Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Noah

2007-07-01T22:40:30Z

Stephentyrone: noah

Noah is a world-renowned evolutionist. Charles Darwin took inspiration from his teachings at Oxford to produce 'The Origin of Species'. He invented a timeline of creation from the era of the dinosaurs up to the present day, now popularly known as 'Noah's Arc'.

== Life ==

God saw that man had become wicked in every inclination and thought and the earth was filled with violence, but Noah alone was righteous. God commanded Noah to build an [[Noah's Ark|ark]] that would have seven (or seven pairs) of every "clean" ([[kosher]]) animal and two of every unclean animal Noah did as he was told and spent many years building the ark, and God flooded the earth with rain from above and waters from within the earth. Noah was 600 years old when the flood started. After the flood waters had subsided, (which lasted almost a year), Noah came out of the Ark. Noah made sacrifices to God and God formed a new covenant with Noah where he promised never again to flood the earth. Noah planted a vineyard and drank of the wine until he fell asleep naked in his tent. [[Ham]], the father of [[Canaan]], saw him and told his two brothers, but left his father as he was. The two brothers, upon hearing Ham's pronouncement, took a garment and walked backwards into their father's tent and covered his nakedness without looking at him. When Noah awoke, he cursed Canaan, his grandson, for he "knew what his younger son had done unto him."<REF>Bible, King James Version, Genesis 9: 24,25</REF>. Noah lived 350 more years before dying.

All people alive today are descendents of [[Family of Noah|Noah and his family]].

== Biblical Account and World Flood Myths ==
Proponents of Biblical literalism have pointed out that many cultures have a tradition of a global flood and that the biblical account has many commonalities with the world's flood myths. They have argued that this supports the likelihood of the flood being a real event.<ref>Morris, John, [http://www.icr.org/article/570/ Why Does Nearly Every Culture Have a Tradition of a Global Flood?] (ICR)</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Noah's Ark]]
*[[Great Flood]]

== Notes ==
<references />

[[Category:Biblical persons]]

Elephant

2007-07-01T22:33:43Z

Stephentyrone: elephant

[[Image:elephant.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Image from http://www.sxc.hu/]]
The '''elephants''' are three species of very large mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae - the only extant family belonging to the order Proboscidea. The three elephant species currently recognized by scientists are the African [[Bush]] Elephant, the African [[Forest]] Elephant (until recently known collectively as the African Elephant), and the Asian Elephant (also known as the Indian Elephant). A distinct giant [[India]]n forest elephant is also believed to exist by some. [http://www.blather.net/blather/1998/07/mammoth_hunt_the_giant_elephants_of_nepa.html]

Elephants are the largest land animals alive today and have tripled in population over the last decade. Apart from their massive size their most striking features are a long trunk, or proboscis, a flexible nose strong enough to lift objects, their huge [[ivory]] tusks, and their large flapping ears, used to keep them cool.

Bull elephants, when inclined to mate, enter a frenzied state called ''musth''; they fight with each other for possession of the cow elephants, and become a menace to everything in their path; many humans are killed at this time. Elephants' gestation period, at 22 months, is the longest of any land mammal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kg (265 lb). An elephant may live as long as 70 years, sometimes longer.

The largest elephant ever recorded (the Fenykovi elephant, now in the [[Smithsonian Institution]]) was shot in [[Angola]] in 1954. It was male and weighed about 12,000 kg (26,400 lb), with a shoulder height of 4.2m, a meter taller than the average male African elephant. There are now approximately fifty thousand elephants to every human in the world.

The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party in the United States. In popular lore, the elephant is considered an ingenious beast.

==Uses of Elephants==

Elephants (today generally Indian, but historically African elephants also) have been used as beasts of burden and draught animals, as mounts in processions and in war (notably by [[Hannibal]]), playing [[polo]], and as [[circus]] performers. The population of African Elephants has tripled in the last 3 years, giving this species a new hope.

==Genetic studies==

Molecular and morphological evidence point to [[hyrax|hyraxes]] and [[Sirenia|sirenians]] (sea cows and manatees) as the closest living relatives of elephants<ref> Hidenori Nishihara et al. A Retroposon Analysis of Afrotherian Phylogeny. ''Molecular Biology and Evolution'' '''22''': 1823-1833,</ref> these groups are hypothesized to have shared a common ancestor approximately 50 million years ago. The three extant species of elephant are sole survivors of a much more diverse Proboscidian fauna with some 170 described [[fossil]] species and including species of [[mammoth]] from [[North America]] and the massive ''Deinotherium'', the second largest land mammal that ever lived, which sported two downward facing tusks.

