trentmkelly/rationalwiki huggingface dataset:
Pulpit Freedom Sunday

{{sources needed}}
[[File:Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2011.jpg|thumb|right|200|Pulpit Freedom Sunday in 2011]]
{{Christianity}}
{{cquote|The future of religious freedom depends on a free pulpit to communicate fundamental, biblical principles to congregations across America. Join a movement of pastors preaching biblical Truth from their pulpits on October 7th, 2012.||| <ref>[http://speakupmovement.org/church/LearnMore/details/4702 Speak Up]</ref>}}

'''Pulpit Freedom Sunday''' -- which is scheduled for the last Sunday of September/first Sunday in October — is the day when [[right wing]] [[fundy]] batshit crazy [[American]] [[pastor]]s decide to flout their churches' tax-exempt status by making political speeches during their Sunday services, despite the fact that the [[Bible]] repeatedly commands [[Christianity|Christians]] to obey secular law. The first Pulpit Freedom Sunday occurred on 28 September 2008, when it looked more and more likely that [[Barack Obama|One]] [[Muslim|Of]] [[Socialism|Those]] [[African American|People]] was about to win the presidency.

==Tax exempt==
{{main|Section 501(c)}}
In 1954, the federal government exempted not-for-profit entities, like charities, from all taxation. In exchange for tax-exempt status, nonprofits are prohibited from campaigning for politicians and/or political causes. Unfortunately, the feds lumped religious organizations — which will, ''way'' too often, place the will of [[God]] before their legal obligations — in with other actual charities.  

The simple solution to this, of course, is to yank the tax-exempt status of any church that violates the law. But, because this event occurs just a few weeks before the November elections, it is intended to be a hot-button issue meant to provoke outrage if the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] upholds the law. Besides, given the insanely privileged position of religion in society (as evidenced by them being lumped in with nonprofits wholesale in the first place), it's virtually impossible to enforce such a regulation. When an organization with privilege and power is inclined to favor its political agenda over injunctions from its own scriptures such as "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's", you're automatically facing an uphill battle.

==Origin==
Pulpit Freedom Sunday is the brainchild of the [[Alliance Defense Fund]], a "[[family values]]" group founded in 1994 to combat the [[ACLU]].

==See also==
*[[Religious right]]

==External Links==
*[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5886446&page=1 ABC News story posted before the first Pulpit Freedom Sunday.]
*[http://abcnews.go.com/US/definat-pastors-irs/story?id=11726610 ABC News story posted before the 2010 Pulpit Freedom Sunday.]
*[http://www.examiner.com/atheism-in-portland/pulpit-freedom-sunday-is-a-slap-the-face-of-law-will-irs-act "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" is a slap in the face of law - will IRS act?]

==References==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism]]

Categories: Christian fundamentalism
Pulse diagnosis

[[File:Pulse diagnosis techniques; Fuzhen and yangzhen Wellcome L0038044.jpg|thumb|left|165px|Chinese pulse diagnosis techniques from 1554 CE]]
{{altmed}}
'''Pulse diagnosis''' is an unproven method of [[diagnosis]] used in some systems of [[alternative medicine]], such as [[Ayurveda]], [[traditional Chinese medicine]] (TCM), and [[Unani]]. It involves detecting minute changes in the pulse; some types of pulse include slippery, choppy, full, empty, slow, rapid, superficial, and deep.<ref>[http://wanderingprimate.blogspot.ca/2007/06/pulse-diagnosis.html Pulse Diagnosis,] Wandering Primate.</ref> The practitioner should develop an instinct or "feel" for detecting these. However, practitioners using pulse diagnosis have low inter-rater reliability.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22954463 ''Interobserver reliability of pulse diagnosis using Traditional Korean Medicine for stroke patients''], ''J. Altern. Complement. Med.'' 2013 Jan;19(1):29-34. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0612. Epub 2012 Sep 6.</ref> In TCM, pulse diagnosis should happen before sunrise because the [[yin and yang]] are apparently in balance then.<ref>[http://www.skepticssa.org.au/html/acupuncture.html The Skeptics SA guide to Acupuncture], ''Skeptics SA''.</ref> Pulse diagnosis should be for when the patient is at rest and not immediately following exercise. 

This method is in no way related to [[empirical]]ly-verified diagnosis methods based on analysis of heart rate, on heart sounds such as heart murmurs or gallop rhythms or electrocardiography.

