Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

User talk:Bdor24

2012-06-07T21:09:30Z

Marianne: /* Fringe */ new section

Why did you guys delete my query? I wasn't rude, was I?--[[User:Bdor24|Bdor24]] 14:52, 28 March 2012 (EDT)

== Fringe ==

Hello! I notice you're the main contributor to the page [[Fringe]], and I recently questioned some of your information on the [[Talk:Fringe]] page. I just wondered if you'd like to reply :) I do plan on editing the page [[Fringe]] to include my counterpoints, if this wouldn't be problematic. Take care! [[User:Marianne|Marianne]] 17:09, 7 June 2012 (EDT)

Amphetamine

2012-06-03T15:11:55Z

Marianne: Expanded a bit - levoamphetamine is also in some ADHD/narcolepsy meds, street amphetamine is the illegal drug "speed", added who discovered it, etc.

'''Amphetamine''' is a [[stimulant]] that results in an increase in energy and activity, hyper-responsiveness to environmental stimuli, [[euphoria]], and a number of [[physiological]] signs of hyperactivation. It was first synthesised in 1887 by a Romanian chemist named Lazăr Edeleanu, although no use for it was known until 1927 that pharmacologist Gordon Alles tested the chemical on himself. The D-[[stereoisomer]] of Amphetamine (dextroamphetamine) is conventionally found in medications that are used to treat mental and physical dysfunctions such as [[Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder]] (ADHD), [[Narcolepsy]], and [[Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]]. Some of these medications (such as Adderall) also include the L-[[stereoisomer]], levoamphetamine, in smaller amounts - however, levoamphetamine has less of an effect on dopamine levels than dextroamphetamine, and is thought to cause more negative side effects. The pharmacological mechanism of action is increasing the synaptic levels of [[biogenic amine]] neurotransmitters such as [[Norepinephrine]], [[Dopamine]], and [[Serotonin]]. Without a prescription, amphetamine is illegal in most countries, and when sold illegally for recreational use it is commonly known as "Speed".
== Sources ==

Abnormal Psychology, Rosenhan & Seligman, 1984

[[Category: Drugs]]

Nick Clegg

2012-06-02T13:04:26Z

Marianne: Re-used existing reference for some text I added

'''Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg''' (b. January 7, 1967) is the leader of the [[Liberal Democrats]], and is the current Deputy Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]], and Lord President of the Council.
Clegg is a self-described [[liberal]] (in the British sense of the word) and [[agnostic]].<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7571076/General-Election-2010-Nick-Cleggs-balancing-act-as-hung-parliament-looms.html General Election 2010: Nick Clegg's balancing act as hung parliament looms] - The Telegraph, April 10, 2010, retrieved June 2, 2012</ref> He claims to have great respect for people of faith, and to keep an open mind about religion.<ref name=scotsman>[http://www.scotsman.com/news/i_don_t_believe_in_god_says_new_lib_dem_chief_1_704677 I don't believe in God, says new Lib Dem chief] scotsman.com, December 19, 2007, retrieved January 8, 2011</ref>

== Early Life ==

Nick Clegg was born in Buckinghamshire to Nicholas P. Clegg CBE and Eulalia Hermance van den Wall Bake. His father is half-English, half-Russian, and his mother is Dutch. He speaks English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. His wife, Miriam González Durántez, is Roman Catholic. The couple has three sons, and they have agreed to raise them in the Catholic faith.<ref name=scotsman></ref>
Aged sixteen, Clegg and some friends were involved in destroying a collection of rare [[cactus|cacti]] whilst drunk.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1193693/Id-drunk-I-irresponsible-Criminal-Nick-Clegg-regrets.html Daily Mail - Nick Clegg on his regrets]</ref>

== Politics ==

Clegg describes himself as [[liberal#Liberalism in Europe today|liberal]] and is in favour of handing over further powers from British sovereignty to the [[European Union]]. Each of the five bodies of the EU currently has some sort of legislative or judiciary power over the UK (with these ranging from simple group discussions in the Council of Ministers to fully independent legislation from the European Parliament.) He is in favour of significantly higher taxes for the rich, including a mansion tax - a fixed annual levy on all houses worth more than two million pounds, and of raising the income tax threshold to £10,000.

The policies of Clegg and his Party differ significantly from that of the two major UK parties, but in very different ways. The main points of difference with the Conservatives are over tax and monetary policy, with Clegg being definitely to the left of the Conservatives, but probably a little to the right of Labour (this is hard to say as Lib Dem tax policies are more leftist than Labour's, yet Labour's Keynsian approach to ending the recession is far to the left of Clegg, whose policies in this area are more Conservative.) However, the differences with Labour are mostly social, with the Liberal Democrats being significantly more in favour of small-government and decentralisation than even the Conservatives, who have (since Labour reversed many of its positions in the 90s) been the less authoritarian of the two major parties. In this area Clegg, like Cameron of the Conservatives, favours less central administration of schools and hospitals, and more power to local communities. Because of this, it is untrue to claim that Clegg's views are a "more extreme" version of either Labour or the Conservatives, but they cannot be placed in the middle either. The complex nature of their stance makes such simple comparisons impossible. On a few other policy issues, such as nuclear weapons, Clegg is noticeably distant from either major party (Clegg favours disarmament.)

Clegg is in favour of the Single Transferable Vote system for elections to Westminster. This system combines elements of majoritarianism (where an unpopular candidate cannot be elected by default because of a split in the vote of his opposition between several similar opposing candidates as is the case in FPTP (first past the post)) with elements of proportionality (where the number of votes cast for any candidate is directly proportional to the power said candidate has in government.) This system is praised by the UKs Electoral Reform Society, which has condemned the FPTP system for being unfair, as many votes are "wasted" and parties represented in a smaller area of the country need fewer votes to achieve a majority in Parliament. This system has resulted in several Labour victories with vote percentages that would not give the Conservatives a victory, and would garner very little support for parties with nationwide support such as UKIP or Clegg's own Liberal Democrats. In fact, in the 2010 election itself, UKIP received more than 3% of the vote, but assumed not a single one of the 650 seats in Parliament.

Clegg's performance in the first ever televised live UK election debate thrust him into the spotlight and up the opinion polls, with one poll even placing him first among the Prime Ministerial candidates at one point. However, a number of factors conspired to actually end up reducing the number of seats held by the Liberal Democrats at the election. The FPTP system, as mentioned above, discriminates against a party that is supported across the whole country, such as the Liberal Democrats or UKIP (the UK independence party, a vehemently anti-EU party.) David Cameron's support markedly increased in the final week leading up to the election. Gordon Brown's popularity took a major hit in the lead-up to the election, peaking with an occasion where he referred to a pensioner as a "bigoted woman", due to the nature of the FPTP electoral system's making the election a race between Conservatives and Labour, despite widespread Liberal Democrat support, many voters abandoned the Liberal Democrats at the 11th hour in order to prevent Brown's re-election by the splitting of his opposition between Clegg and Cameron. Despite this - Clegg was left in a position of considerable power when the Conservatives failed to gain a majority. This was not quite as important as it may have seemed, as a Labour-Liberal coalition would also not have had a majority, so a Liberal-Conservative coalition was really the only feasible option. Some had predicted Clegg would be a "king-maker" (able to form a majority when allied with either major party, and thus in a position of huge power out of proportion to his vote) but this did not come about. Despite Brown's resignation in the hope of sweetening a deal, David Cameron assumed the office of Prime Minister, with Nick Clegg as his deputy. Four other Liberal Democrats were placed in cabinet positions, and the "coalition manifesto" included a number of Liberal Democrat policies including a high-speed rail network (as opposed to further airport expansion planned by Cameron) and the raising of the income tax threshold to £10,000. It was reported that many senior Liberals were sceptical of a Conservative coalition until they had seen the manifesto. On voting reform and inheritance tax, as well as many other major issues, a compromise was reached.

== References ==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clegg, Nick}}
[[Category:Biographies]]
[[Category: British Politics]]

Nick Clegg

2012-06-02T12:59:20Z

Marianne: Expanded a bit - "liberal" doesn't quite mean the same thing in Britain, and he actually describes himself as agnostic, not atheist.

'''Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg''' (b. January 7, 1967) is the leader of the [[Liberal Democrats]], and is the current Deputy Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]], and Lord President of the Council.
Clegg is a self-described [[liberal]] (in the British sense of the word) and [[agnostic]]<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7571076/General-Election-2010-Nick-Cleggs-balancing-act-as-hung-parliament-looms.html General Election 2010: Nick Clegg's balancing act as hung parliament looms - The Telegraph</ref>. He claims to have great respect for people of faith, and to keep an open mind about religion.

== Early Life ==

Nick Clegg was born in Buckinghamshire to Nicholas P. Clegg CBE and Eulalia Hermance van den Wall Bake. His father is half-English, half-Russian, and his mother is Dutch. He speaks English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. His wife, Miriam González Durántez, is Roman Catholic. The couple has three sons, and they have agreed to raise them in the Catholic faith.<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com/news/i_don_t_believe_in_god_says_new_lib_dem_chief_1_704677 I don't believe in God, says new Lib Dem chief] scotsman.com, December 19, 2007, retrieved January 8, 2011</ref>

Aged sixteen, Clegg and some friends were involved in destroying a collection of rare [[cactus|cacti]] whilst drunk.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1193693/Id-drunk-I-irresponsible-Criminal-Nick-Clegg-regrets.html Daily Mail - Nick Clegg on his regrets]</ref>

== Politics ==

Clegg describes himself as [[liberal#Liberalism in Europe today|liberal]] and is in favour of handing over further powers from British sovereignty to the [[European Union]]. Each of the five bodies of the EU currently has some sort of legislative or judiciary power over the UK (with these ranging from simple group discussions in the Council of Ministers to fully independent legislation from the European Parliament.) He is in favour of significantly higher taxes for the rich, including a mansion tax - a fixed annual levy on all houses worth more than two million pounds, and of raising the income tax threshold to £10,000.

The policies of Clegg and his Party differ significantly from that of the two major UK parties, but in very different ways. The main points of difference with the Conservatives are over tax and monetary policy, with Clegg being definitely to the left of the Conservatives, but probably a little to the right of Labour (this is hard to say as Lib Dem tax policies are more leftist than Labour's, yet Labour's Keynsian approach to ending the recession is far to the left of Clegg, whose policies in this area are more Conservative.) However, the differences with Labour are mostly social, with the Liberal Democrats being significantly more in favour of small-government and decentralisation than even the Conservatives, who have (since Labour reversed many of its positions in the 90s) been the less authoritarian of the two major parties. In this area Clegg, like Cameron of the Conservatives, favours less central administration of schools and hospitals, and more power to local communities. Because of this, it is untrue to claim that Clegg's views are a "more extreme" version of either Labour or the Conservatives, but they cannot be placed in the middle either. The complex nature of their stance makes such simple comparisons impossible. On a few other policy issues, such as nuclear weapons, Clegg is noticeably distant from either major party (Clegg favours disarmament.)

Clegg is in favour of the Single Transferable Vote system for elections to Westminster. This system combines elements of majoritarianism (where an unpopular candidate cannot be elected by default because of a split in the vote of his opposition between several similar opposing candidates as is the case in FPTP (first past the post)) with elements of proportionality (where the number of votes cast for any candidate is directly proportional to the power said candidate has in government.) This system is praised by the UKs Electoral Reform Society, which has condemned the FPTP system for being unfair, as many votes are "wasted" and parties represented in a smaller area of the country need fewer votes to achieve a majority in Parliament. This system has resulted in several Labour victories with vote percentages that would not give the Conservatives a victory, and would garner very little support for parties with nationwide support such as UKIP or Clegg's own Liberal Democrats. In fact, in the 2010 election itself, UKIP received more than 3% of the vote, but assumed not a single one of the 650 seats in Parliament.

