Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Crossroads

2007-04-06T22:55:20Z

Crustyburke: New page: Crossroads was a famous British TV soap opera that ran from 1964 until 1988. It centered around the family of Meg Mortimer, her son Sandy and her daughter Jayne. It was set in a hotel ...

Crossroads was a famous British TV [[soap opera]] that ran from 1964 until 1988. It centered around the family of Meg Mortimer, her son Sandy and her daughter Jayne. It was set in a hotel near Birmingham, which is a big town near London, England. The series focussed on the trials and tribulations of running the eponymous hotel.

===Early days ===

The early plots of the soap featured many semi-comic situations that might have occurred during the everyday running of a hotel. Chief characters of this time included Gordon Honeycombe, the guest who believed he was reading the news from the hotel elevators, Manuel, the semi-incompentent waiter from [[Portuagal]] whose interpretations of guest food orders often led to hilarious results and funny goings-on in the kitchen, led by the irrepressible [[Mr. Pastry]].

===Latter days ===

Crossroads went color in 1969, but with color came a darkening of the program's mood. Sandy's character changed from that of a cheerful happy-go-lucky teenager to that of a sharp businessman who was determined to wrest control of Crossroads Hotel from his mother with the help of his right handf man, the evil Benny. Together Sandy and Benny quickly became the men Britain loved to hate.

===The Final days ===

By 1982 Crossroads was struggling in the ratings so the BBC decided to give them a boost. Meg Mortimer, the central character in the soap was to be burnt out of the hotel in a bonfire set by Benny but luckily for her she was rescued by Sandy who had a last minute change of heart and sent her off on a cross channel ferry, ''The Herald of Free Enterprise'' for a day trip to [[Zeebrugge]]. After Meg left the ratings dropped further and the BBC replaced the series with more repeats of ''Are you being Served?''.

Doctor Who

2007-04-06T22:36:46Z

Crustyburke:

Doctor Who is a [[BBC]] TV programme started in 1963 and still going strong today. It centres around a character named The Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the Tardis, which resembles a 1940s British Police Phone Booth, but is much bigger inside than outside, usually with a female companion that he picks up along the way.

The program was initially cancelled in 1989, following some years of declining interest, but was resurrected for a TV movie in 1996. A new set of series began in 2005 with a much improved budget and more consistently high-quality acting and writing.

The series is currently airing on [[BBC One]] in the UK, [[CBC Television]] in Canada and the [[SciFi Channel]] in the US.

The Doctor has the ability to regenerate his body when mortally weakened, a useful plot device that has allowed the role to be played on TV by ten different actors so far.

==[[William Hartnell]] (1963-66)==
The first actor to play the Doctor portrayed him as a cantankerous old man. Initially a somewhat dark character, he became more grandfatherly in later episodes. Hartnell's era introduced the most well-known of the Doctor's foes, the [[Dalek]]s.

==[[Patrick Troughton]] (1966-1969)==
Troughton's Doctor was an impish figure, whose gimmicks included playing the recorder. In this period, much of which is lost, the program felt the influence of [[Star Trek]] somewhat.

==[[Jon Pertwee]] (1970-1974)==
The third Doctor was Earth-bound for much of his tenure, due to budgetary constraints. This period had a reliance on gadgetry (including the [[Sonic Screwdriver]] and the [[Whomobile]]) under the influence of [[James Bond]], and featured UNIT, a UN organisation dedicated to combatting extra-terrestrial threats.

==[[Tom Baker]] (1974-1981)==
By far the most popular and iconic Doctor, Baker, with his seven-foot long scarf and fondness for Jelly Babies played the role for longer than any other actor. His time featured arguably the best scripts of the Classic Series, including the thought-provoking Genesis of the Daleks, and [[Douglas Adams]]' witty City of Death.

==[[Peter Davison]] (1981-1984)==
The fifth Doctor was a vulnerable character, part of an effort to move to program into the realm of 'serious' Sci-Fi.

==[[Colin Baker]] (1984-1986)==
Dogged by poor writing, an absurd costume and misguided attempts to darken the Doctor's character, Colin Baker's portrayal is often regarded as the least satisfying of all.

==[[Sylvester McCoy]] (1986-1989)==
Initially not much of an improvement, the quality of the series improved markedly towards the end. However, this was not enough to save it, and it ended in 1989.

==[[Paul McGann]] (1996)==
McGann played the role for the pilot episode of what was to be a new series for US consumption. However the compromises made for the US market alienated old fans, and failed to win new ones, and the series was never made.

==[[Christopher Eccleston]] (2005)==
A far more successful attempt to rejuvenate the format came in 2005 from producer [[Russell T. Davies]]. Eccleston, already an actor of considerable repute ([[Shallow Grave]], [[Let Him Have It]]), brought an edge to the role rarely seen before, whilst sophisticated scripts by such writers as [[Stephen Moffat]] and [[Mark Gattis]] helped the program to appeal to a wide age range. Although regarded as an instant success, Eccleston had no desire to become tied to the role and left after a single series.

