. The word is included in the American Heritage[http://www.bartleby.com/61/65/G0276500.html] and Merriam-Webster dictionaries. It is sometimes associated with hippies<ref>McCleary, John Bassett, ''The Hippie Dictionary: A Cultural Encyclopedia (And Phraseicon) of the 1960s and 1970s,''[http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1580085474&id=vYvL4yFI2AQC&pg=RA1-PA223&lpg=RA1-PA223&ots=5fIdoQdlB8&dq=grok+in+fullness&sig=4G2aFDze9XW_xhLE_pvqOFWfBBk, p. 223]</ref> and computer programmers<ref>''The Hacker's Dictionary''[http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/tech/computers/TheHackersDictionaryofComputerJargon/chap28.html]</ref>

In Heinlein's novel, a character asks another to explain the word: "You speak Martian... Do ''you'' grok 'grok?'" The other replies:
:"No. 'Grok' is the most important word in the language—and I expect to spend years trying to understand it. But I don't expect to be successful.... Its literal meaning... is easy. 'Grok' means 'to drink....' 'Grok' means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience.... Jubal, if I chopped you up and made a stew, you and the stew, whatever was in it, would grok—and when I ate you, we would grok together and nothing would be lost and it would not matter which one of us did the eating."
:"It would to me!" Jubal said firmly.<ref>Heinlein, Robert (1961), ''Stranger in a Strange Land,'' chapter XXL. p. 205-6 of the Berkley Medallion paperback edition, SBN 425-01756-7. Note: this is a very abbreviated extract from a much longer and more complicated presentation.</ref>

The emphatic form is ''to grok in fullness.''

Examples of usage:
:A cult gives its members license to feel superior to the rest of the universe, and so does a cult movie: it confers hipness on those who grok what the mainstream audience can't.<ref>Edelstein, David (2004), "You're Entering a World of Lebowski, ''The New York Times,'' August 8, 2004, p. 21</ref>

:After all, therapists not only grok, but they have to grok fellow human beings who are anguished, defeated, and often at their wit's end, or, certainly, not at their best.<ref>Brady, Mark, ''The Wisdom of Listening,'' [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0861713559&id=M5W4aHIFWVkC&pg=PA94&lpg=PA94&dq=grok&sig=XmSdpyPN_-_pPCbQWZj0MUfViTI p. 94]</ref>

Grok is perhaps the only English word that comes from the fictional language of Mars.

==References==
<references/>

DeviantART

2007-12-13T01:11:39Z

BlotchesRepent: Basic information about topic

devianART is an online [[artist]] community. It allows users to register for free and present their art in individual galleries. Recently, devianART has allowed users to organise their galleries into folders, whereas before there was simple the main gallery and scraps. Works of all media and literature are accepted, though there is some limitation on content. The most popular artwork tend to be of the [[anime]] style, and either [[Naruto]] or [[Kingdom Hearts]] fanart.

== External links ==
* [http://www.deviantart.com/ deviantART]

Meter

2007-12-13T00:52:39Z

BlotchesRepent:

'''Meter''' can refer to:

*Unit of measurement:[[International System of Units#Meter]]

*Musical concept: [[Meter (music)]]

An alternate spelling chiefly used by Britain is 'metre.'

[[category:science]]
[[category:music]]
[[category:Disambiguation Pages]]

Celsius

2007-12-13T00:47:35Z

BlotchesRepent:

'''Celsius''' is a [[temperature]] scale in the [[metric system]]. The scale was originally defined such that at standard atmospheric pressure [[water]] freezes at 0 ºC and boils at 100 ºC. To convert from [[Fahrenheit]] to Celsius take the Fahrenheit temperature, subtract 32 then multiply by 5 and divide by 9.

One Celsius degree is equal to one [[Kelvin]], with an offset such that T(°C) = T(K) - 273,15

Celsius is the commonly used unit of temperature in Europe and Canada, but in the United States, Fahrenheit is still preferred. ''Centigrade'' was a term commonly used as a synonym of Celsius in the past.
[[Category:Units of temperature]]

Lava

2007-12-13T00:45:17Z

BlotchesRepent: Added information

[[Image:Lava.jpg|thumb|300px|Lava moves across the ground as a [[pahoehoe]] flow, Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i]]
'''Lava''' is the term for [[magma]] from the [[Earth]]'s [[mantle]] when it erupts onto the Earth's surface. Lava differs from magma in that it contains less dissolved gases, due to the decreased pressure at the surface. [[Geologists]] also use the word to describe the solidified deposits of lava flows and fragments hurled into the air by explosive eruptions (for example, [[lava bombs]] or blocks).