==External links==
*[http://bobarnebeck.com/defence.html ''A Defence of Blood-letting, as a Remedy for Certain Diseases''], by [[Benjamin Rush]], which goes into some detail about pulse diagnosis.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|Alternative medicine}}
[[Category:Chinese medicine]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]

Categories: Chinese medicine, Pseudoscience
Pundit

{{pundits}}

{{cquote|The demagogue is one who preaches doctrine he knows to be untrue to people he knows to be idiots.|||[[H.L. Mencken]]}}

A '''pundit''' is a person who, while not having an official role in [[government]], offers their opinions on public policy. The word 'pundit' derives from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''paṇḍita'', meaning 'learned man'; unfortunately, being learned is no longer a prerequisite. Some pundits are well-read, [[education|educated]], and sane. Others are screaming banshees and/or clueless idiots. Some are just ideologues.

Their employment is varied dependent on their field of expertise, ranging from [[think tank]]s to [[mainstream media]] outlets to [[academia]]. Pundits serve as an outside source of ideas for officials, and also tend to try to influence public opinion.

At their best, they present well-reasoned [[argument]]s for given courses of public policy. At their [[Fox News|worst]], they just rile up the uninformed to shout slogans.

==See also==
*{{cat|Political pundits|All our articles on pundits}}
*[[Think tank]]

==External links==
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/the-corporatist-manifesto_b_16410.html "The Corporatist Manifesto Tells Pundits of America: Unite!"]
{{stub|media}}
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Political pundits|*]]
[[Category:Lists]]

Categories: Media, Political pundits, Lists
Purim

[[Image:Purim_drunk.JPG|thumb|right|165px|Some people practice for Purim all year long.]]
{{Judaism}}
 
{{cquote|'''Mordechai:''' You'll be a hero, everyone will admire you, people each year will dress up as you!<br>'''Esther:''' So they'll dress up like [[Prostitution|whores]].<br>'''Mordechai:''' Only in high school.|||HaYehudim Baim (The Jews Are Coming)}}

'''Purim''' is a [[Jewish]] holiday that celebrates an ancient plot to kill the [[Persian]] Jews perpetrated by a court vizier called Haman (an Agagite, not a Persian) and thwarted by Esther, wife of the Persian King, Xerxes. It is celebrated by the Jews today because the Jews won and Haman was impaled on a giant pole! It also involved a lot of [[BS]] involving court etiquette and the King's inability to perceive the ethnic bickering in his sprawling, [[multicultural]] kingdom. The [[Book of Esther]] is read in synagogue to recount the story. 

[[Bible|There is no proof any of this ever actually happened, by the way.]] 

But the most important thing is that it's a mitzvah to get drunk! Yes, this is when we all drink till we don't know the difference between 
blessed-be-[[Conservapedia]] and cursed-be-[[Rationalwiki]]
 blessed-be-Rationalwiki and cursed-be-Conservapedia (learned Jews will understand that line).

Other mitzvahs of the day include giving gifts of food to your friends and giving [[charity]] to the destitute. The most important mitzvah of the day is having a big party!

It is also common to dress up for Purim. This is more like an old-fashioned masquerade ball rather than [[Halloween]]. Many people choose to dress up as characters from the Purim story, but others do not.

This holiday goes along the theme of many Jewish holidays: "They tried to kill us, but we killed them instead! So let's eat!!"; the difference on Purim is that it's custom to get blitzed, too.

==See also==
*[[Alcohol]]

{{stub|religion}}
[[Category:Holidays]]
[[Category:Judaism]]

Categories: Holidays, Judaism
Purity Products

{{altmed}}
'''Purity Products''' is a manufacturer/peddler of [[homeopathy|homeopathetic]] remedies, specifically [[dietary supplements]] and more specifically, [[vitamin supplement|vitamin supplements]].

==Their products==
A quick search<ref>[http://www.purityproducts.com/ The mainpage of their website]</ref> shows that the bulk of their products are [[pseudovitamin]]s that give in to the latest [[fad diet]] and nutrition crazes, such as selling products loaded with [[vitamin D]] and [[resveratrol]]. Like the makers of [[HeadOn]], their products are promoted heavily on [[radio]] and television, although (unlike HeadOn) usually through infomercials.<ref>[http://subscribers.nutritionbusinessjournal.com/supplements/radio_infomercials_help_word_0307/wall.html?return=http://subscribers.nutritionbusinessjournal.com/supplements/radio_infomercials_help_word_0307/index.html About their informercials]</ref> Purity Products also likes to brand their products as "[[Evidence-based medicine|evidence-based]]," even though they have released no studies or data to back such claims. Their Advisory Panel seems about as full of [[crank|crankery]] as you can get.<ref>Their [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218105535/http://www.purityproducts.com/purityEcommerce/control/purityexperts panel of advisors].</ref>

