Dawkins is an atheist, a vice president of the British Humanist Association, and a supporter of the Brights movement. He is well known for his criticism of creationism and intelligent design. In his 2006 book "The God Delusion", Dawkins contends that a supernatural creator almost certainly does not exist and that religious faith is a delusion—"a fixed false belief". As of January 2010, the English-language version had sold more than two million copies and had been translated into 31 languages.
Dawkins' ideas on evolution were heavily influenced by W.D. Hamilton. The influence can be seen throughout Dawkins' book "The Selfish Gene". They became friends at Oxford and, after Hamilton's death, Dawkins wrote his obituary and organised a secular memorial service.
He also writes for The Huffington Post.
Stalactite
A stalactite is a form that can be found on the ceiling of a cave. When a drop of water flows down the stalactite, the water evaporates and leaves a mineral deposit of calcite. This slowly increases the length and thickness of the stalactite.
The corresponding formation on the floor underneath a stalactite is known as a stalagmite. Given enough time, these formations can meet. The results are known as columns.
Slayer (disambiguation)
A slayer is someone who kills animals or people. The past tense of the verb "slay" is "slew" or "slain".
Slayer could also mean:
Ranma ½
Ranma ½ is an anime based on a manga by Rumiko Takahashi. It is 36 volumes long.
Ranma Saotome is the main character, who is 16 and good at martial arts. He learned from his father, a martial artist. Ranma was training with his father, Genma Saotome, when he falls into a spring which turns him into a girl from then on whenever cold water is poured on him. Genma fell into the spring of the panda, so he turns into a panda. Hot water makes them turn back.
After this both visit Soun Tendo, Genma's friend from a long time ago and his fighting partner. Soun teaches at his martial arts school. Soun tells Genma that he needs a grandchild to carry on the school, so he needs his daughter, Akane Tendo, to marry to get a child, who would receive an inheritance from him. Genma then says that Akane could marry Ranma, and so they become engaged.
Ranma and Akane don't get along at first but they become more friendly.
Ryoga Hibiki
One of Ranma's enemies. He and Ranma went to same school when they were children, but never got
along.
Engagement
An engagement is an agreement or promise to marry, and also refers to the time between proposal and marriage. During this time, a couple is said to be affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged. An engagement can be seen by witnesses to confirm their marriage.
A fiance is the man who is engaged. A fiancee is the woman who is engaged.
Enrique Gaspar y Rimbau
Enrique Lucio Eugenio Gaspar y Rimbau (Madrid, March 2, 1842 – Olorón, September 7, 1902) was a Spanish diplomat and writer. Gaspar y Rimbau wrote plays, "zarzuelas" (light operas), and novels.
Laksa
Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from Peranakan culture. Curry laksa (sometimes called just "laksa") is a coconut soup made with prawns, beef, bean sprouts and chili. It is very spicy but can be made milder by leaving out some of the chilis.
Laksa is a popular food in Malaysia. A well-known Asam Laksa can be found in Air Itam, Penang.
Scarface (1983 movie)
Scarface is a 1983 American crime thriller movie. It was directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and stars Al Pacino. The story is about Tony Montana, a Cuban criminal who moves to Miami, Florida and creates his own cocaine business. It is a loose remake of the 1932 movie "Scarface". The movie made $85 million.
Tony Montana is a prisoner from Cuba who is coming to the United States on a boat to escape the oppressive Communist government. Once there, he works for Frank Lopez, a Miami drug lord.
Soon, Tony kills Frank and takes over his business. He also marries Elvira, Frank's girlfriend who at first refused to go out with Tony because of Frank. Soon, Tony becomes very rich and powerful because of his growing cocaine empire. He meets Alexander Sosa, a powerful Bolivian drug lord. Elvira later leaves Tony because she feels that despite all of their money and power, Tony's criminal lifestyle and drug problems make them losers.
Tony is eventually arrested for not paying taxes and even though he would be able to bribe some of the judges, he will still have to go to jail for three years. Sosa offers to have one of his contacts in the Justice Department write off Tony's charges if Tony kills a journalist who is going to make a speech against Sosa to the United Nations. Tony plants a bomb on the target's car, but sees the journalist's family inside it, and does not make the bomb go off. Tony later visits his best friend, Manny, but when he sees his sister, Gina, with him, he kills him. Gina reveals that she and Manny got married a few days earlier and wanted to surprise Tony. Tony, feeling extreme guilt for killing his friend and ruining his sister's life, withdraws to his mansion and begins to snort large amounts of cocaine. Sosa gets angry and sends many men to Miami to kill Tony. When the men enter Tony's mansion, they kill Gina and most of his men. Angry and sad at the death of his sister, Tony singlehandedly kills many of Sosa's men in a major shootout. Tony is then shot in the back by an assassin with a shotgun, and falls into his fountain below, dead.
Contract killing
Contract killing is murder where a person or group is paid (usually money) to kill someone else. Someone who does this is known as a "hit man" (also "hitman"), or "assassin". Contract killing is illegal, and is punishable, sometimes by death. Contract killing is often used by the mafia.
Ecstasy (drug)
MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy (abbreviated E, X, or XTC), molly (U.S.), or mandy (U.K.), is a psychoactive drug with stimulant and psychedelic effects that is primarily used as a recreational drug. Drugs sold under the street names ecstasy, molly, or mandy are often advertised as pure MDMA, but are often mixed with multiple other drugs. MDMA can cause feelings of euphoria (extreme happiness) and altered sensations. Bad side effects include insomnia, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and addiction. It causes an initial increase in neurotransmitters that is followed by a short-term drop in neurotransmitters, which can lead to severe depression after coming down from the high.
MDMA is illegal in most countries. Possessing, making or selling it could result in criminal prosecution and a possible prison term. Some countries, such as the U.S., have made limited exceptions to these laws for research. There have been some initial studies on whether it can help patients with severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) make progress in therapy if they take very low doses of MDMA immediately before appointments (under medical supervision). , MDMA has no accepted medical uses.
MDMA has many effects on the human body and brain. It makes the brain release the chemicals serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. During MDMA use the body also makes more of the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin.
All these effects together can make MDMA dangerous to use. The change in body temperature and the tendency to dance for hours on end can make users dehydrate if not enough water is drunk during this time (an example of dehydration and hyperthermia). Lots of dancing can also put pressure on the heart. People with existing heart conditions are vulnerable to these negative side effects.