Clegg's performance in the first ever televised live UK election debate thrust him into the spotlight and up the opinion polls, with one poll even placing him first among the Prime Ministerial candidates at one point. However, a number of factors conspired to actually end up reducing the number of seats held by the Liberal Democrats at the election. The FPTP system, as mentioned above, discriminates against a party that is supported across the whole country, such as the Liberal Democrats or UKIP (the UK independence party, a vehemently anti-EU party.) David Cameron's support markedly increased in the final week leading up to the election. Gordon Brown's popularity took a major hit in the lead-up to the election, peaking with an occasion where he referred to a pensioner as a "bigoted woman", due to the nature of the FPTP electoral system's making the election a race between Conservatives and Labour, despite widespread Liberal Democrat support, many voters abandoned the Liberal Democrats at the 11th hour in order to prevent Brown's re-election by the splitting of his opposition between Clegg and Cameron. Despite this - Clegg was left in a position of considerable power when the Conservatives failed to gain a majority. This was not quite as important as it may have seemed, as a Labour-Liberal coalition would also not have had a majority, so a Liberal-Conservative coalition was really the only feasible option. Some had predicted Clegg would be a "king-maker" (able to form a majority when allied with either major party, and thus in a position of huge power out of proportion to his vote) but this did not come about. Despite Brown's resignation in the hope of sweetening a deal, David Cameron assumed the office of Prime Minister, with Nick Clegg as his deputy. Four other Liberal Democrats were placed in cabinet positions, and the "coalition manifesto" included a number of Liberal Democrat policies including a high-speed rail network (as opposed to further airport expansion planned by Cameron) and the raising of the income tax threshold to £10,000. It was reported that many senior Liberals were sceptical of a Conservative coalition until they had seen the manifesto. On voting reform and inheritance tax, as well as many other major issues, a compromise was reached.

== References ==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clegg, Nick}}
[[Category:Biographies]]
[[Category: British Politics]]

Time travel

2012-06-02T12:46:40Z

Marianne: Clarified that you don't need to get near the speed of light to experience time dilation - only to experience *significant* time dilation.

'''Time travel''' is the concept of traveling through time (either to the [[past]] or [[future]]). It exists mainly in fiction, and most believe time travel (specifically to the past) is not possible in the real world, although this has not been conclusively proven. There is a scientist named Ronald Mallett who is trying to develop a real time machine. A form of time travel into the future is possible - if one were to travel close to the speed of light, one would age much slower than anything stationary, so it would seems as if one had time traveled to the future. In fact, this effect happens at any speed - when we drive a car, or even walk, we age ever so slightly slower than if we were stationary, however, this effect is so miniscule as to be unnoticeable in our day to day lives (although scientists have conducted an experiment where atomic clocks on the ground were compared to atomic clocks that had been on a plane, and found time dilation had caused a 273 nanosecond discrepency, meaning the effect is detectable with specialised equipment)<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/airtim.html Hafele-Keating Experiment</ref>. Time travel has captured the imagination of many authors and filmmakers, particularly in the 20th century.

In early [[science fiction]] novels, time travel was used to promote political ideas of [[utopia]], mainly [[socialism]]. For instance, ''[[The Time Machine]]'', the first novel to use this concept, is intended as a criticism of the class system. Edward Bellamy's novel ''Looking Backwards'', written in 1887, centers around a contemporary man who goes into a hypnotic sleep and awakens 113 years later in the year 2000, by which time America has turned into a socialist utopia. However, the decreased popularity of socialism has contributed to the decline of this genre. While politically motivated science fiction still exists to a lesser extent, the vast majority of it is simply set in the future and does not involve time travel as a plot device.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Science fiction]]

Benzodiazepine

2012-06-02T12:28:57Z

Marianne: Added a bit of info - that they've mostly replaced barbituates for being safer, that they're sometimes used recreationally, and that they're usually illegal without prescription.

Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive [[chemical]]s which affect the GABA receptors in the [[brain]]. They are used in the treatment of [[anxiety]] and sleep disorders, as well as certain types of seizure disorders. Benzodiazepines are both [[physical]]ly addicting and [[habit]] forming.<ref>http://www.erowid.org/pharms/benzodiazepine/benzodiazepine.shtml</ref> Benzodiazepines have largely (but not entirely) replaced barbituates as the usual sedative of choice for doctors to prescribe, due to their vastly increased safety profile, most notably that even very large overdoses will usually only cause unconsciousness, though exceptionally large doses may cause dangerously deep levels of unconsciousness. Benzodiazepines are sometimes used as recreational drugs, although in most countries (including the U.S.) they are illegal to possess without a prescription.

===List of Benzodiazepines===
*alprazolam (Xanax)
*bromazepam (Lexotanil)
*chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
*clonazepam (Klonopin)
*clorazepate (Tranxene)
*diazepam (Valium)
*estazolam (ProSom)
*flurazopam (Dalmadorm)
*ketazolam (Anxon)
*lorazepam (Ativan)
*midazolam (Versed)
*oxazepam (Serax)
*temazepam (Restoril)

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Chemical Compounds]][[Category:Drugs]]

Doctor Who

2012-05-30T13:09:31Z

Marianne: /* Political and Social Themes */ Added information about since Stephen Moffat took over from Russel T Davies

'''''Doctor Who''''' is a [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] science fiction television programme originally created in 1963. It centres around a character named The Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the TARDIS ("Time and Relative Dimension in Space"), which resembles a 1950s British Police phone box, but is considerably larger on the inside than it is on the outside.

The programme ran for twenty-six seasons between 1963 and 1989, at which point it was canceled indefinitely. Various forms of the series continued after the cancellation, with popular series of novels published by Target and then BBC Books, along with audio serials and re-releases of past episodes on VHS and DVD. Since 2005, a "new series" has been produced by BBC Wales.

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 eleven different actors so far.

==The Doctors==
===[[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, a move that was partly motivated by budgeting constraints in production. In the stories themselves, this was explained by the Doctor's race - the Time Lords - imposing an exile upon him due to alleged crimes prosecuted in ''The War Games''. During this time, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce ("UNIT") was a key element of plots - the Doctor was officially UNIT's scientific advisor, but he frequently attempts to break free of the Time Lords' imposition of exile.

===[[Tom Baker]] (1974-1981)===
Arguably the most well-known Doctor, Baker, with his seven-foot long scarf and fondness for jelly babies played the role for longer than any other actor. Considered to be an "eccentric" character, he was capable both of representing human attributes and being aloof and of being detached from others around him.

===[[Peter Davison]] (1981-1984)===
The fifth Doctor became something of a vulnerable character, which was a conscious decision by the production team (led by John Nathan-Turner) to remove the aura of invincibility that they had felt was becoming part of the Doctor's characterisation with Tom Baker. Shown to be a keen cricket fan, the Doctor was arguably more human than any of his predecessors and often relied more on his companions to assist throughout his missions.

===[[Colin Baker]] (1984-1986)===
The sixth Doctor was premised around being the antithesis of his predecessor, with his garish and colour-mismatched costume reflecting the vast contrast with the mild-mannered fifth Doctor. In terms of characterisation, the Doctor became something of an unstable character, often violently responding to people and events around him.

===[[Sylvester McCoy]] (1987-1989)===
After the departure of Colin Baker, McCoy's depiction of the Doctor saw the series shift mood considerably. Early stories within the era depicted a somewhat comic and light-hearted Doctor, but over time the Doctor's character became steadily darker - a development that has been commonly described as making the Doctor a manipulating, scheming character who influenced events like a chess game.

===[[Paul McGann]] (1996)===
McGann played the role for a television movie, with the creation of a new series by US producers dependent on the success of the movie. This was never made. The Doctor himself was perhaps more human than any other, with the revelation that he was "half-human" on his mother's side and displaying far greater emotional response than in the past.

===[[Christopher Eccleston]] (2005)===
The first Doctor in the "new series" created by [[Russell T. Davies]], Eccleston's portrayal saw much of the eccentricity of the past integrated into the ninth regeneration of the Doctor. An indefinite amount of time has elapsed since he was last seen on television screens, and it is clear that the events of the Time War have scarred him: he is the last of the Time Lord race. His character reflected a manic unpredictability that saw him capable of both compassion and apathy while maintaining a love-hate relationship with humans.

===[[David Tennant]] (2006-2010)===
The next actor to play the Doctor was also well-known beforehand ([[Casanova]], [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]). His portrayal was more humorous and vivacious than Eccleston's. Yet, much anger and survivor's guilt was still present in his character. He destroyed the daleks again in "The Parting of Ways".

===[[Matt Smith]] (2010-)===
Matt Smith is the youngest actor to play the role, and his portrayal of the Doctor was again very different. Despite being such a young actor, his character often has the feel of an old, wise man. He is much more eccentric and "alien" than his previous two incarnations, and while he seems to have mostly resolved his anger and survivor's guilt towards the time war, he can display a scary amount of anger towards percieved injustices (as with all Doctors), or towards those who have hurt his friends. This particular Doctor is being hunted by a mysterious religious order known as "The Silence", who believe that "Silence will/must fall" if the oldest question in the universe, hidden in plain sight, should ever be answered - "Doctor Who?".

==Political and Social Themes==
Several stories in the series have been subtly or overtly political in their themes. For instance, ''The Green Death'' (1973) emphasized the dangers of [[pollution]] and big business; while the following year's ''Invasion of the Dinosaurs'' featured a contrasting menace -- pro-environment extremists. Other stories have taken their themes from current news stories of the time, such as the [[United Kingdom]]'s entry into the [[European Union|Common Market]]. Many of these pro-liberal stories came during the period where the show was produced by Barry Letts, whose heavily liberal and [[environmentalist]] views shaped a lot of stories in the early 1970s. Apart from this period, the original series generally did not have a particularly heavily political leaning, and in fact ''The Sun Makers'' (1977) was a conservative story that told of the dangers of heavy [[taxation|taxes]] and overly complex governments.

In a recent episode, the Daleks - Doctor Who's most dangerous enemy, a race of creatures who are physically shriveled and weak, but who are contained within an armored tank-like body - take over Manhattan. They ruthlessly exploit workers engaged in construction and repair on the Empire State Building. This was reported in the British newspaper [[The Independent]] as a metaphor for the rampant abuse of capitalism. The lead writer of Dr. Who, [[Russell T Davies]] is known for aggressively promoting the [[gay agenda]] in his prior show [[Queer as Folk]] and continuing to promote it in Doctor Who (despite the fact that the show is supposed to be geared towards a young audience), with many openly gay or bisexual (or as the show jokes "omnisexual" due to relations with aliens) characters, including the lead of the spin-off [[Torchwood]], [[Captain Jack Harkness]]. Davies' attitude has been contrasted with that of [[John Nathan-Turner]], the final producer of the original series who, while being publicly known as a homosexual, never allowed this to overtly influence the stories written while he produced the show.

At the same time Matt Smith took over the lead role in the show, Russel T Davies was replaced as lead writer by Stephen Moffat. While gay and bisexual characters still appear in the show since Stephen Moffat took over, they do so in a more realistically low proportion, and less attention is drawn to their sexual orientation than it was under Russel T Davies - as in, a smattering of characters who happen to be gay, as opposed to a high proportion of characters for whom their sexual orientation is their primary feature. In Stephen Moffat's 51st century, the church has changed a lot, becoming more of a spiritual military force. Most church soldiers hold the rank "Cleric", and fall under the command of Bishops, all dressed in rather standard military uniforms. Most members of the church are given a "sacred name", such as a Biblical name or the same of a saint, although the (also militarised) [[Anglican]] denomination allows members to have descriptions rather than names, such as "The thin, fat, gay, married Anglican marines", who jokingly ask why they would need names with such a descriptive title (the individual men being known as "The thin one" and "The fat one"). This would appear to indicate that in the fictional future of Doctor Who, the Anglican denomination (and possibly others) have accepted same sex marriage.

==Popular Culture==
Doctor Who is one of the most well known icons in the United Kingdom, and the Iconic TARDIS is generally well known.<ref>http://www.theguardian.uk.co/doctor_who</ref>. It has been parodied many times by [[Family Guy]], [[The Simpsons]] and other mainstream comedies. Doctor Who paraphernalia can be found in most conventions and at sites like Amazon<ref>http://www.webfreak.com/doctor_who</ref>.

