Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

User talk:Spica

2007-05-06T20:15:26Z

Spica:

== Date of Creation article ==

Please do not continue to make the same changes to the [[Date of Creation]] article, at least without offering some sort of justification for doing so. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 09:33, 6 May 2007 (EDT)

Please stop changing my entries. I do not have to justify the changes to you. [[User:Spica|Spica]] 16:14, 6 May 2007 (EDT)

User talk:Spica

2007-05-06T20:14:56Z

Spica:

Mental illness

2007-05-06T20:07:40Z

Spica: /* Mental illness and the law */

'''Mental illness''' is a broad concept covering all sorts of diseases, disorders, and disturbances in the human mind.

From the [[Middle Ages]] onward, people have been frightened or dismayed by the "crazy" behavior or speech of others. The idea of locking up mentally disordered people or placing them in [[asylum]]s goes back hundreds of years and has often been mentioned in literature. In Shakespeare's play, [[Hamlet]] appeared to be mentally ill; [[Ophelia]] became mentally ill and killed herself.

Various theories have been put forth to account for mental disorders. <ref>"The English-speaking world has not always used medical language to describe the behavior we now label as symptomatic of mental illness or mental disorder. Descriptions were sometimes framed in quite different terms, such as possession. What we now call mental illness was not always treated as a medical problem." [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mental-illness/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy], Christian Perring</ref>
Religious ideas about mental illness have included [[demon]]ic possession, to be cured by [[exorcism]]. Psychological ideas run a wide gamut. [more needed here]

Mental illness is generally considered to have dimensions of severity and impact, as well as legal implications. Some people are considered [[insane]] in some countries, and are excluded from society or given special consideration. A defendant may be judged not guilty by reason of [[temporary insanity]]. A severely mentally unwell individual may be [[psychotic]] or [[schizophrenic]], while milder forms of mental illness are classified as a [[neurosis]] or [[syndrome]] (see [[Eating disorder]] or [[bulimia]] or [[anorexia]]).

==Forms of Mental Disorder==
Psychosis 
Depression 
Anxiety 
Obsessional Compulsive Disorder 
Personality Disorder 

==Types of mental health professionals==

Professionals involved in the care and treatment of people suffering from mental disorder include [[mental health nurses]], [[social workers]], [[psychiatrists]] and [[occupational therapists]].

==Mental illness and the law==
The mental health community does not recognize or utilise the term "insane" or 'insanity", yet is called upon to give expert opinion as such in capital criminal cases where the life of a defendant is at stake. This is because the terms "insane" and "insanity", whilst written into the law in ''some'' countries, are not defined ''in'' or ''by'' the law. It is for mental health professionals to determine whether an individual is mentally unwell or not; the courts' role is to take the opinions of those professionals into account when deciding on an appropriate disposal for the defendant, which can include prison or detention in hospital under local mental health legislation.

In the UK, a defendant can be placed in a mental health hospital (under the Mental Health Act 1983) if the opinions of mental health professionals agree that the person requires such care and treatment. The most dangerous of defendants who are mentally unwell can be made subject to Part IV of the MHA 1983, which includes provision for detention in hospital without limit of time.

Many courts apply the McNaughton Rules as to whether the defendant was, at the time of the index offence, capable of knowing that what they were doing was wrong.

==Mental illness and the brain==

Scientists who adhere to a purely physical model of mental health regard many aspects of mental illness as disorders of the brain. <ref>"Mental health disorders ... such as [[depression]], [[bipolar disorder]], [[schizophrenia]] and even [[borderline personality disorder]] are medical disorders of the brain." [http://www.mental-health-today.com/index.htm Mental Health Today] </ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

==See also==

*[[psychotherapy]]

*[[List of psychologisits]]
**[[Alice Miller]]
**[[M. Scott Peck]], author of ''The Road Less Traveled''
**[[Eric Berne]]
**[[Sigmund Freud]]

Date of creation

2007-05-05T23:29:38Z

Spica:

Calculating the '''date of creation''' has exercised many minds for hundreds of years.

== Basis of calculation ==

The Bible contains [[chronogenealogies]] from Adam to Abraham, listing the age at which each person in the genealogy gave birth to the next person in the list, thus allowing by simple addition a determination of how many years passed between [[creation story|creation]] and Abraham. There are other chronological indications also, allowing that calculation to be extended into the times of the kings, when the dates can be correlated with other events in history for which the absolute date is known. By this means, in theory, one can calculate the date of creation.

There are, however, some uncertainties in this. For example, Genesis lists the age of Terah when the first of his sons was born, but was Abraham this son, or the second or third son?
Different researchers have proposed different answers to this and similar problems, but none of these problems change the result by a very significant amount.

An objection that has often been raised is whether the chronogenealogies were ''intended'' to be used this way, or whether, for example, generations have been missed.
[[Henry Morris]], a pioneer of modern creationism, allowed for the possibility of gaps in the genealogies, but claimed that it was unreasonable to stretch the date back further than about 10,000 B.C.
In more recent times, however, creationists have concluded that there is no reason to think that there are gaps, and this view is supported by the consensus of the experts, according to [[James Barr]], then regius professor of Hebrew at [[Oxford University]], and not a young-Earth creationist (he also wrote a book attacking [[biblical inerrancy]]), who wrote in 1984: "… probably, so far as I know, there is no professor of Hebrew or Old Testament at any world-class university who does not believe that the writer(s) of Genesis 1–11 intended to convey to their readers the ideas that: … the figures contained in the Genesis genealogies provided by simple addition a chronology from the beginning of the world up to later stages in the biblical story." <ref>Quoted in [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1606/ Biblical chronogenealogies], by Jonathan Sarfati.</ref>

Old-earth creationists do not accept this date, proposing that there may be gaps in the genealogies.<ref>[http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/other_papers/primeval_chronology.shtml Are There Gaps in the Biblical Genealogies?], by William Henry Green.</ref>

== Calculated dates ==

The best known date of creation is the one calculated by Archbishop [[James Ussher]] in the 17th century - namely 6:00 p.m. Saturday, [[October 22]], [[4004]] BC.<ref>The Annals of the World, by James Ussher.</ref> However, only the year was based on the Biblical ages; the date and time were based on other considerations. Sir [[Isaac Newton]] defended Ussher's date. Another to calculate the date of creation was [[Johannes Kepler]], who worked it out to be 3992 B.C.

