WHAT!!!! THE FUNNIEST EPIDEMIC EVER!

On December 16, 1997, more than 635 Japanese children were admitted to hospitals with convulsive epileptic seizures. It was determined that the seizures were caused by watching an episode of Pokémon, "Dennō Senshi Porygon," (most commonly translated "Electric Soldier Porygon", season 1, episode 38); as a result, this episode has not been aired since. In this particular episode, there were bright explosions with rapidly-alternating blue and red color patterns.^[21] It was determined in subsequent research that these strobing light effects cause some individuals to have epileptic seizures, even if the person had no previous history of epilepsy. As a consequence, many publishers (including Nintendo) added warning labels to their video game products (or made pre-existing labels more prominent), warning that exposure to video games may trigger seizures in individuals vulnerable to photosensitive epilepsy.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon

A Brilliant Understanding! A lesser mind would have killed them!

Finally, on July 29, 1014, Basil II outmaneuvered the Bulgarian army in the Battle of Kleidion, with Samuil separated from his force. Having crushed the Bulgarians, Basil was said to have captured 15,000 prisoners and blinded 99 of every 100 men, leaving 150 one-eyed men to lead them back to their ruler, who fainted at the sight and died two days later suffering a stroke. Although this may be an exaggeration, this gave Basil his nickname Boulgaroktonos, "the Bulgar-slayer" in later tradition.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_II

Yes, let's discuss!

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Bathynomus giganteus. (Discuss)
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod

Awe for nature.

Intrauterine cannibalism is a behaviour in some carnivorous species, in which multiple embryos are created at impregnation, but only one or two are born. The larger or stronger ones consume their less-developed siblings as a source of nutrients.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrauterine_cannibalism

We can all be rich, we can all be rich, we can all be rich we can all be not eaten in the womb.

I hope you're taking notes, monotheistic god

Priapism (Greek πριαπισμός, erection) is a painful and potentially harmful medical condition in which the erect penis does not return to its flaccid state (despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation) within about four hours. Priapism is considered a medical emergency, which should receive proper treatment by a qualified medical practitioner.

The name comes from the Greek god Priapus, referring to the myth that he was ironically punished by the other gods for attempting to rape a goddess, by being given a huge (but useless) set of wooden genitals.

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priapism

Humans love ironic punishments when they happen to other people.

It's a man's world, allegedly.

Sexual cannibalism is a special case of cannibalism in which a female organism kills and consumes a conspecific (same species) male before, during, or after copulation. Premating cannibalism has been considered as a foraging decision, a by-product of natural selection for aggressiveness and even a case of mistaken identity. Some sexual cannibalism might be a matter of the female regarding her suitor as more acceptable as a meal than a mate. But cannibalism and mating are not mutually exclusive behaviors and many times the male is devoured post-coitus.

By becoming food for the stronger sex, males forfeit any future mating opportunities. Sexual cannibalism is favored by natural selection when it significantly increases the viable eggs fertilized by the cannibalized male's sperm. This model only applies to situations in which cannibalism occurs after sperm transfer. For males, sexual cannibalism may have evolved as an extreme form of paternal investment. If a male's sacrifice significantly increases the quality or quantity of his offspring, sexual cannibalism could be an adaptive male strategy rather than the result of a conflict of interest between the sexes.^[1][8]

Males of sexually cannibalistic species use diverse strategies to decrease their chances of being cannibalized. Male scorpions sometimes sting females while depositing their spermatophore. Male black widows and crab spiders often restrain females in silk prior to copulation. Some spiders have specialized jaws that hold open the jaws of females during copulation. Others preferentially mate with females in ecdysis (that is, while the female is molting) when cannibalism is physically impossible. Some male spiders, particularly nursery web spiders, bring the female a diversionary meal and attempt to complete copulation before the female completes the offering. Some spiders and mantids delay their courtship approach until a female catches another prey item.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_cannibalism

I blame the culture of sexual cannibalism and foodification of males that's encouraged by television, magazines, and video games.

Europe's embarassing drunken uncle

The German-backed attempt to redistribute voting weights has been the main article of controversy for Poland. It was brought to the remainder of Europe's attention by Poland's Prime Minister, who noted that Poland would have a substantially larger population were it not for Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 — and that therefore the Poles should have comparable voting powers to Germany.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Treaty

The difference between US and Japan

National Public Safety Commission (Japan)

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The National Public Safety Commission (国家公安委員会, Kokka Kōan Iinkai^?) is a Japanese Cabinet Office commission.

The commission consists of a chairman, who holds the rank of Minister of State, and five members appointed by the prime minister with the consent of both houses of the Diet. The commission operates independently of the cabinet, but coordinates with it through the Minister of State.

The commission's function is to guarantee the neutrality of the police system by insulating the force from political pressure and ensuring the maintenance of democratic methods in police administration. It administers the National Police Agency, and has the authority to appoint or dismiss senior police officers.

