trentmkelly/rationalwiki huggingface dataset:
Mind control

[[File:Mindcon24 04.jpg|right|thumb|165px|They're targeting my ''brain!'']]
{{conspiracynav}}
'''Mind control''' involves the idea that internal thoughts, emotions, and decisions can be externally controlled against a person's will through [[psychological]], physical, or [[paranormal]] means. The concept resembles [[brainwashing]], and in some circumstances the two terms could be synonymous. However, brainwashing is traditionally more focused on the very real psychological induction techniques used — as in [[cult]]s — to alter [[belief]] systems over time, while mind control dwells more in the realm of [[conspiracy theories]] and [[crank]]s which postulate nefarious techniques and devices that can control all forms of thought and behavior nearly instantaneously and often from remote locations.

Mind-control conjectures usually focus on plots attributed to the [[New World Order]]'s<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g7kTD4eP2U Must See! How The ILLUMINATI uses Television to Control Your Mind!]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQRGrC05Uro Apparently TV programs are called "programs" because of this reason.]</ref> attempts to control all of humanity. Mechanisms of mind control are usually claimed to be physical or chemical in operation. Some common purported mind-control devices include [[extreme low frequency]] generators such as [[HAARP]], cell towers,<ref group=note>It has not helped that many cell towers erected today are hidden from plain sight.</ref> or the Russian woodpecker<ref>{{wpa|Russian Woodpecker}}</ref> signal; also chemical mechanisms such as [[water fluoridation]] and [[chemtrails]] are popular culprits. Some conspiracy theorists postulate more paranormal sources of mind control — such as an army of secret [[CIA]] [[psychic]]s hidden in [[the Pentagon]].

Sufferers from several psychological disorders such as [[schizophrenia]] often express the belief that they are being manipulated through mind-control mechanisms. If left untreated, these delusions can reach astounding proportions of complexity; the [[Internet]] has provided fertile ground for mass publication of voluminous treatises on personal mind-control journeys. In fact, that is pretty much what geocities.com was for. Most mind-control stories present a problem similar to [[Poe's Law]]: it gets really hard to separate a true crank from an untreated schizophrenic. 

One thing, though, everyone can agree on: [[tinfoil hat]]s are your best defense, and (as [[Pascal's wager]] points out), better safe than sorry.

==See also==
* [[Brainwashing]]
* [[Psychic]]
* [[MKULTRA]]
* [[Silva method]]
* [[Targeted individuals]]
* [[HAARP]]
* [[Martin Luther King assassination conspiracies]]
* [[Robert F. Kennedy]]
* [[Hypnosis]], which is ''not'' mind control

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:conspiracy theories]]

Categories: conspiracy theories
Miracles for Sale

{{sources needed}}{{Film}}
'''''Miracles for Sale''''' is a documentary featuring [[Derren Brown]]. It was first broadcast on Channel 4 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] in April 2011. Brown wants to stage a fake, live [[faith healing]] show ''on purpose'' (unlike the usual ones you see on TV, where 
they pretend
 nothing is fake) to show the dangers of this multi-million dollar scam industry. He can't do it himself, as he risks being recognized. Thus, he decides to choose someone else to act as [[Televangelist|the scammer]]. A British man named Nathan is given six months of training before performing live in Dallas, [[Texas]] as "Pastor James". A website is set up in the name of the  fake Gifts of the Spirit Ministry.

==Moral ambiguity==
The whole idea is to stage a fake faith healing show to help show people that the "healing" is little more than a temporary placebo effect. However, Derren, the whole production team and especially Nathan have moments where they have trouble coping with the whole "trick people into deeply believing that they are healed just to show that they, in fact, were not" idea.

At one point, they want to hire a PR company to help them [[Advertising|advertise]] the pretend pastor. They decided to drop the idea because, given the true nature of their endeavor, it could severely hurt the company's image. On the day before the big performance, "Pastor James" (Nathan) and Derren walk around the city, looking for people feeling pains so Nathan can "heal" them. All subjects that agree to participate report not feeling pain any more. Derren comes clean, explaining exactly what was happening to them.

At the end of Nathan's performance, he reads a text, carefully worded so that it won't conflict directly with the present people's beliefs. It is pretty much a short explanation of adrenaline as a temporary painkiller. There is also a good part about how those that charge money for healing are evil, especially when they ask the "healed" to stop taking any medications they were prescribed.