==Customer satisfaction==
Apparently, they do not have a good track record with their customers either,<ref>[http://www.ripoffreport.com/Supplemental-Health-Programs/Purity-Products/purity-products-listen-very-ca-j676b.htm A dissatisfied customer]</ref><ref>[http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/purity-products-c111426.html Another angry consumer]</ref> and not just because their products are loaded with more [[woo]] than help. They even have to have a web page dedicated to responding to accusations that they're scam artists.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091003124046/http://wecare.purityproducts.com/ Right here]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Herbalife]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{foodbox}}

[[Category:Food woo promoters]]

Categories: Food woo promoters
Pyotr Kropotkin

[[File:Peter_Kropotkin_circa_1900.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Kropotkin, c. 1900]]
{{Anarchism|1}}
'''Pyoter Alexeyevich Kropotkin''' (Russian: Пётр Алексе́евич Кропо́ткин, occasionally romanized as Pioter, Peter, Bread Santa, or even "stinky P" Kropotkin) {{lived|1842|1921}} was a [[Russian]] [[zoologist]] known primarily as one of the primary thinkers of [[Anarchism#Anarcho-communism|anarcho-communism]]. Kropotkin was an outspoken opponent of [[Social Darwinism]], drawing on research performed in Siberia to argue that [[altruism]] was an [[evolutionary]] advantage. His notable books include ''The Conquest of Bread''<ref group=note>Known as ''The Bread Book'' by followers and fans.</ref> and ''Mutual Aid: A Factor Of Evolution'', which both proposed an equal role for cooperation as opposed to competition alone in driving [[evolution]], and ''Fields, Factories, and Workshops'', which includes a repudiation of the ideas of [[Thomas Malthus]]<ref>https://www.marxists.org/subject/science/essays/kropotkin.htm</ref> and comes across as rather optimistic about the prospects for technology improving industrial and agricultural output, leading to economic decentralism and local self-sufficiency.  Kropotkin advocated communal living and a [[gift economy]] and argued for the abolition of [[money]] and written [[law]].

Kropotkin had an uneasy relationship with the "mainstream" Russian communist movement and ultimately rejected the [[Bolshevik]]s, claiming after the Bolshevik seizure of power that "This buries the [[revolution]]",<ref>See the Encyclopedia Britannica (a publication to which Kropotkin once contributed) article [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Alekseyevich-Kropotkin here]</ref> and said this demonstrated "how the revolution was not to be made — that is, by [[authoritarian]] rather than [[libertarian]] methods." Due to his popularity, the Bolshevik regime permitted Russian anarchists to march -and even carry anti-Bolshevik banners-in a funeral procession for him. It was the last free assembly in Russia until 1987. {{cn}}

==Trivia==
{{trivia}}
*In late 1921 there was an advert in the British newspaper ''The Times'' requesting information on the whereabouts of Kropotkin's will.

==See also==
*[[Anarchism#Anarcho-Communism|Anarcho-communism]]
*[[Gift economy]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|history}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kropotkin, Pyotr}}
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Biologists]]
[[Category:Communists]]
[[Category:Explorers]]
[[Category:Historians]]
[[Category:Left-wing activists]]
[[Category:Philosophers]]
[[Category:Ruskies]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Categories: Authors, Biologists, Communists, Explorers, Historians, Left-wing activists, Philosophers, Ruskies, Scientists
Q