==[[David Tennant]] (2006-)==
The current actor playing the Doctor was also well-known beforehand ([[Casanova]], [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]). His portrayal is more humorous and vivacious than Eccleston's.

[[Category:Broadcasting]]

British Broadcasting Corporation

2007-03-30T09:05:22Z

Crustyburke:

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the leading broadcaster in the United Kingdom and is regarded as one of the leading broadcasters in the world.

The BBC operates seven national television channels in the UK and seven national radio networks, as well as the BBC World Service radio network. Outside the UK the BBC operates BBC World TV, BBC America TV, BBC Canada TV and BBC Prime TV.

The BBC is entirely owned by the UK government, however under its charter it operates entirely independently of government control. The BBC produces many well known television programmes, including [[Are you being served?]], [[Crossroads]] and [[Doctor Who]].

Punk rock

2007-03-29T14:22:44Z

Crustyburke: New page: Punk Rock is a genre of music that hails from the 1970s. The music is loud, repetitive and frequently features songs with vulgar lyrics. Leading exponents of Punk Rock are the [[Se...

Punk Rock is a genre of music that hails from the [[1970s]]. The music is loud, repetitive and frequently features songs with [[vulgar]] lyrics. Leading exponents of Punk Rock are the [[Sex Pistols]], [[The Clash]], [[The Damned]], [[Bleach Boys]], [[Daniel O'Donnell]] and [[The Cure]].

Steve Irwin

2007-03-29T13:34:41Z

Crustyburke: New page: Famous for how he died, Steve Irwin also featured as a character in South Park.

Famous for how he died, Steve Irwin also featured as a character in [[South Park]].

Spain

2007-03-29T13:11:03Z

Crustyburke:

{{stub}}Country located on the Iberian Peninsula. Borderd by the Alantic Ocean to the [[west]] and the Mediterranean on the east. [[Portuagal]] is located on the same peninsula. The country is well-known for, among other things, its exploration and colonisation of vast parts of Central and South America.

The Conservative [[PP]] government of José María Aznar strongly supported the US [[War on Terror]] until a major [[terrorist]] attack by [[al-Qaeda]] shortly before a general election helped the Socialist party, [[PSOE]], to win. The new government of [[Rodríguez Zapatero]] withdrew Spanish troops from [[Iraq]] and has a policy which is regarded as neutral to anti-American.

[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sp.html CIA World Factbook entry for Spain]

[[Category:Countries]]

BBC News

2007-03-29T13:08:06Z

Crustyburke:

BBC News, part of the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] (BBC) is the largest news reporting organization in the world. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_3970000/newsid_3975900/3975913.stm]

==See also==
*[[Mainstream media]]

Doctor Who

2007-03-29T13:04:56Z

Crustyburke:

Doctor Who

2007-03-29T13:04:35Z

Crustyburke: The central character is called 'The Doctor' rather than 'Doctor Who'

Doctor Who is a British TV programme started in 1963 and still going strong today. It centres around a character named The Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the Tardis, which resembles a telephone booth but is much bigger inside than outside, usually with a female companion that he picks up along the way.

[[Category:Entertainment]]

British Broadcasting Corporation

2007-03-29T13:03:46Z

Crustyburke: Creation of article

Bill Clinton

2007-03-22T15:48:45Z

Crustyburke: /* Presidency and Impeachment */

[[Image:billclinton.jpg|thumb|right|300px|United States President Bill Clinton]]
'''William''' "Bill" '''Jefferson Clinton''' served as the 42nd [[President of the United States of America]] from 1993-2001, following [[George H. W. Bush]] and preceding [[George W. Bush]].

== Early Life ==

Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946 AD in Hope, Arkansas. His father, William Jefferson Blythe Jr. died in a car accident while his mother was pregnant with him. Clinton's mother later married Roger Clinton, and the four year-old William was given his stepfather's name.[http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/bc42.html]

Clinton was active in high school, participating in various student government organizations as well as playing the saxophone. Roger Clinton, however, made Bill's family life unpleasant by repeatedly abusing Clinton's mother and her children.'''(sources needed)''' Bill Clinton would eventually stand up to his stepfather in high school, forcing him to stop beating his mother and kicking him out of the house. '''(sources needed)''' After Roger Clinton underwent alcohol rehabiliation, he would eventually rejoin the family.

Clinton attended [[Georgetown University]], then [[Oxford University]] after winning a [[Rhodes Scholarship]], and finally earned a Juris Doctorate from [[Yale University]] in 1973 ADE. At Yale he met [[Hillary Rodham]], whom he would later marry [http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/bc42.html].

== Early Political Career and Whitewater Scandal ==

After returning to live in Arkansas, Clinton was elected [[Attorney General]] of Arkansas in 1976 AD. Two years later, he was elected Governor of Arkansas, becoming the youngest governor in the country as a 32 year-old. Though defeated in 1980 AD, Clinton won back the governorship in 1982 AD and held it until becoming President in 1992 AD. Some business transactions he while made were extensively investigated for years (the [[Whitewater]] scandal).

