trentmkelly/rationalwiki huggingface dataset:
We the People Act

The '''We the People Act''' is a bill introduced by Republican Congressman [[Ron Paul]]. Most recently in 2009 as [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.539: H.R. 539], and back in 2004 as [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.R.3893: H.R. 3893]. The bill intends:
:To limit the jurisdiction of the Federal courts, and for other purposes.

The bill intends to please both the God-fearing religious right and the big-government-fearing libertarian right by doing the following:
* Prevents the Supreme Court and all federal courts from making decisions regarding:
** State and local laws concerning free exercise an establishment of religion
** the right of [[privacy]] including sexual practices, orientation or reproduction
** the role of the Equal Protection clause on the right to marry.
* Prevents the reliance on any federal court decision on any of the above topics.
* Prevents the Supreme Court from "redefining marriage" using the Equal Protection clause
* Allows the Congress or the President of the United States to impeach judges who breach the act.

In Congressman Paul's own words:

{{quotebox|The We the People Act forbids federal courts, including the Supreme Court, from adjudicating cases concerning State laws and polices relating to religious liberties or "privacy," including cases involving sexual practices, sexual orientation or reproduction. The We the People Act also protects the traditional definition of marriage from judicial activism by ensuring the Supreme Court cannot abuse the equal protection clause to redefine marriage. In order to hold Federal judges accountable for abusing their powers, the act also provides that a judge who violates the act's limitations on judicial power shall either be impeached by Congress or removed by the President, according to rules established by the Congress.}}

It is being [http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2673 supported by] the [[Traditional Values Coalition]], and opposed by many secularists.
In its 2009 version, it was cosponsored by Rep. Walter B. Jones (North Carolina) and, [[Poe's Law|appropriately enough]], Rep. Ted Poe (Texas). The 2004 version was cosponsored by Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (Maryland).


[[Category:United States politics]]
[[Category:Misnomers]]

Categories: United States politics, Misnomers
Weapon salve

{{altmed}}
A '''weapon salve''' is an ointment which aims to heal a wound caused by a bladed weapon. Method: apply an [[herbalism |herbal]] preparation -, not to the abrasion itself but to the blade of the weapon that caused it. You can see how this won't work.

Belief in [[action at a distance]] was common among practitioners of Paracelsian medicine<ref>{{wpa | Paracelsus}}</ref> (Paracelsus, incidentally, coined the concept of "[[the dose makes the poison]]"). Typically the salve would include blood from the wound caused by the weapon. 

Paracelsus's recipe for such a salve:
{{cquote|Take of moss growing on the head of a thief who has been hanged and left in the air; of a mummy;<ref><{{wpa | mummy}}</ref> of human blood, still warm – of each one ounce; of human suet, two ounces; of linseed oil, turpentine, and Armenian bole – of each two drachms. Mix all well in a mortar, and keep the salve in an oblong, narrow urn.<ref>http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/the-weapon-salve,</ref>}}

The use of a weapon salve involved a form of [[sympathetic magic]]. The weapon and the wound joined magically, as one caused the other. The ingredients for the salve itself all have magical properties associated with healing, with [[Astrology| the alignment of the stars]], or with other magical processes. The human blood is a form of [[life]] magic, common in any [[Sacrifice|sacrificial]] ritual.

==References==
* J.N. Hays. 2009. '''The Burdens of Desire: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History''. Rutgers University Press. P. 97. ISBN 9780813546131.
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]{{stub|alternative medicine}}

Categories: Alternative medicine
Wedge issue

{{sources needed}}
{{politics}}{{hatnote|Not to be confused with the [[Wedge Strategy]], which itself may be a wedge issue, or with the [[out-of-place artifact]] known as the [[Wedge of Aiud]].}}
'''Wedge issues''' in politics are generally issues on which people have strong opinions that can be "owned" as part of a political base. In modern-day [[United States|America]], most of these are social issues with [[religious]] overtones, such as [[abortion]] and [[homosexuality]]. Other favorites include [[gun control]], [[taxation]], [[Law enforcement|being "tough on crime"]], [[global warming denialism]], [[critical race theory]], and militarism.

They are phrased or argued so that the opposing viewpoint, if there is one, can be easily labeled in a derogatory manner, thus creating a [[false dilemma]]. Resulting examples would include being "soft on [[crime]]", "weakening America" (or "emboldening our enemies"), "against [[family values]]", "coming to take your guns away", etc. It is hoped that this would cause supporters of said opponent to flip-flop to the other side, or bring in neutral voters.

