text:
Al Hejr

Al-Ḥijr (الحِجْرْ) is the 15th sūrah (chapter of the Quran). It has 99 āyāt (verses).

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier Meccan surah, received by Muhammad shortly after chapter 12, Yusuf, during his last year in Mecca. Like other surahs of this period, it praises God. Parts of Q15:4-74 are preserved in the Ṣan‘ā’1 lower text.

This surah takes its name from 80th verse (āyah), which refers to Mada'in Saleh, a pre-Islamic archaeological site, also called Hegra (from الحِجَارَة) or al-Ḥijr (الحِجر).

Summary

 * 1-3  Unbelievers will one day wish themselves Muslims
 * 4-5  Every nation has its day of grace
 * 6  Muhammad charged with demoniacal possession by the disbelievers (the Quraysh)
 * 7 The unbelievers say a true prophet would have come with a company of angels
 * 8  Angels are not sent to gratify curiosity, but to minister judgment
 * 9  God the revealer and preserver of the Quran
 * 10-11  The former prophets were laughed to scorn
 * 12-15  The scoffing Quraysh judicially blinded
 * 16-20  God declares his glory in the heaven and the earth
 * 21-22  He is active in every part of Nature
 * 23-25  He is the God of life, death, and judgment
 * 26-29  God says men created of clay—the Jinn of fire
 * 29-33  Iblis, unlike the angels, refuses to prostrate to Adam
 * 34-38  He is cursed and respited until the judgment
 * 39-40  Satan declares to God his purpose to seduce men
 * 41-42  The elect are safe from Satan’s power
 * 43-44  The seven gates of hell will receive Satan’s followers
 * 45-50  Paradise joys in store for true believers
 * 51-77 The story of Abraham and Lot's conflict
 * 78-79  The unbelieving Midianites are destroyed
 * 80-81  The scoffing inhabitants of al Hijr reject their prophets though accompanied with miracles
 * 82-84  Rock-hewn houses fail to save them
 * 85-86 The heaven and earth created in righteousness
 *  87  Command to repeat the seven verses (al-Fatiha)
 * 88-90 Muhammad not to consider the prosperity of infidels
 * 91-93  The enemies of God will surely be punished
 * 94-96 Muhammad commanded to preach boldly
 * 97-99  He is exhorted to praise and serve God until death

Central Theme
This surah contains brief mentions of Tawhid, and provides an admonition to the disbelievers. The primary subjects of the surah are:

 * 1) cautioning the individuals who dismissed the message and
 * 2) providing solace and support to Muhammad,

The Quran never limits itself to mere rebuke; reproach and reprimand. It depends on its statute. The surah contains brief contentions for Tawhid and admonition in the tale of Adam and Satan.

15:9 Preservation of the Quran
"15:9 We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). Translation  Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)"

Ibn Kathir says, "God, may He be exalted, stated that He is the One Who revealed the Dhikr to him, which is the Qur'an, and He is protecting it from being changed or altered".

title: Al Hejr


text:
An-Nahl

The Bee (Arabic: الْنَّحْل ; an-naḥl) is the 16th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, with 128 verses (āyāt). It is named after honey bees mentioned in verse 68, and contains a comparison of the industry and adaptability of honey bees with the industry of man. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina.