==External links==
* [http://www.giftsofthespiritministry.com/ Gifts of the Spirit Ministry website. It's still up and unchanged since then.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuP5uOI7Xwc Watch it here]
{{stub|films}}
{{title-italics}}
[[Category:Television programmes]]
[[Category:Texas]]

Categories: Television programmes, Texas
Mircea Geoană

[[File:Mircea Geoană in Brussels, Belgium on 10 October 2023 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|165px|Geoană in 2023 (no longer coiffed)]]
'''Mircea Geoană''' {{lived|1958}} is a [[Romania|Romanian]] politician, diplomat, and former leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), best known internationally for his role as Deputy Secretary General of [[NATO]], a position he held from 2019 until 2024.<ref>North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), "Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană", [https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/who_is_who_167496.htm NATO Official Site]</ref> He previously served as Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000–2004), during which time he played a key diplomatic role in preparing Romania for accession to the [[European Union]].<ref>European Commission, "Romania: Enlargement and European Neighbourhood", [https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/countries/detailed-country-information/romania_en EC.europa.eu]</ref>

Geoană was also the President of the Romanian Senate (2008–2011) and a presidential candidate in the 2009 election, which he narrowly lost to incumbent Traian Băsescu in a runoff that still fuels [[conspiracy theories]] among hardcore PSD supporters. His defeat led to a steady decline in his standing within the party, culminating in his expulsion in 2011 after clashing with party leadership.<ref>BBC News, "Romania's ex-Senate head expelled from party", 2011. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-15780487]</ref>

Despite his many reinventions, Geoană has often been seen as the ultimate [[technocrat]]&nbsp;— fluent in diplomatic [[jargon]], perfectly coiffed, and perennially underestimated. As Foreign Minister, however, Geoană was a key figure in Romania’s pro-[[Western]] pivot. His tenure coincided with major milestones including the NATO accession in 2004 and the early groundwork for EU membership, which Romania achieved in 2007.<ref>King, Charles. The Moldovans: Romania, Russia, and the Politics of Culture. Hoover Institution Press, 2000.</ref> While EU accession involved multiple governments, Geoană’s diplomatic engagement with Western leaders and institutions during his mandate was seen as vital in smoothing the process.

Geoană has since reinvented himself yet again as an international figure through NATO, where his public profile was shaped by Atlanticist [[rhetoric]] and anti-[[authoritarian]] talking points. In 2024, he ran again for president of Romania, but failed to reach the second round of voting.<ref>https://prezenta.roaep.ro/prezidentiale24112024/pv/romania/results</ref>

{{stub|politicians}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geoana, Mircea}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:European politicians]]
[[Category:Romania]]

Categories: Living people, European politicians, Romania
Mitosis

{{biology}}[[Image:Mitosis.gif|thumb|left|The process of Mitosis]]
Mitosis is the process of cell division similar to that of [[Meiosis]] but produces a clone of the original [[cell]] (known as daughter cells). The process is found in all organisms and is a way to make sure life continues.

==DNA in mitosis==

During mitosis, [[DNA]] will split into its two constituent strands and replicate. Two copies of the [[genome]] are then pulled to the sides of the cell while it completes the ''telophase'' and the cell undergoes ''cytokinesis''.

==See also==
*[[Cell theory]]

{{stub|biology}}
[[Category:Biology]]

Categories: Biology
Moab Man

{{crenav}}

The term '''Moab Man''', often referred to as '''Malachite Man''' by [[creationist]]s, relates to two human skeletons found near Moab, [[Utah]] in 1971. (Sometimes ''Moab Man'' refers to a 1971 finding and ''Malachite Man'' to a 1990 finding.) Lin Ottinger, a rock collector, first found the remains. After archaeologists had completed an excavation of the skeletons, Ottinger sold one of them to [[Carl Baugh]], who put it on display at a creationist museum in Glen Rose, [[Texas]].<ref>
{{wpa | Creation Evidence Museum}}
</ref>
A second excavation of about eight more skeletons took place in 1990. Because of the [[Cretaceous]] sandstone at the site, [[YEC|young Earth creationists]] touted the skeletons as "proof" that [[humans | men]] and [[dinosaurs]] co-existed. However, the skeletons were not [[fossil]]ized, making them a recent burial. [[Carbon dating]] puts the first set of skeletons at around 140-280 years old and the latter set at between 1,360 and 1,540 years. The skeletons occurred in loose sand not associated with any rock formation, according to the archaeologists who performed the excavation. This means they resulted either from an intentional (i.e., grave) or from an unintentional burial. The best evidence points to Puebloan miners who were either buried at the site or trapped in a mine collapse of some sort.