{{stub|politics}}

[[Category:Culture wars]]

Categories: Culture wars
Weekly World News

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Weekly World News''}}
[[Image:Wklywrldnews.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Sample copy.]]
{{media}}

The '''''Weekly World News''''' (aka '''''WWN''''') was everybody's favorite spoof newspaper. The paper regularly featured stories on the [[pseudoscience]]-du-jour.  Batboy sightings!  Presidential candidates meet with [[space alien]]s!  Man pregnant!  8000 pound woman loses 7800 pounds on a vinegar and garlic diet!  ''Batboy'' pregnant!  Batboy pregnant with [[Bigfoot]]'s baby!

Several stories first run by the paper in the early 1990s proved to be their most popular, and became running gags associated with the paper since: "Batboy", and a series of meetings by space aliens with U.S. presidential candidates.  ''WWN'' also ran a regular column by Ed Anger, "My America", a spoof of right-wing populist rants that was [[Poe's law|difficult to tell from the real thing]].

Sadly, on 24 July 2007, the print version of ''Weekly World News'' ceased publication, a victim of competition from the Internet.  In 2008 "Bat Boy LLC" bought the rights to the company and launched a ''Weekly World News'' website.  They hope to someday revive the print version.

Some unfortunate souls took ''Weekly World News'' articles [[Insanity|seriously]]. Those people are generally considered to be at the pinnacle of stupidity. For instance, in October, 2010, the ''Weekly World News'' reported that the Los Angeles Police Department was going to buy 10,000 jetpacks.<ref>[http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/23186/the-jetpack-is-here/ The Weekly World News Jetpacks story]</ref> [[Fox News]] reported it as serious story,<ref>[Gawker.com: [http://archive.ph/http://tv.gawker.com/5655151/los-angeles-orders-10000-jetpacks-for-its-police-department archive.ph], [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://tv.gawker.com/5655151/los-angeles-orders-10000-jetpacks-for-its-police-department web.archive.org] Coverage of Fox's coverage]</ref> only to retract it an hour later.

[[Image:Nomoreoil.jpg|thumb|left|165px|ONOZ WE'RE DOOMED!@lol]]

The ''Weekly World News'' originated as a spin-off from the ''[[National Enquirer]]'' as a way of separating the spoof UFO and Bigfoot articles from the Hollywood gossip columns.  The void left by the demise of the ''Weekly World News'' in the realm of U.S. supermarket tabloids is filled by the ''Sun'', the other major tabloid to focus on spoof pseudoscience.

== See also ==
*''[[Private Eye]]''
*''[[The Onion]]''
*[[WorldNetDaily]]
*[[Pravda Online]]

==External links==
*[http://weeklyworldnews.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.vancouverobserver.com/culture/music/2010/04/09/bat-boy-musical-brings-down-house-opening-night-norman-rothstein-theatre ''Batboy: The Musical'']

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Newspapers]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Websites]]
[[Category:Parodists]]

Categories: Newspapers, New York, Websites, Parodists
Weigh down diet

{{foodnav}}
The '''Weigh down diet''' is a particular form of [[fad diet]] whereby weight loss is assisted by [[spirituality]]—and not, as one might expect, using weights or heavy clothing to make your body burn more calories. The book (as fad diets inevitably come in the form of [[self-help]] books) was originally published by [[Christian]] author '''Gwen Shamblin''' in 1997, and has since gone on to sell over a million copies.

==Pray yourself thin?==

Not quite,<ref>Someone else came up with that one 40 years prior: ''Pray Your Weight Away'' by Charlie W. Shedd, Lippincott, 1957.</ref> although obviously [[prayer]] and spirituality is a part of the program. It is a well known and studied fact that [[Empirical testing of prayer|prayer doesn't do much]], so the success of the diet (when it is successful) is due to the more material aspects of it. Shamblin states that people should "listen to their bodies" and only eat when hungry, equating excessive eating with the [[sin]] of greed. In this respect, the diet can produce short-term weight loss, but like any other based simply on "not eating so damn much", has been shown to be futile, if not counter-productive, for long-term weight loss.<ref>http://motivatedandfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Diets_dont_work.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1105816</ref> However, the additional window dressing of religion around it is pure [[woo]], and used mostly as a form of support for any individual going through the diet &mdash; if you eat less, you will lose weight regardless of whether you lean on [[God]], your best friend or the [[Flying Spaghetti Monster]] for assistance.<ref>Although the Flying Spaghetti Monster ''does'' have a bigger chance of making you think about food.</ref>

