Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Talk:Wine

2007-05-31T18:47:51Z

DollarsAndSense: /* Made from Grapes? */

== Really? ==

Of all the wine in the world, how much is made from fruit trampled by barefooted vineyard workers? Less than 1%? --[[User:Horace|Horace]] 05:34, 22 March 2007 (EDT)

Chateau Moulin Rothschild??? --[[User:Horace|Horace]] 06:00, 22 March 2007 (EDT)

Chateau d'Amuse??? etc.

I'd be inclined to block the perpetrator. --[[User:Horace|Horace]] 06:02, 22 March 2007 (EDT)

==Made from Grapes?==

Perhaps, and I tread carefully here, we should mention some notable exceptions? [[User:DollarsAndSense|DollarsAndSense]] 14:35, 31 May 2007 (EDT)

Well, I added Barley Wine to the article when I expanded it (although in the UK it is sold more like a beer than a wine). There are many more but I didn't feel it was useful to list them all. [[User:Fingermouse|Fingermouse]] 14:37, 31 May 2007 (EDT)

I was actually referring to plain water. [[User:DollarsAndSense|DollarsAndSense]] 14:47, 31 May 2007 (EDT)

Talk:Wine

2007-05-31T18:35:25Z

DollarsAndSense: Other source of wine?

Puppet

2007-05-31T18:24:18Z

DollarsAndSense: sp

A hand-made figure resembling an animal or person, that is manipulated by the hand, or with sticks, strings or wires to simulate natural movements.

In politics, a puppet is someone who holds a position of power in a government but acts under the orders of person or group who do not hold a position in the government.

Yeti

2007-05-31T18:22:23Z

DollarsAndSense: Some rephrasing & bigfoot

The '''yeti''' is an allegedly apelike creature believed by some (see [[cryptozoology]]) to live in remote areas, high in the [[Himalayas]]. Although the animal is generally thought to be mythical, ten to twenty reports of sightings occur every year<ref>[http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/yeti.htm Yeti: Abominable Snowman]</ref>.

The term ''snowman'' comes from the fact that large footprints have been found above the [[snow line]] and thus attributed to a yeti.

''See also [[bigfoot]].''

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cryptids]]

Talk:Ethenol

2007-05-31T18:00:31Z

DollarsAndSense: Different alcohols

For those who think this is a mis-spelling of ethanol: 
:The chemical formula of ethenol (vinyl alcohol) is C2H3OH 
:The chemical formula of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is C2H5OH

[[User:DollarsAndSense|DollarsAndSense]] 14:00, 31 May 2007 (EDT)

Ethenol

2007-05-31T17:56:57Z

DollarsAndSense: Undo revision 184663 by Special:Contributions/Omniscience (User talk:Omniscience)No its not a mis-spelling

'''Ethenol''', also known as vinyl alcohol, is a flammable [[chemical compound]] with a strong [[odor]], and is a frequent contaminant in [[alcoholic beverage]]s. In common usage, it is often referred to simply as acetol. The chemical formula is CH2=CHOH, C2H3OH.
It is the first of the olefinic alcohol, and is a common starting point for organic syntheses. The most common method of manufacture in industry is
the hydration of acetylene, using a phosphoric acid catalyst.

User talk:DanH

2007-05-30T20:38:15Z

DollarsAndSense: Lions Den

'''Archives:'''

[[User talk:MountainDew]]

[[User talk:DanHarchive1]]

==Vandalism==

Dan,

Thanks for all your help dealing with this latest vandal. Rather than deleting all the pages he creates, I have been replacing them with content or redirecting them, and then protecting them. Eventually, we can hope he will run out of inventive names for Satan! ~ [[User:SharonS|Sharon]] [[User talk:SharonS|Talk]] 16:38, 11 May 2007 (EDT)

== [[deletedpage]] ==

when pages need to be deleted and protected, just protect it and replace the content with <nowiki>#REDIRECT [[deletedpage]]</nowiki>. that way it doesn't show up on searches. --[[User:CPAdmin1|Tim (CPAdmin1)]][[User talk:CPAdmin1|talk]] 12:24, 14 May 2007 (EDT)

== Please take a look at this edit ==

You might want to have a look at this [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Che_Guevara&diff=160970&oldid=160909 edit], and the associated photo that was uploaded to make the edit possible. I've already left a message with the user responsible for the photo and edit, but am not sure if it is revertable. [[User:HeartOfGold|HeartOfGold]] 18:41, 14 May 2007 (EDT)

==Allegation of Racism==

I fail to see how my comments on Sikhs are racist. Islam and Sikhism do not describe races they describe religion. Both are wrong in my opinion are to be condemed

== Thank you indeed ==

It has been an honor. Thank you indeed.