Some [[Old Earth Creationism |Old-Earth Creationists]] have criticized the use of Moab Man to support creationist arguments.<ref>
[http://www.answersincreation.org/moab_man.htm Moab Man], Answers in Creation
</ref>

==External links==
*[http://paleo.cc/paluxy/moab-man.htm Moab Man/Malachite Man], Glen J. Kuban
*[http://creationwiki.org/Malachite_man_was_found_in_Cretaceous_sandstone_(Talk.Origins) CreationWiki attempts to use this find as proof.]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|creationism}}
{{crebox}}

[[Category:Pseudoarchaeology]]

Categories: Pseudoarchaeology
Modus ponens

{{logicnav}}
{{title-italics}}
'''''Modus ponens''''' ("mode of affirming") is a [[logic|logical]] rule of inference based on conditional propositions. Also called '''affirming the antecedent''', ''modus ponens'' involves affirming the sufficient condition of the conditional proposition in order to prove the necessary condition. ''Modus ponens'' is closely related to ''[[modus tollens]]'' ("mode of taking").

A ''modus ponens'' argument has the following form:
{{syl
|2=If '''X''', then '''Y'''. (i. e. Either not '''X''' or '''Y''')
|4='''X'''.
|5=C|6=Therefore, '''Y'''.
}}

For example:
{{syl
|2=If my friends are coming over tonight, I will bake a cake. (i. e. Either my friends are not coming over tonight, or I will bake a cake.)
|4=My friends are coming over tonight.
|5=C|6=Therefore, I will bake a cake. 
}}

Confusing the directionality of the if-then statement in a ''modus ponens'' argument results in the fallacy of [[affirming the consequent]], represented by the following invalid syllogism: 
{{syl
|2=If my friends are coming over tonight, I will bake a cake. 
|4=I will bake a cake.
|6=Therefore, my friends are coming over tonight. 
}}

As a rule of inference, ''modus ponens'' is represented by the following in propositional logic:

<blockquote style="text-align: center">
<math>\left\{X\rightarrow Y, X\right\} \models Y</math>
</blockquote>
== Nicod’s postulate and ''modus ponens''==
Jean Nicod demonstrated that all of propositional logic can be deduced from a single schema—''Nicod’s postulate'': <br />
((p &#124; (q &#124; r)) &#124; ((s &#124; (s &#124; s)) &#124; ((u &#124; u) &#124; ((p &#124; q) &#124; (p &#124; q)))))<br />
by applying one inference rule—Nicod’s ''modus ponens'':
# p
# (p &#124; (q &#124; r))
#  &#8756; r

==See also==
*[[Affirming the consequent]]
*''[[Modus tollens]]''

[[Category:Arguments]]
[[Category:Latin phrases]]

Categories: Arguments, Latin phrases
Modus tollens

{{title-italics}}{{logicnav}}
'''''Modus tollens''''' ("mode of taking") is a [[logic|logical]] argument, or rule of inference. (Compare with ''[[modus ponens]]'', or "mode of putting.") It is also known as indirect proof or proof by contrapositive, and is a valid form of argument in formal logic.<ref>[http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ModusTollens.html Modus Tollens], Jordan Bell, Wolfram Mathworld</ref>

==As an argument==

A ''modus tollens'' argument has the following form:
{{syl
|2=If '''X''', then '''Y'''. (i. e. Either not '''X''' or '''Y''')
|4=Not '''Y'''.
|5=C|6=Therefore, not '''X'''.
}}

For example:
{{syl
|2=If it is raining, the ground is wet. (i. e. It is not raining or the ground is wet.)
|4=The ground is not wet.
|5=C|6=Therefore, it is not raining.
}}

The contrapositive of "if '''X''' then '''Y'''" is "if not '''Y''' then not '''X'''"; if a proposition is true, then so is its contrapositive.<ref>[https://www.cs.odu.edu/~toida/nerzic/content/logic/prop_logic/converse/converse_intro.html Converse and Contrapositive], CS381 Discrete Structures/Discrete Mathematics Web Course Material, Old Dominion University</ref>

==As a rule of inference==
In propositional logic:

<blockquote style="text-align: center">
<math>\left\{X\rightarrow Y,\neg Y\right\} \models \neg X</math>
</blockquote>