{{fork}}
[[Image:Q and Picard all good things.jpg|thumb|Attempting to redirect an article about the great and powerful Q to the article on the [[Q gospel]] makes Captain Picard facepalm.]]
*'''Q''' or '''[[QAnon]]''' is the pseudonym for someone propagating the [[conspiracy theory]] known as "[[The Storm]]", likely derived from the U.S. Department of Energy's top-secret {{wpl|Q clearance||.}}
*The '''[[Q gospel]]''' is a hypothesized collection of sayings of [[Jesus]] (from the German ''Quelle'', meaning source).
*'''The Q''' are a race of nigh-[[omnipotent]] beings from ''[[Star Trek]]''. Thanks to the wonders of narrativium, stuff like the [[omnipotence paradox]] or the ability of the Q to just slag everything in sight were never much of a problem, although their gadgets in the James Bond films were pretty cool.
*'''Q''' is an incredibly large unit of [[energy]] that is used to measure the amount of energy output on a ''planetary'' scale using convenient numbers. 1 Q is equivalent to 1.05×10<sup>21</sup> joules.<ref>[http://www.convertcenter.com/q-unit Convert Center — Q Unit]</ref> Around the time the anthropogenic activity starts consuming 1 Q of energy, it will produce enough ''direct'' heat (i.e., not due to the [[greenhouse effect]]) to raise the global temperature by 1° C.
*In [[thermodynamics]], '''Q''' represents the net heat transferred into a system.
*'''Q''' is the seventeenth letter in the English alphabet. It is fairly unique in that most other languages do not have a letter for the English "qu" (though the letter "q" is often used in transliterations, especially of [[Arabic]] languages (e.g. [[Qatar]], [[Qur'an]]), in Persian (e.g. Qâb, Qom, Saqez), in Hindi and Urdu alike (e.g. Inqilāb, Mustaqbil, Qalam), in Hebrew (e.g. Ashqelon), in Kazakh language (e.g. Qazaq tili, Qazaqstan), in Inuit languages (e.g. Iqaluit), and in Pinyin Chinese (e.g. [[qi]])).
*'''[[Quetzalcoatl]]''' — known as "Q" in the low-budget David Carridine film

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Language]]

Categories: Language
Q-Ray

{{altmed}}
A '''Q-Ray''' [[Ionised jewellery|ionized bracelet]]<ref name=skepdic>[http://skepdic.com/qray.html Q-Ray® bracelet] Skeptic's Dictionary</ref> is an expensive piece of jewelry worn by people who wish to show off their gullibility. [[Woo]]-hoo, let's hear some applause for people who don't think. The bracelet allegedly acts to relieve pain through some sort of [[magic|process]] explainable by the best [[Pseudoscience | pseudo-scientific]] [[technobabble|gobbledygook]] or by the [[placebo effect]]. The promotion material for the Q-Ray claims that it balances one's [[Yin and yang|yin-yang]] and boosts one's [[chi]].<ref name=skepdic/>

One "explanation" for the apparent relief of pain is that prolonged contact with the skin produces copper oxide, which is known to damage the central nervous system. Wearing the bracelet around the wrist would damage the median nerve and thereby reduce the sensation of pain in the hand, so if you feel like damaging your nerves you know what to do.

The Q-Ray should not be confused with {{wpl|Violet Ray||,}} which contains an equal number of Q-uackerons, but is older and visually much more impressive,<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3dtGALcKl8 See?]</ref> or with [[N-rays]], or even Z-rays.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fda_quackery_psa As explained by Raymond Massey in this 1950s vintage PSA from the Food and Drug Administration]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Copper bracelet]]

==External links==
*[http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/qray.html Quackwatch page]
*[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/health/qray.html Consumer Complaints about Q-Ray]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|pseudoscience}}

[[Category:Pseudoscience]]

Categories: Pseudoscience
Qigong

{{altmed}}
'''Qigong''' (pronounced ''"CHEE-gong"'') is a traditional [[Chinese]] practice, located at the intersection of [[religion]], [[martial arts]] and [[Traditional Chinese medicine]]. The purpose of qigong is to create ''[[Qi]]'' ("energy") and move it throughout the body by coordinating breath with highly ritualized, focused movements and stances. Qigong is more than four thousand years old, its roots lying in ancient Chinese history. Today it is practiced as a central component of some forms of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and [[Taoism|Daoist]] worship, and as a recreational activity. 

Claimed benefits of qigong include elimination of hypertension, coronary artery disease, peptic ulcers, chronic liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, menopause syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, [[cancer]], lower back and leg pain, cervical spondylosis, and myopia.<ref>Liu, Tian Jun; Qiang, Xiao Mei, eds. (2013). ''Chinese Medical Qigong'', Third Edition. Singing Dragon. ISBN 978-1848190962.</ref> None of these purported cures are effective.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{stub|alternative medicine}}
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Buddhism]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Chinese medicine]]
[[Category:Energy therapy]]
[[Category:Orientalist woo]]
[[Category:Sport]]

Categories: Alternative medicine, Buddhism, China, Chinese medicine, Energy therapy, Orientalist woo, Sport
Quantum Jumping

{{stub|Quantum woo}}
[[File:Juantum_Jumping_Box.png|thumb|165px|Somehow, it appears that the CD is larger than the quantum scale]]
{{newage}}
'''Quantum Jumping''' is a [[Quantum woo]] [[scam]] designed to sell a "[[meditation]] and visualization technique" method for tons of money. It was created by swindler and self-proclaimed "expert in [[yoga]] and meditation" Burt Goldman. [[Style over substance|It is marketed through a well produced video, inspirational with an almost motivational message]] and full of deep stinking bullcrap. He's probably made a killing so far.