==Transmission==
Around the world, Doctor Who can be seen on:
*[[BBC]] One or BBC Three in the UK
*[[Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation|CBC Television]] and Space Channel in Canada
*[[BBC America]] in the US, or via Netflix
*[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] in Australia

Other countries to receive Doctor Who include the [[Netherlands]], [[France]], [[Denmark]] and [[Russia]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See Also==
*[[List of british science fiction shows]]
*[[Science Fiction]]
*[[Time Travel]]

[[Category:Television Shows]]

Doctor Who

2012-05-30T12:49:14Z

Marianne: /* Matt Smith (2010-) */ Expanded heavily on this doctor's section now that he is the current doctor

'''''Doctor Who''''' is a [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] science fiction television programme originally created in 1963. It centres around a character named The Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the TARDIS ("Time and Relative Dimension in Space"), which resembles a 1950s British Police phone box, but is considerably larger on the inside than it is on the outside.

The programme ran for twenty-six seasons between 1963 and 1989, at which point it was canceled indefinitely. Various forms of the series continued after the cancellation, with popular series of novels published by Target and then BBC Books, along with audio serials and re-releases of past episodes on VHS and DVD. Since 2005, a "new series" has been produced by BBC Wales.

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 eleven different actors so far.

==The Doctors==
===[[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, a move that was partly motivated by budgeting constraints in production. In the stories themselves, this was explained by the Doctor's race - the Time Lords - imposing an exile upon him due to alleged crimes prosecuted in ''The War Games''. During this time, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce ("UNIT") was a key element of plots - the Doctor was officially UNIT's scientific advisor, but he frequently attempts to break free of the Time Lords' imposition of exile.

===[[Tom Baker]] (1974-1981)===
Arguably the most well-known Doctor, Baker, with his seven-foot long scarf and fondness for jelly babies played the role for longer than any other actor. Considered to be an "eccentric" character, he was capable both of representing human attributes and being aloof and of being detached from others around him.

===[[Peter Davison]] (1981-1984)===
The fifth Doctor became something of a vulnerable character, which was a conscious decision by the production team (led by John Nathan-Turner) to remove the aura of invincibility that they had felt was becoming part of the Doctor's characterisation with Tom Baker. Shown to be a keen cricket fan, the Doctor was arguably more human than any of his predecessors and often relied more on his companions to assist throughout his missions.

===[[Colin Baker]] (1984-1986)===
The sixth Doctor was premised around being the antithesis of his predecessor, with his garish and colour-mismatched costume reflecting the vast contrast with the mild-mannered fifth Doctor. In terms of characterisation, the Doctor became something of an unstable character, often violently responding to people and events around him.

===[[Sylvester McCoy]] (1987-1989)===
After the departure of Colin Baker, McCoy's depiction of the Doctor saw the series shift mood considerably. Early stories within the era depicted a somewhat comic and light-hearted Doctor, but over time the Doctor's character became steadily darker - a development that has been commonly described as making the Doctor a manipulating, scheming character who influenced events like a chess game.

===[[Paul McGann]] (1996)===
McGann played the role for a television movie, with the creation of a new series by US producers dependent on the success of the movie. This was never made. The Doctor himself was perhaps more human than any other, with the revelation that he was "half-human" on his mother's side and displaying far greater emotional response than in the past.

===[[Christopher Eccleston]] (2005)===
The first Doctor in the "new series" created by [[Russell T. Davies]], Eccleston's portrayal saw much of the eccentricity of the past integrated into the ninth regeneration of the Doctor. An indefinite amount of time has elapsed since he was last seen on television screens, and it is clear that the events of the Time War have scarred him: he is the last of the Time Lord race. His character reflected a manic unpredictability that saw him capable of both compassion and apathy while maintaining a love-hate relationship with humans.

===[[David Tennant]] (2006-2010)===
The next actor to play the Doctor was also well-known beforehand ([[Casanova]], [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]). His portrayal was more humorous and vivacious than Eccleston's. Yet, much anger and survivor's guilt was still present in his character. He destroyed the daleks again in "The Parting of Ways".

===[[Matt Smith]] (2010-)===
Matt Smith is the youngest actor to play the role, and his portrayal of the Doctor was again very different. Despite being such a young actor, his character often has the feel of an old, wise man. He is much more eccentric and "alien" than his previous two incarnations, and while he seems to have mostly resolved his anger and survivor's guilt towards the time war, he can display a scary amount of anger towards percieved injustices (as with all Doctors), or towards those who have hurt his friends. This particular Doctor is being hunted by a mysterious religious order known as "The Silence", who believe that "Silence will/must fall" if the oldest question in the universe, hidden in plain sight, should ever be answered - "Doctor Who?".

==Political and Social Themes==
Several stories in the series have been subtly or overtly political in their themes. For instance, ''The Green Death'' (1973) emphasized the dangers of [[pollution]] and big business; while the following year's ''Invasion of the Dinosaurs'' featured a contrasting menace -- pro-environment extremists. Other stories have taken their themes from current news stories of the time, such as the [[United Kingdom]]'s entry into the [[European Union|Common Market]]. Many of these pro-liberal stories came during the period where the show was produced by Barry Letts, whose heavily liberal and [[environmentalist]] views shaped a lot of stories in the early 1970s. Apart from this period, the original series generally did not have a particularly heavily political leaning, and in fact ''The Sun Makers'' (1977) was a conservative story that told of the dangers of heavy [[taxation|taxes]] and overly complex governments.

In a recent episode, the Daleks - Doctor Who's most dangerous enemy, a race of creatures who are physically shriveled and weak, but who are contained within an armored tank-like body - take over Manhattan. They ruthlessly exploit workers engaged in construction and repair on the Empire State Building. This was reported in the British newspaper [[The Independent]] as a metaphor for the rampant abuse of capitalism. The lead writer of Dr. Who, [[Russell T Davies]] is known for aggressively promoting the [[gay agenda]] in his prior show [[Queer as Folk]] and continuing to promote it in Doctor Who (despite the fact that the show is supposed to be geared towards a young audience), with many openly gay or bisexual (or as the show jokes "omnisexual" due to relations with aliens) characters, including the lead of the spin-off [[Torchwood]], [[Captain Jack Harkness]]. Davies' attitude has been contrasted with that of [[John Nathan-Turner]], the final producer of the original series who, while being publicly known as a homosexual, never allowed this to overtly influence the stories written while he produced the show.

==Popular Culture==
Doctor Who is one of the most well known icons in the United Kingdom, and the Iconic TARDIS is generally well known.<ref>http://www.theguardian.uk.co/doctor_who</ref>. It has been parodied many times by [[Family Guy]], [[The Simpsons]] and other mainstream comedies. Doctor Who paraphernalia can be found in most conventions and at sites like Amazon<ref>http://www.webfreak.com/doctor_who</ref>.

==Transmission==
Around the world, Doctor Who can be seen on:
*[[BBC]] One or BBC Three in the UK
*[[Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation|CBC Television]] and Space Channel in Canada
*[[BBC America]] in the US, or via Netflix
*[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] in Australia

Other countries to receive Doctor Who include the [[Netherlands]], [[France]], [[Denmark]] and [[Russia]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See Also==
*[[List of british science fiction shows]]
*[[Science Fiction]]
*[[Time Travel]]

[[Category:Television Shows]]

Doctor Who

2012-05-30T12:43:31Z

Marianne: /* David Tennant (2006-2010) */ Not the current doctor anymore

'''''Doctor Who''''' is a [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] science fiction television programme originally created in 1963. It centres around a character named The Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the TARDIS ("Time and Relative Dimension in Space"), which resembles a 1950s British Police phone box, but is considerably larger on the inside than it is on the outside.

The programme ran for twenty-six seasons between 1963 and 1989, at which point it was canceled indefinitely. Various forms of the series continued after the cancellation, with popular series of novels published by Target and then BBC Books, along with audio serials and re-releases of past episodes on VHS and DVD. Since 2005, a "new series" has been produced by BBC Wales.

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 eleven different actors so far.

==The Doctors==
===[[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, a move that was partly motivated by budgeting constraints in production. In the stories themselves, this was explained by the Doctor's race - the Time Lords - imposing an exile upon him due to alleged crimes prosecuted in ''The War Games''. During this time, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce ("UNIT") was a key element of plots - the Doctor was officially UNIT's scientific advisor, but he frequently attempts to break free of the Time Lords' imposition of exile.

===[[Tom Baker]] (1974-1981)===
Arguably the most well-known Doctor, Baker, with his seven-foot long scarf and fondness for jelly babies played the role for longer than any other actor. Considered to be an "eccentric" character, he was capable both of representing human attributes and being aloof and of being detached from others around him.

===[[Peter Davison]] (1981-1984)===
The fifth Doctor became something of a vulnerable character, which was a conscious decision by the production team (led by John Nathan-Turner) to remove the aura of invincibility that they had felt was becoming part of the Doctor's characterisation with Tom Baker. Shown to be a keen cricket fan, the Doctor was arguably more human than any of his predecessors and often relied more on his companions to assist throughout his missions.

===[[Colin Baker]] (1984-1986)===
The sixth Doctor was premised around being the antithesis of his predecessor, with his garish and colour-mismatched costume reflecting the vast contrast with the mild-mannered fifth Doctor. In terms of characterisation, the Doctor became something of an unstable character, often violently responding to people and events around him.

===[[Sylvester McCoy]] (1987-1989)===
After the departure of Colin Baker, McCoy's depiction of the Doctor saw the series shift mood considerably. Early stories within the era depicted a somewhat comic and light-hearted Doctor, but over time the Doctor's character became steadily darker - a development that has been commonly described as making the Doctor a manipulating, scheming character who influenced events like a chess game.

===[[Paul McGann]] (1996)===
McGann played the role for a television movie, with the creation of a new series by US producers dependent on the success of the movie. This was never made. The Doctor himself was perhaps more human than any other, with the revelation that he was "half-human" on his mother's side and displaying far greater emotional response than in the past.

===[[Christopher Eccleston]] (2005)===
The first Doctor in the "new series" created by [[Russell T. Davies]], Eccleston's portrayal saw much of the eccentricity of the past integrated into the ninth regeneration of the Doctor. An indefinite amount of time has elapsed since he was last seen on television screens, and it is clear that the events of the Time War have scarred him: he is the last of the Time Lord race. His character reflected a manic unpredictability that saw him capable of both compassion and apathy while maintaining a love-hate relationship with humans.

===[[David Tennant]] (2006-2010)===
The next actor to play the Doctor was also well-known beforehand ([[Casanova]], [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]). His portrayal was more humorous and vivacious than Eccleston's. Yet, much anger and survivor's guilt was still present in his character. He destroyed the daleks again in "The Parting of Ways".

===[[Matt Smith]] (2010-)===
Matt Smith has been confirmed to take Tennants place in series 5 of Doctor Who. He is the youngest actor to play the role and is expected to bring radical changes with him. This, in fact, happened in 2010, but the page has not yet been updated. Someone should really update this.

==Political and Social Themes==
Several stories in the series have been subtly or overtly political in their themes. For instance, ''The Green Death'' (1973) emphasized the dangers of [[pollution]] and big business; while the following year's ''Invasion of the Dinosaurs'' featured a contrasting menace -- pro-environment extremists. Other stories have taken their themes from current news stories of the time, such as the [[United Kingdom]]'s entry into the [[European Union|Common Market]]. Many of these pro-liberal stories came during the period where the show was produced by Barry Letts, whose heavily liberal and [[environmentalist]] views shaped a lot of stories in the early 1970s. Apart from this period, the original series generally did not have a particularly heavily political leaning, and in fact ''The Sun Makers'' (1977) was a conservative story that told of the dangers of heavy [[taxation|taxes]] and overly complex governments.

In a recent episode, the Daleks - Doctor Who's most dangerous enemy, a race of creatures who are physically shriveled and weak, but who are contained within an armored tank-like body - take over Manhattan. They ruthlessly exploit workers engaged in construction and repair on the Empire State Building. This was reported in the British newspaper [[The Independent]] as a metaphor for the rampant abuse of capitalism. The lead writer of Dr. Who, [[Russell T Davies]] is known for aggressively promoting the [[gay agenda]] in his prior show [[Queer as Folk]] and continuing to promote it in Doctor Who (despite the fact that the show is supposed to be geared towards a young audience), with many openly gay or bisexual (or as the show jokes "omnisexual" due to relations with aliens) characters, including the lead of the spin-off [[Torchwood]], [[Captain Jack Harkness]]. Davies' attitude has been contrasted with that of [[John Nathan-Turner]], the final producer of the original series who, while being publicly known as a homosexual, never allowed this to overtly influence the stories written while he produced the show.