--[[User:Joaquín Martínez]], [[User talk:Joaquín Martínez|talk]] 19:42, 16 May 2007 (EDT)

== Deceit Entry ==

Dan, please accept my apologies on the Ward Churchill edit to the [[deceit]] entry. I was confused about who he is. Feel free to reinsert something, with support like this: [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3841949,00.html]
--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:08, 16 May 2007 (EDT)
No need to apologize. I just figured that this instance was not quite conducive to the direct you had intended for this article. I'll re-add it a little later this evening. [[User:DanH|DanH]] 23:29, 16 May 2007 (EDT)

== Hovind ==

May I ask why you removed "controversial". Given that many other YECs also have issues with him, calling him controversial seems fair. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 12:59, 17 May 2007 (EDT)

I've come under attack for my edits on this article (there was even a call for me to be blocked from the site, though it's not on any CP talk pages) and I was trying to "balance" the article somehow. [[User:DanH|DanH]] 13:02, 17 May 2007 (EDT)

== notice ==

please read this: [[New Sysops Training Page]]

[[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 21:22, 17 May 2007 (EDT)

== Hello! ==

First of all, thanks for the greeting. This project is very interessting. I'm trying to build up a counter-Wikipedia in german language. The situation of the german Wikipedia is really dire. If you are dissapoited by the english language Wikipeda, take a closer look at the german one. There are not liberals (left) dominating, there are partly well known left-wing extremists (communists, socialists) serving as administrators. It's bad. --[[User:Deutscher|Deutscher]] 16:43, 18 May 2007 (EDT)

== Trashbat ==
Dan - I've no idea if Trashbat is blocked or otherwise in disgrace but the crude sexual reference you removed from [[Leeds]] was not posted by him but by Tony Drago. FYI. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 14:44, 20 May 2007 (EDT)
: I stand corrected. Well spotted. Tony Drago must have been a sock. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 14:49, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

*I don't see Dan online, however I did see: ''10:13, 20 May 2007 DanH blocked "Trashbat" with an expiry time of infinite ("dogging" reference to Leeds)'' So the two users being blocked are different instances. The other user's block isn't infinte. ;-) --[[User:TK|Sysop-TK]] [[User_talk:TK|/MyTalk]] 14:51, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

:TK The "dogging" reference was put in twice but I only noticed the second edit which was done by Tony Drago. I thought that Trashbat was being unfairly blocked instead of Tony Drago but Dan pointed out that Trashbat had made the orginal edit a lot earlier, so it was fair after all. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 03:20, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

== Siege mentality ==

Thanks for moving that. I was trying to do it myself with a name change and redirect but being a sysop has its advantages I guess. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 03:15, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

== [[Contaception]] ==

Dan, can you move this to its proper title with an '''R''' in it. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 03:26, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

== [[Orthohombic]] ==

OK here's another one with a missing '''R''' - it should be orthorhombic. [[User:BrianCo|BrianCo]] 03:38, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

== think i made a mistake ==

Got your message. I unblocked him I think before i got your message. Please make sure I did the unblocking right as i am not too techie here. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 22:58, 22 May 2007 (EDT)

== Question ==
I notice that some sysops protect images. Do you want me to do that to?[[User:Bohdan|Богдан]] [[User talk:Bohdan|Talk]] 15:16, 25 May 2007 (EDT)

==Article Creations==
Your welcome Dan. I enjoy contributing to this site. [[User:Crocoite|Crocoite]] [[User_talk:Crocoite|Talk]] [[Conservapedia:Requests for adminship#Support|Support my RfA]]) 22:44, 25 May 2007 (EDT)

== ! ==
I wanted to undo the Joshua article! Your to fast.[[User:Bohdan|Богдан]] [[User talk:Bohdan|Talk]] 23:44, 25 May 2007 (EDT)

== Thanks ==

Thanks for your kind welcome. I am glad to be here. I hope I can make a positive contribution. --[[User:ErnstR|ErnstR]] 00:06, 26 May 2007 (EDT)

== Thanks ==

Thanks for protecting Joshua. Recently I have become more aware of the responsibility that we have to avoid efforts at sensationalism or inappropriate edits. I found one of our articles in an internet search engine, the first one I have seen. It was listed under atheism. There, proudly, is the link to conservapedia. What is the first line of text in the search engine for all to see what conservapedia says? George Bush states that he doesn't believe atheists should be U.S. citizens... This is what is presented as conservapedia? When we allow through junk, we sully the reputation of the site... Thanks again... [[User:Learn together|Learn together]] 03:25, 26 May 2007 (EDT)

== Thanks! (sorry not to have anything different from the above 2) ==

It's good to be back! Oh, and check out my shiny new hellenised sig!--[[User:Wikinterpreter|'''ύικι ντερπρετηρ''']] [http://www.conservapedia.com/User_talk:Wikinterpreter talk?]

== Tiny typo==

Hi, hope you don't mind but I am really really picky about punctuation. I'm not proud of the fact, I just can't help it! In the Bible article, in the King James section, second paragraph, second sentence, it says "it's vocabulary", which should be "its vocabulary". "It's" is only ever a contraction of "It is". I wouldn't say anything but I just know there are people like me out there who will see that mistake, roll their eyes, and jump to conclusions (unfairly) about the quality of the article. [[User:Ferret|Ferret]] 19:09, 26 May 2007 (EDT)

* And then I went and wrote "tint typo" as the description. That's justice. [[User:Ferret|Ferret]] 19:10, 26 May 2007 (EDT)
==Chrono Trigger==
This was a well known video game in the mid 90s. It is definetly noteworthy. Wikipedia and Uncyclopedia both have articles on it.