Summary

 * 1 God’s judgment sure to be visited on the infidels
 * 2 Revelation is from God by the ministry of angels
 * 3–8 God the Creator, as his works testify
 * 9 God the true instructor of man
 * 10–14 His works in heaven, earth, and sea described
 * 15 The earth made firm by the mountains
 * 16 The stars appointed to guide man
 * 17 God not to be compared to idols
 * 18–19 God merciful and omniscient
 * 20–22 The character of the idols declared
 * 23 Infidels reject the one true God
 * 24–25 The Omniscient hates the proud
 * 26 Muhammad charged with forgery
 * 27–28 The unbelievers shall be destroyed
 * 29–31 Idolaters will be disappointed in the resurrection
 * 32–34 The reward of the righteous
 * 35–36 Infidels can only look for judgment
 * 37 They lay their crimes to God’s charge
 * 38 Every nation has its own prophet
 * 38–39 The dreadful end of infidelity
 * 40 The infidels deny the resurrection
 * 41 They shall be taught their error
 * 42 God creates by a word
 * 43 Promises to the Muhájirín
 * 44 The patient believer will be rewarded
 * 45 The custodians of the Scriptures to be inquired of
 * 46 The Quran sent to be proclaimed to the people
 * 47–49 The Prophet’s enemies will be punished
 * ۩ 50–52 All God’s creatures worship him
 * 53–55 The true God to be worshipped and obeyed
 * 56–58 Idolaters are ungrateful
 * 59–61 Hating daughters, the Quraish attribute daughters to God
 * 62–63 The human race dependent on God’s mercy
 * 64 Idolatry unreasonable
 * 65 Satan the patron of the ungodly
 * 66 Why the Quran was sent
 * 67–69 God’s witness to himself in nature
 * 70–71 The bee taught of God
 * 72–74 All man is and all he has is of God
 * 75 Yet man worships idols
 * 76 God not to be likened to anything
 * 77 The parable of a slave and his master
 * 78 The parable of the blind man and one having sight
 * 79 The affairs of the judgment-day shall be accomplished in a moment
 * 80–83 God to be obeyed because he is Creator and Preserver
 * 84 Muhammad only a public preacher
 * 85 Idolaters recognise God’s mercy and yet deny him
 * 86–87 Idolaters shall be deserted by their idols
 * 88–89 Every nation has a witness against it
 * 90 Infidel leaders to be severely punished
 * 91 Muhammad is God’s witness against the Arabians
 * 92–99 Exhortation to loyalty to God
 * 100 Muhammad to have recourse to God in reading the Quran
 * 101–102 Satan has no power over believers
 * 103 The doctrine of abrogation announced
 * 104 The Quran sent down by the “holy spirit”
 * 105 Muhammad charged with writing the Quran with foreign help
 * 106–107 The unbelievers shall be punished
 * 108 Forced apostasy no offence against God
 * 108–110 Wilful apostates condemned
 * 111 The Muhájirín blessed
 * 112 The rewards of the judgment-day will be just
 * 113–114 Makkah punished by famine for unbelief
 * 115–119 Lawful and unlawful food
 * 120 Sins of ignorance may be pardoned
 * 121–124 Muhammad exhorted to adopt the religion of Abraham
 * 125 Friday to be observed instead of the Sabbath
 * 126 Infidels not to be treated harshly
 * 127 Patient forbearance better than vengeance
 * 128 God is with the righteous

This surah warns against polytheism, saying that the pagan gods cannot create anything, and against comparisons between God and any created beings. It praises God for giving the Earth with all its wealth to mankind. According to this surah, all wonders of the natural world, such as seas, stars and mountains, are proofs of God's infinite power. Verse 66 speaks of the miracle in milk formation in cattle: "From what is within their bodies, between excretions and blood, We produce for your drink, milk, pure and agreeable to those who drink it." Verse 67 speaks of the miracle of the vine: "And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine, ye get out strong drink and wholesome food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise". Quran 16:103 addresses the allegations that Muhammad has invented the Qur'an.

And your Lord taught the honey bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: An-Nahl


text:
Al-Kahf

Al-Kahf (الكهف) is the 18th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 110 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier Meccan surah, which means it was revealed before the Prophet's hijrah to Medina, instead of after.