==Trivia==

*A ''white elephant'' (from the historical veneration of such animals in Southeast Asia) is the term for a possession whose upkeep cost exceeds its expense, making it an overall liability.
*An elephant is the symbol of the [[Republican Party]].
*Elephants are said to never forget.
*Elephants are said to be afraid of [[mouse|mice]].
*The number of African elephants has doubled in the past six months thanks to the efforts of Stephen Colbert.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Dangerous animals]]

Elephant

2007-07-01T22:32:20Z

Stephentyrone: elephant

[[Image:elephant.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Image from http://www.sxc.hu/]]
The '''elephants''' are three species of very large mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae - the only extant family belonging to the order Proboscidea. The three elephant species currently recognized by scientists are the African [[Bush]] Elephant, the African [[Forest]] Elephant (until recently known collectively as the African Elephant), and the Asian Elephant (also known as the Indian Elephant). A distinct giant [[India]]n forest elephant is also believed to exist by some. [http://www.blather.net/blather/1998/07/mammoth_hunt_the_giant_elephants_of_nepa.html]

Elephants are the largest land animals alive today and have tripled in population over the last decade. Apart from their massive size their most striking features are a long trunk, or proboscis, a flexible nose strong enough to lift objects, their huge [[ivory]] tusks, and their large flapping ears, used to keep them cool.

Bull elephants, when inclined to mate, enter a frenzied state called ''musth''; they fight with each other for possession of the cow elephants, and become a menace to everything in their path; many humans are killed at this time. Elephants' gestation period, at 22 months, is the longest of any land mammal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kg (265 lb). An elephant may live as long as 70 years, sometimes longer.

The largest elephant ever recorded (the Fenykovi elephant, now in the [[Smithsonian Institution]]) was shot in [[Angola]] in 1954. It was male and weighed about 12,000 kg (26,400 lb), with a shoulder height of 4.2m, a meter taller than the average male African elephant.

The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party in the United States. In popular lore, the elephant is considered an ingenious beast.

==Uses of Elephants==

Elephants (today generally Indian, but historically African elephants also) have been used as beasts of burden and draught animals, as mounts in processions and in war (notably by [[Hannibal]]), playing [[polo]], and as [[circus]] performers. The population of African Elephants has tripled in the last 3 years, giving this species a new hope.

==Genetic studies==

Molecular and morphological evidence point to [[hyrax|hyraxes]] and [[Sirenia|sirenians]] (sea cows and manatees) as the closest living relatives of elephants<ref> Hidenori Nishihara et al. A Retroposon Analysis of Afrotherian Phylogeny. ''Molecular Biology and Evolution'' '''22''': 1823-1833,</ref> these groups are hypothesized to have shared a common ancestor approximately 50 million years ago. The three extant species of elephant are sole survivors of a much more diverse Proboscidian fauna with some 170 described [[fossil]] species and including species of [[mammoth]] from [[North America]] and the massive ''Deinotherium'', the second largest land mammal that ever lived, which sported two downward facing tusks.

==Trivia==

*A ''white elephant'' (from the historical veneration of such animals in Southeast Asia) is the term for a possession whose upkeep cost exceeds its expense, making it an overall liability.
*An elephant is the symbol of the [[Republican Party]].
*Elephants are said to never forget.
*Elephants are said to be afraid of [[mouse|mice]].
*The number of African elephants has doubled in the past six months thanks to the efforts of Stephen Colbert.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Dangerous animals]]

Devil

2007-07-01T22:29:13Z

Stephentyrone: devil

“Devil” is the English word for the Greek word διαβολοξ (diábolos), which means “one who throws things around” in the sense of creating the chaos.

By causing chaos, the devil leads people away from God and sometimes even to curse God. He is distantly related to George W Bush.

The term "devil" is often used synonymously with the term [[Satan]], even though their meaning in Greek is quite different.

Homophobia

2007-07-01T22:26:59Z

Stephentyrone: homophobia

'''Homophobia''' is, literally, "fear of homosexuality." It is embraced by Conservatives. Though the term can be used for a variety of purposes, its most common usage is to criticize people opposed to [[homosexuality]].