But such calculations in fact date from at least the Middle Ages, and offer a range of dates from around 5000 to 4000 BC. Judaic tradition (to which the Old Testament of course belongs) reckons the date of creation at 3760 BC. Another calculation, beginning with the date of the destruction of Jerusalem known from secular history and working backwards, arrives at 4163 BC. <ref> http://web.newsguy.com/rubyredinger/age.html Biblical age of the Earth</ref>

Based on [[geology|geological]] dating methods scientific research dates the formation of the Earth to around 4.5 [[billion]] (4.5 * 109) years ago.<ref>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html USGS, ''Geologic Time: Age of the Earth.''] Accessed April 18, 2007.</ref>

== Notes ==
<references />

[[Category:Creationism]]

Northamptonshire

2007-05-05T23:28:00Z

Spica: /* Northampton */

'''Northamptonshire''' is a centrally located county of [[England]], bounded by the counties of [[Leicesterhsire]], [[Lincolnshire]] (to the North and North East, respectively), [[Warwickshire]] (to the West), [[Cambridgeshire]], [[Bedfordshire]] (to the East and South East, respectively) , [[Oxfordshire]] and Buckinghamshire (to the South West and South, respectively). Famous for its large black Shire horses, shoe manufacturing, beer, many ancient churches and numerous stately homes of the landed gentry, the county's nickname is "[[Rose]] of the Shires". It is also known as the "County of Spires and Squires", due to the numerous parish churches that have spires in the county due to the high level of landed gentry living in the county. Its traditional symbol is a red rose with a white rose at its center - a symbol of the Lancastrian/Tudor wars ("The War of the Roses").

==Northampton==
The county town is Northampton, located in the centre of the county with excellent access to London and Birmingham by both road and railways. The town formerly boasted a huge Norman castle (on the site of the current railway station) and an impressive Norman cathedral (burnt down in the The Great Fire of Northampton, 1675). Northampton has the largest mediaeval open air market place in Europe. Oliver Cromwell stayed overnight at a large, sand coloured building in the centre of the town on his way to his victory over Charles I at the Battle of Naseby. The River Nene runs through the town, which is navigable all the way to The Wash in Lincolnshire.

==Links with the United States==
Lawrence Washington, an ancestor of the first US president ([[George Washington]]), was mayor of the town several times in the late 1500s. The Washington family home was at Sulgrave Manor, in the south of the county. Sulgrave Manor is now jointly owned by the UK and US governments and is preserved as a monument to the Washington family.

The town of Northampton, MA is named after the town of Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.

==Sports Teams==
*Northampton Town Football Club - "The Cobblers" (after Northampton's traditional manufacturing trade of shoemaking).
*Northamptonshire County Cricket Club - "The Steelbacks" (after the nickname for the Northamptonshire Regiment)
*Northampton Rugby Union Football Club - "The Saints" (after the location of the club's ground in St James' End, *Northampton, built upon the grounds of the medieval St James' Priory).

==Churches==
*St Sepulchres - one of three remaining "round" churches in England, and the best example. Built approx. 1100.
*St Peters - a fine example of an Anglo-Saxon church, once situated outside the castle walls (now near the railway station).
*St Giles - another fine Anglo-Saxon church in the center of the town.
*All Hallows/All Saints - built upon the remains of the Norman cathedral, this is a fine neo-classical market town church, built about 1677.

[[Category:UK Counties]]

2007-05-03T14:41:25Z

Spica:

'''Mental illness''' is a broad concept covering all sorts of diseases, disorders, and disturbances in the human mind.

From the [[Middle Ages]] onward, people have been frightened or dismayed by the "crazy" behavior or speech of others. The idea of locking up insane people or placing them in [[asylum]]s goes back hundreds of years and has often been mentioned in literature. In Shakespeare's play, [[Hamlet]] appeared to be crazy; [[Ophelia]] went crazy and killed herself.

Various theories have been put forth, to account for madness. <ref>"The English-speaking world has not always used medical language to describe the behavior we now label as symptomatic of mental illness or mental disorder. Descriptions were sometimes framed in quite different terms, such as possession. What we now call mental illness was not always treated as a medical problem." [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mental-illness/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy], Christian Perring</ref>
Religious ideas about mental illness have included [[demon]]ic possession, to be cured by [[exorcism]]. Psychological ideas run a wide gamut. [more needed here]

Mental illness is generally considered to have dimensions of severity and impact, as well as legal implications. Some people are considered [[insane]], and excluded from society or given special consideration. A defendant may be judged not guilty by reason of [[temporary insanity]]. A severely handicapped individual may be [[psychotic]] or [[schizophrenic]], while milder forms of mental illness are classified as a [[neurosis]] or [[syndrome]] (see [[Eating disorder]] or [[bulimia]] or [[anorexia]]).

==Types of mental health professionals==

Professionals involved in the care and treatment of people suffering from mental disorder include [[mental health nurses]], [[social workers]], [[psychiatrists]] and [[occupational therapists]].

==Mental illness and the law==
The mental health community does not recognize or utilize the term "insane" or 'insanity", yet is called upon to give expert opinion as such in capital criminal cases where the life of a defendant is at stake.

==Mental illness and the brain==

Scientists who adhere to a purely physical model of mental health regard many aspects of mental illness as disorders of the brain. <ref>"Mental health disorders ... such as [[depression]], [[bipolar disorder]], [[schizophrenia]] and even [[borderline personality disorder]] are medical disorders of the brain." [http://www.mental-health-today.com/index.htm Mental Health Today] </ref>

==Mental Health Services in the U.S.==
Basically, if you are mentally ill in the US, you're done for. If you can't pay for the care and treatment you need, you must suffer.

However, all UK citizens are entitled to mental health care which is free at the point of delivery.

Go figure ;)

==Notes==
<references/>

==See also==

*[[psychotherapy]]

*[[List of psychologisits]]
**[[Alice Miller]]
**[[M. Scott Peck]], author of ''The Road Less Traveled''
**[[Eric Berne]]
**[[Sigmund Freud]]

2007-05-03T14:09:22Z

Spica:

User talk:Spica

2007-05-03T14:08:21Z

Spica:

Thanks for [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Date_of_Creation&diff=137578&oldid=127317 this edit]. Glad someone agrees with me here. Don't be suprised if someone doesn't block you for an hour or something ;) [[User:GodlessLiberal|GodlessLiberal]] 22:27, 30 April 2007 (EDT)
:Hahaha... the exact same minute I posted that, it is reverted. [[User:GodlessLiberal|GodlessLiberal]] 22:28, 30 April 2007 (EDT)

Yup, so I undid it and it's been changed back. This whole thing sucks big time. I prefer Wikipedia. I was asked by someone to come and give a hand here, but it's clear the whole thing is run by a complete bunch of educationally subnormal idiots.