==Popular Culture==
Doctor Who is one of the most well known icons in the United Kingdom, and the Iconic TARDIS is generally well known.<ref>http://www.theguardian.uk.co/doctor_who</ref>. It has been parodied many times by [[Family Guy]], [[The Simpsons]] and other mainstream comedies. Doctor Who paraphernalia can be found in most conventions and at sites like Amazon<ref>http://www.webfreak.com/doctor_who</ref>.

==Transmission==
Around the world, Doctor Who can be seen on:
*[[BBC]] One or BBC Three in the UK
*[[Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation|CBC Television]] and Space Channel in Canada
*[[BBC America]] in the US, or via Netflix
*[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] in Australia

Other countries to receive Doctor Who include the [[Netherlands]], [[France]], [[Denmark]] and [[Russia]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See Also==
*[[List of british science fiction shows]]
*[[Science Fiction]]
*[[Time Travel]]

[[Category:Television Shows]]

Steampunk

2012-05-30T12:19:20Z

Marianne: Expanded on the whole Steampunk thing

'''Steampunk''' is a subgenre of [[science fiction]], usually set in the [[Victorian]] era, and featuring high-tech devices made using 19th century technology, often steam-powered. These stories almost always take place in an "alternate history", one of the most common being a history where [[Charles Babbage]] actually managed to finish his clockwork computer, the [[Analytical Engine]] (which, if it had been built during Babbage's time, would have been a computer with all the capabilities of later modern computers, albeit with much less processing power). The subgenre originated in the early 1980s and 1990s. The term steampunk seems to be a variant of cyberpunk.

Steampunk may also refer to an aesthetic style based upon the premise of Victorian steam and clockwork technology having become more advanced. At special events, steampunk enthusiasts often wear Victorian era clothing, modified with items like cogs or gears, goggles being another popular accessory in steampunk fashion. Many individuals also modify items such as computer keyboards to give them the appearance of an imaginary 19th century keyboards, plating them in ornately carved brass and replacing the keys with replicas of 19th century typewriter keys.
[[Category: Science fiction]]

French fries

2012-05-24T15:41:09Z

Marianne: Added the usual British "chip" width, and that we often call American style thin ones "fries".

[[Image:French fries.jpg|right|frame|French fries]]
'''French fries''' are a [[fast food]] made from [[potato]]es that have been cut into less-than-quarter-inch, stringy length-wise slices and deep-fat fried (twice in some recipes). They are very popular in the U. S.; they are often served with [[hamburgers]] and many connoisseurs pour ketchup over them, and in Belgium and France, where they are called ''frites'' and eaten with [[mayonnaise]]. In Canada, they are served with gravy and cheese curds in a dish called [[Poutine]]. In Britain they are called '[[chips]]', are generally thicker than the American and European fries (usually about half an inch thick), and are often garnished with salt or malt vinegar, although gravy and [[curry sauce]] are more recent, popular accompaniments. However, American style thinner fries are often called "fries" in Britain, and both types are widely available.

== Freedom Fries ==
Near the start of the [[Iraq War]] in 2003, a wave of anti-French sentiment briefly swept the United States over France's opposition to the U.S.-led coalition. As a protest, for a while the Congressional cafeteria refused to use the name "French fries," serving them under the substitute name "[[Freedom fries]]".<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,80700,00.html</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1491567,00.html</ref>
Representatives [[Bob Ney]] (R-OH) and [[Walter B. Jones]] (R-NC) were responsible for declaring that all references to "French" in the United States House of Representatives' restaurants and snack bars be removed. Said Ney after personally changing the signs in the House cafeteria, ''Once again, our brave men and women in the American military are putting their lives on the line to ensure the freedom and security of others, and once again, [[France]] is sitting on the sidelines.'' At the time, however, French forces were among the coalition troops fighting the [[Taliban]] in [[Afghanistan]].

This was similar to the renaming of other items, such as foods, in war-time. For example, during the first world war sauerkraut was renamed liberty cabbage and dachsunds liberty hounds. <ref>http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=531</ref> Also, in Britain, German Shepherd dogs were renamed Alsatians.

The French responded only by pointing out that French fries originate in Belgium. A spokeswoman (Nathalie Loisau) said, "We are at a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues and we are not focusing on the name you give to potatoes."

Capitol Hill, however, reverted to the "French" label in 2006.<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060802-125318-3981r.htm</ref>

==Friendship Fries==
After the French elected the conservative, rather pro-US and pro-Israel president [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], some have suggested renaming French Fries to Friendship Fries.<ref>http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=25383&only&rss</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Fast Foods]]

Linus Torvalds

2012-05-24T15:20:27Z

Marianne: Corrected a spelling error, expanded information on Linux, as it's no longer seen as particularly difficult to use as this article suggested.

'''Linus Torvalds''' is a [[software]] engineer from [[Finland]] whose best-known accomplishment is the initiation of the development of the [[open source]] [[operating system]] [[Linux]], starting in 1991. He remains the lead coordinator of the project and self-styled "benevolent dictator of Planet Linux". Torvalds has remained a prolific contributor to the project, and as of 2006, had written fully 2% of the code in the kernel. He is also noted for initiating the Git project for version control.

Torvalds has a more pragmatic view of the [[open source]] model than other prominent developers, including [[Richard Stallman]]. Though an advocate of the open source development model, Torvalds insists that he uses the "best tool for the job", and has been known to use certain proprietary software in the past.

==Religion==
Torvalds rejects [[God]] and is an [[atheist]]. <ref>http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3655</ref>

==Linux==
Torvalds is the primary developer of [[Linux]] - a free component of the [[GNU/Linux]] operating system that in the past was notorious for its difficulty of use to people without an advanced understanding of computers, but in the past decade has made significant progress in becoming easier for non-experts to use. The [[Ubuntu]] distribution of [[GNU/Linux]] in particular has been praised for its ease of use.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Computers]]

Quantum mechanics

2012-05-24T13:51:03Z

Marianne: Removed a stray comma.

'''Quantum mechanics''' is the branch of [[physics]] that describes the behavior of systems on very small length and energy scales, such as those found in [[atom]]ic and subatomic interactions. It is essential for understanding certain concepts that [[classical physics]] cannot explain, such as the discrete nature of small-scale interactions, [[wave-particle duality]], the [[uncertainty principle]], and [[quantum entanglement]]. Quantum mechanics forms the basis for our understanding of many phenomena, including [[chemical reaction]]s and [[radioactive decay]], as well as all [[computer]]s and electronic devices today.

The name "Quantum Mechanics" comes from the idea that energy is transmitted in discrete quanta, and not continuous.

Another historical name for "quantum mechanics" was "wave mechanics".

==History==

Until the early 1900's, scientists believed that [[electron]]s and [[proton]]s were small discrete lumps. Thus, electrons would orbit the nucleus of an [[atom]] just as planets orbit the sun. The problem with this idea was that, according to classical [[electromagnetism]], the orbiting electron would emit energy as it orbited. This would cause it to lose rotational kinetic energy and orbit closer and closer to the proton, until it collapses into the proton! Since atoms are stable, this model could not be correct.

The idea of "quanta", or discrete units, of energy was proposed by [[Max Planck]] in 1900, to explain the energy spectrum of [[black body]] radiation. He proposed that the energy of what we now call a photon is proportional to its frequency. In 1905, [[Albert Einstein]] also suggested that light is composed of discrete packets (''[[quanta]]'') in order to explain the [[photoelectric effect]].

In 1915, [[Niels Bohr]] applied this to the electron problem by proposing that [[angular momentum]] is also quantized - electrons can only orbit at certain locations, so they cannot spiral into the nucleus. While this model explained how atoms do not collapse, not even Bohr himself had any idea why. As Sir James Jeans remarked, the only justification for Bohr's theory was "the very weighty one of success".<ref name="VA">http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/Bohr_to_Waves/Bohr_to_Waves.html</ref>

It was Prince [[Louis de Broglie]] who explained Bohr's theory in 1924 by describing the electron as a wave with wavelength λ=[[Planck's Constant|h]]/[[momentum|p]]. Therefore, it would be logical that it could only orbit in orbits whose circumference is equal to an integer number of wavelengths. Thus, angular momentum is quantized as Bohr predicted, and atoms do not self-destruct. <ref name="VA" />

Eventually, the mathematical formalism that became known as quantum mechanics was developed in the 1920s and 1930s by [[John von Neumann]], [[Hermann Weyl]], and others, after [[Erwin Schrodinger]]'s discovery of wave mechanics and [[Werner Heisenberg]]'s discovery of matrix mechanics.

The work of Tomonaga, Schwinger and Feynman in quantum electrodynamics led to the modern framework of quantum mechanics, currently applicable in quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics.

==Principles==

*Every system can be described by a wave function, which is generally a function of the position coordinates and time. All possible predictions of the physical properties of the system can be obtained from the wave function. The wave function can be obtained by solving the [[Schrodinger equation]] for the system.

*An observable is a property of the system which can be measured. In some systems, many observables can take only certain specific values.

*If we measure such an observable, generally the wave function does not predict exactly which value we will obtain. Instead, the wave function gives us the probability that a certain value will be obtained. After a measurement is made, the wave function is permanently changed in such a way that any successive measurement will certainly return the same value. This is called the collapse of the wave function.

===Collapse of The Wave Function===
[[File:norm.png|right|150x250px|thumb|An example of a wave that could be a position function. (Actual position functions are normally much more concentrated.)]]

In quantum mechanics, it is meaningless to make absolute statements such as "the particle is here". This is a consequence of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle which (simply put) states, "particles move," in an apparently random manner. Thus, giving a definite position to a particle is meaningless. Instead, scientists use the particle's "position function," or "wave function," which gives the probability of a particle being at any point. As the function increases, the probability of finding the particle in that location increases. In the diagram, where the particle is free to move in 1 direction, we see that there is a region (close to the y-axis) where the particle is more likely to be found. However, we also notice that the wave function does not reach zero as it moves towards infinity in both directions. This means that there is a high likelihood of finding the particle around the center, but there is still a possibility that, if measured, the particle will be a long ways away.

When the particle is actually observed to be in a specific location, its wave function is said to have "collapsed". This means that if it is again observed immediately the probability that it will be found near the original location is almost 1. However, if it is not immediately observed, the wave function reverts back to its original shape as expected. The collapsed wave function has a much narrower and sharper peak than the original wave function.

Collapsing of the wave function is by no means magic. In can be intuitively understood as this: You find a particle at a particular spot; if you look again immediately, it's still in the same spot.

===The uncertainty principle===
As a result of the wave nature of a particle, neither position nor [[momentum]] of a particle can never be precisely known. Whenever its position is measured more accurately (beyond a certain limit), its momentum becomes less certain, and visa versa. Hence, there is an inherent uncertainty that prevents precisely measuring both the position and the momentum simultaneously. This is known as the [[Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle]]<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/uncer.html</ref>:

:<math> Dx \times Dp \ge \frac{h}{4\pi}</math>
where:
* Dx = uncertainty in position
* Dp = uncertainty in momentum
* h = [[Planck's Constant]]

==Interpretations==
Several interpretations have been advanced to explain how wavefunctions "collapse" to yield the observable world we see.

* The "hidden variable" interpretation<ref>http://www.reasons.org/resources/non-staff-papers/the-metaphysics-of-quantum-mechanics</ref> says that there is actually a [[determinism|deterministic]] way to predict where the wavefunction will collapse; we simply have not discovered it. [[Von Neumann]] attempted to prove that there is no such way; however, [[John Stuart Bell]] pointed out an error in his proof.
* The many-worlds interpretation says that each particle does show up at every possible location on its wavefunction; it simply does so in alternate universes. Thus, myriads of alternate universes are invisibly branching off of our universe every moment.
* The currently prevailing interpretation, the Copenhagen interpretation, states that the wavefunctions do ''not'' collapse until someone observes the particle at a certain location; until someone observes it, it exists in a quantum indeterminate state of simultaneously being everywhere in the universe. However, [[Schrodinger]], with [[Schrodinger's cat|his famous cat experiment]], raised the obvious question: who, or what, constitutes an observer? What distinguishes an observer from the system being observed? In essence, the Copenhagen Interpretation requires a [[soul]] or something else to distinguish observers from inanimate matter.