Summary

 * 1 God praised for the gift of Qur'an
 * 2 The Qur'an being a warning for the unbelievers and good tidings to the faithful
 * 3 The reward for the believers who do good deeds will be an everlasting abode (Jannah)
 * 4-5 The Qur'an is a warning to those who say God has begotten, and the ignorance of their sayings
 * 6 Muhammad's grief for the disbelief of his people
 * 7-8 Earth's adornment to be reduced to dust
 * 9-22 The story of the companions of the cave
 * 23-24 Muhammad is warned by God not to intend to do anything without saying "Insha-Allah" (إن شاء الله).
 * 25 The sleepers of the cave have slept 300 solar years and 309 lunar years
 * 26 Times and seasons are in God's hands. Time is a creation of God and can be modified by Him.
 * 27 None can change the Qur'an
 * 28 The pious are the Prophet's guardians
 * 29 Truth is from the Lord
 * 30-31 Sufferings of the wicked contrasted with the rewards of the righteous
 * 32-44 The parable of the two men
 * 45 Life on earth likened to water from heaven
 * 46 God's preference to humans' good deeds than their wealth and children
 * 47 Mankind's assemblage on the Judgement Day
 * 48-49 The manner of the judgment—the book of personal action delivered
 * 50 Iblis's refusal to prostrate to Adam when Adam was created
 * 51 The offspring of Satan, not present at the creation
 * 52 Idol-worshippers deserted by their idols during the Day of Judgment
 * 53 The wicked doomed to hellfire
 * 54 Every similitude mentioned in the Qur'an
 * 55 Men's rejection of the Qur'an through their disbelief
 * 56 Prophets have been sent with threats and good news
 * 57 The sin of apostasy
 * 58 God's mercy and that He appointed a time for people's accountability and torment
 * 59 Disbelief's destruction of former cities
 * 60-65 Moses and Joshua visit Khidr
 * 66 Moses desires to be taught by Khidr
 * 66-69 Khidr, knowing Moses's inability to receive his wisdom, yields to his importunity
 * 71-77 He scuttles a boat, kills a boy, and rebuilds a collapsing wall
 * 78-82 Khidr refuses to communicate further with Moses on account of his protests against his conduct, but condescends to explain his conduct.
 * 83-86 Dhu al Qarnain journeys to the setting sun which appears to him to be setting in a muddy pool
 * 87-88 He finds a people, whom he is permitted to treat as he wills
 * 89-90 The phenomenon of Midnight Sun
 * 91-94 He travels east and north, where he finds an ignorant race, who plead his protection against Gog and Magog
 * 95-97 He builds a rampart against them
 * 98 Gog and Magog to be let loose before Judgement Day
 * 99 All creatures being resurrected and gathered by the trumpet blow of Israfil.
 * 100-108 The rewards and punishments of Judgement Day
 * 109 The ocean's insufficiency to write all the words of God with ink
 * 110 Muhammad's morality and humanity

9-26 "Companions of the cave"
Verses 9–26 of the chapter retell the Christian folktale of the "companions of the cave". A few young believers lived in a time when they were tortured for their beliefs. Upon the guidance of God, they fled the city where believers were persecuted, together with their dog, and took refuge in a cave where they fell asleep. When they awoke they found that the people of the city had become believers.

27 No room for explicit textual changes of the Qur'an
"And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him. Translation Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)"

The commentary by Ozma Nasir Makarim Shirazi says, "There is no room for diversity to enter into His Words and Knowledge. His Speech and His Knowledge is not like the speech and knowledge of human beings which, as a result of a new invention or information, has to be changed". Ibn Kathir says this verse means of the words in the Quran, "no one can alter them, distort them or misinterpret them."

32-45 The parable of the two men
In verses 32–44, the surah discusses a parable of two men, one of whom had been given blessings from God and the other poor. The rich one wronged his soul and started showing off with his wealth and noble lineage.

"And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men.""

Verse 36 explains that the rich man also told his companion that he doubted the existence of Judgment Day. At the end of the parable, God destroys what He had given the man.

Q18:45 Imam Musa al-Kadhim narrates in Kitab al-Kafi that Ali would bequeath his companions to view this world with the vision of an ascetic because it dislodges its residents. Ali provides them with the parable of a lush, green garden with scented dew that accumulates under the blades of grass but then gets separated from it in the morning, as Allah has said,
 * "Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, But soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah Who prevails over all things. Q18:45." He advises his companions to "look at this world and the numerous things which cause you to wonder, and the scarcity of things that benefit you."

60-82 Islamic view of Moses
The third main story within the chapter (verses 60–82 ) is that of Musa (Moses) traveling to gain knowledge from another servant of God who is never mentioned by name, in tafsir of ibn Kathir he is called Al-Khidr.

83-98 Dhul-Qarnayn
Finally, the surah mentions in verses 83–98 a man who traveled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth – namely, Dhul-Qarnayn (ذو القرنين). In one part of the story, Dhul-Qarnayn helps a tribe of people build a massive wall of iron between two mountains to protect them from the nations of Gog and Magog. It goes on to say that this wall will be only destroyed on Judgement Day. The wall may have reflected a distant knowledge of the Great Wall of China (the 12th-century scholar al-Idrisi drew a map for Roger II of Sicily showing the "Land of Gog and Magog" in Mongolia), or of various Sassanid Persian walls built in the Caspian area against the northern barbarians, or a conflation of the two.