==County==
Why did you delete the pronunciation section of the article on [[County]]? Believe me, foreigners often make the mistakes that Leatherman warned against. I would say it was an eminently practical piece of knowledge.[[User:Muschifresser|Muschifresser]] 07:53, 3 May 2007 (EDT)

And who exactly are you?
:Sorry, forgot my tag.[[User:Muschifresser|Muschifresser]] 07:53, 3 May 2007 (EDT)

And you're a UK ex-pat? Or you live in the UK?
:Um, I could say anything to try to convince you of my bona fides. But yes, I am British (and I currently live in Germany). Believe me, nothing grates more than the mispronunciation of -shire to rhyme with fire.[[User:Muschifresser|Muschifresser]] 07:58, 3 May 2007 (EDT)

Actually, it's irrelevant now anyway. I've asked for this account to be deleted as I find the whole site completely laughable. I only joined because someone in the UK asked me to help and I thought I'd give it a go. It is clear to me that I should never have bothered in the first place. This site is very nearly full of complete, inaccurate, biaised, ranting rubbish.

I take your word for your British origins. Unfortunately this site is completely crap so I'll be off soon.
:I am here as an exercise in anthropological participant observation. But it is fun to help write an encyclopaedia, even if much of it is, as you say, laughably absurd. Anyway, goodbye and good luck![[User:Muschifresser|Muschifresser]] 08:07, 3 May 2007 (EDT)

It's not really an encyclopedia - there's too much bias in various directions (pro-Christian, US-centric, anti-gay, Creationist, conservative, etc). It's actually invalid as an encyclopedia and doesn't stand up to rigorous scrutiny. You'd be better off helping out over at Wikipedia - however, that's your choice to make.
:Wikipedia already knows more than me about almost everything. Here it's easy to find the gaps. But, like I say, its partly just a fun day out to Bethlem.[[User:Muschifresser|Muschifresser]] 08:19, 3 May 2007 (EDT)

: Your edits are making liberal opinion look like fact. This violates our [[rules]] and will result in blocking your account.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 09:46, 3 May 2007 (EDT)

None of the other dates given in the section above my modifications are facts, either. They're simply backwards calculations based on some uncorroborated dates.

You should also check the webmaster email account more often, you idiot. You'll find my request for the deletion of this account sitting there waiting for *you* to read it and act on it. As we say here in the UK:

Fuck off, you wanker.

User talk:Spica

2007-05-03T14:04:40Z

Spica:

User talk:Spica

2007-05-03T13:48:46Z

Spica:

Date of creation

2007-05-03T13:44:56Z

Spica: /* Calculated dates */

Calculating the '''date of creation''' has exercised many minds for hundreds of years.

== Basis of calculation ==

The Bible contains [[chronogenealogies]] from Adam to Abraham, listing the age at which each person in the genealogy gave birth to the next person in the list, thus allowing by simple addition a determination of how many years passed between [[creation story|creation]] and Abraham. There are other chronological indications also, allowing that calculation to be extended into the times of the kings, when the dates can be correlated with other events in history for which the absolute date is known. By this means, in theory, one can calculate the date of creation.

There are, however, some uncertainties in this. For example, Genesis lists the age of Terah when the first of his sons was born, but was Abraham this son, or the second or third son?
Different researchers have proposed different answers to this and similar problems, but none of these problems change the result by a very significant amount.

An objection that has often been raised is whether the chronogenealogies were ''intended'' to be used this way, or whether, for example, generations have been missed.
[[Henry Morris]], a pioneer of modern creationism, allowed for the possibility of gaps in the genealogies, but claimed that it was unreasonable to stretch the date back further than about 10,000 B.C.
In more recent times, however, creationists have concluded that there is no reason to think that there are gaps, and this view is supported by the consensus of the experts, according to [[James Barr]], then regius professor of Hebrew at [[Oxford University]], and not a young-Earth creationist (he also wrote a book attacking [[biblical inerrancy]]), who wrote in 1984: "… probably, so far as I know, there is no professor of Hebrew or Old Testament at any world-class university who does not believe that the writer(s) of Genesis 1–11 intended to convey to their readers the ideas that: … the figures contained in the Genesis genealogies provided by simple addition a chronology from the beginning of the world up to later stages in the biblical story." <ref>Quoted in [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1606/ Biblical chronogenealogies], by Jonathan Sarfati.</ref>

Old-earth creationists do not accept this date, proposing that there may be gaps in the genealogies.<ref>[http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/other_papers/primeval_chronology.shtml Are There Gaps in the Biblical Genealogies?], by William Henry Green.</ref>

== Calculated dates ==

The best known date of creation is the one calculated by Archbishop [[James Ussher]] in the 17th century - namely 6:00 p.m. Saturday, [[October 22]], [[4004]] BC.<ref>The Annals of the World, by James Ussher.</ref> However, only the year was based on the Biblical ages; the date and time were based on other considerations. Sir [[Isaac Newton]] defended Ussher's date. Another to calculate the date of creation was [[Johannes Kepler]], who worked it out to be 3992 B.C.

But such calculations in fact date from at least the Middle Ages, and offer a range of dates from around 5000 to 4000 BC. Judaic tradition (to which the Old Testament of course belongs) reckons the date of creation at 3760 BC. Another calculation, beginning with the date of the destruction of Jerusalem known from secular history and working backwards, arrives at 4163 BC. <ref> http://web.newsguy.com/rubyredinger/age.html Biblical age of the Earth</ref>

Based on geological dating methods,scientific research dates the formation of the Earth to around 4.5 billion (4.5 * 109) years ago, which is significantly more accurate than any of the guesstimates shown above.<ref>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html USGS, ''Geologic Time: Age of the Earth.''] Accessed April 18, 2007.</ref>

== Notes ==
<references />

[[Category:Creationism]]

Date of creation

2007-05-03T12:37:14Z

2007-05-03T11:39:21Z

Spica: /* Pronounciation */

A county, otherwise known as a shire, is a unit of local government that exists in most, and historically, all English speaking countries of the world. The first shires were the ancient divisions of the kingdom of [[Wessex]], and this system was expanded to the whole of [[England]] when the kings of Wessex became kings of England in the 10th century. Towards the end of the [[Medieval]] period the system was further expanded to Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. With the growth of the [[British Empire]] the system was expanded to America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Traditionally, the chief officer of a county was a [[sheriff]], a word that comes from the [[Old English]] "shire-reeve" (a "reeve" was a general name for an administrative officer). The most famous sherrif in history was the Sheriff of [[Nottingham]] from the [[Robin Hood]] legends. This office still survives in modern times, though administrative practice has gradually diverged and whereas in the USA a sheriff is nowadays a chief of police, in the UK he is a council officer responsible for enforcing court orders.