==Applications==
An important aspect of Quantum Mechanics is the predictions it makes about the [[radioactive decay]] of [[isotopes]]. Radioactive decay processes, controlled by the wave equations, are random events. A radioactive atom has a certain probability of decaying per unit time. As a result, the decay results in an exponential decrease in the amount of isotope remaining in a given sample as a function of time. The characteristic time required for 1/2 of the original amount of isotope to decay is known as the "half-life" and can vary from quadrillionths of a second to quintillions of years.

==See also==
===Concepts in quantum mechanics===
*[[Schrodinger equation]]
*[[Heisenberg uncertainty principle]]
*[[Momentum (operator)]]
===Important contributors to quantum mechanics===
*[[Erwin Schrodinger]]
*[[Werner Heisenberg]]
*[[Paul Dirac]]
*[[Niels Bohr]]
*[[Albert Einstein]]
*[[Max Planck]]

==External Links==
{{reflist}}

For an excellent discussion of quantum mechanics, see:
http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/betha/qm/

*[http://www.relativitycalculator.com/compton_effect.shtml The Compton Effect]

[[Category:Quantum Mechanics]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Liberal Democrats

2012-05-24T13:46:46Z

Marianne: Moved a paragraph to the History section, and added information about the 2010 election results.

The '''Liberal Democrats''', often known as the "'''Lib Dems'''", are a political party in the [[United Kingdom]]. They have traditionally occupied the center of the political spectrum, between the [[Labour Party]] on the left and the [[Conservative Party]] on the right ("liberal" in British political parlance means "centrist" or "moderate" rather than "left-wing", as it does in the United States). They have also been described as "radical center", a political philosophy of having no inherent bias towards the left or right wings, and attempting to resolve political policy and events by taking input and/or advice from all salient viewpoints, and being willing to at least consider radically different new policies, provided those policies are well thought-out and examined. At the present time, the party is seen as being moderately left-leaning.

Along with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats currently make up the ruling coalition in the UK, with party leader [[Nick Clegg]] <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7148179.stm Clegg nicks it</ref> serving as deputy Prime Minister under [[David Cameron]].

== History ==
The Liberal Democrats were formed in 1988 by a merger between the centrist [[British Liberal Party]] and the moderately left-wing [[Social Democratic Party]], which had split off from the Labour Party in the early 1980s when the latter became too strongly socialist. The Liberal Party was one of the oldest political parties in the world, tracing its roots back to the [[Whigs]] of the era of [[William of Orange]], but it had been in decline ever since the rise of the Labor movement in the early 20th Century, and had not had a prime minister since [[David Lloyd George]].

Since its foundation, the party had steadily increased its presence in the [[House of Commons]] at each successive election, until 2010. The party won 62 seats in the 2005 general election<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/ Election 2005 results</ref> - the most that the party or its predecessors had won since the election of 1923. However, in the general election of 2010, the number of Liberal Democrat MPs elected fell to 57<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/ Election 2010 results</ref>.

== Policies ==
Their policies can be broadly described as social-democratic, with a libertarian bent. They are in favor of legalization and government regulation of marijuana, and decriminalizing the possession (but not supply) of other illegal recreational drugs, believing that medical treatment for drug addicts is more helpful than prosecution or imprisonment. They also argue for a rationalization of the currently confused status of the various components of the [[United Kingdom]], such as simplifying the benefits system for disabled people<ref name="policies">http://www.libdems.org.uk/what_we_stand_for.aspx Liberal Democrat policies</ref>.

They support laws against discrimination based on race, gender, disability, religion and sexuality.<ref>http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/11CivilLiberties.pdf Protecting Civil Liberties</ref> The party traditionally advocated higher spending funded from higher taxes, but from 2007 onwards have advocated replacing or cutting some taxes, particularly Council Tax, which takes a higher proportion from the poor than the rich.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3130988.stm Lib Dems vote to axe council tax</ref> They opposed the [[Iraq War]], but were in favour of the Bosnian and Kosovo wars. They are the most pro-European Union party in [[British politics]], and support an amnesty for illegal migrants that have lived in the UK for a decade without a criminal record,<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/18/nlibdem718.xml Lib Dems want amnesty for illegal immigrants</ref> however, they wish to tighten control on immigration, especially illegal immigration, through reforms of immigration law and the creation of an integrated border police force, returning the UK to a policy of entry and exit controls, to monitor movement in and out of the UK<ref name="policies"/>. Lib Dems, like most other parties in the UK, want the UK and the EU to take the lead in combating [[Global Warming]]. The Lib Dems want to stop global temperatures rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above the 1990 average, by making the UK a zero-carbon economy by 2050, and having more efficient buildings and transport.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/aug/29/uk.greenpolitics Lib Dems see zero-carbon Britain setting the global green agenda</ref>
The party's terms for a coalition have always included introducing [[proportional representation]] for elections, and their terms for the 2009/10 election include: to reform government by capping private donations, reducing the number of MPs, having a 100% elected [[House of Lords]] (it is currently made of bishops, party appointees, and hereditary peers), and having a written [[constitution]] and a [[Bill of Rights]], as current UK constitutional law is confusingly spread out over parts of several legal documents.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/mar/10/liberaldemocrats.nickclegg Clegg's terms for deal in hung parliament</ref>

==Funding==
The party is poorly funded in comparison to its main rivals, leading to them accepting money from almost any source.

Their largest ever donor is convicted fraudster Michael Brown<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4424450.ece Arrest warrant issued after Liberal Democrat donor Michael Brown skips bail], TimesOnline, July 30, 2008</ref>, a former bonds dealer who was convicted of stealing £30 million from his clients, who donated £2.4 million to the party.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article5252726.ece Lib Dems face repaying £2.4m after Michael Brown, party's biggest donor, convicted], TimeOnline, November 29, 2008</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7754234.stm Top Lib Dem donor stole millions], BBC, November 28 2008</ref>. They managed to avoid repaying the money after exploiting a technicality in the rules after a year long battle. <ref>[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/donations-by-5th-avenue-partners-limited-to-the-liberal-democrats-statementreindex1 Donations by 5th Avenue Partners Limited to the Liberal Democrats: statement], November 20, 2009</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Link==
* [http://www.libdems.org.uk/ Official Liberal Democrats website]
* [http://www.libdems.org.uk/our_manifesto.aspx Liberal Democrat Manefesto for 2010 General Election]
[[Category:British Political Parties]]
[[Category:British History]]
[[Category:British Politics]]

Talk:Fringe

2012-05-24T13:38:06Z

Marianne: A couple of questions.

== Parallel universes and fringe science ==

Hello :) I have a couple of questions about information on this page. First of all, are parallel universes really considered a pseudoscience here? The [[Quantum physics#Interpretations|Interpretations section of Quantum physics]] provides an overview of the "many worlds" interpretation without labelling it as such (or really commenting on it at all other than it being the lesser prevailing of the two significant modern theories), which made me wonder. Second of all, I do question the statement that the programme "has been known to promote pseudoscience such as evolution, parallel universes, and telepathy, among others. This makes it appear to be a propaganda tool for the liberal media".

Fringe is based upon the fictional premise that many fringe sciences are at least possible, but isn't it possible that that is simply a fictional tool for the purposes of entertainment, and we're supposed to use suspense of disbelief to enjoy it? Much like how various Star Trek/Star Wars technologies or biological systems are supposed to function (the "Heisenberg Compensator" of Star Trek's transporters comes to mind, as do aliens that age in reverse or shape-shifters that change their mass)? I'm not American, so I'm less familiar with your political system, but to me the programme does not seem to have any political or religious biases, the character of Walter Bishop for example insisting upon having a Bible in the first episode, in case anything goes wrong with an experimental procedure he's performing on two characters. He also states in this episode that his belief in God has waned, but later in the series, he reacquires his faith in (I believe) both timelines. [[User:Marianne|Marianne]] 09:38, 24 May 2012 (EDT)

User:Marianne

2012-05-24T13:04:57Z

Marianne: Contributed to my user page.

Hello! I'm Marianne, and I'm pretty much just here to add a few (hopefully) helpful improvements on topics about the United Kingdom, as that's where I live. My interests include [[Unix]] (and operating systems derived from and/or inspired by it), politics in the United Kingdom, good [[tea]] (especially delicious [[Assam]], or on occasion some Masala Chai), and various geeky, scientific, and philosophical topics.

{{useful links}}

Liberal Democrats

2012-05-24T12:25:47Z

Marianne: Attempted to explain better the philosophy of the radical centre position, at least in the UK, as the Liberal Democrats are considered to fit into that category.

The '''Liberal Democrats''', often known as the "'''Lib Dems'''", are a political party in the [[United Kingdom]]. They have traditionally occupied the center of the political spectrum, between the [[Labour Party]] on the left and the [[Conservative Party]] on the right ("liberal" in British political parlance means "centrist" or "moderate" rather than "left-wing", as it does in the United States). They have also been described as "radical center", a political philosophy of having no inherent bias towards the left or right wings, and attempting to resolve political policy and events by taking input and/or advice from all salient viewpoints, and being willing to at least consider radically different new policies, provided those policies are well thought-out and examined. At the present time, the party is seen as being moderately left-leaning.

Along with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats currently make up the ruling coalition in the UK, with party leader [[Nick Clegg]] <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7148179.stm Clegg nicks it</ref> serving as deputy Prime Minister under [[David Cameron]].

The Liberal Democrats were formed in 1988 by a merger between the centrist [[British Liberal Party]] and the moderately left-wing [[Social Democratic Party]], which had split off from the Labour Party in the early 1980s when the latter became too strongly socialist. The Liberal Party was one of the oldest political parties in the world, tracing its roots back to the [[Whigs]] of the era of [[William of Orange]].

== History ==
Since its foundation, the party has steadily increased its presence in the [[House of Commons]] at each successive election. The party won 62 seats in the 2005 general election<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/ Election 2005</ref> - the most that the party or its predecessors had won since the election of 1923.

== Policies ==
Their policies can be broadly described as social-democratic, with a libertarian bent. They are in favor of legalization and government regulation of marijuana, and decriminalizing the possession (but not supply) of other illegal recreational drugs, believing that medical treatment for drug addicts is more helpful than prosecution or imprisonment. They also argue for a rationalization of the currently confused status of the various components of the [[United Kingdom]], such as simplifying the benefits system for disabled people<ref name="policies">http://www.libdems.org.uk/what_we_stand_for.aspx Liberal Democrat policies</ref>.

They support laws against discrimination based on race, gender, disability, religion and sexuality.<ref>http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/11CivilLiberties.pdf Protecting Civil Liberties</ref> The party traditionally advocated higher spending funded from higher taxes, but from 2007 onwards have advocated replacing or cutting some taxes, particularly Council Tax, which takes a higher proportion from the poor than the rich.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3130988.stm Lib Dems vote to axe council tax</ref> They opposed the [[Iraq War]], but were in favour of the Bosnian and Kosovo wars. They are the most pro-European Union party in [[British politics]], and support an amnesty for illegal migrants that have lived in the UK for a decade without a criminal record,<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/18/nlibdem718.xml Lib Dems want amnesty for illegal immigrants</ref> however, they wish to tighten control on immigration, especially illegal immigration, through reforms of immigration law and the creation of an integrated border police force, returning the UK to a policy of entry and exit controls, to monitor movement in and out of the UK<ref name="policies"/>. Lib Dems, like most other parties in the UK, want the UK and the EU to take the lead in combating [[Global Warming]]. The Lib Dems want to stop global temperatures rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above the 1990 average, by making the UK a zero-carbon economy by 2050, and having more efficient buildings and transport.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/aug/29/uk.greenpolitics Lib Dems see zero-carbon Britain setting the global green agenda</ref>
The party's terms for a coalition have always included introducing [[proportional representation]] for elections, and their terms for the 2009/10 election include: to reform government by capping private donations, reducing the number of MPs, having a 100% elected [[House of Lords]] (it is currently made of bishops, party appointees, and hereditary peers), and having a written [[constitution]] and a [[Bill of Rights]], as current UK constitutional law is confusingly spread out over parts of several legal documents.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/mar/10/liberaldemocrats.nickclegg Clegg's terms for deal in hung parliament</ref>

==Funding==
The party is poorly funded in comparison to its main rivals, leading to them accepting money from almost any source.

