ejaasaari/simplewiki-2025-04-01 huggingface dataset:
The metaverse is a network of virtual places that are linked into a virtual universe. It is often described as a future version of the Internet.  In the metaverse, customizable avatars and dynamic group experiences will enable a new era of social interaction. Weddings, happy hours, and religious ceremonies are increasingly taking place virtually, with individuals participating regardless of their geographic location, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. Metaverse members will engage with and purchase digital and real-world apparel, sporting goods, and other items through virtual shopping malls. Virtual try-on software and augmented reality (AR) capabilities that help buyers in various ways are a natural fit for this use case. Etymology. The word "metaverse" is portmanteau word of the words "meta" and "universe". The term was coined in the 1992 science fiction novel "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson.
This is a list of countries in the 1990s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1999. It contains 241 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 197 widely recognized sovereign states, 28 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered "de facto" dependencies of other powers by the general international community, 2 associated states, 14 states which were initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade, and 1 state which was initially widely recognized but then lost full recognition later in the decade. Other entities. Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:
Hyloidea is a superfamily of frogs. 54% of all living frog and toad species are in Hyloidea. The superfamily Hyloidea started when the ancestor of all its frogs and toads evolved differently from the other animals in the suborder Neobatrachia. This happened at about the same time as the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction 66 million years ago. Scientists have found some fossils from this time but not enough to tell how this event affected these animals. After this extinction event, more forests grew, so the frogs may have changed so they could climb and live in trees. Hyloidea has many subgroups: Shared Characteristics of Hyloidea. Hyloidea is the largest superfamily of anurans due to scientists placing frogs into this family when the relationships to others are unknown. Therefore, Hyloidea has the highest species diversity. Hyloidea are all tailless, have shortened bodies, large mouths and muscular hind legs. Most anurans in the superfamily have a lateral‐bender which is a type of pelvis morphology found in walking, hopping and burrowing frogs. Some species that appear later in the taxon have a sagittal‐hinge pelvis found in aquatic frogs as well as walking, hopping and burrowing frogs and some have a fore–aft slider pelvis found in terrestrial frogs. Hyloidea anurans lack ribs, have complex mouthparts, and their pectoral girdle can be arciferal or firmisternal. They reproduce via axillary amplexus, and their larvae usually have a single spiracle. The average snout-vent length (SVL) of Hyloidea species vary widely, from 10 mm in one species of "Diasporus" to 320 mm in female "Calyptocephalella gayi".  Phylogenic relationships. Anuran animals, frogs and toads, look alike from the outside, so scientists cannot always tell them apart by looking at their morphological characteristics. They use DNA testing to tell which species are related to each other and how. ML analysis and Bayesian analysis are two important ways to do this. Scientists used them with
Flora Lonette Davis Crittenden (August 10, 1924 – November 2, 2021) was an American schoolteacher and Democratic politician. She was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1993 until 2004. Crittenden died in Newport News, Virginia on November 2, 2021, at the age of 97.
Dorothy Gladys Manley (later "Hall", then "Parlett"; 29 April 1927 – 3 November 2021) was a British sprint runner. She competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, where she won the silver medal. She was also a medalist in the 1950 British Empire Games, and the 1950 European Athletics Championships. Manley was born in London. Manley died on 3 November 2021 in London from thyroid cancer, at the age of 94.
Thomas Roland Matte (June 14, 1939November 2, 2021) was an American professional football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) in the 1960s and 1970s. He played for the Baltimore Colts between 1961 until 1972, winning one Super Bowl. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Matte died on November 2, 2021 in Towson, Maryland at the age of 82.
Federico Granja Ricalde (17 August 1942 – 2 November 2021) was a Mexican politician. He was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1979 to 1982, 1985 to 1988, and again from 2000 to 2003. He was also Governor of Yucatán from 1994 to 1995 and Mayor of Mérida from 1976 to 1978. Granja Ricalde died on 2 November 2021 in Mérida at the age of 79.
Andrew Kim (born July 12, 1982) is an American Democratic politician who has been the United States Senator from New Jersey since 2024. He was the U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 2019 to 2024. On January 7, 2021, after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, he cleaning up garbage from the attack. A photograph of him cleaning became popular. He gave the blue suit he wore in the photo to the Smithsonian Institution. Early life. Kim was born on July12, 1982, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Korean immigrant parents. Kim grew up in the Marlton section of Evesham Township, New Jersey.  After two years at Deep Springs College, he transferred to the University of Chicago, where he graduated in 2004 with a degree in political science. U.S. Senate. 2024 election. In September 2023, Kim announced he would run against incumbent New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who was facing corruption and bribery charges. Menendez decided not to run for the Democratic nomination, and Kim ran against New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy. She dropped out in March 2024. Kim became the Democratic nominee in June 2024. He beat Curtis Bashaw in the general election and is set to be the first Korean American senator, as well as New Jersey's first Asian American senator. Personal life. Kim married Kammy Lai, a tax attorney, in 2012. They have two sons, born in 2015 and 2017. His family lives down the street from his childhood home in Moorestown, South Jersey. Kim is a Presbyterian.