== Answers in Creation ==

So do I get brownie points for creating this one Dan? ;-) [[User:Learn together|Learn together]] 16:05, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

You definitely do from me, but probably not from the majority of the sysops. LOL just kidding [[User:DanH|DanH]] 16:12, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

== Weimar republic ==

Why did you remove the stub? It is more than appropriate for this article. [[User:Order]]

== Protection ==

Hi Dan,

We may be at the point where it would be wise to protect Satan (again) and Hell. I know Satan was opened again to merge in Luficer, but that's been taken care of. Thanks! [[User:Learn together|Learn together]] 15:05, 30 May 2007 (EDT)

== Lions Den ==

Dan with a name like yours was it wise to enter the Lion's Den? :-) [[User:DollarsAndSense|DollarsAndSense]] 16:38, 30 May 2007 (EDT)

Nicocolò Paganini

2007-05-30T20:05:20Z

DollarsAndSense: Removed inuse template and finished corrections

'''Nicocolò Paganini''' (1782-1840), was an Italian violinist and composer. He was one of the most famous virtuosi in musical history.

Paganini was born in [[Genoa]], [[Italy]], on October 27, [[1782]]. His father taught him to play the mandolin at the age of five. He started with the violin aged seven and was composing his own works before the age of eight. Studying in Genoa and [[Parma]] he made his first concert tour at the age of thirteen. Like many early [[prodigy|prodigies]] he had difficulties coping with his fame and at the age of 16 was [[gambling]] and drinking [[alcohol]]. However, under the guidance of a unknown wealthy lady he was rehabilitated and also added the [[guitar]] and [[viola]] to his repertoire. At the age of 23 he became music director at the court of the Princess of [[Lucca]], sister of [[Napoleon]]. Five years later he started touring round Europe; visiting [[Vienna]], [[Germany]], [[Paris]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]].

It was performing his own works that won Paganini international renown. He had an extraordinary range of technical mastery and played with a verve and intensity that many people believed him to be inspired by the [[Devil]]. He refused to publish much of his work during his own lifetime and some of his scores were only discovered in the second half of the twentieth century. Owing to ill-health caused by a life of carnal excess, he was forced to reduce his public appearances after [[1834]]. He died from throat [[cancer]] in [[Nice]] at the age of 57 in [[1840]].

==Further Reading==

*J. Pulver: ''Paganini: The Romantic Virtuoso'' (1936)
*H. Spivacke: ''Paganiniana'' (1945)
*L. Day: ''Paganini of Genoa'' (1929)

[[Category: Musicians]]
[[Category: Composers]]

Nicocolò Paganini

2007-05-30T19:57:07Z

DollarsAndSense: Expanded

{{inuse}}

'''Nicocolò Paganini''' (1782-1840), was an Italian violinist and composer. He was one of the most famous virtuosi in musical history.

Paganini was born in [[Genoa]], [[Italy]], on October 27, 1782. His father taught him to play the mandolin at the age of five. He started with the violin aged seven and was composing his own works before the age of eight. Studying in Genoa and Parma he made his first concert tour at the age of thirteen. Like many early pridigies he had difficulties coping with his fame and at the age of 16 was gambling and drinking alcohol. However, under the guidance of a unknown wealthy lady he was rehabilitated and also added the guitar and viola to his repertoire. At the age of 23 he became music director at the court of the Princess of [[Lucca]]. Five years later he started touring round Europe; visiting Vienna, Germany, Paris and Britain.

It was performing his own works that won Paganini international renown. He had an extraordinary range of technical mastery and played with a verve and intensity that many people believed him to be inspired by the Devil. He refused to publish much of his work during his own lifetime and some of his pieces were only discovered in the second half of the twentieth century. Owing to ill-health caused by a life of carnal excess, he was forced to reduce his public appearances after 1834. He died in Nice at the age of 58 in 1840.

==Further Reading==

*J. Pulver: ''Paganini: The Romantic Virtuoso'' (1936)
*H. Spivacke: ''Paganiniana'' (1945)
*L. Day: ''Paganini of Genoa'' (1929)

[[Category: Musicians]]
[[Category: Composers]]

Nicocolò Paganini

2007-05-30T19:27:37Z

DollarsAndSense: Created page

{{inuse}}

'''Nicocolò Paganini''' (1782-1840), was an Italian violinist and composer. He was one of the most famous virtuosos in musical history

Paganini

2007-05-30T19:24:21Z

DollarsAndSense: Created page

#REDIRECT [[Nicocolò Paganini]]

Abstinence

2007-05-30T16:58:13Z

DollarsAndSense: sp

The word '''abstinence''' means refraining from indulging in an appetite.

In the 1800s and 1900s, the word "abstinence," used without other explanation, almost always meant abstinence from alcohol. The "abstinence movement," for example, led to the establishment of [[prohibition]]. ''Teetotaler'' meant someone who advocated "total abstinence," rather than just moderation.

