trentmkelly/rationalwiki huggingface dataset:
Adenosine triphosphate

{{Biology}}
{{Sources}}
[[File:ATP structure.svg|left|thumb|The structure of ATP, as determined by Science!]]
'''Adenosine 5'-triphosphate''' ('''ATP''') is an organic compound composed of adenine, the sugar ribose, and three phosphate groups. ATP serves as the major energy source within the [[cell]] to drive a number of [[Biology|biological]] processes such as [[photosynthesis]], muscle contraction, and the synthesis of proteins. It is broken down by hydrolysis to yield adenosine diphosphate (ADP), inorganic phosphorus, and energy. ADP can be further broken down to yield adenosine monophosphate (AMP), additional phosphorus, and more energy. When the phosphorus and energy are immediately used to drive other reactions, such as the synthesis of uridine diphosphate (UDP), an [[RNA]] precursor, from uridine monophosphate (UMP), the pair of reactions are said to be coupled. New ATP is produced from AMP using the energy released from the breakdown of fuel [[molecule]]s, such as fats and sugars. 

Extracellularly, ATP has been found to act as a neurotransmitter. ATP receptors are widespread through the body.  Often released in tandem with other neurotransmitters, by itself ATP is known to have effects in the arteries, intestines, lungs, and bladder. 

==Structure==
The structure of ATP has an ordered carbon compound as a backbone, but the part that is really critical is the phosphorous part — the triphosphate. Three phosphorous groups are connected by [[oxygen]] [[atom]]s to each other, and there are also side oxygens connected to the phosphorous atoms. Under the normal conditions in the body, each of these oxygens has a negative charge, and the negative charges repel each other. These bunched up negative charges that are forced together in the molecule represent a great deal of potential energy waiting to be released.

Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP), which is ATP with two of the phosphate groups removed, is also known as the "A nucleotide" in [[DNA]].

==See also==
*[[Molecular biology]]

[[Category:Biochemistry]]
[[Category:Chemicals]]
[[Category:Molecular biology]]

Categories: Biochemistry, Chemicals, Molecular biology
Advertising Standards Authority

{{skepnav}}
The '''Advertising Standards Authority''' is the [[United Kingdom|UK]] advertising industry's self-regulatory body, dealing with misleading advertising in the UK so as to head off more stringent government regulation. Surprisingly, it actually works really well.

An ASA ruling has no direct legal force. However, being ruled against and then defying the ruling makes a conviction under trading standards regulations almost a slam-dunk.

It is a particular delight when dealing with the claims of [[alternative medicine]] woomeisters, and getting them to stop claiming dangerous rubbish.<ref>http://www.skepticat.org/2014/03/truth-about-the-asa/</ref> The Nightingale Collaboration in particular has used ASA complaints about quacks to great effect.<ref>http://www.nightingale-collaboration.org/results/advertising-standards-authority.html</ref>

There is an equivalent Irish body, ASAI (Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland),<ref>http://www.asai.ie/</ref> which was similarly set up by the advertising industry and is similarly harsh on bad alternative medicine claims.<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/complaint-upheld-against-homeopath-who-said-she-could-treat-symptoms-of-autism-1.3130152</ref>

== External links ==

* [http://www.asa.org.uk Home page]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Advertising]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
{{stub|Skepticism}}

Categories: Advertising, United Kingdom
Afrikaner

{{sources needed}}{{race}}
{{hatnote|Not to be confused with the plural of "African" in [[Swedish]], which is also "afrikaner".}}
'''Afrikaners''' are a [[White people|white]] minority ethnic group in [[South Africa]]. Afrikaners are descended primarily from [[Netherlands|Dutch]] settlers. [[France|French]] Huguenots and other [[Protestants]] appear in the mix as well; whether the Jewish minority of Afrikaans language is part of the Afrikaner group depends on whom you ask. These people colonized the Cape of Good Hope in the 1600s-1700s; likewise, their language, '''Afrikaans''', is a descendent of the Dutch language, with which it is mostly mutually intelligible.