Traditional revelational circumstances
Arab Muslim historian and hagiographer, Ibn Ishaq, reported in his traditional book (oral traditions) of biography of Muhammad, Sirat Rasul Allah that the 18th surah of the Qur'an (which includes the story of Dhu l-Qarnayn) was revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad by God on account of some questions posed by rabbis residing in the city of Medina – the verse was revealed during the Meccan period of Muhammad's life. According to Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad's tribe, the powerful Quraysh, were greatly concerned about their tribesman who had started claiming prophethood and wished to consult rabbis about the matter. The Quraysh sent two men to the rabbis of Medina, reasoning that they had superior knowledge of the scriptures and about the prophets of God. The two Quraysh men described their tribesman, Muhammad, to the rabbis.

The rabbis told the men to ask Muhammad three questions:"They [the rabbis] said, "Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, and if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent; if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story for theirs is a strange and wondrous tale. Ask him about a man who traveled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story and ask him about the Ruh (Holy spirit) – what is it? If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.""

According to Ibn Ishaq, when Muhammad was informed of the three questions from the rabbis, he said that he would have the answers in the morning but did not say "if God wills it". For fifteen days, Muhammad waited eagerly for the revelation. Muhammad did not answer the question until then. Doubt in Muhammad began to grow amongst the people of Mecca. Then, after fifteen days, Muhammad received the revelation of al-Kahf as an answer to the questions.

Virtues
There is a hadith in Sahih Muslim that states that Muhammad said (Concerning The False Messiah, Al-Masih ad-Dajjal): ""He who amongst you would survive to see him should recite over him the opening verses of Sura Kahf""

"Whoever reads Sura Kahf on Friday, light shall shine forth for him between the two Fridays."

Common Muslim and Christian theme
The story of believers falling asleep in a cave for a long time is present also in the Christian tradition, see Seven Sleepers.

title: Al-Kahf


text:
Maryam (surah)

Maryam (مريم, ; Arabic synonym of 'Mary') is the 19th chapter of the Qur'an with 98 verses. The 114 chapters in the Quran are roughly ordered by size. The Quranic chapter is named after Mary, mother of Jesus (, عیسی), and the Virgin Mary in Christian belief. It recounts the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The text of the surah refers to many known prophetic figures, including Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Ishmael, Idris, Adam, Zechariah and Noah.

The Birmingham Quran manuscript preserves the final eight verses (Q19:91–98), on parchment radiocarbon dated to between 568 and 645 CE (56 BH – 25 AH). The Sanaa manuscript, dated between 578 and 669 CE (44 BH – 49 AH), includes verses 2–28.

From the perspective of Islamic tradition, (, أسباب النزول), it is an earlier "Meccan Surah", believed to have been revealed sooner than the later revelations in Medina. Theodor Nöldeke's chronology identifies this Surah as the 58th Surah delivered. Traditional Egyptian chronology places it as the 44th.