Lavas differ in chemical composition, but most forms of lava average 3000-4000 degrees [[Fahrenheit]]. Lavas are classified into the following categories based on their chemical composition: [[Basalt]] ([[Hawaii]]an [[volcano|volcanoes]]), [[Andesite]] ([[Andes]] Mountains), [[Dacite]] ([[Mt. St. Helens]]), or [[Rhyolite]] ([[Yellowstone National Park|Yellowstone]] [[caldera]]). Lava flow is classified into two types: [[pahoehoe]], which has low viscosity and moves quickly in roping patterns, and [[aa]], which moves slowly by crumbling over itself.

One can generally get as close as 1.5 metres to a lava flow before his or her clothes ignite.

[[category:Igneous rocks]]

Canada

2007-12-10T23:26:25Z

BlotchesRepent: /* Education */ - Added notes to the mark scheme, and made it easier to read. Though I have no source for the aded info, I know it to be true since I am in a Canadian school currently.

{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="300" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="2"|[[Image:Canada pol99.jpg|300px]]
|-
!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white no-repeat scroll top left;"|''Canada''
|-
!align ="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white no-repeat scroll top left;"|Flag
!align ="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white no-repeat scroll top left;"|[[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|50px|]]
|-
!align ="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white no-repeat scroll top left;"|Arms
!align ="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white no-repeat scroll top left;"|[[Image:Canada arms.png|48px|]]
|-
|-
|Capital
|[[Ottawa]]
|-
|Government
|[[Parliamentary Democracy]]/[[Federal]] [[Constitutional Monarchy]]
|-
|Monarch
|[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]
|-
|Official Languages
|[[English]] and [[French]]
|-
|Governor General
|Her Excellency the Right Honourable [[Michaëlle Jean]]
|-
|Prime Minister
|The Right Honourable [[Stephen Harper]]
|-
|Area
|3,854,085 sq mi 9,984,670 km2
|-
|Population (2007 estimate)
|32,907,500
|-
|GDP (2007 estimate)
|$1.105 trillion
|-
|GDP per capita (2007 estimate)
|$35,133
|-
|}
'''Canada''' is the largest country in [[North America]], and the second largest in the world behind [[Russia]]. It also has the longest coastline of any nation. Canada borders the [[United States]] to the south and northwest. The country's motto is A Mari Usque Ad Mare, or "From Sea to Sea" (taken from Psalm 72:8 - "He shall have dominion from sea to sea.") <ref>[http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000001]</ref>
==Etymology==
The name Canada comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word "kanata", meaning "village" or "settlement". In 1535, two Huron youths directed [[Jacques Cartier]] to "kanata", their village. The village they referred to was Stadacona, the future site of Quebec City.<ref name="Canadian_Encylopedia">[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0001216 The Canadian Encyclopedia]</ref> By 1545, European books and maps began referring to this region as Canada.

The name ''Dominion of Canada'' was adopted during Confederation in 1867, and kept until the Constitution Act of 1982, when "Canada" became the only legal name.

== History and the Constitution ==
[[Image:Supreme Court of Canada.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Supreme Court of Canada.]]
Canada was officially created by the signing of the British North America Act, which came into force on July 1, 1867. The BNA Act was an [[Act of Parliament|Act of the British Parliament]], and is also referred to as the Constitution Act of 1867. The first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, was a member of the Liberal-Conservative Party.
The BNA Act was later amended in 1982 by the Constitution Act of 1982. The Right Honourable [[Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], the Liberal Prime Minister of Canada at the time, also established the Canadian [[Charter of Rights and Freedoms]] as part of the Constitution Act. The Charter sets clear, fundamental freedoms for all Canadians. It has been cited in thousands of court challenges and is the fundamental legal document supporting the national legalization of same-sex marriages and the prevention of government intervention regarding abortion.