Starting in about the 1990s, "abstinence" has been more commonly used in the context of abstinence from [[sexual]] intercourse, particularly in the United States in the context of [[sex]] education for adolescents. Thus, for example, we read in a 2002 White House policy statement:
:..."the goal of Federal policy should be to emphasize abstinence as the only certain way to avoid both unintended pregnancies and STDs."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/welfare-book-06.html WORKING TOWARD INDEPENDENCE] Encourage Abstinence and Prevent Teen Pregnancy, White House News and Policies, February 2002</ref>

Studies of the effectiveness of abstinence programs have yielded differing conclusions. A 2004 study by the Heritage Foundation (a self-described "conservative think-tank")<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/about/ The Heritage Foundation: Our Mission] "Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."</ref> found that virginity pledges significantly reduce premarital sex without putting backsliders at risk.<ref> Teens Who Make Virginity Pledges Have Substantially Improved Life Outcomes
by Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Jennifer A. Marshall
Center for Data Analysis Report #04-07 [http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/cda04-07.cfm] </ref> A 2007 study by Mathematica Policy Research (a self-described "nonpartisan research firm") found that "the programs had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth." But, like Heritage, it found that "youth in these programs were no more likely to have unprotected sex."<ref>[http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/abstinencereport.asp Impacts of Four Abstinence Education Programs]</ref><ref>
$1bn 'don't have sex' campaign a flop as research shows teenagers ignore lessons, The Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2058066,00.html]</ref>

The abstinence policy of the Bush administration has also been heavily criticized by liberals as being unrealistic, ignoring the real issues and misleading. But this ignores the fact that abstinent teens don't get STDs or become pregnant. <ref>Bush "abstinence only" program lies to kids about sex, HIV dangers[http://www.unknownnews.org/04121402abstinence.html]</ref>

The resignation of [[Randall Tobias]], appointed by [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W Bush]] to promote abstinence education and responsible for enforcing a U.S. global [[AIDS]] policy requiring recipients to swear they oppose prostitution and sex trafficking, after it was discovered he had been a customer of an escort service in Washington, D.C. whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a [[prostitution]] operation, shows how challenging abstinence can be. <ref> http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/senior_official.html</ref>

==Notes and references==
<references/>

File talk:HC-GF667 McInty 20051021132644.gif

2007-05-30T10:30:59Z

DollarsAndSense: Copyright infringement?

{{speedy}}
This image looks like a scan from The Wall Street Journal. I don#t see any copyright info

Snooker

2007-05-30T10:00:41Z

DollarsAndSense: changed category to indoor

{{merge|Pocket billiards}}
'''Snooker''' is a sport played on a green baise table between two opponents.

The table has 6 'pockets', 4 at the corners and 2 in the center of the longer sides, into which the players attempt to pot different colored balls using a cue and a white cue ball.

The aim of the sport is to score more points than your opponent

Apart from the cue ball, snooker uses 15 red balls and 6 'colors'. These are yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. Players take turns striking the cue ball with their cue to try to pot one of the other balls. Players can only attempt to pot 'colors' after having potted one of the 15 reds.

Reds score one point and the colors from 2 to 7 points. After all the reds have been potted a frame ends with players potting the colors in order.

== Origins ==

Snooker originated in [[India]] during the [[British Raj]] where it was very popular in the officers' mess. Snooker is still played mostly in the United Kingdom and in former British colonies such as [[Canada]], [[Australia]] and [[Singapore]].

== World Championship ==

The Snooker World Championship is held every year at the Crucible Theatre in [[Sheffield]], [[England]]. The current world champion is John Higgins from [[Wishaw]], [[Scotland]].

[[Category:Indoor sports]]

Pocket billiards

2007-05-30T09:59:13Z

DollarsAndSense: Added category

[[Image:BilliardsSign.jpg|right|200px]]
'''Pocket billiards''' is the term for a collective of games played on a billiard table having 6 pockets along the cushions, in which the aim is to knock the balls into the pockets.

The term pocket billiards is now general not used. Instead, ‘pool’ is used to describe billiards' many forms. There are numerous different types of pocket billiards games, for example eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool.

The game [[snooker]] is played on a table with pockets just like billiards, but is considered to be its own discipline of cue sport.

[[Category:Indoor sports]]

Category:Indoor Sports

2007-05-30T09:58:03Z

DollarsAndSense: Created category

[[Category:Sports]]

Khyber Pass

2007-05-30T09:18:59Z

DollarsAndSense: Added difficulties

The Khyber Pass is an important break in the mountains between [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]]. It runs through both the Safed Koh and Hindi Kush mountain ranges.

It has been very influential throughout the course of history in its role as a part of military strategy. [[Alexander the Great]], the [[Muslims]], the [[Aryans]], and the [[British]] all used the pass for military reasons. However, it has often proved difficult to penetrate owing to the defensive positions taken from above by local tribesman.

[[Category:Military]]

Blaenau Ffestiniog

2007-05-30T09:16:11Z

DollarsAndSense: wikilinks and rephrasing

[[Image:Blaenau.jpg|right|thumb|500px|The landscape surrounding Blaenau has been blighted with millions of tons of spoil. These slag heaps arose mainly as a result of 19th century mining techniques, and unfettered [[capitalism]].]]

'''Blaenau Ffestiniog''' (pronounced ''bly-now fest-inny-oc'') is the capital of the Welsh [[slate]] quarrying industry. The slate-bearing strata of Ffestiniog belong to the [[Ordovician]] or Lower [[Silurian]] systems, and are of an uniform soft blue-gray color, although the North Vein or topmost bed shows a tendency to be slightly darker. The chemical analysis of a standard Ffestiniog slate shows silica 55%, alumina 25%, iron oxide 11%, the remainder being composed of various elements of which the chief is magnesia. The lime contents - an excess of which often characterizes an inferior slate - are negligible. <ref>For a more detailed account, see: http://www.llechicymru.info/t000952.cymraeg.htm</ref>.