Summary

 * 1-6  Zacharias prays for offspring
 * 7-8  Gabriel is sent with an answer promising a son
 * 9-12  Zacharias asks a sign which is given
 * 13-15  John the Baptist's mission and character described
 * 16-22  Story of Mary's miraculous conception
 * 22-23 The birth of Jesus
 * 23-27  Mary in distress is comforted by Jesus 28-29  Mary brings her child to her people, who reproach her 30-34  Jesus (speaking in infancy) vindicates his mother and describes his own prophetic character 35  Jesus the Word of Truth
 * 36  God has no son 37  God alone to be worshipped
 * 38-41 The miserable fate of Jewish and Christian sectaries
 * The story of Abraham:
 * 42-46 He reproaches his father for idolatry
 * 47  His father threatens to stone him
 * 48-50  Abraham prays for his father, but separates himself from him
 * 50-51  God gives him Isaac and Jacob, who were notable prophets
 * 52  Moses—an apostle and prophet
 * 53  Discourses with God privately
 * 54 Aaron given him for an assistant
 * 55-56 Ismaíl was a prophet acceptable to his Lord
 * 57 ۩ 58  Idris was taken up to heaven
 * 59  God is bounteous to all true prophets
 * 59, 60  The followers of former prophets compared with those of Muhammad
 * 61-63  The reward of the faithful in Paradise
 * 64  Gabriel comes down from heaven only when commanded
 * 65 God is the only Lord—no name like his
 * 66-67  The dead shall surely rise
 * 68-72 The dead shall be judged on their knees
 * 73-75 Believers and unbelievers compared
 * 75-76  The prosperity of infidels a sign of God's reprobation
 * 77-78  Good works better than riches
 * 79-83  The doom of the wicked certain
 * 84-85  Even the false gods will desert idolaters on judgment day
 * 86-87  God sends devils to incite infidels to sin
 * 88-92  Attributing children to God a great sin 93-95  God the only Lord—all creatures His servants
 * 96  Believers to be rewarded with love
 * 97  The Quran made easy for Muhammad
 * 98  Miserable doom of all God's enemies

1 The "mysterious letters"
The chapter opens with the Bismillah and the "mysterious letters," or muqattaʿat: Kaf; Ha; Ya; 'Ayn; and Sad. Muslims believe these letters to be the peculiar marks of the Quran, and to conceal several profound mysteries, the certain understanding of which has not been communicated to any mortal except for Muhammad.

The remaining 97 verses may be divided many ways.

16–30 Story of Maryam
Q19:16–30 Translator George Sale was a solicitor and early member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. His verse structure differs slightly from that of the later Arabic King Faud I Edition. He interprets al-kitab as "the book of the Koran" when he translates the Story of Mary in the Quran
 * And remember in the book of the Koran the story of Mary; when she retired from her family to a place towards the east, and took a veil to conceal herself from them; and we sent our spirit Gabriel unto her, and he appeared unto her in the shape of a perfect man.
 * ۝ 20 She said, I fly for refuge unto the merciful God, that he may defend me from thee: if thou fearest him, thou wilt not approach me.
 * He answered, Verily I am the messenger of thy LORD, and am sent to give thee a holy son.
 * She said, How shall I have a son, seeing a man hath not touched me, and I am no harlot?
 * Gabriel replied, So shall it be: thy LORD saith, This is easy with me; and we will perform it, that we may ordain him for a sign unto men, and a mercy from us: for it is a thing which is decreed.
 * ۞ Wherefore she conceived him; and she retired aside with him in her womb to a distant place; and the pains of child-birth came upon her near the trunk of a palm-tree. She said, Would to GOD I had died :before this, and had become a thing forgotten, and lost in oblivion.
 * And he who was beneath her called to her, saying, be not grieved; now hath GOD provided a stream under thee;
 * and do thou shake the body of the palm-tree, and it shall let fall ripe dates upon thee ready gathered. And eat, and drink, and calm thy mind. Moreover, if thou see any man, and he question thee, say, Verily I have vowed a fast unto the Merciful: wherefore I will by no means speak to a man this day.
 * So she brought the child to her people, carrying him in her arms. And they said unto her, O Mary, now hast thou done a strange thing: O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a bad man, neither was thy mother a harlot.
 * ۝30 But she made signs unto the child to answer them; and they said, How shall we speak to him, who is an infant in the cradle?
 * Whereupon the child said, Verily I am the servant of GOD; he hath given me the book of the gospel, and hath appointed me a prophet.

2–40 Jesus
The first section, verses 2–40, begins with the story of Prophet Zachariah and the birth of his son John, the story of Mary and the birth of her son Jesus, and a commentary on Jesus' identity according to Islam which rejects the Christian claim that he is God's son.

28 Sister of Aaron
In Q19:28, she is referred to as 'Sister of Aaron'. Several occurrences of the word "أخ" are found in the Quran when referring to kinship or sharing the same ancestor. According to authentic Hadith, a Christian from Najran did inquire about the verse, to which Muhammad replied:

"'They used to name their children after the prophets and the righteous who came before them.'"

Being the namesake of prophetess Miriam, the verse links Mary to Aaron specifically instead of Moses, who himself is a key figure in the Quran. According to Sahih International, the Arabic wording implies a descendancy of Aaron:

"'O sister [i.e. descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.'"