The Canadian national flag was officially adopted February 15, 1965; prior to that time and subsequent to Confederation in 1867, Canada used a variant of the Red Ensign, a British merchant flag, as its national flag. The new flag was imposed by the Liberal government in an effort to appease socialists and Quebec Nationalists. The Liberal government refused to hold a referendum on the subject; instead the public was invited to submit designs.<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/df3_e.cfm Birth of the Canadian Flag]</ref> The introduction of the new flag was not without controversy.

In a memo from Diefenbaker’s personal files he wrote:
<blockquote>The Pearson flag is a meaningless Flag. There is no recognition of history; no indication of the existence of French and English Canada; the partnership of the races; no acknowledgement of history. It is a flag without a past, without history, without honour and without pride.” (Source – I Stand for Canada: The Story of the Maple Leaf Flag ).<ref>[http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/cultural/flag/national-flag-canada.html The Debate Over the Maple Leaf Flag]</ref></blockquote>

While the debate has been largely forgotten today, the Red Ensign can still be seen flying on some private homes and the debate does reemerge into the public domain occasionally. <ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070321.wxflag21/BNStory/National/ PM wants Red Ensign to fly at Vimy, sources say]</ref>

The Canadian national anthem, 'O Canada', was written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier as a poem, to which music, composed by Calixa Lavallée, was later added, in 1880. The original was composed in French, and was first translated into English by Dr. Thomas Bedford Richardson of Toronto, Ontario, in 1906. However, it was not officially adopted as the national anthem until 1980.<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/anthem_e.cfm National Anthem: O Canada]</ref> It is important to distinguish between 'O Canada', the national anthem, and 'God Save The Queen', which is the Royal anthem, played as a salute to Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as Queen of Canada.

== Provinces and Territories ==
[[Image:800px-Canada-satellite.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A satellite image of Canada.]]
At the time of Confederation, Canada was comprised of four provinces: Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (now Québec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Since that time, six additional provinces have joined Canada or have been created. From west to east, the provinces are [[British Columbia]], [[Alberta]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]], [[Ontario]], [[Québec]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Prince Edward Island]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Newfoundland|Newfoundland and Labrador]]. Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada, in 1949. The provinces all elect a single (unicameral) legislature, headed by Premier, who is selected the same way as the Prime Minister. A Lieutenant-Governor represents the Queen, similar to the Governor General.
Canada has three territories: the [[Yukon Territory]], the [[Northwest Territories]], and [[Nunavut]]. Territories have only have those powers delegated to them by the federal government

== Government ==
The government of Canada is split into three tiers, as outlined by the BNA Act. The levels are Federal, Provincial, and Municipal; each has very specific responsibilities, with some overlap. For instance, universal health care is mandated by the Federal Government, but it is administered by the Provincial Governments.

In almost all cases, Acts of Parliament are created in the lower house, known as the House of Commons. After passing three readings in the House of Commons, the bill is passed to the Senate. The job of the Senate is to further debate the proposed legislation, before passing it to the Governor General for Royal Assent. The Governor General is the official representative of Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]], Queen of Canada. The Governor General is, in the absence of the Queen, Canada's Head of State, and the Commander-in-Chief of the [http://www.forces.gc.ca/ Canadian Forces]. The Prime Minister of Canada is the head of Government of Canada, acting as the Minister of the Crown, based on the British system. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in the House of Commons, but it is not necessary that the Prime Minister actually have won a seat in that house.

From 1841 to 1844, the capital city of what would become Canada was located in [[Kingston|Kingston, Ontario]]. Subsequently the capital alternated between [[Toronto]] and [[Montreal]] until 1857, when the capital moved to [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]].

== Present Day ==
Currently, the Prime Minister is The Right Honourable [[Stephen Harper]], a member of the [[Conservative Party of Canada]], while Her Excellency [[Michaëlle Jean]] is the Governor General. At present Canada is governed by a [[minority government]]. In 2005 the city of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] was voted "the world's best place to live".<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4306936.stm Vancouver is "best place to live"]</ref>
Canada's population is increasingly urban, with 6 cities recording a population over 1 million ([[Toronto]], [[Montreal]], [[Vancouver]], [[Ottawa]]-Gatineau, [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]]); these 6 cities represent over 45% of Canada's population. Canada is becoming an increasingly multicultural country, with most new immigrants settling in [[Toronto]], [[Montreal]] and [[Vancouver]]. [[Toronto]] is the world's most multicultural city, and by 2010, over 50% of Toronto's population is expected to be a visible minority. {{fact}}

== Public Health Care ==
In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration"<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref>. This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferal of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.