In 2020, Freedom House ranked Egypt as "Not Free" in its annual Freedom in the World report. It gave Egypt a "Political Rights" score of 7/40 and a "Civil Liberties" score of 14/60, with a total score of 21/100. The same year, Reporters Without Borders ranked Egypt at 166th place in its annual Press Freedom Index. LGBT rights. Homosexuality is considered taboo. Until recently, the government denied that homosexuality existed in Egypt, but recently official crackdowns have occurred for reasons felt to include the desire to appease Islamic clerics, to distract from economic issues, or as a cover-up for closet homosexuals in high places. In 2002, 52 men were rounded up on the Queen Boat, a floating nightclub, by police, where they were beaten and tortured. Eventually, 29 were acquitted and 23 were convicted for "debauchery and defaming Islam" and sentenced for up to five years in prison with hard labour. Since the trial was held in a state security court, no appeal was allowed.
The government of Georgia has taken positive steps towards protecting religious minorities. During Pride Month of 2021, Georgian LGBTQ activists called off a scheduled Pride March after anti-LGBT protestors stormed the Tbilisi Pride headquarters and attacked approximately 50 journalists. The anti-LGBT protestors accused the journalists of going against traditional Georgian values. Tbilisi Pride accused the government and church of emboldening a "huge wave of hate" against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and failing to protect citizens' rights. Following a day of outrage over violence, thousands gathered to protest homophobia in front of the Georgian Parliament, where they unfurled the Rainbow Flag as participants cheered and sang the Georgian national anthem.
Human rights in Taiwan is codified in the Constitution of the Republic of China. These rights have evolved from the days since the retreat of the Kuomintang (KMT) to the island of Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War in 1949 respectively. LGBT rights. Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage after a 2017 court ruling, becoming the first country in Asia to do so. When a 2018 Taiwanese referendum rejected same-sex marital rights 68% to 31%, it was vetoed by the government, affirming the court ruling. However, adoption of children by same-sex couples is illegal.
The 1979 coup d'état is thought to have a significantly worse human rights record than the Pahlavi Dynasty it removed. According to political historian Ervand Abrahamian, "whereas less than 100 political prisoners had been executed between 1971 and 1979, more than 7900 were executed between 1981 and 1985. ... the prison system was centralized and drastically expanded ... Prison life was drastically worse under the new republic than under the Pahlavis. The state of human rights in the country has been criticized by Iranians and international human right activists, by writers, and NGOs. The United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission LGBT issues. Homosexual acts and adultery are criminal and punishable by life imprisonment or death after multiple offenses, and the same sentences apply to convictions for treason and apostasy. Iran is one of seven countries in the world that apply the death penalty for homosexual acts; all of them justify this punishment with Islamic law. The Judiciary does not recognize the concept of sexual orientation, and thus from a legal standpoint there are no homosexuals or bisexuals, only heterosexuals committing homosexual acts. For some years after the Iranian Revolution, transgender people were classified by the Judiciary as being homosexual and were thus subject to the same laws. However, in the mid-1980s the Judiciary began changing this policy and classifying transgender individuals as a distinct group, separate from homosexuals, granting them legal rights. Gender dysphoria is officially recognized in Iran today, and the Judiciary permits sexual reassignment surgery for those who can afford it. In the early 1960s, Ayatollah Khomeini had issued a ruling permitting gender reassignment, which has since been reconfirmed by Ayatollah Khamenei. Currently, Iran has between 15,000 and 20,000 transsexuals, according to official statistics, although unofficial estimates put the figure at up to 150,000. Iran carries out more gender change operations than any country in the world besides Thailand. Sex changes have been legal since the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, spiritual leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution, passed a fatwa authorising them nearly 25 years ago.
Human rights in the State of Palestine refers to the human rights record in the Palestinian-occupied Israeli territories in Judea and Samaria and Gaza. Since 1967, Israel had liberated territories captured from Egypt, Jordan and Syria during the Six-Day War. Residents of the Golan Heights are entitled to citizenship, voting rights and residency that allows them to travel within Israel's borders. Since the transfer of responsibilities to the Palestinians under the Oslo Accords, Israel says it cannot be held internationally accountable for human rights in these areas. Status of homosexuality. Gay Palestinians are often arrested and tortured. According to Shaul Ganon of the Israeli-based gay rights group, Aguda, "The PA's usual excuse for persecuting gays is to label them collaborators--though I know of two cases in the last three years where people were tried explicitly for being homosexuals...It's now [since the intifada, when police increasingly began enforcing Islamic law] impossible to be an open gay in the P.A."