While Mary's genealogy is unknown in the Bible, her relative Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Orientalist George Sale writes:

"'Several Christian writers think the Quran stands convicted of a manifest falsehood in this particular, but I am afraid the Muslims may avoid the charge; as they do by several answers. Some say the Virgin Mary had really a brother named Aaron, who had the same father, but a different mother; others suppose Aaron the brother of Moses is here meant, but say Mary is called his sister, either because she was of the Levitical race (as by her being related to Elizabeth, it should seem she was), or by way of comparison; others say that it was a different person of that name who was contemporary with her, and conspicuous for his good or bad qualities, and that they likened her to him either by way of commendation or of reproach.'"

Rhyme structures
In its original Arabic, the text of chapter 19 progresses through a series of varying rhyme structures that correspond to the content being discussed. Throughout the initial narration of the stories of Zachariah and John, Mary and Jesus, and other prophets, verses rhyme based on the syllable 'ya'. When the text moves on to a commentary on the true identity of Jesus, words rhyme due to a long 'ee' or 'oo' preceding a nasal 'm' or 'n', which is considered to give an air of settledness or finality to the subjects being discussed. The first rhyme scheme is then resumed during further accounts of earlier prophets and changes to a rhyme based on a medium 'a' following a voiced 'd' when the Surah discusses punishments for those who reject truth and the prophets. The strength of this vocalization is exchanged for the stronger still double 'd' sound when denouncing unbelievers for their criticism.

2–28 Sanaa 1
The sequence of the Sanaa manuscript (Sanaa 1) chapters do not follow any other known quranic order and folio 22 is shared with Chapter 9 (al-Tawbah) (Q9:122-129).

34 Significance of Mary
Chapter 19 is the only surah in the Qur'an that is named after a woman. Mary, the figure from whom this Surah takes its name. Jesus is referred to by his familial connection to her in Q19:34, the identifying title 'son of Mary' places startling emphasis on Mary's motherhood in a culture in which individuals were identified by their descent from male family member. This emphasis draws attention to the unique circumstances of Jesus's birth; it was not a biological process, and no father was involved, but it rejects the Christian belief that he was begotten by God. The text describes the agony of Mary's childbirth in great detail, including her wish that she had died long ago in order to avoid such pain. Despite this great hardship, God is portrayed as compassionate and attentive to Mary's needs; He urges her not to worry and provides her with food. Feminist reading of the text points to this treatment of childbirth as verification of the process's special significance.

Other scholars point to the interaction between Mary and the angel Gabriel as indicative of traditional gender roles at the time; when Mary, a solitary female, encounters the male angel, her first reaction is fear of the impropriety of the situation and uncertainty regarding the angel's intentions. She can hear the angel's message and question him only after he assures her that he has come as a messenger from God.

Maryam in Syriac (ܡܪܝܡ) is a common adjective connoting blessing and perhaps the verb "[God] exalts her".

35–37 Dome of the Rock
The verses from Maryam 19:35–37, which are seen by Muslims as strongly reaffirming Jesus' prophethood to God, are quoted in inscriptions in the oldest extant Islamic monument, The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

41–65 Abraham
The second section, verses 41–65, tells of Abraham's departure from his family's idolatrous ways and then refers to many other prophets. The text discusses the various responses of those who heard their prophecy and the fates those hearers met; throughout these descriptions, the oneness of God is emphasized.

66–98 Islamic view of the Trinity
The third section, verses 66–98, confirms the reality of resurrection and offers depictions of the Day of Judgment alongside depictions of this life.

91–98 Birmingham manuscript

The Birmingham Quran manuscript preserves the final eight verses (Q19:91–98) of Chapter 19, Maryam (plus parts of Chapter 18, Al-Kahf; and Chapter 20, "Taha"). Located in the Cadbury Research Library, It is written in the Arabic language in Hijazi script by unknown scribe(s).