The current state of Canada's public health care system is gathering increasing media attention due to rising wait times. [[David Gratzer]] wrote:
<blockquote>... government researchers have provided the best data on the doctor shortage, noting, for example, that more than 1.5 million Ontarians (or 12 percent of that province’s population) can’t find family physicians. <ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html The Ugly Truth about Canadian Healthcare] </ref></blockquote>
Most of the blame for the current state of affairs has been placed on successive government mismanagement. This represents a failure of the federal government to properly regulate the level of service being offered in the provinces. People regularly have to wait between four and eight months for necessary surgeries depending on the nature of the surgery, and province of residence.{{fact}} The median wait time for an MRI across Canada is 10.3 weeks in 2006.<ref>http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=nr&id=753</ref> In fact, former Prime Minister [[Jean Chretien|Jean Chrétien]] campaigned on a promise to shut down private MRI clinics because it creates a two tier system, regardless of the demand for more facilities.

In recent years, there has been suggestion from lobby groups that Canada should adopt a two-tier health care system. However, the government under the Liberal Party was aggressively opposed to this. Some argue that Canada already does have a two-tier health care system as the very wealthy can go to the United States for treatment. The argument for allowing private health care is twofold. The first reason is that competition improves the quality of products and services, while the increase in options will allow those with the means to access private health care and relieve some of the burden off the public system. Critics argue that health is a right, and that everyone should have access to the same standard of care.

Recently, in [[Québec]], a provincial judge has ruled that private health care providers must be allowed to compete with the government-run health care system.

== Secession movements ==
There are separatist movements lobbying for independence from Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, and Québec. The only movement of real significance is in Québec, where the province has twice voted on whether or not to separate from Canada, once in 1980 and again in 1995; the vote in 1995 failed by just 1 percent. On November 27, 2006, the Federal Government passed a motion declaring Québec a nation "within a united Canada". <ref> http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=hansard&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&DocId=2544166&File=0#OOB-1799206</ref>

== Culture ==
Due to its colonial past, Canadian culture has historically been heavily influenced by [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[France|French]] cultures and traditions. In more modern times, Canadian culture has been greatly influenced by United States' culture, due to the proximity and the migration of people, ideas, and capital. Amidst this, Canadian culture has developed some unique characteristics, and many Canadian movies, authors, [[television]] shows, and musicians are equally popular in United States.

Canada tends to reflect more liberal ideals than the United States. Two such examples are the legalizing of [[gay marriage]] in June, 2005<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/28/samesex050628.html CBC news article on passing of gay marriage law]</ref> and, in some regions, the decriminalization of medicinal [[marijuana]] and small amounts of other psychoactive substances. [[Same sex marriage]] has been recognized by the Canadian government since 2005.<ref>[http://marriage.about.com/cs/samesexmarriage/a/samesex.htm About.com]</ref>

Notable sports which are enjoyed throughout Canada include [[hockey]], [[curling]], [[lacrosse]], and [[football]]. Canada generally does not do well in the Summer Olympics: in 2004 Canada only collected 12 medals (3 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze). This is especially astonishing when taken in comparison with countries that usually perform very well, such as [[Australia]], which, although it has 12 million less people, collected 49 Olympic medals (17 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze). However, given the nordic nature of the country, it is no surprise that it finished third overall in the Torino Winter Olympics, with a total of 24 medals, one less than the United States and 10 more than next-place [[Sweden]]. The next winter Olympics, to be held in 2010 will be held in Vancouver and Whistler.