Historically, the commission has kept watch over the activities of communists in Japan; it is believed that it watches for extreme nationalist activists as well. Liberals have long criticized the secrecy of the commission and have cautioned that it undermines the rights of the Japanese people.

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Safety_Commission_%28Japan%29

They are unafraid of the committee for public safety. Nor should they be.

Louis XVI, le prix ces't juste!

Still other countries' versions of the show, including Mexico's Atínale al Precio, Italy's OK, il Prezzo è Giusto!, France's Le Juste Prix, and Vietnam's Hãy chọn giá đúng, have done their best to emulate the American format of Plinko, with differences in the cash prizes offered being the only significant changes
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plinko_%28The_Price_is_Right_pricing_game%29

Your eyes need glasses, bitch.

In May 2006 Vařeková claimed that Maxim magazine unlawfully used a photograph of her scantily clad -- in stockings, high heels and naked from the waist up -- on the cover of its June issue. The photo was taken for a British GQ magazine feature on Victoria's Secret last year. Afterward, the photo agency Corbis sold the photos to Maxim. Vařeková says she was never told of the sale, nor was she asked for her permission to do so.

"They put me on the cover without my permission," the model told reporters. "They have no right to do it."

Vařeková says the photos were fitting for a feature on Victoria's Secret, but "for Maxim, it looks -- to my eyes -- super, super vulgar."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Varekova

My dick protesteth...most of them are still whale-like.

Reparative therapy (also called conversion therapy and reorientation therapy) refers to methods aimed at changing gay, lesbian, and bisexual people's sexual orientations to heterosexual, or at eliminating or diminishing homosexual desires and behaviors. Many techniques have been tried, including behavior modification, aversion therapy, psychoanalysis, prayer, and religious counseling.^[1] Reparative therapy is closely associated with the "ex-gay" movement, which is more explicitly religious.^[2] Ex-gay groups tend to focus primarily on adopting an "ex-gay identity" and avoiding same-sex sexual activity, and secondarily (or sometimes not at all) on changing the underlying orientation.^[3]

New Age therapies are also employed by reparative therapists, including EMDR, buddha therapy, and chiropractic adjustments.^[41] Some have tried "beauty therapy," during which butch lesbians are given "a beautiful and professionally coiffured hairstyle, taught to use cosmetics, and taught to wear the most elegant feminine styles to bring out the charm and beauty in their bodies."
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparative_therapy

Vertical brains build towers--horizontal brains protest them

• Strong delete. The content of this article constitutes a threat to human life, and its presence is likely to bring the project into disrepute. Newyorkbrad 16:59, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not censored, and I would strongly contest the idea that any article can kill someone. Articles don't kill people, people do. DickClarkMises 17:10, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Strong delete per Newyorkbrad. Sometimes there are things more important in life than keeping uncensored. Sorry, I have a friend that was close to suicide and told me she came to this site to look up information. Part Deux 17:51, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Transwiki to WikiHow, if possible. ffm ✎talk 13:43, 18 April 2007 (UTC) I
t's not. The licensing doesn't match. >Radiant< 13:51, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

Forget the licensing, that's the most tasteless suggestion yet. Newyorkbrad 14:55, 18 April 2007 (UTC)
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Suicide_method

debate tip 1: Your response should not prove their assertion.

The National Alliance proclaims itself to be a white separatist group. However, it has often been accused of being white supremacist and neo-Nazi. The organization has denied these claims. However, it has resorted to racially-charged language in its refutation of such criticisms. The National Alliance has stated that such allegations are part of a "Jewish plot" to suppress the "racial defense mechanisms" of white people by accusing those who believe in "white separatist ideals" as being "white supremacists".
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_separatist

The difference between a civilization and an empire

A cestus is an ancient battle glove, sometimes used in pankration. In effect, it is the Classic World's equivalent to brass knuckles.

The Latin word caestus (plural caestūs) ^[1] is derived from verb caedere, meaning "to strike". It is unrelated to the similar noun cestus (plural cestī), that refers to a kind of belt worn by women in Ancient Greece. [1]

The first version of a battle cestus was a series of leather thongs that were tied over the hand. Greeks used them in their hand-to-hand competitions, where only knock out mattered. Romans modified the construction by adding metal parts, including spikes, studs and iron plates. Variants of this weapon include the myrmex or "limb-piercer", and the originally Greek sphairai, thin leather thongs with cutting blades.

Cestus were frequently used in roman gladiator bouts where otherwise unarmed combatants - mostly slaves - fought to the death.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cestus

Works for me.

Adult Swim began running ads on March 25, 2007 advertising the television premiere of the movie the following Sunday, April 1. Their only reasoning behind this stunt, as stated in the ad, was, "because we're fucking crazy". Though the first few minutes of the movie were shown normally, the remainder was shown in a tiny picture in picture box in the bottom left-hand corner, with no sound over the normal programming and occasional giant popups alerting viewers of its presence, as well as advertising the actual premiere.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_Teen_Hunger_Force_Colon_Movie_Film_for_Theaters