[[Category:sociology]]

Northamptonshire

2007-05-03T11:38:46Z

Spica: Removing all content from page

User talk:Spica

2007-05-03T11:30:54Z

Spica:

User talk:Spica

2007-05-03T11:30:33Z

Spica:

2007-04-30T22:06:02Z

Spica:

[[Image:Foliou.jpg|right|thumb|Portrait of William Shakespeare on the cover of the First Folio (1623), the first collected edition of his plays]]
'''William Shakespeare''' (1564-1616) is regarded as the greatest English-language playwright of all time. Many of his plays are required reading in many U. S. school curricula; those taught in schools often include ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', ''[[Macbeth]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' and ''[[Hamlet]]''.

All tolled, Shakespeare wrote 17 comedies, 10 tragedies, 10 historical plays, and many love [[sonnets]]. All his plays are freely available on the internet.<ref>
http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/</ref>

Shakespeare lived in Stratford-upon-Avon and is sometimes called "the bard of Avon." Because of sharing the name "Stratford," the towns of Stratford, Ontario in Canada and Stratford, Connecticut have become the homes of Shakespeare festivals where his plays are performed on a regular basis.

Because Shakespeare was not a member of the upper class and did not become famous until late in his life, historians and biographers don't know very much about his life. There are only a few pictures of him, and nobody is sure how accurate they are.

The idea of an ill-educated (to his contemporaries) person coming among them and making a success was upsetting to the University-educated playwrights of the time. It is believed that the poet, Philip Green, was referring to Shakespeare when he wrote
"There is an upstart crow beautified with our feathers
that, with his '''tiger's heart wrapped in a player's hide'','
supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse
as the best of you; being an absolute Johannes Factotum,
in his conceit the only ''shake-scene'' in a country."

The 'tiger's heart wrapped in a player's hide' is a reference to one of Shakespeare's plays, ''[[Henry the Sixth, part III]]'', <ref> [[Great Books, Shakespeare: I]], Edited by Mortimer J. Adler, 1952. </ref> while 'shake-scene' is a pune or play on words on Shakespeare's name.

His plays seem to show so much education and erudition that there are even theories that they must have been written by someone else, famous candidates being the Earl of Oxford and Sir Francis Bacon. Like Kennedy assassination theories, most scholars do not believe them, but there are enough questions that new books promoting new theories of Shakespearian authorship continue to keep coming out over the years.

A longstanding theatrical superstition holds that it is bad luck to refer to ''Macbeth'' directly by its name, and accordingly, actors traditionally refer to it obliquely as "the Scottish play."

Because Shakespeare's plays are so familiar, there are innumerable references to them in English literature. Sometimes his stories are recast into a different form. Audiences are expected to recognize the musical ''West Side Story'' as a retelling of ''Romeo and Juliet,'' and the classic science-fiction movie ''Forbidden Planet'' as a transformed version of ''The Tempest.'' The motion picture ''Shakespeare in Love,'' which won the 1998 Academy Award as Best Picture is not a history or biography, but is enjoyed for evoking a sense of what Shakespeare's time and place might have been like.

The reverence in which Shakespeare is held, and the somewhat outdated language of his plays (which come from the same era as the King James translation of the Bible) should not obscure the fact that his plays were (and still are) fabulously successful commercial entertainment.

He is also famous for his one hundred and fifty-four [[sonnets]], short poems written in a very strict rhyme scheme. The sonnets fall into series or sequences. Most of them are usually read as expressions of romantic or platonic love; some appear to be written to a married woman known in the sonnets as the "Dark Lady," some to a young man known as the "Fair Lord."

In his Will, Shakespeare wrote that "I commend my soul into the hands of God, my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting."<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-04-23&view=View</ref>

His tomb in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon, England, reads as follows:<ref>''Id.''</ref>

:Good Friend For Jesus Sake Forbeare, To Digg The Dust Enclosed Heare. Blese Be Ye Man Spares Thes Stones, And Curst Be He Moves My Bones.

== List of Plays by Shakespeare ==

=== Tragedies ===
*[[Macbeth]]
*[[Hamlet]]
*[[Othello]]
*[[Romeo and Juliet]]
*[[Julius Caesar]]
*[[King Lear]]
*[[Titus Andronicus]]
*[[Antony and Cleopatra]]
*[[Troilus and Cressida]]

=== Comedies ===
*[[The Taming of the Shrew]]
*[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]
*[[As You Like It]]
*[[Two Gentlemen of Verona]]
*[[A Comedy of Errors]]
*[[Much Ado About Nothing]]
*[[Twelfth Night]]
*[[A Winter's Tale]]
*[[Love's Labour's Lost]]
*[[All's Well That Ends Well]]
*[[Measure for Measure]]
*[[The Merchant of Venice]]
*[[The Tempest]]
*[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]
*[[Cymbeline]]

==Trivia==
English spelling did not begin to become standardized until the time of Dr. Johnson's dictionary appeared in 1755. Shakespeare spelled his last name in an amazing number of ways. ''Shakespeare'' is the usual way to spell it now, but it you accidentally spell it "Shakespear" or "Shakespere" you are just using one of the many ways it was spelled. It is almost impossible to spell it in a way that was not actually used in Shakespeare's time! Some of the oddest are "Shaxper" and "Shakspur." However, as English has since been standardised, one must now spell it "Shakespeare" to avoid getting told off by one's English Lit teacher.

----

'''References:''' <references/>

[[Category:Authors|Shakespeare, William]]
[[category:poets|Shakespeare, William]]

County

2007-04-28T12:07:29Z

Spica: /* Pronounciation */

County

2007-04-28T12:06:57Z

Spica:

Northampton

2007-04-22T11:03:34Z

Spica: /* External links */

{{Infobox City
|official_name = Northampton, Massachusetts
|nickname = Noho," "Hamp"
|motto =
|image_skyline = Northampton massachusetts main street 20040912.jpg
|image_caption = Northampton, Massachusetts Main Street
|image_seal = {{#ifeq:Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton, Massachusetts|NorthamptonMassachusettsSeal.png}}
|image_flag =
|image_map = Northampton_ma_highlight.png
|map_caption = Location in Massachusetts
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]]
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1654
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = 1656
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|government_type = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-council city]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Mary Clare Higgins
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 =
|area_total = 92.2
|TotalArea_sq_mi = 35.6
|area_land = 89.3
|LandArea_sq_mi = 34.5
|area_water = 3.0
|WaterArea_sq_mi = 1.1
|population_as_of = 2000
|settlement_type =
|population_total = 28978
|population_density = 324.7
|population_density_mi2 = 841.0
|elevation = 43
|elevation_ft = 140
|timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd=42 |latm=19 |lats=30 |latNS=N
|longd=72 |longm=38 |longs=30 |longEW=W
|website = http://www.northamptonma.gov/
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 01060
|area_code = [[Area code 413|413]]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Northampton''' is a city in [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]], [[Massachusetts]], [[USA]]. The population was 28,978 at the 2000 census. It is the [[county seat]] of Hampshire County.