Blaenau slate has been an important part of quality [[snooker]] and [[billiards]] tables for many years owing to the smooth flat surface that is revealed when slates are split or ''riven''. During [[Queen Victoria|Victorian]] times a snooker table would comprise four large blocks of slate, each 3 inches thick, so that they could be disassembled and carried by pack horses for the pleasure officers in the British Colonial Army on patrol in the north-west frontier in [[India]]. It was said, that along with his [[rifle]], every serving officer took his snooker cue up the [[Khyber Pass]]. Owing to the lower quality of the remaining slate from the mine however, modern tables have to be assembled from five slabs.

The slate produced from the Blaenau area is one of the highest quality roofing slates in the world, and gives the houses in [[Wales]] their characteristic blue roofs. Slate was mined via a variety of methods in the 19th century and all of these have left their mark on Blaenau, with the entire town and much of the surrounding countryside being blighted with slag heaps of slate spoil. Despite being in the centre of the [[Snowdonia National Park]], the gray slag that surrounds the town prevents it from being officially included in the designated Park area. Current plans to deal with this slag are being challenged by an environmental pressure group <ref> [http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/swag.htm The Slate Waste Action Group (SWAG)] opposes plans to transport the slag to the North Wales coast. </ref>

[[Image:Slateworker.jpg|thumb|left|300px| Miners' Tramway (slytiau) showing one of the miners in action]]
The slate industry that Blaenau epitomizes is today only a fraction of its former size. In the 1880's the industry employed over 400 men. In the 19th century such men were renowned for their “..hard drinking, their singing and their sexual prowess” <ref> see the description in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/mining/pages/slate_mining.shtml</ref> . To say that these men were responsible for the today’s slag spoil is to misunderstand thew history of Blaenau. Today the town has reinvented itself as a tourist destination with former quarries <ref name="Lech">See the website for the [http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk The Llechwedd Slate Caverns] </ref> offering trips on the miner's tramway into the side of the mountain and into the massive underground caverns built by the slate workers. At Llechwedd, for example it is possible to recreate the experience of the miners. Riding down the underground cliff railway into the dramatic Deep Mine, provides a stimulating audio-visual presentation as a miner from long ago takes you through the various chambers. On their way to the mine, visitors can experience the slag at first hand, going down on the tramway into dark, damp musky recesses. These cavernous spaces drip with a slimy substance, where miners would often would feel their helmets starting to become damp. Reaching the very depths, with a horn, the miner would stand up and slip into the vast cavern. The activity that ensued would be prolonged and exhausting, with several miners often being squeezed into the same recess for extended periods, but returning to the tramway repeatedly during this time, going in and out of the tunnel, before coming together. Finally, when the tramway shudders to a halt, the miners all get off, and travel homewards for an evening’s drinking and singing<ref name = "Lech">a</ref>.

In preparations for the [[United Kingdom]]'s millenium celebrations, the [[Welsh Development Agency]] (WDA) in conjunction with the ''Beautiful Blaenau'' campaign sponsored research into how the slag may put to use in an environmentally-friendly way. In [[2001]] the Welsh Aggregates Company launched a range of composite building materials that have been used extensively in the regeneration of [[Cardiff]]'s historic waterfront.

The mined slate was taken on the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway which links Blaenau Ffestiniog with Porthmadog on the coast. The [[Festiniog Railway Company]] is the world's oldest independent railway company, established in 1832 by [[Act of Parliament]]. <ref> http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/history/pages/festiniograilway.shtml
</ref>. The ride is spectacular as the line twists and turns its way through the Welsh countryside.

Blaenau also has another claim to fame, In 1940 when London was faced with intensive bombing by the [[Luftwaffe]] every night, Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] was very concerned for the safekeeping of Britain's art treasures and he issued an order for them to be moved from the museums and art galleries in [[London]]. In order to keep them safe, they were sent to Manod Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog.<ref> http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/blaenau/pages/manodquarry.shtml</ref>

==Links==
*Map showing the Location of Blaenau Ffestiniog
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Blaenau+Ffestiniog&ie=UTF8&ll=52.988337,-3.927612&spn=0.264126,0.727844&om=1

* General Information: http://www.blaenauffestiniog.cymru.org/
* The Ffestionog Railway: Http://www.nwt.co.uk/english/snowdonia/blaenau_ffestiniog.htm
*Tourist information: http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/Towns_in_Wales/Blaenau_Ffestiniog_Town.htm

==References==
<references/>

Talk:British Broadcasting Corporation

2007-05-29T22:52:30Z

DollarsAndSense: all to BBC

== Redirect ==
Should [[BBC]] redirect here? Would seem logical. [[User:G7mzh|G7mzh]] 13:59, 13 April 2007 (EDT)

== Bias ==

The source used to justify the statement that the BBC has a political bias is a newspaper which itself has a political bias (of the opposite extreme). That's mad. {{unsigned|Ferret}}

By its charter, the BBC is required to be impartial (which was e.g. an issue in the Hutton Inquiry); this - of course - is difficult to achieve and often leads to the accusation of being biased. IMHO, it would be useful to add this information into the text. {{unsigned|Gux}}