==Religion==
For the total population, approximately 44% of the population of Canada is Catholic, with a another 29% being Protestant (all denominations). However, while 16% of the total population has no religious affiliation (including atheists and agnostics), 20% of the population under 25 has declared no religion, which might imply that the younger generation in Canada is becoming more secular, but statistics world-wide always indicate such in the younger demographics. <ref>Statistics Canada - Cat. No. 97F0022XCB2001002</ref>

== Taxation ==
The average tax rate in Canada is much higher than in the United States. In 2003, Canada's tax burden equals about 33.8% of GDP placing it in the middle of the G7 countries, with Japan lowest at 25.3% and France highest at 43.4% <ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/faq1e.html#Taxation Department of Finance Canada: FAQs]</ref>. The US rate is roughly 25.6%; this discrepancy is consistent with the differing levels of social services which the governments funds. Canada also has managed to run without a budget deficit for a number of years. Equalization payments, worth 11.7 billion Canadian dollars are made by the federal government to the provinces from richer provinces (currently Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia) and the poorer provinces (Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan) . This is to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.<ref>Budget 2007 [http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/bp/bpc4e.html]</ref> These payments have not been without controversy as provinces begin to make more revenues from natural resources they do not want to give up the Equalization payments. Additionally Quebec, the most populous of the "have not" provinces, receives the largest payments.

Canada also has a national sales tax, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 6% on all purchases. Some provinces add an additional percentage in the form of a Provincial Sales Tax (PST), or a combined Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) combining GST and the Provincial Sales Tax. Based on actual income, and a number of other factors, the government will refund GST/HST to eligible tax payers in quarterly installments on the fifth of the month in July, October, January, and April.

== Education ==
Education in Canada is the responsibility of provincial and territorial governments; curriculum and marking schemes are completely removed from the control of the federal government. Each province uses a different method of administering education. For example, Ontario has public, separate (Catholic), and private schools. Alberta has an additional category, known as charter schools. Charter schools are schools that have been created in the community to surround a particular theme. They could be artistic, vocational, etc.

The Canadian grading scale markedly differs from the grading scale in the United States. In the US, a 59% or below earns you an F, a 60% nets a D-, and 80% a B. However, in Canadian universities, only 49% or below is an F, 60% will net a C+, and 80% is an A-. <ref>http://www.federal-realestate.com/info-schools/mcgill-university.html</ref> This differs somewhat from their secondary schooling systems, where the mark F is absent and substituted by E. A are marks of 85% or above, B is from there to 75%, C is from that to 65%, and D fills the gap between C and E. This may vary from province to province.

== Military ==
The [[Canadian Forces]] have over 63,000 active personnel<ref>http://www.canadianally.com/ca/forces-cf-en.asp</ref>, equipped with modern vehicles such as German-built Leopard II tanks and American-built F-18 Hornets (which have been upgraded in Canada with new avionics). The Canadian government spends about 17 billion Canadian dollars annually on defence<ref>[http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20072008/me-bd/part1/ME-030_e.asp http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20072008/me-bd/part1/ME-030_e.asp]</ref>.

The Conservative government has put more emphasis on defence spending than the previous Liberal governments.

Canadian troops are currently deployed in [[Afghanistan]] where they are assisting in anti-terrorism & reconstruction operations.

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

== External Links ==
* [http://www.gc.ca/ Government of Canada]
* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/ Parliament of Canada]
* [http://www.pch.gc.ca/ Department of Canadian Heritage]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html CIA World Factbook:Canada]
=== Political Party Websites ===
* [http://www.blocquebecois.org Bloc Québécois]
* [http://www.conservative.ca Conservative Party of Canada]
* [http://http://www.fpnpoc.ca/ First Peoples National Party of Canada]
* [http://www.greenparty.ca Green Party of Canada]
* [http://www.liberal.ca Liberal Party of Canada]
* [http://www.ndp.ca New Democratic Party of Canada]
* [http://www.partyofalberta.org/ Party of Alberta]
* [http://www.progressivecanadian.org/ Progressive Canadian Party]
* [http://www.mlpc.ca/ Marxist-Leninist Party]
* [http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/ Canadian Action Party]
* [http://www.peoplespoliticalpower.ca/ People's Political Power Party]
* [http://www.animalalliance.ca/ Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party]
* [http://www.westernblockparty.com/ Western Bloc Party]
* [http://www.chp.ca/en/index.html Christian Heritage Party of Canada]

===Political Advocacy Websites===
*[http://www.canadadivided.com/ Canada Divided]
*[http://www.projectalberta.com/ Project Alberta]
*[http://onthefencefilms.com/video/twowomen.html Two Women]

[[Category:Canada| ]]
[[Category:North American Countries]]
[[Category:NATO members]]