Their largest ever donor is convicted fraudster Michael Brown<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4424450.ece Arrest warrant issued after Liberal Democrat donor Michael Brown skips bail], TimesOnline, July 30, 2008</ref>, a former bonds dealer who was convicted of stealing £30 million from his clients, who donated £2.4 million to the party.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article5252726.ece Lib Dems face repaying £2.4m after Michael Brown, party's biggest donor, convicted], TimeOnline, November 29, 2008</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7754234.stm Top Lib Dem donor stole millions], BBC, November 28 2008</ref>. They managed to avoid repaying the money after exploiting a technicality in the rules after a year long battle. <ref>[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/donations-by-5th-avenue-partners-limited-to-the-liberal-democrats-statementreindex1 Donations by 5th Avenue Partners Limited to the Liberal Democrats: statement], November 20, 2009</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Link==
* [http://www.libdems.org.uk/ Official Liberal Democrats website]
* [http://www.libdems.org.uk/our_manifesto.aspx Liberal Democrat Manefesto for 2010 General Election]
[[Category:British Political Parties]]
[[Category:British History]]
[[Category:British Politics]]

Talk:Ex-homosexuals

2010-03-19T19:43:12Z

Marianne: /* Removal of a scientifically inaccurate sentence */ little extra info

Since this encyclopedia should be suitable for children, this article should have a clear warning.

We don't want our children to feel they cannot choose for a homosexual lifestyle when they believe they are true homosexuals. This page may confuse them and should be provided with a clear warning. Children should know being homosexual is just normal and they shouldn't want to become ex-homosexuals when there is no such desire. I'm already horrified by the media which spends such horrible attention to homosexuality and I was shocked when my husband pointed me out that this information is publicly available to children.

- a concerned mother.

:No, you are not a concerned mother. A concerned mother would wish a happy, fulfilled and fruitful life for her child in accordance with God's Law, not an existence of perversion, sin and early death. Please don't pollute Conservapedia with your dissolute ravings. [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 18:18, 2 January 2009 (EST)

::How does homosexuality relate to religion, perversion or death? I believe your reaction is inappropriate and does pollute Conservapedia. Please sustain from replying and let the site moderators fulfill my request.
:::''Please sustain from replying''. My apologies. Could you possibly explain the meaning of that remarkable phrase? [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 18:36, 2 January 2009 (EST)
::::You don't understand. If you don't live by a almost 2000 year old book written by sand people living in huts you don't deserve to live or are living wrong.--[[User:CindyB|CindyB]] 18:42, 2 January 2009 (EST)
:::::Oh, you sound really learned! I guess the Word of God has nothing on your insights. [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 18:48, 2 January 2009 (EST)
::::::Considering we've learned so much in 2000 years the words of sand people have nothing on my insights.--[[User:CindyB|CindyB]] 18:49, 2 January 2009 (EST)
:::::::And I refuse to believe any man with a brain no larger or smarter then my own knows what happens after we die or what happened before we came here.--[[User:CindyB|CindyB]] 18:50, 2 January 2009 (EST)
It strikes me that those 'sand people in huts' were pretty smart. What have '''you''' learned? [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 18:51, 2 January 2009 (EST)
::I've learned all major advancements between 0 BC and 2009 A.D. I've learned why the sun rises in the morning and sets at night and I don't say because "God did it". I've learned how to heal wounds that would have been death sentences in their day. Ugh I really don't want to go through the 10000+ things I know better then the people in Palestine in the early ADs.--[[User:CindyB|CindyB]] 18:55, 2 January 2009 (EST)
:::You've learned a few technical tricks that weren't known in the years of Our Lord. But you have forgotten the secrets of true happiness and eternal life. Not a good bargain on your part, I'd say, and if I were you I'd sue Professor Dawkins. [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 18:58, 2 January 2009 (EST)
::::Never read Dawkins. Like I said before I was blocked (You'll be surprised how many open networks there are around my house) I don't accept what anyone else has to say about after we die. I prefer to make my own views on subjects like that. I have not forgotten the secrets of true happiness I have learned them. I'm very happy with myself, my family, and everything I've created without thinking "God did it". Honestly though I really don't hate anyone who believes in God. Thats fine good for you and them but I really don't like how people push it off onto other people or do things in it's name.--[[User:JameF|JameF]] 19:09, 2 January 2009 (EST)
This is a Christian Conservative encyclopedia. There are plenty of other outlets for your viewpoint. [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 19:11, 2 January 2009 (EST)
:::True there are. But there are some of your editors such as conservative who have been trying to start a holy war against us. It's rather concerning and actions such as those demand reaction.--[[User:JameF|JameF]] 19:13, 2 January 2009 (EST)
::::Further more at one time I was in a religious school (where some actions were committed by the admins that forever poisoned my relationship with the Catholic Church) I did have to read and study the bible. I find many of the things on this site to be exact contradictions of what exactly Jesus said in the New Testament--[[User:JameF|JameF]] 19:17, 2 January 2009 (EST).
:::::Conservative is our leading theorist and commentator on atheism, and is skilled in showing the rag-tag-and-bobtail shortcomings of that creed. Holy War? I think that he would like nothing so much as the chance to debate openly with you or your colleagues. As far as I am aware, no-one has yet been courageous enough to take up his gauntlet. [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 19:19, 2 January 2009 (EST)
::::::I doubt conservative has ever even met any atheist beside those 15 year old ones in High Schools. He's pushing for the atheism and homosexuality to be further up in search engines then he puts on his page how atheism is going to be destroyed on the internet in 2009. People have attempted to debate him but have just been blocked by other editors quickly.--[[User:JameF|JameF]] 19:24, 2 January 2009 (EST)
It would be blasphemous to clai that Conservapedia met all of Jesus' standards, Of course we do not. We try, and sometimes fail. But to condemn this entire project, and to condemn Christianity and Christians, on those grounds is ludicrous - indeed, nihilistic. All man can do is to seek to imitate God. Failure is inevitable, but it is the nature of the struggle waged - here and elsewhere - that is important. I'd end by protesting against your unfair and inaccurate characterisation of Conservative, a hugely respected senior figure here. I'd like to debate more, but it is 00.30 here and I need to sleep. Regards. [[User:Bradlaugh|Bradlaugh]] 19:30, 2 January 2009 (EST)
:By that logic you can say that even though Atheist don't believe in God or follow all of Jesus' standards we cannot condemn all atheist. Ugh I hate nihilist with a passion so I'll ignore that. If conservative ever wished to have a fair open debate or disscussion with athetist or homosexuals I'm sure that it can be arranged on a nuetral wiki where nobody would be blocked over petty reasons.You seem the more rational of the group here. I'll prob stop by every so often just to tease you into a debate. Anyhow goodnight.--[[User:JameF|JameF]] 19:35, 2 January 2009 (EST)

'''Possible Vandalism?'''
I don't want to step on the toes of those who have produced this page; but it looks to me like the section on "Ex-Homosexuals and Former Sexual Abuse" has been vandalized by someone pushing the "born gay" viewpoint.[[User:DavidDeering|DavidDeering]] 12:05, 9 March 2009 (EDT)

== Removal of a scientifically inaccurate sentence ==

I've just modified the section which read "... which argues that there is no genetic determinism in regards to homosexuality (homosexuals are "not born that way")" to remove the section in brackets. So that the reasons for my edit aren't misunderstood, I'll explain them here. Basically, genetics are not the only factor in determining what immutable traits a person is born with. For example, in the 1950s and 1960s, many babies were born with birth defects such as missing limbs, due to their mother taking thalidomide while pregnant (before it was known that these birth defects would be caused). Genetically these babies were normal, yet no one would dispute that these babies were "born that way" (limbless). Hormonal abnormalities in the womb can also occur and cause various changes to the developing embryo. Therefore, as there is no scientific proof yet about what causes homosexuality, and various non-genetic factors can cause inborn traits, it cannot be said that because something isn't genetic, it isn't an inborn trait. That's simply unprovable speculation, thus I removed it. Hopefully there's no issue with this edit :) [[User:Marianne|Marianne]] 13:10, 18 March 2010 (EDT)

:I'd like to add here that a person's character (personality) is developed from genetics and environment. The younger a child is, the more likely environment will influence their character as they grow up. There's a lot that goes into the shaping of a person. Homosexuality could be a chemical imbalance in the brain; caused by influential environmental factors when growing up; genetic mutations caused by hormonal abnormalities in the womb (as exemplified by Marianne); or, in some but possibly not all cases, it may be a matter of choice. This is all speculation, of course, because I'm not an expert in [[anthropology]], biology or homosexuality. My input is more or less a [[philosophical]] approach to a subject that isn't my strong-point. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 20:40, 18 March 2010 (EDT)

::Well just to clarify, hormonal abnormalities in the womb wouldn't cause genetic changes, but they can and do cause permanent changes - for example, physical sex is mostly determined by hormones in the womb, usually matching the embryo's chromosomes. It's not genetic, but it shapes how the embryo grows and develops, and what characteristics they have at birth. My basic point was just that there's quite a few non-genetic factors that can influence embryos and foetuses :) [[User:Marianne|Marianne]] 15:43, 19 March 2010 (EDT)

Talk:Ex-homosexuals

2010-03-18T17:10:45Z

Marianne: /* Removal of a scientifically inaccurate sentence */ new section

Ex-homosexuals

2010-03-18T17:10:30Z

Marianne: Removed an inaccurate sentence - see talk page for details

{{homosexuality}}
[[Image:St Paul Preaching.jpg|left|thumb|200px|St. [[Paul]] defends his preaching (Giovanni Ricco)]]
In regards to the question of whether or not [[homosexuality]] is a permanent condition, one of the earliest historical records regarding of the existence of [[ex-homosexuals]] is a letter of the [[Paul|Apostle Paul]] to the [[Corinth]]ian [[Christianity|Christian]] church.

The Apostle Paul wrote the following:
{{cquote|Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were [[Justification (theology)|justified]] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)}}

Today people still report leaving homosexuality and becoming heterosexual through their [[Christianity|Christian]] faith.<ref name="wnd">[http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56481 'Gay'-rights leader quits homosexuality - Rising star in movement says God liberated him from lifestyle]</ref><ref name="bp19650">http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19650</ref><ref>http://www.cwfa.org/articles/4216/CFI/cfreport/index.htm</ref><ref name="venus">http://www.venusmagazine.org/cover_story.html</ref><ref>http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/blkexgbks.html</ref> <ref>http://www.frontlinemin.org/wasgay.asp</ref><ref>http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=9019</ref><ref>http://www.apocalipsis.org/testimony.htm</ref><ref>http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=13784</ref>
[[Image:6a00cdf3a9bf0ecb8f00cd973c56934cd5-500pi.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Ex-Homosexual and ex-"gay rights" leader [[Michael Glatze]] speaking to the mother of [[Matthew Shepard]].]]