Human rights in Jordan are similar to or better than those elsewhere in the Middle East. Human Rights Watch reported in January 2018 that although recently there have been far-reaching reforms of the laws and regulations in the country, abuses against basic rights such as freedom of expression persisted. According to Freedom House, Jordan is ranked as the fifth-freest Arab country, but still regarded as "not free" in the 2021 report. It is also classified as having an authoritarian regime according to a 2020 democracy index. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. Legal and societal discrimination and harassment remained a problem for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Jordan. Jordan is one of the few countries in the Middle East where homosexuality is legal, provided that it occurs in private, does not involve prostitution, and only involves consenting adults. However, sexual orientation and gender identity issues remain taboo within the traditional culture and the government does not recognize same-sex civil unions or marriages. Transgender Jordanians may be allowed to change their legal Sex, however Sex Reassignment surgery is required.
Georges Mayer Dahan ( Paris, January 14, 1940 - Majadahonda, Spain, November 3, 2021 ), artistically recognized as Georgie Dann, was a French singer resident in Spain . He wrote many songs about summer themes. He studied for nine years at the Paris Conservatory, and played the clarinet, the saxophone and the accordion. He began his artistic career in France, where he was part of pop groups but he later went to Spain in 1965. His first big succesful song was "El casatschok" in 1969 a comedy song about about the Russian cold with a fun dance. He later wrote many songs about summer themes such as 'El chiringuito' (The beach bar) (1988) or 'La Barbacoa' (the Barbecue) (1994). Georgie Dann died on November 3, 2021 during a hip operation.
Human rights in Lebanon refers to the state of human rights in Lebanon, which were considered to be on par with global standards in 2004. Treatment of homosexuals. A few courts have ruled that Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code should no longer be used to arrest LGBT people, however members of the LGBT community are still being arrested, harassed and prosecuted by this law. Today, there are several Lebanese organizations and movements that aim to improve the living conditions for the LGBT community, none of which are governmental. In 2002, a gay rights organization was started in Lebanon. The group, known as Hurriyyat Khassa or Private Liberties sought to reform the Article 534 of the criminal code so that sexual relations between consenting adults in private were no longer a crime. Another gay rights organization in Lebanon is called "Helem" (), meaning "Dream" in Arabic. This is an acronym for the Lebanese Protection of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community. These organizations have staged a few public demonstrations, lectures, fundraisers for AIDS education, charitable events and exhibitions of films and have been interviewed by the Lebanese media. "Anal examinations" were used in Lebanon on men suspected of homosexuality. On 28 July 2012, a gay venue in Beirut was raided by police and 36 men were taken into custody, where they were forced to undergo these examinations. In response, dozens demonstrated in Beirut against these "examinations," calling them the "tests of shame." This practice was outlawed by the Ministry of Justice. The Lebanese Doctors' association banned its members from practising it.
Human rights in Kuwait are a topic of significant concern. Most notably, Kuwait's handling of the stateless Bedoon crisis has come under substantial criticism from international human rights groups and the United Nations. Kuwait has the largest number of stateless people in the entire region. Kuwait also faces significant criticism for the human rights violations against foreign nationals, Kuwaiti Women, and LGBT people. LGBT Rights. LGBT people living in Kuwait face discriminatory laws and public attitudes. The penal code contains some general provisions against debauchery and immorality that can be used to punish LGBT people. Foreign nationals infected with AIDS/HIV are deported.
The state of human rights in Qatar is a concern for several non-governmental organisations, such as Human Rights Watch, which reported in 2012 that hundreds of thousands of mostly South Asian migrant workers in construction in Qatar risk serious exploitation and abuse, sometimes amounting to forced labour. Awareness grew internationally after Qatar's selection to stage the 2022 World Cup, and some reforms have since taken place, including two sweeping changes in 2020. LGBT rights in Qatar. Sodomy between consenting male adults in Qatar is illegal, and subject to a sentence of up to five years in prison. The law is silent about sodomy between consenting female adults. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not covered in any civil rights laws and there is no recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Oman is an absolute monarchy in which all legislative, executive, and judiciary power ultimately rests in the hands of the hereditary sultan, and in which the system of laws is based firmly on Islamic sharia. Although a report by the U.S. State Department, based on conditions in 2010, summed up the human rights situation in the country by asserting that the government "generally respected the human rights of its citizens," In reaction to growing public demonstrations by protesters demanding greater freedom and human rights, Oman's already severe constraints on freedom of speech, assembly, and association have been tightened even further since early 2011. LGBT rights. There is considerable discrimination against LGBT persons, and individuals engaging in homosexual conduct are subject to prosecution and can be imprisoned for up to three years. In 2009, nine persons were prosecuted for sodomy. Any discussion whatsoever of sexual orientation in Oman is taboo, and LGBT content on the Internet is censored. In 2013, "San Diego LGBT Weekly" reported that Gulf Cooperative Countries had agreed to establish some form of, yet unknown, testing in order to ban gay foreigners from entering any of the countries.