The Manuscript has been radiocarbon dated to between 568 and 645 CE (in the Islamic calendar, between 56 BH and 25 AH). Saud al-Sarhan, Director of Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, considers that the parchment might in fact have been reused as a palimpsest. Saud's perspective has been backed by a number of Saudi-based experts in Quranic history who deny that the Birmingham/Paris Quran could have been written during the lifetime of Muhammad. They emphasize that while Muhammad was alive, Quranic texts were written without any chapter decoration, marked verse endings or use of colored inks, and did not follow any standard sequence of surahs. They maintain that those features were introduced into Quranic practice in the time of the Caliph Uthman, and so it would be entirely possible that the Birmingham leaves could have been written then, but not earlier.

Q19:91–92 dissents from the Trinitarian Christian practice of calling upon God in the name of his ‘son’. '' 91That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. 92And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. Q19:96 supports a requirement for "Faith and deeds"  96Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.''

title: Maryam (surah)


text:
Ta-Ha

Ṭā Hā (طه) is the 20th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 135 verses (āyāt). It is named "Ṭā Hā" because the chapter starts with the Arabic ḥurūf muqaṭṭaʿāt (disjoined letters): طه (Ṭāhā) which is considered to be one of the names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is traditionally believed to be a Meccan surah, from the second Meccan period (615-619), which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina.

Among the subjects treated in this chapter are God's call of Moses, the Exodus of the Israelites and the crossing of the Red Sea , the worship of the Golden Calf and the Fall of Man. The main theme of the chapter is about the existence of God. It addresses this theme through stories about Moses and Adam. Sura 20 displays several thematic and stylistic patterns described by Angelika Neuwirth in Jane McAuliffe's book "The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an". These include the eschatological prophecies of the Quran, signs of God's existence, and debate. Additionally, sura 20 employs what has been termed the "ring structure" to reinforce its central theme.

This is the chapter that convinced Umar to convert to Islam.

The oldest surviving manuscript containing chapter Ṭā Hā is a Quranic manuscript in the Mingana Collection identified as having been written on the Birmingham Quran manuscript, dated 0-25 AH.

Summary

 * 1-3 The Quran an admonition from God to the faithful
 * 4-7 God one, a Sovereign King, omniscient, and possessed of most excellent names
 * The History of Moses
 * 8-10 He sees the burning bush 11-12 God speaks to him out of the fire 13-14 He is chosen and instructed by God
 * 15-17 The day of judgment will surely come
 * 18-24 God bestows on him signs and miracles
 * 25 He is commanded to go to Pharaoh
 * 26-35 Moses prays for the assistance of Aaron
 * 36-42 God reminds Moses of former favours
 * 43-50 He is sent with Aaron to Pharaoh
 * 51-57 Conversation between Pharaoh and Moses
 * 58-59 Pharaoh rejects Moses and accuses him of imposture
 * 60-62 Pharaoh proposes to meet Moses and Aaron with countermiracles
 * 63-64 Moses warns the magicians against deception
 * 65 The magicians dispute among themselves
 * 66 They counsel Pharaoh against Moses
 * 67 Pharaoh encourages the magicians to do their best
 * 68-72 The contest between Moses and the magicians
 * 73 The magicians are converted
 * 74-75 Pharaoh threatens the magicians with dire punishment
 * 75-76 The magicians defy the wrath of Pharaoh, and express hope in God
 * 77-80 God commands Moses to lead the Israelites through the Red Sea
 * 81 Pharaoh pursues them, and is overwhelmed by the sea
 * 82-83 God feeds the Israelites on manna and quails in the desert
 * 83-84 God's treatment of the unbelieving and penitent
 * 85-87 The Israelites worship a golden calf
 * 88-89 Moses reproaches them with idolatry 90-91 They lay the blame on Samiri
 * 92-93 The people disobey Aaron
 * 94-95 Moses rebukes Aaron—his apology
 * 96 Sámirí's explanation of his conduct 97-98 Sámirí's doom to social ostracism
 * 102-107 The resurrection and the conduct of those judged on the judgment-day
 * 108 No intercession on that day, except by permission
 * 109-111 The fate of the wicked and reward of the righteous
 * 112-114 The Quran made easy for Muhammad, but he is not to be hasty in repeating it
 * The Story of Adam
 * 115 Adam broke God's covenant
 * 116 All the angels prostrate to Adam except Iblís
 * 117 Adam warned against Satan
 * 118-119 Adam and Eve will never struggle in Jannah
 * 120 Satan beguiles Adam and Eve
 * 121 Adam disobeys God
 * 122-123 God pardons, but expels them from Paradise
 * 124 An admonition promised, with penalty of rejection of it
 * 125-127 Infidels will appear in the judgment blind, and reasons for blindness
 * 128-129 The Makkans warned
 * 130-132 Muhammad comforted and encouraged
 * 133-134 The Jews demand a sign, and the Quraish disbelieve
 * 135 God directs Muhammad to proclaim his readiness to wait the final issue of the controversy between them

Structure
The first two words of Chapter 20 are Ṭā Hā.