: Good idea. Please go ahead and add it.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 15:00, 15 May 2007 (EDT)

:: I agree - it gets into just as much trouble with Labour governments as with Tory ones. To say it has an inherent liberal bias is misleading I think. Successive governments have taken a soft line on this because they understand that nobody wants a state broadcaster which feels unable to be critical of the government - that's the sort of thing that happens in dictatorships not in modern democracies. [[User:Ferret|Ferret]] 09:16, 16 May 2007 (EDT)

I object to the liberal euphemism "license fee" instead of tax. The BBC gets revenues from a mandatory, govt-enforced tax on everyone with TV, regardless of whether they watch the BBC. That is a tax. Why call it a fee? [[User:RSchlafly|RSchlafly]] 18:33, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Licence fee is the official name for it. Only people who watch television have to pay it. We have many types of licence, for which a flat fee is payable, fishing, driving, pilot. It is the generally accepted term in the UK. [[User:Gerrard|Gerrard]] 18:46, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

: In the USA and the rest of the world, it is called a tax. [[User:RSchlafly|RSchlafly]] 18:51, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Strictly doesn't tax go to the government? All the lecnise fee goes to the BBC. The government don't get any of it. [[User:DollarsAndSense|DollarsAndSense]] 18:52, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Insecticide

2007-05-29T22:30:02Z

DollarsAndSense: rephrased reference to Rachel Carson - she called for regulation not banning

An '''insecticide''' is a [[chemical]] used in insect control, agriculture, and medicine. Relatively few deaths have occurred among workers handling poisonous agricultural products or insecticides.{{fact}} Those that have occurred can be traced to disregard of safety directions found on product labels.{{fact}} There are many types of insecticides on the market today.

==Safety==
Early symptoms and signs of organic phosphate poisoning include headache, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, chest discomfort and nervousness, a little later - nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, sweating, tears, salivation, slow pulse, muscular tremors and possibly convulsions. This group of insecticides enters the body through ingestion (swallowing), inhalation (breathing), and absorption (through the skin). Symptoms and signs of carbamate poisoning include constriction of pupils, salivation, profuse sweating, fatigue, muscular incoordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and chest tightness. This group of insecticides can enter the body through ingestion (swallowing), inhalation (breathing), and absorption (through the skin). One of the most common signs of synthetic pyrethroid poisoning is a stuffy, runny nose and scratchy throat from inhalation of partly purified pyrethrum extract. Asthmatic wheezing may occur in susceptible individuals. Sudden bronchospasm, swelling of oral and laryngeal mucous membranes, and shock (anaphylaxis) have been reported after pyrethrum inhalation. Delayed appearance of breathing difficulty, cough and fever, with patchy lung infiltrates on x-ray suggest hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Nervous irritability, tremors, and inability to coordinate muscular movements have occurred rarely in persons who have had massive inhalation exposure to pyrethrins.

==Insecticides in Agriculture==
Insecticides have been used since the inception of the [[Green Revolution]] in agriculture. Years of research and testing have resulted in a number of safe agricultural practices. Farmers should remember to destroy their crop remains following last harvest as well as to control weed hosts in unused fields, along field edges, and in the production fields. It is a good practice to rotate vegetable crops with cover crops or other crops that are not susceptible to the same pests. Fallowing and clean cultivation reduces many pests in fields not being used. Flooding with water where mosquitoes are not an issue may be done for 6 to 8 weeks once a year and can reduce many pests. These measures might be considered where sod or crop growth is not needed to reduce plant bed erosion and sand blasting.

==[[DDT]]==
DDT is a proven anti-mosquito agent, able to eradicate [[malaria]]. It was heavily used in America and elsewhere throughout the world. It's overuse was criticised by [[Rachel Carson]] in her book ''[[Silent Spring]]'' which led to environmentalists calling for an outright ban. As a result, millions of people (some estimate over 300 million) have died as a result of US environmental prohibitions on DDT.<ref>http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidinthenews/articles/nr_051401.html</ref> Former head of the World Bank, prominent [[neo-conservative]] [[Paul Wolfowitz]], has embraced the life-saving use of DDT. <ref>http://www.fightingmalaria.org</ref>

== References ==

<references/>

Wales

2007-05-29T19:23:36Z

DollarsAndSense: /* History */ eldest

'''Wales''' is a principality that is a part of the [[United Kingdom]]. It occupies the peninsula of land between the [[Bristol Channel]] and the [[River Dee]], on the west side of southern [[Great Britain]]. [[Anglesey]], [[Holy Island]], and the bardic island of Bardsey are also part of Wales.

Much of Wales is mountainous; the [[Cambrian Mountains]] run the length of the country, from [[Snowdon]]ia in the north. Several [[geological period]]s are named after the ancient Welsh tribes that lived in regions where strata characteristic of the period are to be found; the [[Ordovician]] ((Ordovices), the [[Silurian]] (Silures), and the [[Cambrian]] period is named for Cambria, the [[Latin]] for Wales.

The largest city in Wales is [[Cardiff]], which was declared to be the capital city in 1955, against competition from [[Swansea]]. Other important locales include the ports of [[Holyhead]] and [[Milford Haven]], the mining and industrial centres of Llanelli, Neath, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil and Wrexham, the ecclesiastical city of St Davids, the resorts of Rhyl and Prestatyn, the university towns of Bangor and Aberystwyth, and the village of [[Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch]].