==History==
The area now known as Northampton was inhabited by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], such as the [[Pocomtuc]], Nonotuck [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]], and [[Mahican]], for thousands of years before the [[European colonization of the Americas|arrival of Europeans]]. They called it Norwottuck, or Nonotuck, meaning "the midst of the river." Colonial Northampton was founded in [[1654]] by settlers from [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]. Initial cooperation between the settlers and the Natives gave way to conflict, evidence of which can today be seen most clearly in nearby [[Historic Deerfield]]. Northampton hosted its own [[Salem witch trials|witch trials]] in the [[18th century]], although no (accused) witches were executed. Members of the community were among the signatories of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. (See the external link to Historic Northampton below for more.)

Northampton was linked to the sea by the [[Hampshire and Hampden Canal]] in 1835, but the canal enterprise foundered and after about a decade was replaced by a railroad running along the same route. A [[flood]] on the [[Mill River (Hampshire Co., Massachusetts)|Mill River]] on [[May 16]], [[1874]], killed 51 people in the [[Leeds, Massachusetts|village of Leeds]] in the township of Northampton.

Northampton, which was incorporated as a city in [[1883]], developed into a thriving community and a local center for commerce, education, and the arts, even supporting a still-extant opera house, the Academy of Music, which functioned as an independent movie house until recently. However, the 800 seat theatre now operates as a venue for rent for local and other productions. In [[1851]], opera singer [[Jenny Lind]], the "[[Swedish]] Nightingale," declared Northampton to be the "Paradise of America." The first game of women's [[basketball]] was played in [[1892]] at [[Smith College]]. [[Immigration|Immigrant]] groups that settled here in large numbers included [[Ireland|Irish]], [[Poland|Polish]], and [[French-Canadian]]; in more recent years, [[Puerto Rican]]s, [[India|Indians]], [[Vietnam|Vietnamese]] and [[Cambodia|Cambodians]] have continued to add to the cultural mosaic. Segments of the [[1966]] film ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' were filmed in and around Northampton during the fall of [[1965]]. When not filming, [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and [[Richard Burton]] frequented Northampton's Academy of Music, where they sat in the balcony to watch movies. Other films filmed in Northampton include the [[Academy Awards|Academy-Award]]-winning ''[[Cider House Rules]],'' ''[[Malice (movie)|Malice]]'' with [[Nicole Kidman]] and [[Alec Baldwin]], ''[[In Dreams]]'' with [[Annette Bening]] and [[Robert Downey Jr.]], and ''[[Sylvia (2003 film)|Sylvia]]'' with [[Gwyneth Paltrow]]. It is also known as the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The concept was created and developed here by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

Northampton today is a popular destination for [[tourism|tourists]], who come to sample the city's shopping and [[restaurant]]s. It remains a showplace for the [[arts]], and was rated as the top "Small Arts Town" in the country by travel writer John Villani, author of "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" (3rd edition, published by John Muir Publications). It is an open and tolerant community, and is home to a sizeable [[lesbian]] community. The town has ties to the controversial children's book, "[[Heather Has Two Mommies]]."

Author [[Tracy Kidder]] documented the many layers of Northampton society at the end of the 20th century in his nonfiction book ''Home Town.''

==Geography==
Northampton sits on the banks of the [[Connecticut River]], in the [[Pioneer Valley]] of [[Western Massachusetts]]. It is located at {{coor dms|42|19|39|N|72|39|28|W|city}} (42.327389, -72.657677).{{GR|1}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 92.2 [[km²]] (35.6 [[square mile|mi²]]). 89.3 km² (34.5 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.20%) is water.

Inclusive within the city limits are the villages of [[Florence, Massachusetts|Florence]], [[Bay State, Massachusetts|Bay State]] and [[Leeds, Massachusetts|Leeds]]. It is bordered to the north by the towns of [[Hatfield, Massachusetts|Hatfield]] and [[Williamsburg, Massachusetts|Williamsburg]], to the west by [[Westhampton, Massachusetts|Westhampton]], to the east by [[Hadley, Massachusetts|Hadley]] (across the [[Connecticut River]]), and to the south by [[Easthampton, Massachusetts|Easthampton]].

==Politics==
Northampton is also considered by many as something of a [[liberal]] mecca, due in part to the [[Five Colleges (Massachusetts)|five colleges]] in the area and the city's large [[GLBT]] community. [[Smith College]], which has an active and progressive lesbian community, is part of the center of the city's activities.

However, there is another aspect of [[Smith College]]'s presence in the community which emerges politically. [[Smith College]] has also been at odds with the community from time-to-time, most recently with the construction of its new engineering and molecular sciences complex, which shall cause many low-income residents to be displaced. <ref>http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:E5wNQ-A3_UgJ:www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm%3Fid_no%3D120700532004+Joseph+Krupczynski+%22smith+college%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=13</ref>

The city is home to the national office of the [[BORDC|Bill of Rights Defense Committee]], a civil liberties advocacy group; as well as [[Free Press]], a non-profit advocating media reform and citizen involvement in media public policy. The [[antipsychiatry]] community and advocacy group [[Freedom Center (antipsychiatry)|Freedom Center]] also operates out of Northampton.

As of 2007, [[Clare Higgins|Mary Clare Higgins]] is the Mayor.

The [http://www.paradisecityforum.net/ Paradise City Forum] was founded November, 2001 to provide a nonpartisan discussion tool for the community.

In the 2004 presidential election, multiple wards within Northampton recorded 80%+ of the votes going to Kerry/Edwards.