[[Peter LaBarbera]] is the President of [[Americans for Truth]] which is a organization which counters the [[homosexual agenda]]. LaBarbera stated the following regarding Christian ex-homosexuals who reported being transformed by the power of God:
{{cquote|Another factor from my experience as a close observer of the “ex-gay” phenomenon is that many former homosexuals do not linger in “[[reparative therapy]]” programs, or participate in them at all. They attribute their dramatic and (relatively) rapid transformation to the power of God, and likely would not show up in a study of this kind. In fact, these “unstudied” overcomers would appear to be the most successful ex-homosexuals because they’ve moved on with their lives — as “reborn” Christians move on after overcoming any besetting sin.<ref>http://www.americansfortruth.com/news/landmark-study-change-for-homosexuals-is-possible.html</ref>}}

Peter LaBarbera's statement above concerning [[Overcoming Homosexuality|overcoming homosexuality]] certainly has some evidence supporting it. For example, in 1980 a study was published in the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' and eleven men participated in this study. The aforementioned study stated that eleven homosexual men became heterosexuals "without explicit treatment and/or long-term psychotherapy" through their participation in a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] church.<ref>E.M. Pattison and M.L. Pattison, "'Ex-Gays': Religiously Mediated Change in Homosexuals," American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 137, pp. 1553-1562, 1980</ref> The results of this study are not surprising since Christian faith has shown itself to be effective in combating drug addiction. For example, Christian group [[Teen Challenge]] reported the following:
{{Cquote|Teen Challenge claims of a 70% cure rate for the drug addicts graduating from their program attracted the attention of the U.S. Federal Government in 1973. Most secular drug rehabilitation programs only experienced a cure rate of 1-15% of their graduates. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, funded the first year of this study to evaluate the long term results of the Teen Challenge program.<ref>http://teenchallengeusa.com/studies2.php</ref>}}

Teen Challenge has a number of studies that indicate the high effectiveness of their drug treatment program compared to other programs.<ref>http://teenchallengeusa.com/studies.php</ref>

Dr. Neil Whitehead is a research scientist and [[biochemistry|biochemist]] from [[New Zealand]] and his wife Briar Whitehead is a writer.<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/mygenes.html Book Review: My Genes Made Me Do It: A Scientific Look at Sexual Orientation
by Neil and Briar Whitehead]</ref> Dr. Whitehead coauthored a book with with his wife entitled ''My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation'' which argues that there is no [[gene]]tic determinism in regards to homosexuality and that there is abundant documentation that individuals are able to leave homosexuality and become heterosexuals.<ref>http://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm</ref>

Dr. Whitehead and Briar Whitehead state in their aforementioned book the following regarding [[Homosexuality Research|studies involving homosexuals]] becoming ex-homosexuals:
{{cquote|The sexology literature reports a huge number of examples of change of all degrees from homosexuality to or toward heterosexuality. These studies have been so numerous that West (a gay man) in 1977 took an entire chapter in his classic book, Homosexuality Re-examined, to review them, and commented: “Although some militant homosexuals find such claims improbable and unpalatable, authenticated accounts have been published of apparently exclusive and long-standing homosexuals unexpectedly changing their orientation.”

West mentions one man who was exclusively homosexual for eight years, then became heterosexual...

Another well known author in the field, Hatterer, who believes in sexual orientation change, said, “I’ve heard of hundreds of... men who went from a homosexual to a heterosexual adjustment on their own.”<ref>[http://www.mygenes.co.nz/Ch12.pdf From the book My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead -Chapter 12]</ref>}}

The classic biblical commentator [[Matthew Henry]] wrote the following regarding the forgiveness and [[sanctification]] in Christ for those who [[repentance|repent]] of the above sins listed in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians (which includes the sin of homosexuality):
{{cquote|How glorious a change does grace make! It changes the vilest of men into saints and the children of [[God]]. Such were some of you, but you are not what you were. You are washed, you are sanctified, you are [[Justification (theology)|justified]] in the name of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]], and by the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit of our God]]. Note, The wickedness of men before conversion is no bar to their [[regeneration]] and reconciliation to God. The blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration, can purge away all guilt and defilement. Here is a rhetorical change of the natural order: You are sanctified, you are justified. Sanctification is mentioned before justification: and yet the name of Christ, by which we are justified, is placed before the Spirit of God, by whom we are sanctified. Our justification is owing to the merit of Christ; our sanctification to the operation of the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]]: but both go together.<ref>http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/1Cr/1Cr006.html</ref>}}

[[Lesbianism|Female homosexuals]] and male homosexuals who leave homosexuality and become ex-homosexuals are often referred to as "ex-gays" and the [[Ex-Gay Movement|ex-gay movement]] became well known in the [[United States]] in the 1970s.<ref name="xtoday">http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/6.48.html</ref>
==Ex-Homosexual Quotes==
[[Image:Schnieders.jpg‎|thumb|225px|[[Yvette Cantu Schneider]] and family]]
*Homosexuality is death, and I choose life. - Ex-Homosexual and ex-"gay rights" leader [[Michael Glatze]] <ref name="wnd" />

*I came out of homosexuality after a powerful encounter with [[Jesus Christ]] and a desire to serve and obey Him. I can say with complete honesty that I NEVER have homosexual desires of any sort - physical or emotional. - Ex-[[Lesbianism|lesbian]] [[Yvette Cantu Schneider]]<ref>[http://americansfortruth.com/news/ex-lesbian-yvette-schneider-testifies-to-complete-and-permanent-change.html Ex-Lesbian Yvette Schneider Testifies to ‘Complete’ and Permanent Change]</ref>
===Testimony of Charlene Cothran===
In regards to female homosexuals leaving homosexuality, below is the tesimony ex-lesbian [[Charlene Cothran]]:
{{cquote|Over the past 29 years of my life I have been an aggressive, creative and strategic supporter of gay and lesbian issues. I’ve organized and participated in countless marches and various lobbying efforts in the fight for equal treatment of gay men and lesbians. I have kept current on the issues and made financial contributions to those organizations doing work about which I was most passionate.

As the publisher of a 13 year old periodical which targets Black gays and lesbians, I have had the opportunity to publicly address thousands, influencing closeted people to ‘come out’ and stand up for them selves, which is particularly difficult in the African-American community.

But now, I must come out of the closet again. I have recently experienced the power of change that came over me once I completely surrendered to the teachings of Jesus Christ. As a believer of the word of God, I fully accept and have always known that same-sex relationships are not what God intended for us.<ref name="venus" />}}

==2006 Survey Finds Men Seek to Become Ex-homosexuals Often Do So to Heal Emotional Pain or For Spiritual Reasons==
A 2006 survey finds men [http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jul/06071302.html seek to leave homosexual lifestyle to heal emotional pain and for spiritual reasons rather than outside pressure.] In addition, there is [[Homosexuality and Mental Health|other data]] that supports the above 2006 survey findings.

==Reparative Therapy==
There have been several studies regarding homosexuals becoming ex-homosexuals. For example, on September 13, 2007 [[Christianity Today]] published an article entitled ''An Older Wiser Ex-Gay Movement'' and below is an excerpt from that article which focuses on [[Reparative Therapy|reparative therapy]]:
{{cquote|Since its beginnings in the 1970s, the ex-gay movement has engaged gay advocates in a battle of testimonies. Transformed ex-gay leaders are the best argument for their movement. Likewise, those who've left the ex-gay movement in despair and disgust are the best counterargument. The debate continued this June, when Exodus International held its 32nd annual conference in Irvine, California, featuring dozens of speakers and seminar leaders who have quit homosexuality. Down the road outside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, a news conference featured three former Exodus leaders saying "ex-gay" is a delusion.

New research may change the terms of debate. Psychologists Stanton Jones of Wheaton College and Mark Yarhouse of [[Regent University]] released today a book detailing their findings from the first three years of an ongoing study. They are investigating participants in 16 different ex-gay programs associated with Exodus, the largest ex-gay ministry group.<ref name="xtoday" />}}

The study started out with 98 people with 72 of them being men and 26 of them being women.<ref name="bp26429">http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26429</ref> Some of the participants quit the study because they believe they had positively changed and didn't see a need to continue while others quit because they decided they didn't want to change from a homosexual to a ex-homosexual. <ref name="bp26429" /> As a result, 73 subjects completed the study.<ref name="bp26429" />

According to the Baptist Press, here are the results: 15 percent of subjects experienced substantial change; "23 percent said their conversion was successful and that [[homosexual attraction]] was either missing or "present only incidentally or in a way that does not seem to bring about distress." They were labeled "success: chastity."; 29 percent of subjects experienced modest success; 15 percent of subjects experienced no change and were undecided about what to do next; "4 percent had not changed and had quit the change process, but had not embraced the "gay identity."; "8 percent had not changed, had quit the process and had embraced the "gay identity."; and malfunctions in the taping of the interviews accounts for the remaining 5 percent. <ref name="bp26429" />

Previously, Dr. [[Robert Spitzer]] published a study in the journal ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'' performed using reparative therapy had some subjects experiencing change.<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/evidencefound.html</ref>
===Conservative Criticism of Reparative Therapy===
Although many conservatives approve of reparative therapy there are many that do not which will be elaborated on shortly. Conservative Christians believe that a homosexual can choose to become an ex-homosexual, however, the point of difference is whether it was chosen in the first place. The Pew Research Center states the following regarding Americans' views on how homosexuality first originates:
{{cquote|Asked why some people are homosexual, 42% say it is "just the way that some people prefer to live," compared with 30% who think homosexuality is something people are born with and 14% who believe it develops because of the way people are brought up. The view that homosexuality is innate is more prevalent now than in 1985, when 20% believed that homosexuality is something people are born with.<ref>http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=764</ref>}}

Author and ex-lesbian Alma Kramer takes the position that [[Homosexuality and Choice|homosexuality is a sin and sin is a choice]] when she wrote the following:
{{cquote|I made a choice in my life that put me in bondage for 20 years. While it is true that there were certain things in my childhood that happened or didn't happen that influenced my choice, I still made a choice.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 proves that sin is a choice and that you can change. The New International version says, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." WOW!! I am so glad we can change. I can remember the time when I thought that there was no way out.<ref>http://www.setfree1.com/2.html</ref>}}

Dr. [[James Dobson]] and other advocates of reparative therapy do not believe that homosexuality first originates as a result of choice.<ref>http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20061125_james_dobson_identifies_homosexuality/</ref>

==Oprah Winfrey and the Claim of "Born Gay"==
Pastor [[Darryl L. Foster]] of [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], a former homosexual, states the following regarding Oprah Winfrey and the issue of people supposedly being "[[Homosexuality and Genetics|born homosexuals]]":
{{cquote|On thing we have learned about homosexuality: it produces acute rudis indigestaque moles in some people. When Heche and Degeneres appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss their newfound relationship, Heche stunned everyone (including Oprah) by stating, "I was not gay before I met her." You know Oprah; she was just going to be Color Purple honest. "That confuses me," she quickly confessed. Considering the amount of time and energy gay activists put into pressing "born gay" templates, I'm sure that's not exactly what Oprah was expecting to hear. She was so baffled by the remark that she dedicated her next show to whether or not gays can change....

Heche has now chosen to be heterosexual and to prove it she got married on last Thursday to Coleman Laffron, a Hollywood cameraman she met while working on a project with then lover Ellen. Was she secretly dreaming of a white, heterosexual Christmas while she was with Ellen? If she was, then can we theorize that many gay people really do want to be straight, but just haven't found the right cameraman/woman yet?<ref>http://www.witnessministries.homestead.com/cm14.html</ref>}}

==Ex-Homosexuals and Former Sexual Abuse==
The are studies which suggest that [[Sexual Abuse Being a Contributing Factor for Homosexuality|homosexuals are sexually abused disproportionately in their childhood compared to heterosexuals]] Dr. Whitehead and Briar Whitehead state in their previously mentioned book:
{{cquote|“Ex-gay” support groups...report that between 50 percent and 60 percent of homosexual men coming for help have been abused sexually. This is confirmed by various researchers.... Ex-gay groups report high levels of male sexual abuse (up to 85 percent) in female homosexuals who come for help.<ref>[http://www.mygenes.co.nz/Ch3.pdf From the book My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 3]</ref>}}

==Religious Liberty Versus Exgayphobia==
[[Image: PstrDLF1.jpg‎|thumbnail|225px|right|Pastor [[Darryl L. Foster]]]]
Pastor [[Darryl L. Foster]], a former homosexual, states the following regarding Christian ex-homosexuals and their duty to speak out:
{{cquote|We can step out and advocate for our beliefs (which is our right as taxpaying citizens) or we can remain silent and hidden, thereby giving credence to a false idea that there are no former homosexuals. The problem with the last option is our spiritual mandate to share our faith and our experience of change to the glory of God. In the church, we have yet to adopt a unified expression which identifies us in a non threatening way.<ref>[http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/xgay.html Understanding Exgay: People or Politics?]</ref>}}

The African American ex-homosexual Christian ministry of [[Witness for the World]] states the following in a press release:
{{cquote|Gay activist, Wayne Besen, who suddenly found himself at the epicenter of a new career playing CIA with the lives of formerly gay men and women, says the book which features first person testimonies by former homosexuals urges gays to “go back into the closet.”....

“Wayne Besen is the nation’s foremost carrier of a debilitating social disease I call exgayphobia," said Pastor Darryl Foster of Atlanta. “It seems his entire life has been consumed by a fear that Americans will hear the true stories of change by former homosexuals like myself and bring an end to his phobic-laden gravy train.”

