Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Ancient art

2010-05-21T03:31:59Z

Truthmeister:

'''Ancient art''' can be defined as [[art]] created by cultures in [[pre-history]], and early history. The study of ancient art plays a part in scholarly understanding both pre-historical peoples and in developing deeper understanding of all Ancient peoples. Art has not only helped historians understand more about things such as the way ancient people dressed, what their homes looked like, what they treasured most, and their living. It has also shed light upon peoples various religions, systems of worship, and spirituality. Since there were no styles or "schools" of art, and since each community tended to be isolated from other communities, cultures tended to have their own take on art.

Though not always the case, most "ancient art" was related to the religion of a given people.

The Egyptians were one of the greatest lovers of architecture and sculpture, using art as a way to interact with their gods, with the dead, and with the afterlife. Art, combined with writing, adorned temple walls as well as the burial chambers of the dead. The City of the Dead is guarded by a work of ancient art, the [[Sphinx]]. The Egyptians also excelled at using metals and stones and gems to decorate their sculptures.

The [[Mesopotamians]] created a series of tiles that when placed together would form an image, generally displaying the link between the gods and their kings. The [[Babylonians]] practiced all the Mesopotamian arts and excelled in the creation colored tiles, used to create sculptures.

The [[Sumerians]] made carvings in lapis lazuli, ivory and limestone. A royal grave in [[Ur]] depicted a wheeled cart or chariot in '''bitumen''', a sort of mosaic with engraved drawings.
[[File:Dwarf Jaina Campeche.jpg|thumb|Mayan figurine at [[Jaina]], Campeche.]]
The [[Aztec]] Society carved pictoglyphs into their temples in a cross between art and writing. They also carved statues of their gods into the temples and burial sites.

The Ancient Chinese created line art of ink and paprus; simplistic drawings in style - yet complex in meaning and abstractions. They carved figures into jade and soapstone of the gods, the ancestors, and animal spirits.

In ancient art there are many examples of great battles, celebrations, and how they mourned their dead. In the different ancient cultures they applied various media to tell their stories.
[[Category:Art]]

Cleavage planes

2010-05-21T03:27:51Z

Truthmeister:

'''Cleavage planes''' are common in [[crystal]]line [[mineral]]s. They tend to follow weaker bonded lines through the crystal matrix, and lend a characteristic appearance to many [[minerals]] when they are fractured naturally or by a mineralogist.

The art of [[diamond]] cutting exploits the many possible [[cleavage planes]] in the [[diamond]] crystal in order to create a beautifully [[refraction|refractive]] [[ge]]m from the raw [[material]].

[[Graphite]], a pure [[carbon]] crystal like [[diamond]], is so weakly bonded between its layers that the layers slide readily over one another; hence its use as a [[lubricant]].

[[Category:Geology]]

Department of the Army

2010-05-21T03:23:19Z

Truthmeister:

The [[United States]] '''Department of the Army''' is a part of the Department of the Army at the seat of [[government]] and all field headquarters, forces, Reserve Components, installations, activities, and functions under the [[Secretary of the Army]].
[[Category:Military]]

Woodpecker

2010-05-21T03:21:13Z

Truthmeister:

[[Image:Woodpecker.jpg|right|250px|thumb|An acorn woodpecker.]]
A '''woodpecker''' is a [[bird]] that pounds its [[beak]] into a [[tree]]'s surface to find [[food]].

The woodpecker's strong, pointed beak acts as both a [[drill]] and a crowbar to remove bark and find hiding insects. It has a very long [[tongue]], up to six inches in some species - with a glue-like substance on the top for devouring insects. While most birds have one toe pointing back and four pointing forward on each foot, woodpeckers have toes pointing in each and every direction to help them balance while they hammer. Many woodpecker species also have stiffened tail [[feather|feathers]], which they press against a tree surface to help support their weight. There are over 100 species of woodpeckers.

On average, woodpeckers live for four years.<ref>http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/woodpeckers.php</ref>

== External Links ==
http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/woodpeckers.html
== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Birds]]

Oculus

2010-05-21T03:16:38Z

Truthmeister: Edited for brevity.

An '''oculus''' is a circular opening in a roof which allows for rain to spill through the roof to illuminate the interior of a building.<ref>''Oculus'' [http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?oculus Websters Dictionary]. Accessed 12 January 2008.</ref> [[Vatican]] architecture, especially in [[Saint Peter's Basilica]], makes great use of this architectural device. It is a relic of Roman times, in a way, and was used in circular, vaulted temples like the [[Pantheon]] under the Republic.

==References==
<references/>
[[category:Architecture]]

Availability of guns

2010-05-21T03:14:00Z

Truthmeister: Correcting an error: Some governments let ALL employees own guns, but nobody else.

The '''availability of guns''' is restricted in [[totalitarian]] countries to government employees. Private citizens are not allowed to have guns for any purpose. The use of guns to defend against the abuse of power by the state is out of the question in totalitarian countries.

==See also==

* the [[Gun control]] debate
[[Category:Gun control]]