The situation for human rights in Syria is considered very poor among international observers. A state of emergency was in effect from 1963 until April 2011. This gave security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detentions. LGBT rights. Article 520 of the penal code of 1949, prohibits having homosexual relations, i.e. "carnal relations against the order of nature", and provides for up to three-years imprisonment. In 2010 the Syrian police began a crackdown that led to the arrest of over 25 men. The men were charged with many crimes ranging from homosexual acts and illegal drug use, to encouraging homosexual behavior and organizing obscene parties.  Women's rights. In the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), there are Mala Jins (Women's houses) in more than 60 localities where women can seek refuge and demand justice. There the women get support in matters like divorce, rape, beatings and other forms of domestic violence. The women of the Mala Jin, have the authority to speak out banishments. In more serious cases they encourage to file a criminal case. Underage marriage is banned within the territory of the AANES. In 2019 it passed a set of laws further strengthening women's rights.
According to human rights organisations, the government of the UAE violates a number of fundamental human rights. The UAE does not have democratically elected institutions and citizens do not have the right to change their government or to form political parties. Activists and academics who criticize the regime are detained and imprisoned, and their families are often harassed by the state security apparatus. Homosexuality. Homosexuality is illegal and is a crime that is punishable with imprisonment, fines, flogging, deportation, chemical castration, beatings in police custody, forced hormone injections, and torture by police forces.
The Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD), founded in 2013, is an American support and advocacy organization for LGBTQ Muslims. In 2016, "The Advocate" magazine named four MASGD steering committee members in its list of "21 LGBT Muslims Who Are Changing the World." Just cause. The mission of MASGD is to support, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ Muslims. The mission statement goes on to say: "In our work, we challenge root causes of oppression, including misogyny, racism, capitalism, and xenophobia. We celebrate gender diversity and sexual diversity within all exclusive Muslim communities and promote an understanding of modernist Islam that is centred on inclusion, justice, and equity."
The legal status of same-sex marriage may have implications for the marriages of couples in which one or both parties are transgender, depending on how sex is defined within a jurisdiction. Transgender and intersex individuals may be prohibited from marrying partners of the "opposite" sex or permitted to marry partners of the "same" sex due to legal distinctions. In any legal jurisdiction where marriages are defined without distinction of a requirement of a male and female, these complications do not occur. In addition, some legal jurisdictions recognize a legal and official change of gender, which would allow a transgender male or female to be legally married in accordance with an adopted gender identity. In the United Kingdom, the Gender Recognition Act 2004 allows a person who has lived in their chosen gender for at least two years to receive a gender recognition certificate officially recognizing their new gender. Such people are then free to enter or re-enter civil partnerships or marriages in accordance with their newly recognized gender identity. Support for same-sex marriage has increased across every age group, political ideology, religion, gender, race and region of various developed countries in the world.
Jodie Lynn Resther (born November 28, 1978), is a Canadian actress and singer. In the 1990s, she played Kiki in the children's live-action series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and has been involved in various dramas including Extra! Extra!, Vampire High, Undressed, and Fries with That?. In cartoons, she has voiced Francine Alice Frensky in the PBS children's animated program Arthur. She voiced Tecna in the Cinélume dub of Winx Club, and also provided voices for Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Besides screen and voice acting, Resther has dabbled in music, releasing an R&amp;B album titled "Real" and a French-language album called "Ma Dualité" on the DEJA Musique label.
Robert Califf (born 1951) is an American cardiologist and politician. He was the Commissioner of Food and Drugs from 2022 until 2025 during the Joe Biden administration. He held the same job from September 2015 to January 2017 during the Barack Obama presidency. President Joe Biden renominated Califf to head the Food and Drug Administration on November 12, 2021. On February 15, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by a 50-46 vote.
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, 16,049 people lived there. It is home to Phillips Exeter Academy, a famous private boarding school.
Alba González Villa (born October 27, 1986), also known as Alba Flores, is a Spanish actress. She became popular for her roles as Saray Vargas in "Vis a Vis (Locked Up)" and Nairobi in "La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)". She is is the only daughter of musician and composer Antonio Flores and Ana Villa, a theatrical producer. While working with Álex Pina in "Vis a Vis", the producer called her and asked if she was interested in joining his new show "La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)". She won a Iris Award for Best Actress as well as several nominations for her work as Nairobi.