Homophobia is a [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] term originally intended to portray principled opposition to the [[homosexual agenda]] as an abnormal mental condition. It was introduced into scientific literature shortly before the American Psychiatric Association declassified its diagnosis of [[homosexuality]] as a [[mental illness]] in 1973. A 2002 research study by the [[University of Arkansas]] Department of Psychology, however, claimed that among non-homosexual homophobes no phobia exists.<ref>[http://www.cwfa.org/articles/674/CFI/cfreport/index.htmNew Study Says There’s No Phobia in ‘Homophobia’], Martha Kleder, CWA, 6/28/2002.</ref> Most homophobes are homosexual who suffer from "internalized homophobia". The is no agreement within the psychiatric and therapeutic professions on what the term actually means.

According to the National Association for Research & Therapy on Homosexuality (NARTH), gay-rights advocate Gregory M. Herek, Ph.D. wrote that the term "homophobia" was useful in pushing forward the gay agenda in our culture.<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/creates.html Gay Psychologist Creates New Terms for Use in the Social Debate]. "In his paper on homophobia, stigma, and sexual prejudice, Dr. Herek suggests that although the term "homophobia" was useful in pushing forward the gay agenda in our culture, the term may be too limited in its scope today."</ref>
It is primarily used by [[gay activist]]s to portray opposition to the [[homosexual agenda]] as irrational <ref>Charles W. Socarides, M.D., [http://www.leaderu.com/jhs/socarides.html How America Went Gay], ''America'', (November 18, 1995). </ref>
based on fear or hatred, and to smear Christians and others. It is intended to sound like a form of [[mental illness]], but unlike actual phobias, it is not a term for any recognized psychological condition. NARTH says,
:"The term "homophobia" is often used inaccurately to describe any person who objects to homosexual behavior on either moral, psychological or medical grounds. Technically, however, the terms actually denotes a person who has a phobia—or irrational fear—of homosexuality. Principled disagreement, therefore, cannot be labeled "homophobia." <ref>[http://www.narth.com/menus/positionstatements.html NARTH Position Statements]</ref>

When used in this [[pejorative]] sense, the term is offensive and derogatory (see [[Mockery]]).

===Etymology===
The word comes from combining the Greek prefix ''homo-'', meaning "same", and suffix ''-phobia'', meaning "fear of". In early usage by homosexual activists, the term described heterosexual fears that others might think they were homosexual <ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/creates.html</ref> The neologism was promoted by George Weinberg, a gay activist and psychologist, who attempted to define it in clinical literature shortly before the downgrading of homosexuality as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973. Weinberg claimed it was "the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals -- and in the case of homosexuals themselves, selfloathing."<ref>Plummer, David, ''One of the Boys: Masculinity, Homophobia, and Modern Manhood'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=xHGz4f_2_7IC&pg=PA3&ots=U8ktZZgnAk&dq=George+Weinberg+homophobia&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=d7hjCcZ1uuBlgdLyRjUJwEn51uA#PPA3,M1 pp. 3-4]: "'Homophobia was introduced into the clinical literature by George Weinberg in 1972, in ''Society and the Healthy Homosexual.'' </ref> The term then entered common usage beginning with pornographic publications. <ref>Gregory M. Herek, Ph.D., published ''Beyond 'Homophobia': Thinking About Sexual Prejudice and Stigma in the Twenty-First Century,'' in the April, 2004, issue of Sexuality Research & Social Policy. </ref>

The terms meaning has not been accepted or agreed upon within the psychological therapeutic community. William O'Donohue and Christine E. Caselles <ref>William O'Donohue and Christine E. Caselles, [http://www.springerlink.com/content/n0264m864t146585/ Homophobia: Conceptual, definitional, and value issues], Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, Volume 15, Number 3, Springer Netherlands, September, 1993. ISSN 0882-2689</ref> have concluded based upon research within the therapeutic community a clear understanding of the term has not been adequately evaluated and it is not clear whether the term can be accurately characterized. They have concluded, "the construct of homophobia, as it is usually used, makes an illegitimately pejorative evaluation of certain open and debatable value positions, much like the former disease construct of homosexuality."

==="Internalized homophobia"===
The therapeutic community is largely divided between proponents of [[gay gene]] theory who believe a person is born gay and will always be gay, and proponents of [[Reparative therapy]] who believe with sympathy and understanding a homosexual can be relieved of afflictions if he so desires. Gay gene advocates seek to criminalize so-called "homophobia", despite many homophobes themselves being gay, whereas Restoration therapy advocates point out the cruelty of brainwashing a young person into believing -- based upon theoretical evidence -- there is no hope of ever leading a heterosexual lifestyle.