==Possible bad effects==

While the diet doesn't advocate anything ''bad'', it may lead people to possibly starve themselves unnecessarily &mdash; like ''any'' crash diet &mdash; if they take it too far. The human body produces hunger and thirst pains for a very good reason and ignoring these can be outright dangerous. Like many diets, it also wholly concentrates on the aspect of food. This has the potential to turn anyone on the diet into a food obsessive, and those sorts of people are no fun to be around. Because of the focus on food, dieters tend to ignore exercise, and even if they were to lose weight, their general fitness would probably decrease.

==See also==
*[[Pray the gay away]]

==External links==
*[http://www.wdworkshop.com/ Wdworkshop.com - the official website]
*{{wpa|Gwen_Shamblin#The_Weigh_Down_Diet|the weigh down diet}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{foodbox}}

[[Category:Diet woo]]

Categories: Diet woo
Weight

{{Physics}}
In common language, '''weight''' refers to the [[Mass (physics)|mass]] of a body; however, in physical terms it means the force on a body due to the [[earth]]'s gravity, usually denoted by "F<sub>g</sub>" or "F<sub>w</sub>" or just "F" like any other force. It is equal to:

<math>F_g = m\cdot g</math>

Where ''g'' is a "constant" approximately equal to 9.80665 m/s<sup>2</sup> at sea level at a latitude of 45.5°.  However, g is inversely proportional to the square of the distance to the center of the Earth. Because of the oblateness of the planet (which results in a slightly greater distance between the earth's surface and its center, at latitudes closer to the equator) one is advised to go to the equatorial regions if one wishes to lose "weight." 

At the equator, not only is one farthest from the center of the planet, but one also benefits from a centrifugal acceleration of 0.0336 m/s<sup>2</sup>. This is absent at the poles.

==Weightlessness==
You feel your weight when standing, sitting or lying, because the planet is pushing back at you with exactly the same force as that with which your weight is attempting to push the planet downwards (physicists call this the Normal force). Good thing, otherwise you'd drop through the planet.

If you're actually falling (as when skydiving, in the brief moment before air resistance begins slowing your fall) you feel weightless because there's no longer a planet pushing at your feet. Being in orbit is a special case of falling. You're falling toward Earth but with so much tangential velocity that you never get there. So you're weightless until Mission Control tells you to stop playing around and come home.

Note that just being at orbital altitude doesn't take your weight away. Imagine a really really long spiral staircase, with a landing at the top. As you climb, you progressively lose weight until, at the altitude of the Space Station, you weigh roughly five kilos less but you can still stand on the landing quite happily (as long as you don't need to breathe) watching the ISS whizz past.

==See also==
*[[Weight loss woo]]
*[[The Weight of Clouds]]

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Categories: Science, Physics
Werner Gitt

{{crenav|1}}

{{cquote|...it looks like the Gitt hasn't actually read any real [[information theory]] much less understood it. All that he's done is heard [[William Dembski|Dembski]] presenting one of his wretched mischaracterizations, and then regurgitated and expanded upon them.|||goodmath<ref name=sci>[https://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/2008/12/29/idiotic-gitt-aig-and-bad-infor Idiotic Gitt: AiG and Bad Information Theory.] scienceblogs.org, 29 December 2008.</ref>}}

'''Werner Gitt''' {{lived|1937}} is a [[German]] [[Engineers and woo|engineer]] and a [[young earth creationist]] who has written on various [[pseudoscientific|pseudoscience]] topics for [[Answers in Genesis]].<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/bios/werner-gitt/ Articles by Werner Gitt] at [[Answers in Genesis]].</ref> 

==Information theory==

Gitt wrote the book ''In the Beginning was Information'' (1997), in which he proposes that no information can exist without a code, and that information has to have a mental origin—which he claims comes from [[God]]. Gitt's arguments consist of a lot of arm waving, contradictory statements, assertions without proof, and [[circular reasoning]]. Scientists have explained in detail where he goes wrong.<ref>
[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/information/gitt.html Information Theory and Creationism.] talkorigins.org.
</ref><ref>[http://archive.is/8Cof Errors in Werner Gitt's work with Information Theory.] Archived from the original at ccrnp.ncifcrf.gov.</ref><ref name=sci />