==Attractions==
[[Image:Hampshirecountycourthouse.jpg|right|thumb|Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton]]
[[Image:Conn._River.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Connecticut River]] in Northampton]]
* [[Smith College]] is a [[women's college]] (one of the [[Seven Sisters (colleges)|Seven Sisters]]) founded in [[1871]]. It is also one of the [[Five Colleges (Massachusetts)|Five Colleges]].
* [[Clarke School For The Deaf]] specializes in oral education (speech and [[lip-reading]], as opposed to [[American Sign Language|signing]]), and holds an annual summer camp, the theme varying from summer to summer.
* Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Rainbow Beach, Roberts Hill Conservation Area, Mineral Hills Conservation Area, and Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area provide a portion of the protected open space that covers 15% of the City.
* [http://www.lookpark.org/ Look Park] is a 150+ acre recreational [[park]] founded in [[1930]].
* Northampton is becoming a [[rail trail]] hub. Currently, the Norwottuck Rail Trail extends ten miles from Northampton to [[Amherst, Massachusetts|Amherst]] and [[Belchertown, Massachusetts|Belchertown]], the 2.5 mile Northampton Bike Path extends from downtown Northampton to [[Florence, Massachusetts|Florence]], and the Manhan Rail Trail Spur extends 0.5 miles from Route 66 to Florence Road. Four other rail trail extensions are under construction, in the bidding process, or planned for the short term.
* [[The Botanic Garden of Smith College]] is a diverse outdoor collection of trees, shrubs, and plants, as well as a fine collection of plant conservatories for the tropics, semi-tropics, and desert regions. It also includes an indoor [[greenhouse]].
* [http://www.3countyfair.com/ The Three County Fair] claims to be the "longest consecutive running [[agricultural show|agricultural fair]] in the country," having been established and incorporated in [[1818]].
* Many concerts. Due to its relative proximity to Boston and strong arts community, many musicians perform in Northampton at local venues such as the Calvin theater, the Iron Horse Tavern, and the Pearl Street music hall.
* The [http://www.niff.org/ Northampton Independent Film Festival] (NIFF) is held each fall. Founded as the Northampton Film Festival in 1995 by Howard Polonsky and Dee DeGeiso, it has continued to grow under a variety of directors. It is one of the largest in New England.
* The Academy of Music, built in [[1890]] by Edward H.R. Lyman, is the only municipally owned [[theater (structure)|theatre]] in the nation, and was the first to be so owned; it is also one of the six oldest theatres, nationally. [[Boris Karloff]] and [[Harry Houdini]] (who installed a trap door in the stage) performed here. The Academy is still in operation today.
* The [http://www.forbeslibrary.org/ Forbes Library] built in [[1894]] is the [[public library]] for Northampton.
* [[Mirage Studios]], the Creators of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] Franchise. In the TMNT series, the turtles and [[Casey Jones (TMNT)|Casey Jones]] visit Casey Jones' grandmother's [[farm]] in Northampton, Massachusetts.
* Each May, students from the [http://www.ncmc.net/ Northampton Community Music Center] (NCMC) fill the streets with music.
* Thornes Marketplace in downtown Northampton contains shops, restaurants, a gallery and a performing space where local dance and theater performances occur regularly.
On a small hill overlooking the city sits a simple stone monument marking the spot of the hangings of Daley and Halligan, two Irishmen wrongfully accused of murder in the early 1800s

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 28,978 people, 11,880 households, and 5,880 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 324.7/km² (841.0/mi²). There were 12,405 housing units at an average density of 139.0/km² (360.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.01% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.08% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.13% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.41% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.03% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.24% of the population.

There were 11,880 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.5% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 17.0% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 75.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,808, and the median income for a family was $56,844. Males had a median income of $37,264 versus $30,728 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $24,022. About 5.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Northampton has four [[elementary school]]s (kindergarten through 5th grade), one [[middle school]] (6th to 8th grade), one [[high school]] (9th to 12th grade), and one [[vocational school|vocational-agricultural high school]] (9th to 12th grade).

==Notable residents==
*[[Calvin Coolidge]]; served as mayor of Northampton before becoming [[governor]] of [[Massachusetts]] and [[President of the United States of America|U.S. president]]
*[[Jonathan Edwards (theology)|Jonathan Edwards]], 18c Congregational theologian, philosopher, leader of [[First Great Awakening]] and local pastor
*[[William Cullen Bryant]], 19c author and newspaper editor
*[[Eric Carle]], children's book author and illustrator
*[[Lydia Maria Child]], authoress of the [[Thanksgiving]] poem "Over the River and Through the Woods"
*[[Kevin Eastman]] and [[Peter Laird]] published [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] comics from their Northampton studio
*[[William Monahan]], novelist and screenwriter
*[[Thurston Moore]] and [[Kim Gordon]] of the band [[Sonic Youth]]
*[[Sylvester Graham]], namesake of the [[Graham Cracker]]
*[[Sojourner Truth]], African American [[abolitionist]] and orator
*[[Kurt Vonnegut]], author
*[[Elinor Lipman]], author
*[[Augusten Burroughs]], author, his bestseller Running with Scissors describes his strange childhood in Northampton
*[[Chris Collingwood]], lead singer of the band [[Fountains of Wayne]]
*[[Talisa Soto]], actress
*[[Herbert Gintis]], economist
*[[Anthony Giardina]], author
*[[Tracy Kidder]], author
*[[José Molina]], member, USA national [[Indoor field hockey]] team

==Bibliography==
* Kerry W. Buckley, ed. ''A Place Called Paradise: Culture and Community in Northampton, Massachusetts, 1654-2004''. Northampton: Historic Northampton Museum and Education Center, in association with University of Massachusetts Press, 2004. ix + 523 pp. ISBN 978-1-55849-485-5. reprints 20 essays by scholars
* Tracy Kidder. ''Home Town'' [1999], nonfiction by reporter

==External links==
*[http://www.northamptonma.gov/ City of Northampton's official website]
*[http://visitnorthampton.net/ Visit Northampton (city guide website)]

*[http://www.smith.edu/ Smith College]
*[http://www.northampton.k12.ma.us Northampton Public Schools]
*[http://www.forbeslibrary.org/ Forbes Library (Northampton)]

*[http://www.paradisecityforum.net/ Paradise City Forum-Northampton's public discussion group website]
*[http://historic-northampton.org/ Historic Northampton (historical society website)]
*[http://local.masslive.com Your Stories Northampton]

*[http://www.gazettenet.com/ Daily Hampshire Gazette, the (Northampton newspaper)]
*[http://www.midweekpolitics.com Midweek Politics], a nationally-syndicated political radio show produced and broadcast from Northampton, Massachusetts.
*[http://valleyfreeradio.org Valley Free Radio], a [[low-power FM]] [[community radio]] station, has made its home in Northampton since August 2005.
*[http://tomdevine.net Baystate Objectivist, website often featuring Northampton]

----

[[Category:Cities in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Hampshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Gay villages]]
[[Category:County seats in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Northampton, Massachusetts]]

Northampton

2007-04-22T11:03:18Z

Spica: /* External links */

{{Infobox City
|official_name = Northampton, Massachusetts
|nickname = Noho," "Hamp"
|motto =
|image_skyline = Northampton massachusetts main street 20040912.jpg
|image_caption = Northampton, Massachusetts Main Street
|image_seal = {{#ifeq:Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton, Massachusetts|NorthamptonMassachusettsSeal.png}}
|image_flag =
|image_map = Northampton_ma_highlight.png
|map_caption = Location in Massachusetts
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]]
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1654
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = 1656
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|government_type = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-council city]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Mary Clare Higgins
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 =
|area_total = 92.2
|TotalArea_sq_mi = 35.6
|area_land = 89.3
|LandArea_sq_mi = 34.5
|area_water = 3.0
|WaterArea_sq_mi = 1.1
|population_as_of = 2000
|settlement_type =
|population_total = 28978
|population_density = 324.7
|population_density_mi2 = 841.0
|elevation = 43
|elevation_ft = 140
|timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd=42 |latm=19 |lats=30 |latNS=N
|longd=72 |longm=38 |longs=30 |longEW=W
|website = http://www.northamptonma.gov/
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 01060
|area_code = [[Area code 413|413]]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Northampton''' is a city in [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]], [[Massachusetts]], [[USA]]. The population was 28,978 at the 2000 census. It is the [[county seat]] of Hampshire County.