In first-order logic:

<blockquote style="text-align: center">
<math>\models_{\mathfrak{A}}\forall x.\left(X(x)\rightarrow Y(x)\right) \wedge \models_{\mathfrak{A}}\exists x.\left(\neg Y(x)\right) \implies \models_{\mathfrak{A}}\exists x.\left(\neg X(x)\right)</math>
</blockquote>

==Denying the antecedent==
{{main|Denying the antecedent}}
It can be contrasted with the fallacy of denying the antecedent, for instance (using the above example) "it is not raining, therefore the ground is not wet" (obviously untrue if you're standing in a lake). Denying the antecedent asserts not-X rather than not-Y.

==See also==
*''[[Modus ponens]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Arguments]]
[[Category:Latin phrases]]
[[Category:Logic]]

Categories: Arguments, Latin phrases, Logic
Mohammed Ali Al-Bayati

{{denialism|1}}{{cquote|I discovered that HIV does not cause AIDS in 1998, about seven months after leaving UC Davis.}}
'''Mohammed Al-Bayati''' {{lived|1983}} is a prominent and aggressive [[AIDS denialist]] whose most noteworthy impact on the world has been his involvement in the unfortunate case of [[Eliza Jane Scovill]]. Although claiming to be an expert pathologist, his actual degree and solid work is in '''veterinary''' pathology and toxicology.<ref>[http://www.medicalveritas.com/Albayati.pdf Terribly qualified, this man.]</ref> Yes, this means that he is not the most qualified person to be evaluating postmortem findings in pediatric AIDS cases. No, he has never done any actual peer-reviewed AIDS research.<ref> [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&term=%22Al%2DBayati+MA%22%5BAuthor%5D Search those papers!]</ref> Not terribly surprised, are we?

Capitalizing on his HIV denial following the Scovill case, he formed the company Toxi-Health International, which provides expert witness services and "can evaluate the health effect resulting from acute and chronic exposure" to various agents, including medication reactions, adverse reactions to vaccines (shades of the [[Geier family]]!), pesticides, and a variety of other compounds. His other contribution to suicide is his most famous booklet, ''Get All The Facts: HIV Does NOT Cause AIDS''.<ref>[http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/books/abbtoxic.htm You can read the repulsive document in its entirety here.]</ref> Sadly, the man is still in business today.

==Work in "Pathology"==
Al-Bayati's company, Toxi-Health International, often attempts to fake the cause of death, especially in cases involving the [[Murder|murder]] of [[Children|children]]. In one case, he stated that a child's death from [[Shaken baby syndrome|shaken baby syndrome]] was instead due to internal bleeding caused by a "[[Holistic medicine|Vitamin K deficiency]]". Needless to say, competent coroners usually think differently.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160605034828/https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-christine-maggiore9-2005dec09-story.html A take on his shenanigans].</ref>

==See also==
*[[Christine Maggiore]]

==External links==
*[http://www.toxi-health.com/ Toxi-Health International]
*[https://respectfulinsolence.com/2006/12/30/an-hivaids-skeptic-questions-my-honesty-1/ Debunking of his work on the Scovill case]

==References==
{{reflist|1|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:al-Bayati, Mohammed Ali}}
[[Category:HIV/AIDS]]
[[Category:Living people]]
{{stub|denialism}}

Categories: HIV/AIDS, Living people
Mohammed Merah

{{crimenav}}
'''Mohammed Merah''' (1988-2012) was a [[French]] [[Muslim]], Islamic extremist and admitted perpetrator of a series of murders that occurred in March 2012.

The first three victims were French soldiers, with a [[rabbi]] and three children at a [[Judaism|Jewish]] school being murdered days later. Merah admitted Anti-Semitic motivations for his attack.<ref>http://www.jpost.com/International/3-hurt-in-apparent-anti-Semitic-attack-in-France</ref> Merah claimed to be a member of [[al-Qaeda]], and desired to avenge deaths of [[Palestine|Palestinian]] children and French military intervention. He had previously been placed under surveillance by the French domestic intelligence agency for activities in [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]]. He had previously tried to join the French army himself, but was turned down due to convictions of non-terrorist crimes.<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/21/world/europe/france-shooting-suspect-profile/index.html</ref> Reportedly, he became radicalised while in prison.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17456541</ref>. In 2008, a psychiatrist diagnosed Merah with narcissistic personality disorder. Earlier that year, Merah had attempted to commit suicide by hanging while in prison. Like [[psychopath]]s, narcissists can become bored very easily and many commit suicide in prison due to the monotony of prison life.