==External links==
*[https://wernergitt.com/ His personal site]
*Werner Gitt, [https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Was-Information-Werner-Gitt/dp/0890514615 ''In the Beginning was Information.''] ISBN 9780890514610
*Werner Gitt, [https://www.amazon.com/Did-Evolution-Observations-Scientist-Faith/dp/0890514836 ''Did God Use Evolution? Observations from a Scientist of Faith.''] ISBN 0890514836

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{crebox|1}}
{{stub|creationism}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gitt, Werner}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Engineers]
[[Category:Engineer woo]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Authors, Engineer woo, Living people
Wes Penre

{{conspiracynav|1}}

{{cquote|These are not some [[paranoid]] [[conspiracy]] theories, like [[they|some people]] want you to believe, but facts backed up by evidence and even admitted by some of the people I am exposing as being behind the plot. Much of it is therefore already in the open if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Most of us agree that something is very wrong with this world. Civil wars, diseases, famine, ethnic cleansing, religious wars, different violations of human rights ... the list is long and it just goes on. Are all those bad conditions totally separated from each other, or do they have a common source and a hidden purpose?|||Wes Penre, [[just asking questions]]<ref name=moriah>[https://wespenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/introductoryleveloflearning-theglobaleliteakatheshadowgovernment.pdf The Wes Penre Papers: Introductory Level of Learning, Introductory Paper #1: Basic Information on the Global Elite a.k.a. "The Shadow Government"]. Wes Penre, 2011.</ref>}}

'''Wes Penre''' is a [[conspiracy theorist]] and [[crank]] who floods the internet with a lot of [[green ink]]. He owns several [[webshite]]s used for self-promotion and promulgation of his nutty writings. His main topics include not only the [[Illuminati]] and conspiracies, but also spiritual forces and development, [[aliens]] and mythological themes,{{efn|Basically, many personalities in old mythologies are characters in a great space opera involving war, peace, empires, and suspiciously human-like relations.}} and his personal [[conspirituality]] blend of conspiracy thinking with various [[New Age]] and [[Western esotericism|esoteric]] themes.<ref>[https://wespenre.com/site-map/ SITE MAP | The Wes Penre Papers]</ref>

Penre has also self-published several books with his message, including ''Beyond 2012–A Handbook for the New Era'' (2013) and ''Synthetic Super Intelligence and the Transmutation of Humankind'' (2016).

==''Illuminati News''==

Penre owns ''Illuminati News'', a poor quality website that spreads [[conspiracy theories]] about the [[Illuminati]]. It appears not to have been updated since 2018. The site claims that there is more than one Illuminati group and that it focuses on the Power-Hungry one you hear about [[Alex Jones|everywhere]]. Oh, and apparently, '''many''' people already admitted to being a part of it.<ref name=moriah />

==See also==
* [[Hidden Hand]] – A self-proclaimed Illuminati insider's message, which Wes Penre and ''Illuminati News'' has covered and helped popularize.

==External links==
*[https://wespenre.com The Wes Penre Papers]
*[https://wespenrebooks.com/ Wes Penre Books]
*[http://www.illuminati-news.com ''Illuminati News'']
*[https://wespenrevideos.com Wes Penre Videos]
*[https://battleofearth.wordpress.com Battleground Earth] – Blog, was earlier titled "News From Behind The Scenes"

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|Conspiracy theories}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penre, Wes}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Conspirituality]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Webshites]]

Categories: Authors, Conspirituality, Living people, Webshites
Whale

{{fork}}

* [[Whale Wars]], "reality" TV show promoting the [[Sea Shepherd Conservation Society]]
* [[Whale.to]], infamous [[crank]] [[webshite]] and inspiration for [[Scopie's Law]]
* [[Dolphin]]s, which are a type of whale
* [[Oil#Whale oil|Whale oil]], once used for lamps and heating
* A disparaging term for someone who spends a lot of [[money]] on [[gambling]], especially [[loot box]]es
* A disparaging term for an [[obesity|obese]] person
* [[Wales]]
* [[Template:Whale]]
Whale Wars

{{title-italics}}
{{sources needed}}
{{media}}
'''''Whale Wars''''' is an [[United States|American]] "reality" TV series that first aired on Animal Planet from 2008 to 2015. The series chronicles the [[Sea Shepherd Conservation Society]]'s attempts to stop [[Japan]]ese whaling in the Southern Ocean.