==History==
The area now known as Northampton was inhabited by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], such as the [[Pocomtuc]], Nonotuck [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]], and [[Mahican]], for thousands of years before the [[European colonization of the Americas|arrival of Europeans]]. They called it Norwottuck, or Nonotuck, meaning "the midst of the river." Colonial Northampton was founded in [[1654]] by settlers from [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]. Initial cooperation between the settlers and the Natives gave way to conflict, evidence of which can today be seen most clearly in nearby [[Historic Deerfield]]. Northampton hosted its own [[Salem witch trials|witch trials]] in the [[18th century]], although no (accused) witches were executed. Members of the community were among the signatories of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. (See the external link to Historic Northampton below for more.)

Northampton was linked to the sea by the [[Hampshire and Hampden Canal]] in 1835, but the canal enterprise foundered and after about a decade was replaced by a railroad running along the same route. A [[flood]] on the [[Mill River (Hampshire Co., Massachusetts)|Mill River]] on [[May 16]], [[1874]], killed 51 people in the [[Leeds, Massachusetts|village of Leeds]] in the township of Northampton.

Northampton, which was incorporated as a city in [[1883]], developed into a thriving community and a local center for commerce, education, and the arts, even supporting a still-extant opera house, the Academy of Music, which functioned as an independent movie house until recently. However, the 800 seat theatre now operates as a venue for rent for local and other productions. In [[1851]], opera singer [[Jenny Lind]], the "[[Swedish]] Nightingale," declared Northampton to be the "Paradise of America." The first game of women's [[basketball]] was played in [[1892]] at [[Smith College]]. [[Immigration|Immigrant]] groups that settled here in large numbers included [[Ireland|Irish]], [[Poland|Polish]], and [[French-Canadian]]; in more recent years, [[Puerto Rican]]s, [[India|Indians]], [[Vietnam|Vietnamese]] and [[Cambodia|Cambodians]] have continued to add to the cultural mosaic. Segments of the [[1966]] film ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' were filmed in and around Northampton during the fall of [[1965]]. When not filming, [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and [[Richard Burton]] frequented Northampton's Academy of Music, where they sat in the balcony to watch movies. Other films filmed in Northampton include the [[Academy Awards|Academy-Award]]-winning ''[[Cider House Rules]],'' ''[[Malice (movie)|Malice]]'' with [[Nicole Kidman]] and [[Alec Baldwin]], ''[[In Dreams]]'' with [[Annette Bening]] and [[Robert Downey Jr.]], and ''[[Sylvia (2003 film)|Sylvia]]'' with [[Gwyneth Paltrow]]. It is also known as the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The concept was created and developed here by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

Northampton today is a popular destination for [[tourism|tourists]], who come to sample the city's shopping and [[restaurant]]s. It remains a showplace for the [[arts]], and was rated as the top "Small Arts Town" in the country by travel writer John Villani, author of "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" (3rd edition, published by John Muir Publications). It is an open and tolerant community, and is home to a sizeable [[lesbian]] community. The town has ties to the controversial children's book, "[[Heather Has Two Mommies]]."

Author [[Tracy Kidder]] documented the many layers of Northampton society at the end of the 20th century in his nonfiction book ''Home Town.''

==Geography==
Northampton sits on the banks of the [[Connecticut River]], in the [[Pioneer Valley]] of [[Western Massachusetts]]. It is located at {{coor dms|42|19|39|N|72|39|28|W|city}} (42.327389, -72.657677).{{GR|1}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 92.2 [[km²]] (35.6 [[square mile|mi²]]). 89.3 km² (34.5 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.20%) is water.

Inclusive within the city limits are the villages of [[Florence, Massachusetts|Florence]], [[Bay State, Massachusetts|Bay State]] and [[Leeds, Massachusetts|Leeds]]. It is bordered to the north by the towns of [[Hatfield, Massachusetts|Hatfield]] and [[Williamsburg, Massachusetts|Williamsburg]], to the west by [[Westhampton, Massachusetts|Westhampton]], to the east by [[Hadley, Massachusetts|Hadley]] (across the [[Connecticut River]]), and to the south by [[Easthampton, Massachusetts|Easthampton]].

==Politics==
Northampton is also considered by many as something of a [[liberal]] mecca, due in part to the [[Five Colleges (Massachusetts)|five colleges]] in the area and the city's large [[GLBT]] community. [[Smith College]], which has an active and progressive lesbian community, is part of the center of the city's activities.

However, there is another aspect of [[Smith College]]'s presence in the community which emerges politically. [[Smith College]] has also been at odds with the community from time-to-time, most recently with the construction of its new engineering and molecular sciences complex, which shall cause many low-income residents to be displaced. <ref>http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:E5wNQ-A3_UgJ:www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm%3Fid_no%3D120700532004+Joseph+Krupczynski+%22smith+college%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=13</ref>

The city is home to the national office of the [[BORDC|Bill of Rights Defense Committee]], a civil liberties advocacy group; as well as [[Free Press]], a non-profit advocating media reform and citizen involvement in media public policy. The [[antipsychiatry]] community and advocacy group [[Freedom Center (antipsychiatry)|Freedom Center]] also operates out of Northampton.

As of 2007, [[Clare Higgins|Mary Clare Higgins]] is the Mayor.

The [http://www.paradisecityforum.net/ Paradise City Forum] was founded November, 2001 to provide a nonpartisan discussion tool for the community.

In the 2004 presidential election, multiple wards within Northampton recorded 80%+ of the votes going to Kerry/Edwards.