Afrikaners have historically dominated South Africa's politics, economy, and society. Afrikaner [[nationalist]] politicians were responsible for South Africa's policy of ''[[apartheid]]'' (literally, ''apart-hood''), a legally codified system of racial [[segregation]] which became the defining feature of South Africa's modern history. Since the country's first multiracial elections in 1994, the vast majority of Afrikaners have integrated into South Africa's multiracial society, but their status as the historical "oppressors" has made their legacy a touchy subject. A portion of the Afrikaner population is politically aligned with the ruling and highly corrupt [[African National Congress]], but most vote with the Democratic Alliance, a very moderate center-right party also popular among South Africa's other non-black ethnic groups and some blacks, and the only party other than the ANC to hold a majority in any provincial legislature. A tiny (but very vocal) minority of Afrikaners continue to espouse [[white nationalism]], [[White supremacism|supremacism]], or [[White separatism|separatism]]. The [[Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging]] ''("Afrikaner Resistance Movement")'' is a [[far-right]] militia that was led by {{wpl|Eugene Terre'Blanche}} embodying this concept. These are the people who give all Afrikaners a bad name. 

==See also==
*[[South African genocide conspiracy]]
*[[Geloftevolk]]

{{stub|racism}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]
[[Category:Slavery]]
[[Category:South Africa]]

Categories: Ethnic groups, Netherlands, Slavery, South Africa
Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging

{{Sources needed}}
[[File:AWB Flag.png|thumb|right|thumb|165px|[[Nazi Party|Now where have we seen that before?]]]]
{{Nazism}}
The '''Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging''' (AWB, in English, 
"A Wanker Brotherhood"
 "Afrikaner Resistance Movement") is a [[far right]], [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]], [[White supremacy|White supremacist]], [[White nationalism|White nationalist]] organization based in [[South Africa]] founded by Eugene Terre'Blanche (1941-2010), which fought to uphold [[apartheid]], and failing that, its own ''Volkstaat,'' located in the then Western Transvaal. The movement seeks the creation of a White Afrikaner-only state in South Africa. It has similarities with the [[militia movement]]. Its leader's straight-armed salutes, the black-clad ''Ysterkommando'' (Iron Guard<ref group=note>A rather strange choice of name, as the original Iron Guard was Corneliu Zelea Codreanu's [[Romania]]n [[Fascism|fascist]] outfit. However the term ''Kommando'' does at least have a distinctively [[Afrikaner]] heritage as the name for {{wpl|Boer Commando|the basic unit}} of the [[Boer War|Boer]] [[Militia movement|militia]] from where it entered English as {{wpl|Commando|a term}} for special forces. Not to be confused with the [[Nazi]] [[Holocaust|''Sonderkommandos'']].</ref>) and logo, comprising three 7s, makes one think of [[Nazi|another party]].

==See also==
* ''[[Geloftevolk]]''
* [[Neo-Nazism]]
* [[South African genocide conspiracy]]

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

{{stub|Racism}}

[[Category:Apartheid]]
[[Category:Far-right political parties]]
[[Category:Neo-Nazism]]
[[Category:South Africa]]
[[Category:Fascism]]
[[Category:Racism]]

Categories: Apartheid, Far-right political parties, Neo-Nazism, South Africa, Fascism, Racism
Agaricus

{{title-italics}}
{{foodnav}}
''Agaricus'' is a genus of mushroom and includes the most commonly consumed mushroom &mdash; the button mushroom (''A. bisporus''). It is native throughout the world.

==Cancer and health woo==
[[File:Agaricus_bisporus_mushroom.jpg|thumb|left|Keep them in the dark and feed them [[Bullshit|woo]].]]
Various websites<ref>[http://www.naturalnews.com/023633_cancer_mushrooms_health.html Natural News]</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stamets/mushrooms-cancer_b_1560691.html even Huff Po gets into the woo game]</ref>, books, and alternative medicine proponents tout the health benefits of mushrooms in general.  There are a significant number of studies that look at mushroom extracts and their effect on cancer, and currently no evidence exists that even suggests such curative properties.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20121206054539/http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/mushrooms-in-cancer-treatment</ref>

High doses of ''A. bisporus'' powder were found to be carcinogenic in rats.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2049788 Carcinogenicity examination of ''Agaricus bisporus'', edible mushroom, in rats] by K. Matsumoto et al., ''Cancer Lett.'' 1991 Jun 14;58(1-2):87-90.</ref> High doses of raw ''A. bisporus'' were also found to be carcinogenic in mice.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3731070 Cancer induction in mice by feeding of the uncooked cultivated mushroom of commerce ''Agaricus bisporus''] by B. Toth & J. Erickson, ''Cancer Res.'' 1986 Aug;46(8):4007-11.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

{{foodbox}}

[[Category:Cancer woo]]
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Fungi]]

Categories: Cancer woo, Food, Fungi
Agent provocateur

{{sources needed}}{{conspiracynav}}
An '''agent provocateur''', or simply a '''provocateur''', is a person who secretly infiltrates a group with the objective of weakening it from within.