==Reality?==
Although the series was a big hit for Animal Planet, it has been criticized by some for being biased.  David Hinckley from the ''New York Daily News'' wrote: "Because the cameras obviously operate from the conservation ship &mdash; named the Sea Shepherd and, for this voyage, also called the Steve Irwin &mdash; we get all the drama on this side and virtually none on the other."<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/whale-wars-reality-show-sea-plus-article-1.334228 'Whale' of a reality show gets a sea-plus] by David Hinckley (November 5, 2008, 7:24 PM) ''New York Daily News''.</ref>  President and general manager of Animal Planet Marjorie Kaplan has stated they have requested filming on the Japanese ships, but have repeatedly been declined.<ref>[https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/12/new-whale-wars-season-has-officially-begun.html New 'Whale Wars' season begins as Sea Shepherd seeks Japanese fleet] by Pete Thomas (December 8, 2009, 8:20 am) ''Los Angeles Times'' </ref>

In one episode, the Sea Shepherds threw stink bombs at the Japanese whaling vessel the ''Nisshin Maru'' while in return, the whalers threw stun grenades at the Sea Shepherds. Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson found a piece of metal inside his vest and claimed he had been shot. The whalers stated that no shots were fired. Some agree with the whalers and say Watson faked the shot.

In another episode, the Sea Shepherd vessel the ''Ady Gil'' collided with the Japanese security vessel the ''Shonan Maru No. 2.'' The ''Gil'' was sliced in half and later sank. The ''Ady Gil's'' designers have stated that, while the vessel was disabled after the collision, it would still have remained afloat. Thus, some people believe that ''Ady Gil'' captain Pete Bethune scuttled the vessel for the purpose of the show's ratings.

==''South Park''==
The satirists of ''[[South Park]]'' spoofed the series in an episode entitled "Whale Whores". In the episode, Stan joins the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in an attempt to stop the Japanese from killing whales and dolphins, but is unimpressed by their methods of lying and throwing "stinky butter" at the whalers.  After Stan takes control of the Shea Shepherds' ship, headlines state: "Whale Wars Gets Better: Things Actually Happen," and "Whale Wars Ratings Skyrocket: New Captain Not A Fat Liar Like The Old One." Eventually, Stan and Kyle head to Japan to figure out why they would quickly kill whales and dolphins, and it turns out that it was the result of an edited picture of Dolphins being responsible for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animal rights]]
[[Category:Television programmes]]

Categories: Animal rights, Television programmes
What's The Harm?

[[File:WhatsTheHarmDotNetIcon132x132.jpg|right|165px|thumb|Logo]]{{altmed}}{{hatnote|For the [[logical fallacy]], see [[What's the harm (logical fallacy)]].}}
'''What's The Harm?''' is a website which [[anecdotal]]ly lists people whose [[death]]s appear to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by [[alternative medicine|alternative treatments]]. Anecdotes are, of course, not evidence of the safety or dangerousness of something, but the site is a counterexample to the many anecdotes used to support [[CAM]], and a direct answer to the frequent question "What's the harm in _____?", which all too often goes unanswered.

WtH places a heavy emphasis on [[critical thinking]].<ref>[http://whatstheharm.net/whatisthis.html What is this site?]</ref> However, the site itself should be examined quite critically, if you are attempting to use it as any quality reference regarding fatalities caused by alternative treatments. They include such things as people who knew they had N-stage, terminal [[cancer]] and went the alternative route "but died anyhow". Other deaths are linked to people who were victims of outright fraud, that had little or nothing to do with the alternative medicine world in general. These issues are somewhat addressed in the site's FAQ page.<ref>[http://whatstheharm.net/faq.html What are your questions?]</ref>

The lists do clearly show that some alternative medicine, like [[chiropractic]] medicine, toxic "[[cleanse]]s", and [[herbalism]], can bring actual real harm or death to patients, especially if not performed correctly and by certified practitioners.

==See also==
*{{wpa|What's The Harm?}}
*[[What's the harm (logical fallacy)]]
*[[Iatrogenesis]]

==External links==
*[http://www.whatstheharm.net What's The Harm?]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Websites]]

Categories: Alternative medicine, Websites