==Attractions==
[[Image:Hampshirecountycourthouse.jpg|right|thumb|Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton]]
[[Image:Conn._River.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Connecticut River]] in Northampton]]
* [[Smith College]] is a [[women's college]] (one of the [[Seven Sisters (colleges)|Seven Sisters]]) founded in [[1871]]. It is also one of the [[Five Colleges (Massachusetts)|Five Colleges]].
* [[Clarke School For The Deaf]] specializes in oral education (speech and [[lip-reading]], as opposed to [[American Sign Language|signing]]), and holds an annual summer camp, the theme varying from summer to summer.
* Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Rainbow Beach, Roberts Hill Conservation Area, Mineral Hills Conservation Area, and Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area provide a portion of the protected open space that covers 15% of the City.
* [http://www.lookpark.org/ Look Park] is a 150+ acre recreational [[park]] founded in [[1930]].
* Northampton is becoming a [[rail trail]] hub. Currently, the Norwottuck Rail Trail extends ten miles from Northampton to [[Amherst, Massachusetts|Amherst]] and [[Belchertown, Massachusetts|Belchertown]], the 2.5 mile Northampton Bike Path extends from downtown Northampton to [[Florence, Massachusetts|Florence]], and the Manhan Rail Trail Spur extends 0.5 miles from Route 66 to Florence Road. Four other rail trail extensions are under construction, in the bidding process, or planned for the short term.
* [[The Botanic Garden of Smith College]] is a diverse outdoor collection of trees, shrubs, and plants, as well as a fine collection of plant conservatories for the tropics, semi-tropics, and desert regions. It also includes an indoor [[greenhouse]].
* [http://www.3countyfair.com/ The Three County Fair] claims to be the "longest consecutive running [[agricultural show|agricultural fair]] in the country," having been established and incorporated in [[1818]].
* Many concerts. Due to its relative proximity to Boston and strong arts community, many musicians perform in Northampton at local venues such as the Calvin theater, the Iron Horse Tavern, and the Pearl Street music hall.
* The [http://www.niff.org/ Northampton Independent Film Festival] (NIFF) is held each fall. Founded as the Northampton Film Festival in 1995 by Howard Polonsky and Dee DeGeiso, it has continued to grow under a variety of directors. It is one of the largest in New England.
* The Academy of Music, built in [[1890]] by Edward H.R. Lyman, is the only municipally owned [[theater (structure)|theatre]] in the nation, and was the first to be so owned; it is also one of the six oldest theatres, nationally. [[Boris Karloff]] and [[Harry Houdini]] (who installed a trap door in the stage) performed here. The Academy is still in operation today.
* The [http://www.forbeslibrary.org/ Forbes Library] built in [[1894]] is the [[public library]] for Northampton.
* [[Mirage Studios]], the Creators of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] Franchise. In the TMNT series, the turtles and [[Casey Jones (TMNT)|Casey Jones]] visit Casey Jones' grandmother's [[farm]] in Northampton, Massachusetts.
* Each May, students from the [http://www.ncmc.net/ Northampton Community Music Center] (NCMC) fill the streets with music.
* Thornes Marketplace in downtown Northampton contains shops, restaurants, a gallery and a performing space where local dance and theater performances occur regularly.
On a small hill overlooking the city sits a simple stone monument marking the spot of the hangings of Daley and Halligan, two Irishmen wrongfully accused of murder in the early 1800s

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 28,978 people, 11,880 households, and 5,880 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 324.7/km² (841.0/mi²). There were 12,405 housing units at an average density of 139.0/km² (360.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.01% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.08% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.13% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.41% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.03% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.24% of the population.

There were 11,880 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.5% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 17.0% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 75.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,808, and the median income for a family was $56,844. Males had a median income of $37,264 versus $30,728 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $24,022. About 5.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Northampton has four [[elementary school]]s (kindergarten through 5th grade), one [[middle school]] (6th to 8th grade), one [[high school]] (9th to 12th grade), and one [[vocational school|vocational-agricultural high school]] (9th to 12th grade).

==Notable residents==
*[[Calvin Coolidge]]; served as mayor of Northampton before becoming [[governor]] of [[Massachusetts]] and [[President of the United States of America|U.S. president]]
*[[Jonathan Edwards (theology)|Jonathan Edwards]], 18c Congregational theologian, philosopher, leader of [[First Great Awakening]] and local pastor
*[[William Cullen Bryant]], 19c author and newspaper editor
*[[Eric Carle]], children's book author and illustrator
*[[Lydia Maria Child]], authoress of the [[Thanksgiving]] poem "Over the River and Through the Woods"
*[[Kevin Eastman]] and [[Peter Laird]] published [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] comics from their Northampton studio
*[[William Monahan]], novelist and screenwriter
*[[Thurston Moore]] and [[Kim Gordon]] of the band [[Sonic Youth]]
*[[Sylvester Graham]], namesake of the [[Graham Cracker]]
*[[Sojourner Truth]], African American [[abolitionist]] and orator
*[[Kurt Vonnegut]], author
*[[Elinor Lipman]], author
*[[Augusten Burroughs]], author, his bestseller Running with Scissors describes his strange childhood in Northampton
*[[Chris Collingwood]], lead singer of the band [[Fountains of Wayne]]
*[[Talisa Soto]], actress
*[[Herbert Gintis]], economist
*[[Anthony Giardina]], author
*[[Tracy Kidder]], author
*[[José Molina]], member, USA national [[Indoor field hockey]] team

==Bibliography==
* Kerry W. Buckley, ed. ''A Place Called Paradise: Culture and Community in Northampton, Massachusetts, 1654-2004''. Northampton: Historic Northampton Museum and Education Center, in association with University of Massachusetts Press, 2004. ix + 523 pp. ISBN 978-1-55849-485-5. reprints 20 essays by scholars
* Tracy Kidder. ''Home Town'' [1999], nonfiction by reporter

==External links==
*[http://www.northamptonma.gov/ City of Northampton's official website]
*[http://visitnorthampton.net/ Visit Northampton (city guide website)]

*[http://www.smith.edu/ Smith College]
*[http://www.northampton.k12.ma.us Northampton Public Schools]
*[http://www.forbeslibrary.org/ Forbes Library (Northampton)]

*[http://www.paradisecityforum.net/ Paradise City Forum-Northampton's public discussion group website]
*[http://historic-northampton.org/ Historic Northampton (historical society website)]
*[http://local.masslive.com Your Stories Northampton]

*[http://www.gazettenet.com/ Daily Hampshire Gazette, the (Northampton newspaper)]
*[http://www.midweekpolitics.com Midweek Politics], a nationally-syndicated political radio show produced and broadcast from Northampton, Massachusetts.
*[http://valleyfreeradio.org Valley Free Radio], a [[low-power FM]] [[community radio]] station, has made its home in Northampton since August 2005.
*[http://tomdevine.net Baystate Objectivist, website often featuring Northampton]

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{{Massachusetts}}

[[Category:Cities in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Hampshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Gay villages]]
[[Category:County seats in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Northampton, Massachusetts]]