As such, they will, in reality, be representatives of another group opposed to the interests of their apparent allies. Their objective may be to create unrest, disunity, or ill-will within the group while professing to hold the group's ideals to heart.

Alternatively, an agent provocateur may encourage the group to carry out crimes or other nefarious activities while secretly reporting their activities to their real masters (this would generally be a form of {{wpl|entrapment||).}} It has often been said that the most outrageous advocate of crime and violence within an organization is likely to be an agent provocateur.  

Many [[New Left]] groups from the 60s claim that they were brought down by FBI moles that acted as agents provocateurs. With the release of documents with regards to the FBI's {{wpl|COINTELPRO||,}} these claims have a leg to stand on. Some have sarcastically (?) claimed that unusually inarticulate or extreme [[conservatives]], such as [[George W Bush]] are, in fact, [[liberal]] agents trying to discredit conservative values; see '[[deep cover liberal]]'. 

[[Conspiracy theorist]]s will often decry others within their ranks who espouse a different variation on their pet theory as agents provocateurs. In the [[9/11 conspiracy theories|9/11 "Truth"]] movement, for example, so-called "no planers" are often considered to be plants.

One particular Agent Provocateur also makes [http://www.agentprovocateur.com really hot lingerie].

==See also==
*[[Cognitive infiltration]]
*[[Don't feed the Troll]]
*[[Deep cover liberal]]
*[[False flag operation]]
*[[Ratfucking]]
*[[Sock puppet]]
*[[Hal Turner]]

[[Category:Culture wars]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:United States history]]
[[Category:Political terms]]
[[Category:Trolls| ]]
[[Category:United States politics]]

Categories: Culture wars, Conspiracy theories, United States history, Political terms, Trolls, United States politics
Akashic Records

{{newage}}
{{cquote|Do You Feel Like You Are Secretly Banging Your Head Against an Invisible Energetic Wall?|||AkashicRecordReading.com<ref>Not until we read this, no.</ref>}}
The '''Akashic Records''' are a supposed compendium of all knowledge, existing in the [[supernatural|non-physical plane]]. The concept originates in the [[Anthroposophy]] and [[Theosophy]] traditions of the 19<sup>th</sup> century, drawing loosely from [[Hindu]] cosmology. Trying to make fun of them by calling them a "mystical space library" doesn't really work &mdash; that's basically how they're viewed. They purportedly contain the knowledge of the entire human existence and the history of the universe, tracking each [[soul]] as it journeys through life.  For just $1[[13]].00, you too can learn how to open your record with a [[Sacred]] [[Prayer]].<ref name="store">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606025054/http://www.journey2theheart.com/store.shtml#AR Journey 2 the Heart: Store]</ref> They're big on [[vibration]]s and [[quantum woo]].

==History==
The term ''akasha'' is [[Sanskrit]], and means "atmosphere" or "sky." It corresponds to the concept of [[aether]], an obsolete theory of a universal substance. The Akashic records were first mentioned in ancient [[Hindu]] philosophy{{cn}} but were only popularised in the 19<sup>th</sup> century by [[occult]] writers such as those found in [[Anthroposophy]] and [[Theosophy]]. This idea of the Akashic records as a universal, eternal ledger was a purely Western development. [[Alice Bailey]], Charles Leadbeater and [[Rudolf Steiner]] all claimed to have read the Akashic records. However, their reports on the matter are contradictory.<ref>Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke ''The Western Esoteric Traditions'' Oxford University Press, 2008 ISBN 0195320999</ref>

The rest is history. To this day, you can see [[woo]]-meisters talk about accessing the Akashic records, particularly online, in a million different ways.