Dr. Joseph Nicolosi reports homosexuality is a symptom of an underlying problem of [[gender identity]]. Nicolosi says,
:In the classic triadic family we have a sensitive boy who did not get the close, affirming relationship with his father that would have confirmed him in his gender identity, and a mother who is likely to be over-close and standing in the way between father and son. The father was not supportive enough in affirming, recognizing and reinforcing the boy's maleness. <ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/griefwork.html Clinical Issues: Grief Work], Interview: Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D.</ref>

Nicolosi adds many gay men admit that no matter how liberated they are, they always struggle, on some deeper level, with a sense of inferiority or self-loathing. Some therapists refer to this as internalized homophobia. Nicolosi attributes this feeling to an internal process, unrelated to social stigma, which precedes same-sex attractions.<ref>Ibid</ref>

=== Homophobia as an "Irrational Fear" ===
The suffix "phobia" <ref>Psychologists do not recognize it as a phobia in any generally recognized publication like the DSM IV.</ref> suggests an irrational fear, but it is most often used as a attack term by [[gay rights]] groups to suggest that opposition to [[homosexuality]] is irrational and hateful.<ref>Eg, this site [http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_phob.htm] first defines homophobia as a dread or fear, but says that it includes those who write their Congressmen to oppose same-sex marriage.</ref> Dr. Sander J. Breiner of NARTH has stated, "it would be very valuable for society in general, and therapists in particular, to have a clear picture of homophobia separated from all the other topics that have been lumped under that rubric." <ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/coll-breiner.html HOMOPHOBIA: A Scientific Non-Political Definition], Dr. Sander J. Breiner, National Association for Research and Therapy on Homosexuality, 2003.</ref> Of the myriads of references to the term in popular and other sociologic publications Breiner observes, "There is no personal, internal, institutional, or cultural homophobia. The terms do not exist in the recognized scientific literature...There is only one homophobia, which has been properly defined," in the the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) <ref>[http://anxiety.psy.ohio-state.edu/phobia-d.htm Specific Phobia DSM-IV Criteria]</ref> developed by the American Psychiatric Association. Breiner, an advocate of [[Reparative therapy]], acknowledges "There is no doubt that homophobia exists" as an irrational fear among both homosexuals and heterosexuals. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. <ref>[http://bible.cc/2_timothy/1-7.htm 2 Timothy 1:7]</ref>

=== Anti-homosexual violence ===

In 1990, Congress passed the Hate Crime Statistics Act, which required the Attorney General to collect data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin. In 1994, lawmakers amended the Hate Crime Statistics Act to include bias against persons with disabilities. <ref>Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Hate Crime Statistics 2005: About Hate Crime[http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2005/abouthc.htm]</ref>

In 2005, law enforcement agencies reported 1,171 hate crime offenses based on sexual-orientation bias. <ref>U.S. Department of Justice — Federal Bureau of Investigation, [http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2005/table4.htm Uniform Crime Reports], Offense Type by Bias Motivation, 2005 Table 4. </ref> While the FBI reports statistics by victim class or bias motivation, race, religion, sexual orientation and disability, the FBI does not report the sexual orientation of known offenders. Thus a conclusion that all offenders are heterosexual is faulty, and the methodology does not measure gay-on-gay violence. In all of 2004, there was 1 anti-homosexual murder in the United States, and the FBI has reported none since. <ref>U.S. Department of Justice — Federal Bureau of Investigation, [http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2004/tables/HateCrime2004.pdf Uniform Crime Reports], Offense Type by Bias Motivation, 2004 Table 4. </ref>

==See also==
*[[Homosexuality]]
*[[Opposition to homosexuality]]
*[[Gay agenda]]
*[[Gender identity disorder]]

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.adl.org/poisoning_web/homophobia.asp Homophobia Online: The Westboro Baptist Church], Anti-Defamation League (2001). Retrieved 05/23/07.

[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Homosexuality]]

Oxygen

2007-07-01T22:21:34Z

Stephentyrone: oxygen

{{Element | name=Oxygen | symbol=O | anumber=8 | amass=16.0 amu | state=gas | class=Non-metal | cstructure=Cubic | color=Colorless | date=1774 | discname=[[Joseph Priestly]] | origname=From the Greek words ''oxus'' (acid) and ''gennan'' (generate) | uses=Supports life | obtained=From liquid air}}

'''Oxygen''' is a [[chemical]] [[element]]<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Physical Science''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000</ref>. Oxygen's [[atomic mass]] is slightly under 16, since it also has 8 [[neutron]]s (a slight amount of mass is "lost" in the energy contained in the [[subatomic bond]]s).