English is universally spoken in Wales - however, the ancestral Celtic language of Welsh is still spoken as a first or second language by approximately a quarter of the population. The long-term decline in Welsh-speakers has stabilised since the early 1990s.

The national emblems are the [[leek]] and the [[daffodil]].

==History==

Wales emerged as a nation from the collapse of Romano-British Britannia following the invasions of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes from the firth century AD onwards. What is now known as Wales was for a time known as 'North Wales', while [[Devon]] and [[Cornwall]] (in SW England) were 'West Wales' until their conquest. The Mercian king Offa (Mercia equates roughly to the English Midlands) created an substantial earthwork, [[Offa's Dyke]] running between the [[Irish Sea]] and the [[River Severn|Severn]] estuary in the later eighth century to separate his kingdom from Welsh lands. The dyke broadly marks the Anglo-Welsh boundary to this day.

The [[Norman Conquest]] of England following 1066 gave rise to Norman attempts to occupy Wales; by the thirteenth century much of eastern and southern Wales were under Norman control in autonomous 'Marcher Lordships' owing loyalty to the English crown. What was left of independent Wales was not a unitary nation, but comprised a number of separate, often warring, principalities, and only late on, under English pressure, did these unite to acknowledge one 'Prince of Wales'. These princes were provided by the most powerful of the Welsh states, Gwynedd, in the mountainous NW of the country. Most notable was [[Llewelyn the Great]] (1173-1240; who unified the country, and gave it a code of laws). His grandson, [[Llewelyn ap Gruffydd]], was unable to resist a powerful invasion mounted by the English king [[Edward I]], and his death in battle in 1282 marked the extinction of independent Wales.

A number of huge fortifications were built by Edward to pacify the country, notably that of [[Caernafon Castle]], and maintained by his successors.

A major revolt against English rule was mounted in the early fifteenth century led by [[Owain Glyndwr]], a member of the prosperous Welsh gentry who became embittered against the local English magnates for reasons which are uncertain, but probably owe as much to personal disputes as national sentiment. Glyndwr's rebellion achieved astonishing success, for a while. Beginning on Good Friday 1401, the rebels came to control much of the countryside and many Welsh towns, even advancing to [[Worcester]] in England. Glyndwr, who had been proclaimed Prince of Wales, held two parliaments at Machynlleth in mid Wales, and allied himself with the Duke of Northumberland and and the Earl of Mortimer in a plan to dismember the English kingdom once Henry IV had been conclusively defeated. He made an alliance with [[France]], and created two (short-lived) universities, one each in north and South Wales. However, by 1408 the tide had turned. His Northumbrian allies had been defeated and English forces retook many Welsh towns. The rebels resorted to guerilla warfare but by 1410 Glyndwr was a fugitive and he disappears from history, his fate a mystery.

Much as Owain Glyndwr emerged from the ranks of the Welsh gentry, so too did Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who in 1485, as a somewhat tendentious claimant to the throne of England through the Lancastrian line, led an army of disaffected English magnates to victory over the Yorkist king [[Richard III]] at the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]]. Henry became King [[Henry VII]] and the progenitor of the Tudor dynasty, the first Welsh king of England. Henry's son, [[Henry VIII]], completed the absorption of Wales into England in 1536, when the remaining parts of Wales were formally annexed to England and 'shired' - that is, divided into counties (shires) with sheriffs and lords lieutenant, rather than being ruled as marcher lordships.

[[Charles]], eldest son of [[Queen Elizabeth II]], is the current Prince of Wales, a title normally bestowed on the first-born son of the sovereign but implying no particular monarchical role in the Principality. The Welsh flag has a picture of a [[dragon]], usually called Idris. The Welsh flag forms no part of the Union Flag as at the time the flag was first devised Wales was considered as part of the Kingdom of England.

Even today in modern Wales, vestiges of anti-English sentiment remain strong in some parts; the Welsh Nationalist Party, [[Plaid Cymru]] typically returns several members to the British [[Parliament]], and with the unaffiliated Welsh terrorist group the [[Meibion Glyndwr]], ("the Sons of Glendower") conducting a sporadic campaign of arson against English-owned holiday homes in recent years.<ref>http://www.welshdragon.net/resources/Articles/arson.shtml</ref>

[[Druidry]] survived as a major force in Wales until the 18th century, and may never have completely died out. The first modern Welsh druids date from 1717, but they took many of their rites from existing practices.

== Industry ==

South Wales was formerly heavily industrialised, with [[coal]] mining and [[steel]]working, whereas North Wales is a pastoral area used mainly for [[sheep]]farming.

[[Coal]] mining in South Wales has undergone a recent resurgence due to the discovery of new energy resources, particularly in the Crumlin area.

== Sport ==

[[Soccer]] enjoys major popularity, with [[rugby union]] being particularly popular in South Wales.