==Science==
There is no scientific evidence that the Akashic Records exist.{{nofact}} The only physicist to write a book on the topic is [[John Davidson]], author of ''The Secret of the Creative Vacuum: Man and the Energy Dance'' (1989), in which he claimed mind, matter, energy and [[consciousness]] are intertwined and that a 'vacuum' of 'empty' space is actually a real energy field which contains all knowledge and thoughts.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140824101028/http://wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/1481/ The Mysticism of Space by John Davidson]</ref> However, his book was [[pseudoscience]]. Davidson has also written other books within other areas of pseudoscience, including [[creationism]] (''Natural Creation and the Formative Mind'' and ''[[Subtle energy|Subtle Energy]]'').

==See also==
*[[Ervin László]]
*[[Zero-point energy]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:New Age]]

Categories: New Age
Alan Gauld

{{Psychic|1}}
'''Alan Gauld''' {{lived|1932|}} is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[psychologist]] and [[parapsychologist]]. 

==Paranormal==
Gauld was born in Portland, Dorset, [[England]], and attended Harvard University in 1956-57. He later earned an M.S. in 1958 and a Ph.D. in 1962 from Emmanuel College. He taught psychology at Nottingham University, he was also President of the [[Society for Psychical Research]] from 1989 until 1992. His works as an editor include ''Poltergeists'', co-edited with Tony Cornell (1979), and ''Human Action and its Psychological Investigation'', co-edited with John Shotter (1980).<ref>[http://www.pflyceum.org/159.html Biography of Alan Gauld]</ref> 

He is most well known for his book ''[http://www.esalen.org/ctr-archive/mediumship.html Mediumship and Survival: A Century of Investigations]'' (1984).<ref>[http://www.acampbell.org.uk/bookreviews/r/gauld-2.html Book Review by Anthony Campbell]</ref>

Gauld has written that [[physical mediumship]] such as [[ectoplasm]] is the result of fraud, but has been gullible and fallen into the trap of believing that other Victorian mediums were actually genuine. According to Gauld, [[Leonora Piper]] had supernatural abilities when in reality the "[[spirit]]" controls of [[Leonora Piper]] were alternate personalities.

==Publications==
*''A History of Hypnotism'' (1992)
*''Mediumship and Survival: A Century of Investigations'' (1984)
*''The Founders of Psychical Research'' (1968)

==See also==
*[[David Fontana]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gauld, Alan}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Parapsychology]]
[[Category:Psychologists]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Authors, British people, Parapsychology, Psychologists, Living people
Alan Hayward

{{crenav|1}}
'''Alan Hayward''' (1923–2008) was a British engineer, [[physicist]] and [[old earth creationist]] writer. He is known for his research on fluid density and flowmeters; he wrote a textbook on the subject. Hayward was a Christadelphian and a non-Trinitarian. He accepted an old earth and was critical of [[young earth]] creationism. However, his arguments against [[evolution]] have been dismissed by the scientific community.

==Progressive creationism==

Hayward endorsed a form of [[progressive creationism]]. In his book ''God Is; A Scientist Shows Why It Makes Sense to Believe in God'' (1978) he proposed the hypothesis of "successive creation" that “[[God]] has been at work ever since the universe began, performing a great number of creative acts at intervals” (pp. 197-198). In ''Creation and Evolution: The Facts and Fallacies'' (1985), he expanded on these ideas, supporting a form of “ancient creationism.” He was strongly opposed to young earth creationism, and refuted all its major arguments. According to Hayward the succession of [[fossil]] types is undeniable but it is not due to evolution; rather, to “successive acts of creation over a long period.”<ref>[http://ncse.com/files/pub/library/Theses/McIver,%20Tom%20-%20Creationism%20-%20Intellectual%20Origins,%20Cultural%20Context,%20and%20Theoretical%20Diversity.pdf Creationism Intellectual Origins, Cultural Context, and Theoretical Diversity by Thomas Allen McIver]</ref> Of course his hypothesis of "successive creation" is not testable and is no different than just saying [[Goddidit|God did it]].

==Publications==

*''God Is: a Scientist Shows Why It Makes Sense to Believe in God'' (1978)
*''Flowmeters: A Basic Guide and Source-Book for Users'' (1979)
*''God's Truth: A Scientist Shows Why It Makes Sense to Believe the Bible'' (1983)
*''Creation and Evolution: The Facts and Fallacies'' (1985) 

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{crebox|1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayward, Alan}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Physicists]]

Categories: Authors, British people, Engineers, Physicists
Alan Lake

[[Image:Alanlake.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Lake's hitlist, posted at 4freedoms]]{{islamophobia|1}}
'''Alan Lake''' is a nationalist wingnut. He is notable largely for his involvement with the [[English Defence League]].