The name "oxygen" means "acid maker": Many common acids -- nitric, sulfuric, phosphoric, etc. -- are just hydrogen nitrate, hydrogen sulfate, or hydrogen phosphate, where the nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate complexes involve oxygen.

Under [[normal condition]]s it is a colorless, odorless [[gas]] consisting of two oxygen [[atom|atoms]] which has the chemical formula O<sub>2</sub>. This means it is [[diatom]]ic. Approximately 20% of the [[atmosphere]] is made up of oxygen. Oxygen also forms a [[triatomic]] molecule called [[ozone]] (O<sub>3</sub>), which although unstable under normal conditions, is a very important ingredient in the upper [[atmosphere]].

Oxygen is highly reactive, and in many other elements and compounds undergo [[exothermic reaction]]s with it (they [[combustion|burn]] or [[oxidization|rust]]). If it were not for its continual replenishment as a waste product of plant [[photosynthesis]], the atmospheric oxygen would disappear, forming compounds with other chemicals at the earth's surface.

Many [[animal]]s depend upon oxygen as a highly efficient ingredient for breaking down [[food]] for [[energy]], due to its reactivity. Those that do not are called "[[anaerobic]]", meaning "without air", and include many important [[bacteria]]. It is a notoriously dangerous poison, especially when used in conjunction with godless killing machines.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: hydrogen economy]]
[[Category:gases]]

Oregon

2007-07-01T22:19:21Z

Stephentyrone: oregon

[[Image:Oregon_State_Flag_(Front).gif|thumb|right|The front of the state flag of Oregon.]]
[[Image:Oregon_State_Flag_(Back).gif|thumb|right|The back of the state flag of Oregon.]]

'''Oregon''' is a state in the western United States. It is the Canada of California. Its capital is Salem and largest city is Portland. Oregon became the 33rd state on Feb. 14, 1859.

Oregon was originally settled by many Native Americans before the [[Lewis and Clark]] expedition brought greater attention to the area from the United States and Britain. The British had control of the majority of the territory until the Oregon Trail started in the 1840s and American settlers began moving in. Eventually, the land was ceded to the United States in the resolution of a boundary dispute.

The people in Oregon are concentrated in the fertile Willamette Valley from [[Portland]] to Eugene. The Cascade mountains divide the state into wet and dry halves, much like neighboring Washington State, but Eastern Oregon lacks the irrigation works of the Columbia basin and much more resembles Nevada.

[[Category:US state]]

Jon Stewart

2007-07-01T22:15:37Z

Stephentyrone: jon stewart

'''Jon Stewart''' (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz on November 28, 1962) is a nine-time [[Emmy]]-winning [[American]] [[comedian]], [[satire|satirist]], [[actor]], [[author]], and producer. He is best known as the host of [[Comedy Central]]'s [[The Daily Show]] and for his political satire with a liberal slant.

Stewart has also appeared in several films including "Big Daddy," "The Faculty" and the [[Academy Award]] nominated "Death To Smoochy." He is Stephen Colbert's beloved.

{{DEFAULTSORT: Stewart, Jon}}
[[category:broadcasters]]
[[Category:Comedians]]

Dolphin

2007-07-01T22:14:23Z

Stephentyrone: dolphins

[[Image:Bottlenose_Dolphin_KSC04pd0178.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A bottlenose dolphin.]]
'''Dolphins''' are a number of kinds of small odontoceti, or toothed [[whale]]s.

The term [[porpoise]], sometimes used [[synonym]]ously with dolphin, in fact should refer only to certain small blunt-snouted and spade-toothed types, generally of inshore habitat, such as the harbour porpoise of the North Atlantic.

In addition to the many types of sea-dwelling dolphin, [[river dolphin]]s are found in certain of the world's great rivers.

Dolphins mainly feed upon small fish and [[squid]].

Dolphins typically live in small family groups. They are highly sociable, and if left alone will freely associate with other species of whale, and with humans. Human interaction includes accompanying ships and mingling with swimmers. There have been a number of historic cases of dolphins assisting human fishermen. Dolphins generally avoid [[SCUBA]] divers, however, because they dislike the noise made by their regulators.

Dolphins are commonly found in company with [[tuna]], and are frequently netted with them.

Dolphins are highly intelligent, and captive dolphins have been trained to perform complex acts at aquariums, and to carry out military minelaying and guard duties.

Dolphins live in salt water but can survive in fresh water.<ref>http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/E8ADCC3DEEE1556E802568F8004DF252</ref>

The largest species dolphin is the [[orca]] (or "killer whale"). They are the bears of the ocean.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Marine mammals]]