==Introduction==
{{cquote|You can probably imagine the looks I get when I describe Quantum Jumping to people: it’s a technique for ‘jumping’ into alternate universes, meeting alternate versions of yourself, and using their wisdom and skills to live your ideal life.}} Do you want to meet a you who has qualities you lack or who made the right decision? Hand over your money for Goldman's method and let your imagination lead you into a well constructed delusion. Want to explore the mirror universe? Pay up and you'll see your opposite with a goatee up to no good shenanigans (though don't blame us if you get stuck with all the evil versions of your friends). Want to do this for free? Explore your imagination, that's all there is to it. Want to usefully meditate? Find one of many methods that is clinically proven to reduce stress and other benefits some of which can be learnt for free. Absolutely must do some Quantum Jumping? Get out your credit card and fill out the online form!

==See also==
* [[Reality shifting]]

==External links==
*http://www.quantumjumping.com/

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[category:New Age]]
[[Category:Quantum woo]]
[[Category:Articles needing RWification]]

Categories: Pseudoscience, New Age, Quantum woo, Articles needing RWification
Quark

{{Physics}}
The '''quark''' is one of the two basic constituents of [[matter]] (''see [[lepton]]''). They make up '''hadrons''', which are simply composite particles made of multiple quarks. Examples include various mesons (quark-antiquark pairings), baryons (made up of three quarks), and exotic states containing yet more quarks/antiquarks.

==Size==
Quarks are smaller than [[proton]]s and [[neutron]]s; indeed, there are three quarks in each of these [[subatomic particle]]s.  As far as early 21st century [[scientist]]s know, quarks together with leptons are truly fundamental and cannot be broken down further.  They take their name from an invented word in a passage of James Joyce's stream-of-consciousness novel ''Finnegan's Wake''.<ref>[http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/documents/PUS/dis/fundam.htm Quarks and Leptons]</ref>

==Flavours==
Quarks come in six delicious "flavours": up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.(Note: Yes, those are the real flavors.) Oddly enough, they do not come in mint, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, strawberry, {{wpl|Quark_(cheese)|quark cheese}} or any other normal flavors. Up, charm, and top quarks have a charge of +<sup>2</sup>/<sub>3</sub>, while down, strange, and bottom quarks have a charge of -<sup>1</sup>/<sub>3</sub>.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Generation !! charge +<sup>2</sup>/<sub>3</sub> !! charge -<sup>2</sup>/<sub>3</sub> !! charge -<sup>1</sup>/<sub>3</sub> !! charge +<sup>1</sup>/<sub>3</sub>
|-
| 1 || up quark || up antiquark || down quark || down antiquark
|-
| 2 || charm quark || charm antiquark || strange quark || strange antiquark
|-
| 3 || top/truth quark || top/truth antiquark || bottom/beauty quark || bottom/beauty antiquark
|}

Fittingly, a [[proton]] consists of two "up" quarks and one "down" quark.  Second and third generation quarks are unstable and will spontaneously decay into first-generation quarks in a few yoctoseconds or less, although hadrons composed of such quarks tend to last somewhat longer.

And scientists think the [[Higgs boson]] may be just what is needed to give quarks [[Mass (physics)|mass]].

==Trivia==
Contrary to the snicker you will inevitably hear whenever you utter "quark," they do actually exist. At least one can be found serving drinks on [[Star Trek|Deep Space 9]]. They might be pronounced qu-ARK or perhaps qu-ORK, no one seems to agree.

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20040125231430/http://www.quarkdance.org/ Quarks dancing to polka music.] You know you want to.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugLwXlpJi6o Quark, Strangeness and Charm]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vONiPLrueEI Strangeness and Charm]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIgc6tIvIlU For those who grew up in the 90s, Captain Qwark!]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkD09RYdfPc For those who grew up in the 70s, Captain Quark!]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Fundamental particles]]

{{stub|physics}}

Categories: Physics, Fundamental particles