"In 20 or 30 years the UK will start to fragment into [[Islamic]] enclaves and non-Islamic areas around them" declared Lake in a post at the website 4freedoms; this prediction is possibly based on the ravings of [[Muslims Against Crusades]]. "Its time we decided who will be allowed in the non-Islamic areas. These are the people who we will force into the Islamic enclaves (and who we will execute if they sneak out)."

"By forcing these [[liberal]] twits into those enclaves we will be sending them to their death, at worst," he continued, "and at best they and their families will be subjected to all the depredations, persecution and abuse that non-Muslims worldwide currently ‘enjoy’ in countries like [[Pakistan]], [[Iran]] and [[Egypt]]." He added that "It will be great to see them executed or tortured to death" and asked the other posters to "contribute the names of all those we will send with their wives and children to enjoy the religion of peace."

He later clarified that "I said execute the leftists that left the Islamic enclaves — yes that was a bit provocative, but I was trying to be brief."<ref>http://warincontext.org/2010/10/11/pamela-gellers-english-friends-islamophobes-united/</ref>

On the subject of the [[Anders Behring Breivik|2011 Oslo attacks]], Lake states that Breivik "did this attack to protest against the way that Islam is taking over large parts of Europe. By attacking the leftist politicians that are enabling this, the chickens have actually come home to roost – altho [''sic''] I’m sure it won’t be depicted that way."<ref>http://uaf.org.uk/2011/07/edl-funder-alan-lake-calls-norway-massacre-chickens-come-home-to-roost/</ref>

The magazine ''Searchlight'' calls Lake "the man behind the English Defence League", claiming that he came up with the group's name and helped founder [[Stephen Lennon]] set it up.<ref>http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/index.php?link=template&story=344</ref>

The EDL eventually cut ties with him, announcing that "He has always jumped on the bandwagon of the EDL when in reality all he has ever done is bring shame on our movement with his '[[Nazi]] Like' postings and his moribund rantings that would even make Himmler blush!"<ref>http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2011/08/edl-racists-and-fascists-ditch-shadowy.html</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lake, Alan}}
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Living people
Alan Watts

[[File:Some weird guy.png|thumb|220px|left|[[Tobacco smoking|Smoking]] is bad for you.]]
{{newage}}
{{hatnote|Not to be confused with conspiracy peddler [[Alan Watt]].}}
'''Alan Watts''' {{lived|1915|1973}} was a [[United Kingdom|British]]-[[United States|American]] [[Philosophy|philosopher]], writer, public speaker and translator of Eastern philosophies for [[Western world|Western]] audiences. He introduced the [[hippie]] crowd to [[Buddhism]] via his most famous book, ''The Way of [[Zen]]''.

Watts was born in England and migrated to the United States in 1938, at the age of 23. He initially trained to be an [[Episcopal Church|Episcopalian]] minister before leaving the ministry in 1950. He then moved from [[New York]] to [[California]] where he assumed a position at the American Academy of Asian Studies in [[San Francisco]]. He remained in [[California]] until he died in 1973.

He wrote many books on the subjects of Eastern philosophy, including ''The Book: The Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are'', ''The Way Of Zen'' and ''The Wisdom Of Insecurity: A Message For An Age Of Anxiety''. Many of the lectures he presented while at the Academy were broadcast on [[Pacifica Radio]] stations KPFA<ref>[https://kpfa.org/tag/alan-watts/ Alan Watts Archives on KPFA]</ref> and KPFK, and have since been fragmented and made into [[YouTube]] videos by many users. This has introduced his work to a new generation of new-age folk, with significant ease of access and dissemination. These lectures can also be found sampled in music, such as the work of STRFKR. The Pacifica Radio lectures might be Watts' most enduring legacy in the digital age.

==See also==
*''[[Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance]]''

==References==
{{reflist|80%}}
{{stub|philosophy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Alan}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Buddhism]]
[[Category:Buddhists]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Orientalist woo]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Philosophers]]
[[Category:Pantheism]]

Categories: Authors, British people, Buddhism, Buddhists, California, Orientalist woo, Philosophy, Philosophers, Pantheism