Foster, who wrote the foreword to Closing the Closet heads Powerful Change Ministry Group International, a fellowship of 14 national and international ministries to homosexuals in communities of color who seek change from unwanted homosexuality...<ref name="witness">http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/pr091004.html</ref>}}

The Witness for the World Press release also states regarding homosexual activists Wayne Besen the following:
{{cquote|“This man is borderline lunatic, he has become so obsessed in his fear,” said Foster. “If the book is about exgays, why would you use anyone else but an exgay? Besen should know better. As a Jew, he should know that the Nazis hated the testimonies of the Jews who escaped from the death camps. Their first hand testimonies of the atrocities heaped upon them were the only links the world had to the truth. Likewise, our stories and experiences as homosexuals are true. We tell them because we want people to know what happened to us, how we escaped and what others can do to get out. It’s absolutely ludicrous for Besen to say that my story is a lie when I am the one who lived it. He seems to have forgotten his own history.”

Exgayphobic homosexuals like Besen fear that the message of exgays, when it finally reaches the average American will make sense and people will support the choice for change for homosexuals. What that means says Foster is that the grinding money machine mental health professionals have been making off victimized gays for decades will come to a screeching halt. Besen is simply a cog in that well oiled wheel. For such professionals who give big money to homosexual rights organizations in exchange for their "professional" opinions about homosexuals, keeping exgays silent and hidden has become an obsession.<ref name="witness" />}}

==Ex-Homosexuals and the Documentary "I Do Exist"==
The Baptist Press wrote the following regarding the ex-homosexual documentary "I Do Exist":
{{cquote|Can homosexuals change? A new documentary says "yes" and includes interviews with people who say they've made the switch.

The 48-minute video, dubbed "I Do Exist," is intended for use as a discussion-starter in churches, schools and universities. It includes the stories of five homosexuals -- three women and two men -- who once were involved in homosexuality but are now heterosexual. Along the way, psychologists and psychiatrists give their thoughts as to why they believe change is possible.<ref name="bp19650" />}}
==Supporters of Homosexuality Are Doing Harm==
Pastor [[Darryl L. Foster]], a former homosexual, states the supporters of homosexuality are doing harm:
{{cquote|As I have said many times before gays and their lovestruck supporters are masters at changing and refining everything that convicts them. This is no surprise as the [[Apostle Paul]] taught us that they would even redefine the very image of God. They need a "god" who is "okay" with their wayward and disobedient sexuality. Flunder works hard to help people kick the drug habit, yet hypocritically allows gays and lesbians to continue in a [[Homosexuality and Health|proven path of destructive living]].<ref>http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/cm21.html</ref>}}
==Regarding Ex-Homosexuals Falling Back Into Homosexuality==
[[Image:Peter.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Peter LaBarbera]]]]
[[Peter LaBarbera]] states the following regarding ex-homosexuals falling back into homosexuality:
{{cquote|To homosexual and gender-bending activists, any ex-”gay” testimony threatens their central propaganda myth that some people are intrinsically (born) “gay,” bisexual or “transgender.” Some homosexual activists like Wayne Besen and the fellows at “Ex-Gay Watch” have dedicated themselves to discrediting ex-”gay” change by hyping the cases of people who have returned back to homosexual behavior. (Yes, change is difficult, but why focus exclusively on failed attempts? Imagine if someone tried to “prove” that overcoming drug addiction was impossible by popularizing only those cases of addicts who tried to go clean but fell back into their drug-abusing lifestyle.)

As you read on, give thanks that high school student “John” was transformed by Jesus Christ (rather than by modern secular psychiatrists) and will not have to suffer the severe emotional confusion and deep loneliness inherent to “transgender” delusion. “John” is truly free now — to experience gratitude for his body, to fall in love with a woman, to enjoy sex in marriage, to accept the natural blessing of children and grandchildren, to worship and serve his God, to know joy.<ref>http://americansfortruth.com/news/why-we-need-americans-for-truth.html</ref>}}

==Hostility Towards Ex-Homosexuals and Ex-Homosexual Groups==
Homosexual activists and [[liberal]]s have become angered in regards to ex-homosexual events and activities. Below are some incidents that have taken place.
===Matt Ott===
In addition, the Center for Reclaiming America cited the following account of how a [[hate crime]] statute was egregiously applied to an ex-homosexual:
{{cquote|In Madison, Wisconsin, a recovered homosexual who had left the “gay” lifestyle to start a family got into a heated discussion with an open homosexual about homosexuality at a gas station. The ex-“gay” man, David Ott, was holding his child in his arms during the entire incident, and neither man touched the other. The homosexual activist later told police he had felt threatened by Ott, and local prosecutors charged the man with “disorderly conduct” with a “hate crimes” enhancement.

The “hate crime” aspect, stemming from Ott’s belief that homosexuality is morally wrong, raised the potential fine from $1,000 to $10,000, and jail time went up from a possible 90 days to one year. Fearing the possibility of substantial jail time, Ott settled, and received 50 hours of community service plus a mandatory attendance at “tolerance” sessions conducted by [[lesbianism|lesbians]] at the [[University of Wisconsin at Madison]]. A ground rule for the session was the premise that homosexual behavior is not immoral.

The entire process cost Ott almost $7,000 in legal fees.<ref>http://test.reclaimamerica.org/PAGES/fastfacts/HateCrimes2.pdf</ref>}}
===Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) - Arlington County Fair Incident===
[[Image:Rev. Louis P. Sheldon Photo.jpg|thumb|right|140px|Reverend [[Louis Sheldon]], Chairman of the [[Traditional Values Coalition]] and author of ''The Agenda: The Homosexual Plan to Change America'']]
The [[Traditional Values Coalition]] reported the following:
{{cquote|Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) hosted a booth at the Arlington County Fair in Arlington, Virginia. PFOX has had an exhibit at this fair for the past four years.

And, every year, intolerant homosexual activists have done everything they could to disrupt PFOX’s display. This year, they screamed obscenities, threw PFOX materials on the ground and demanded that PFOX leave the fair. One PFOX volunteer was hit because he is an ex-homosexual.

Eventually, PFOX had to call in a police officer to eject one activist who was harassing their volunteers. According to PFOX, “This is not the first time that PFOX has had to summon the police for protection from gay activists."<ref>http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=3129</ref>}}

===Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) - Virginia School Counselors Incident ===
The [[Traditional Values Coalition]] also reported the following Incident:
{{cquote|Parents and Friends of Ex-gays and Gays (PFOX) was booted from a Virginia School Counselors Association annual convention last weekend. PFOX had been officially registered at the convention and had set up a booth to distribute materials showing that homosexuals can change.

The head of the counselor’s group asked to meet with PFOX leader Regina Griggs and told her that several of the items in the booth were offensive to school counselors. Among them was NARTH President Dr. Joseph Nicolosi’s book, A Parent’s Guide To Preventing Homosexuality. After offering to remove any offensive materials from the booth, Griggs was told that PFOX should leave anyway because it wasn’t worth their time to only distribute two brochures at the convention.

Griggs told [[WorldNetDaily]]: “Some members didn’t want us there at all. They didn’t want an alternative opinion to the teaching they were having that afternoon.”<ref>http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2666</ref>}}

==Existence of Ex-Homosexuals is an Argument that "Gay Rights" Does Not Achieve Civil Rights Status==
[[Image:Alvedaking.jpg‎|right|thumb|200px|Dr. [[Alveda King]]]]
Dr. [[Alveda C. King]] is the founder of [[King for America]], Inc. which is a faith based organization. <ref name="king">http://www.kingforamerica.com/index.htm</ref> Dr. Alveda C. King is the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. [[A. D. King]].<ref name="king" />

Dr. Alveda C. King stated the following to the Massachusetts General Assembly regarding the existence of ex-homosexuals is an argument that "gay rights" does not achieve civil rights status:
{{cquote|Thirty-nine years ago, my great-uncle, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered to mindful citizens of America a prophetic dream which envisaged all of this great nation's people living in the full exercise of all rights granted to them by the U.S. Constitution. My forebear's dream was deeply rooted in the American dream wherein the Founders of our Union saw every lawful citizen standing in dignity outfitted by unalienable rights from God to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness free from the tyrannies of personal whim and ideology handed down by kings, dictators, political groups, and yes, some institutions of democratic government....

Yet, there is a larger body of science represented even by the above scientists that agrees that mature behavior patterns rely much more on social shaping and choices than genetic predisposition, such that these behaviors may be successfully modified by a variety of means. The food addict may eat responsibly, the alcoholic may drink responsibly or not at all, and the homosexual may live according to a wide range of choices as well. Thus, binge drinking, overeating, cocaine abuse and other behaviors do not have to be granted public latitude as a matter of right in this great nation. Certainly, these and other mutable behaviors may be practiced; they may be under constitutional protection in fact (under our privacy clauses), but they may not be granted civil rights or public protection.

Again, if behavior or other aspects of personhood may be altered, then those aspects fail to meet civil rights status. Homosexual practice clearly falls into this category. As my mother, Alveda C. King has said, "I have met many ex-homosexuals just as I have met many ex-husbands, ex-wives, ex-drug addicts and ex-lawyers. Yet I have never met an ex-Negro, ex-Caucasian or ex-Native American." The politics of preference does not jibe with civil rights legitimacy...<ref>http://www.kingforamerica.com/jrellis-testimony.htm</ref>}}

==Senator John Kerry Comment Insults Ex-Homosexuals==
[[Image:John-kerry.jpg‎|right|thumb|160px|[[John Kerry]]]]
[[Cybercast News Service]] stated the following regarding Senator [[John Kerry]] comment which insulted ex-Homosexuals:
{{cquote|Sen. John Kerry's declaration Wednesday that homosexuals don't have a choice about their sexual orientation has enraged individuals who identify themselves as "ex-gays."...

Shortly after Kerry made the remark Wednesday, reaction started pouring into [[Warren Throckmorton]], a professor at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. Throckmorton said ex-homosexuals expressed outrage to him about Kerry's comment.

"Kerry's views, unfortunately, present a view of homosexuality that science does not support," Throckmorton said. "Bush, wisely, has reserved judgment and his views are closer to where science has progressed to at this point. I'm concerned that Kerry misled the country."

Throckmorton, considered an authority on sexual orientation research, recently released his own documentary, "I Do Exist," which chronicles the lives of ex-homosexuals.<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200410%5CCUL20041015b.html</ref>}}
==Judge Prohibits Public Schools from Implementing Anti-ex-homosexual Curriculum==
The organizaion [[Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays]] (PFOX) reported the following:
{{cquote|Montgomery County, Maryland – A United States District Court has granted the request of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX.org) for a temporary injunction prohibiting the Montgomery County, Maryland public schools from implementing an anti-ex-gay sex ed curriculum.

U.S. District Court Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. ruled that the curriculum threatened PFOX's constitutional rights, including the First Amendment freedom of speech.

In his opinion, Judge Williams noted some of the curriculum's biased statements against ex-gays, including statements claiming that `[t]rying to change one's sexual response to straight or gay is usually unsuccessful,' and that `[i]n fact, it is often societal homophobia that forces people to attempt to change.'<ref>http://www.pfox.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=41&sid=3f6326facd8169669d328749f4c1cbe8</ref>}}

==See Also==
*[[Overcoming Homosexuality]]
*[[Causes of Homosexuality]]
*[[Homosexuality and Choice]]
*[[Teen Homosexuality]]
*[[Homosexuality]]
[[Category:Homosexuality]]
[[Category:Ex-Homosexuals]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28799 An article about Ex-Homosexuals

Liberal Democrats

2010-03-09T22:21:59Z

Marianne: Attempted to make a couple things more accurate, and expand the info here :)

User talk:Marianne

2010-03-09T22:18:17Z

Marianne: Reply to TK

{{welcome|sig=<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big>/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 15:24, 9 March 2010 (EST)}}

== Sorry ==

Sorry for the block earlier, Marianne. Perhaps it is a good reason not to consider such things very early in the morning for me! --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big>/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 15:25, 9 March 2010 (EST)
:That's quite alright, I can understand some worry if I had the IP of a previous troll :) Especially with all the trolling this place is likely to get! [[User:Marianne|Marianne]] 17:18, 9 March 2010 (EST)