== Presidency and Impeachment==

President Clinton was a very popular president, particularly during his second term.[http://www.pollingreport.com/clinton-.htm] Clinton won in 1992 with 43% of the popular vote versus President [[George H. W. Bush's]] 37%, capitalizing on public discontent with a weak economy and public displeasure with Bush's proposed tax increases, and Ross Perot, a popular third candidate. In his first two years in office, 1993 through 1994, Clinton was unable to "reform" health-care in the United States by some sort of government-backed universal health-care insurance, which many conservatives felt would result in effective government control of the health care system. '''(sources needed)''' His approach consisted of appointing a planning committee with secret members to reshape this important sector of the economy. '''(sources needed)''' The [[Association of American Physicians and Surgeons]] successfully sued to force disclosure of the committee members, and Clinton ultimately failed to pass the program.'''(sources needed)'''

In 1994, voters expressed their high disapproval of Clinton by giving a victory to Republicans in Congress, where Republicans won 49.9% of the popular vote (compared to the Democrat's 44%). This event was tagged the "Republican Revolution," and began a series of showdowns with the Republican-led Congress.'''(sources needed)''' These showdowns were epitomized by the budget conflict with then-Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]] in 1995. Gingrich refused to pass Clinton's budget proposal, and the latter threatened to shut down the government if he did not have his way. '''(sources needed)'''When Clinton called his bluff, Gingrich caused the federal government to shut down for several days.'''(sources needed)''' Clinton did not cave, however, and eventually had his budget passed [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/commentprint082800d.html]. This showdown backfired for the Republicans, as it reinvigorated Clinton's flagging approval ratings, which would remain above 60% for most of his presidency[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Clinton_approval_rating.JPG].

Clinton was reelected in 1996 with 49.2% of the popular vote against Republican candidate ([[Robert Dole | Bob Dole]]), who won 41%, and "populist" candidate, [[H. Ross Perot]], who won 8%. Clinton spent a lot of the remainder of his presidency combating scandals. '''(sources needed)''' A special prosecutor was named to investigate Clinton for allegations of impropriety in the Whitewater real-estate scandal, an investment of Clinton's in a failed real estate venture. '''(sources needed)''' Although no charges against Clinton came out of this investigation, and it turned out that Clinton actually lost money on his investment, one of the results of the investigation was that the special prosecutor turned to investigating other Clinton activities, one of which (the [[Monica Lewinsky]] scandal) resulted in his impeachment and eventual loss of his license to practice law for a period of 5 years.'''(sources needed)''' The main charge was that he lied about a sexual relationship with an employee in an attempt to avoid paying damages to another employee for sexual harassment. After a brief trial, the Senate acquitted Clinton of all charges.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/impeachment/</ref>

Clinton became just the second sitting president to be impeached by the US House of Representatives during his second term for lying in grand jury testimony connected to the Paula Jones lawsuit.'''(sources needed)''' Accused of receiving [[fellatio]] from an intern in the Oval Office, his [[semen]] having stained her blue dress, he found guilty of perjury because of his claim that "I did not have [[sex]] with that woman". However, the US Senate voted not to remove him from office, although he later lost his law license in Arkansas. His term also saw an increase in terrorism directed at the United States. '''(sources needed)''' These incidents included the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, the Alfred P. Murrah building bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995, the bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and the attack on the USS Cole in 2000. '''(sources needed)''' Clinton responded by striking back at [[al Qaeda]], the organization responsible for the attacks. '''(sources needed)''' He launched cruise missile strikes aimed to kill al Qaeda's leader [[Osama bin Laden]] [http://www.cnn.com/US/9808/20/us.strikes.01/], and began planning to invade [[Afghanistan]] in order to capture bin Laden and overthrow the [[Taliban]] government[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/afgh-n20.shtml].

Clinton also signed into law the [[Violence Against Women Act]], which opened the federal courts to claims of domestic disputes between men and women, which had always been handled under state rather than federal law. '''(sources needed)''' A key provision of this law was later ruled unconstitutional in [[United States v. Morrison]].<ref>http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-5.ZS.html</ref>

Clinton devoted much time during his two terms to the peace process in Northern Ireland. '''(sources needed)''' He made interventions including 3 trips to Ireland during periods of stagnation in negotiations which coincided in major breakthroughs which ensured the province didn't slide back to the violence of the 70's and 80's. '''(sources needed)'''

== After the Presidency ==

Clinton has spent much of time since leaving office working for charitable causes such as support and fundraising for the victims of AIDS and the Asian tsunami.

Bill Clinton's wife, [[Hillary_Rodham_Clinton|Hillary Clinton]], was elected Senator to New York in 2000. Reelected in 2006, she is now running for president in 2008.

Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff was John Podesta between 1998-2001.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Biographies]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]