As the three soldiers were also ethnic minorities, there was speculation that the murders were the work of a [[white supremacist]]; three [[neo-Nazi]]s were suspected but subsequently cleared.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/20/toulouse-shooting-police-neo-nazis_n_1366386.html</ref><ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117014/Toulouse-shooting-Nicolas-Sarkozy-warns-theres-monster-loose.html</ref>

Once the Islamic extremist Merah became suspected of the murders he was tracked down by police, resulting in a siege at his house.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17446999</ref> This culminated in Merah jumping from a window at which point French cops killed him.<ref>http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/toulouse-massacre-suspect-merah-dies-after-jumping-from-window-16134650.html</ref> Video footage of the murders was found in his possession.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9161157/Toulouse-siege-Mohamed-Merah-claimed-he-posted-footage-of-all-the-attacks-online.html</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Merah, Mohammed}}
[[Category:Antisemites]]
[[Category:Convicted felons]]
[[Category:Islamic extremism]]
[[Category:Muslims]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Criminals]]

Categories: Antisemites, Convicted felons, Islamic extremism, Muslims, Racists, Terrorists, Criminals
Molecule

{{Chemistry}}
{{Sources needed}}
A '''molecule''' is the smallest identifiable unit of a substance, made up of one or more atoms bound by covalent and ionic electron bonds.  The simplest molecules consist of just one atom, such as the noble gases, or two atoms of the same element in a diatomic formation, or two "complementary" atoms of different elements in a biatomic [[salt]]. However, molecules, especially in living creatures, can consist of hundreds or even thousands of atoms in incredibly complex structures, such as [[proteins]], {{wpl|Titin|the largest known}} of which being around 100,000 atoms.  Carbon nanotubes, a type of fullerene, theoretically have an effectively unlimited size and the longest recorded had about a ''billion'' atoms.

The structure of molecules is a direct result of the [[quantum mechanics|quantum mechanical]] constraints on electron energy levels around the nucleus of atoms. The atoms in molecules arrange themselves into consistent geometrical formations and bond angles which maximize the strength of the interatomic bonds.<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388236/molecule</ref>

One of the more popular molecules is [[water]], our good friend H<sub>2</sub>O, without which "[[life]] as we know it" would not be possible. The covalent bonds holding together the two hydrogen atoms and oxygen atom in the water molecule result in the water molecule's "bent" shape. The electric permanent dipole moment caused by this asymmetry in the molecule's structure gives rise to many of water's properties, such as adhesion and its versatility as a solvent. <ref> http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/636754/water </ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|science}}
Molybdomancy

{{paranormal}}
'''Molybdomancy''' (not to be confused with {{wpl|molybdenum||)}} is the umbrella term for various [[divination]] practices involving molten metal (usually tin or [[lead]], because they are common and have a low melting point). Practitioners usually pour the liquified metal into water, allowing it to solidify in a random shape that is then interpreted. (A similar type of divination is {{wpl|ceromancy||,}} as well as {{wpl|pagtatawas||,}} a Filipino folk tradition carried out by faith healers using either alum or wax candles.) The term "molybdomancy" itself comes from the Ancient Greek word for "lead": ''molybdos''.

The practice allegedly originated in Ancient [[Greece]] and is still used, or at least known, in the [[Balkans]] (usually under some variation of the name "pouring lead"). It has been also adopted as a quaint New Year folk-tradition in [[Germany]] (''Bleigießen'', "lead-pouring") and in some [[Scandinavia]]n countries (Norwegian: ''støyping'', "casting"; Finnish: ''uudenvuoden tina'', "New Year's Tin").

<gallery>
File:Bleigiessen-Set.jpg| Specialized Bleigiessen set: melting spoon and pieces to be melted.
File:Bleigiessen-Vorgang.jpg| A candle is enough, which probably implies the use of some alloy with a low melting-point.
File:Bleigiessen-Ergebnis.jpg| Metal shape after solidifying in water.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-51875-0002, Neujahrsfest, Bleigießen.jpg|Bleigießen in 1957
File:Svátek svatého Ondřeje wróżenie.jpg|As practiced in the Bohemian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (c. 1910)
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|woo}}

[[Category:Woo]]
[[category:Superstition]]
[[Category:Folklore]]

Categories: Woo, Superstition, Folklore