== World significance ==

Welsh-derived surnames are common in the United States. The Welsh name ''Jones'' is in fact the fourth commonest surname in the U. S.<ref>Smith, Johnson and Williams ranking first, second and third</ref>; within the hundred commonest surnames, the Welsh names Evans, Edward, Morgan, and Jenkins rank 48th, 49th, 57th, and 83rd respectively.<ref>[http://names.mongabay.com/most_common_surnames.htm Most Common Surnames in the U. S.], website which claims its source is the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Population Analysis & Evaluation Staff</ref> Names beginning with a double L, such as ''Lloyd'' and ''Llewellyn'' are almost certain to be Welsh, as is ''Floyd'' (the "Fl" being an attempt to imitate the sound of the Welsh double-L.

It is often said that the vowels in English are "A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y;" however, in Welsh the letter W can be a vowel (pronounced roughly like a double-length U). Most English dictionaries contain some Welsh-derived English words such as ''cwm'' (a circular valley or ''cirque'') and ''crwth'' (an traditional Celtic fiddle-like musical instrument). These can be very effective stumpers when playing word games, provided of course that they are actually included in whatever dictionary is the authority agreed on by the players.

==Notes and references==
<references/>

[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Wales| ]]
[[Category:Principalities]]

Essay:Crackpot

2007-05-28T22:20:29Z

DollarsAndSense: Example

The word '''crackpot''' refers to an eccentric person with an enthusiasm for promoting an unorthodox idea. In an early use of the term, a 1913 observer described a rally in support of the impeached Governor of New York as "a collection of the rarest political crackpots I have ever seen."<ref>"Loyal Few Hear Sulzer Farewell," ''The New York Times,'' October 19, 1913, p. 1.'' Attributed to one Patrick E. McCabe, Clerk to the Court of Impeachment. A letter entitled "Political Crackpots" appeared the next day (p. 6) credited McCabe with "adding the expressive word 'crackpot' to our recently somewhat worn political vocabulary.'" An August 6, 1924 letter (p. 12) said that the term "had made its way into respectable literature." It quotes from p. 301 of Frank Swinnerton's 1923 novel ''Young Felix'' :"'Why you old idiot!' stormed Felix. 'You don't know what an artist is. You old crackpot!'"</ref>

The term '''crackpot''' is used perjoratively against a person, who writes or speaks in an authoritative fashion about a particular subject, often in [[science]] or [[mathematics]], but is alleged to have false or even ludicrous beliefs. Such a person may also be termed a [[crank]].

Ideas held by such people are called ''crank ideas'' or ''crackpot theories''.

True Crackpots usually have some formal training in science but are often unattached to any university, college, or research institute, and have usually reached a point where their papers and commentaries are refused by standard scientific journals as being of little interest. They form a "fringe" in any field, and it is often difficult to distinguish crackpots from bona fide scientists who hold minority views because the distinction is usually based primarily on behavior rather than on scientific contributions. The consequence is that a bona fide scientist with a minority view is unfortunately sometimes called a crackpot merely due to peculiar or disruptive behavior. Often crackpots are experts in one field but choose to make authorative assertions outside their area of expertise. Such as physicist [[Linus Pauling]]'s endorsement of large doses of Vitamin C against cancer, or lawyers espousing on medical matters.

Some distinguishing characteristics of crackpots are:

1. The crackpot has usually lost interest in new experiments and will defend to his theory or viewpoint, even though it may have been rejected by the scientific community as invalid or useless. Any objective view of reality becomes less important than his own personal view.

2. As a consequence of continuing peer rejection, the crackpot becomes more and more strident with advancing age, until eventually one finds him doing vigorous vocal battle in fringe arenas, open forums, anti-science mailing lists, and magazines devoted to fringe ideas and readers who thrive emotionally on fringe ideas.

3. In any serious discussion of a scientific issue, the crackpot will usually offer polemics rather than reason, invective rather than fact, and a harangue that he's a "revolutionary" against an "establishment". Sometimes he makes accusations of a [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] against him. At other times, the accusation is of "social control" of the minds of scientists. He appoints himself as the avant-garde of a [[paradigm shift]]. However, this often represents a basic philosophical failure in the crackpot to understand that "paradigms" and "paradigm shifts" are usually recognized ''de post facto'' by historians and almost never while the shift is occuring, and that significant paradigm shifts are almost always the work of younger scientists who come up with innovative and significant ideas early in their career, and not of older scientists whose ideas have already been examined and rejected.

== See Also ==

* [[Pseudoscience]]
* [http://www.crank.net/ Crank.Net]

==Notes and references==
<references/>

Religious war

2007-05-28T22:18:18Z

DollarsAndSense: /* Examples of religious wars */ links and names

A '''religious war''' is a war started in the name of a certain [[religion]] usually against a differing and/or opposing religion. Such wars have occured since the formation of [[religion]] and, as with all wars, have led to bloodshed and suffering of not only the proponents of such wars, but of innocents as well.

==Examples of religious wars==

A notable example of a religious war, or more exactly a series of wars, is the [[Crusades]] of medieval Europe, started by [[Christians]] to take back [[The Holy Land]] from Muslim control.

Almost all of [[Islam]]'s early expansion was due to [[jihad]] and an attempt to forcefully spread their religion.

Not all examples are negative. [[Constantine]]'s civil war with [[Licinius]] was fought over Licinius' persecution of Christians. The war ended with Constantine's victory and the persecutions stopped. A [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] victory against Varahran V of the Neo-Persian Empire forced him to end his policy of persecution against Christians as well.

[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:Religion]]