Sura 20 focuses upon one theme, and is structured in such a way as to reinforce this theme repeatedly. Sura 20 begins with an introduction which proclaims the greatness of God. In the body of the sura, there are two distinct stories, one about Moses and one about Adam, each of which is broken into smaller sections. Both stories are prefaced by instructions from God to Muhammad, and followed by a discussion of judgment day and the punishment of the disbelievers. To conclude the sura, there is another section restating and reinforcing the main theme, followed by a brief instruction to Muhammad. This repetitive pattern is what Carl W. Ernst terms the ring structure in his book "How to Read the Qur'an". The first part of the sura, up until the story of Adam, and the second part are, thematically and structurally, copies of each other. The story about Moses gives a much longer, more detailed description to introduce the theme, and the shorter story of Adam serves to summarize and repeat the theme already discussed. The introduction and conclusion paragraphs, including the verses where God addresses Muhammad, are the bookends to the sura, and bind the stories together.

1-8 Introduction
This section is an introduction to the sura. It begins with God addressing Muhammad, then lists several of God's characteristics and praises Him. In this section, there is also a mention of the Quran as a reminder of God's existence, a theme that is seen throughout the Quran. One of the two verses in this sura mentioned in al-Wahidi's "Asbab al-Nuzul" is verse 2. According to al-Wahidi, God sent this verse to Muhammad because the Quraysh were saying that Muhammad was distressed because he left their religion, and that God only sent down the Quran to distress Muhammad.

Verses 2–3: "It was not to distress you [Prophet] that We sent down the Qur'an to you, but as a reminder for those who hold God in awe…" Verse 8: "God—There is no god but Him—the most excellent names belong to Him."

9–98 The story of Moses
This section recounts the story of Moses's encounter with Pharaoh, and how Moses's people were tested by God. Moses is originally tasked by God to go to Pharaoh, who has erred, and try to show him the right path. Verses 25-28: "He said, my Lord, open up my heart, and make my task easy for me. Loosen the knot in my tongue, so that they may understand my speech."

Moses is triumphant over the Pharaoh because he is helped by God, but is then chased from the land by Pharaoh. After escaping, Moses leaves his people to confer with God. During his absence, his people are led awry by al-Samiri, and begin to worship a golden calf instead of God. Upon his return, Moses is furious. He exiles al-Samiri, and chastises his brother Aaron for allowing the people to worship anything other than the one true God. Samiri's provokation of Moses's disciples to worship a lowly calf beside the Almighty, clearly refuted God's grace as well as Moses and Aaron's preaching. Hence, Samiri's defiance that is quite similar to Iblis' or Satan's had earned him severe punishment from God.

Verse 56: "We showed Pharaoh all Our signs, but he denied them and refused [to change]." Verse 85: "…but God said, 'We have tested your people in your absence: the Samiri has led them astray.'" Verse 97: "(Moses) said: "Get thee gone! but thy (punishment) in this life will be that thou wilt say, 'touch me not'; and moreover (for a future penalty) thou hast a promise that will not fail: Now look at thy god, of whom thou hast become a devoted worshipper: We will certainly (melt) it in a blazing fire and scatter it broadcast in the sea!"

99–113 Judgment day and the disbelievers' punishment
This section again refers to the revealed nature of the Quran, and discusses the Day of Judgment. It gives a brief description of the events that will take place on judgment day. Disbelievers will be punished, but believers need not fear. This account of judgment day is an example of the eschatological nature of the Quran, as described by Angelika Neuwirth. Also in this section, in verse 113, is a specific reference to the Quran in Arabic.

Verse 99: "…We have given you a Qur'an from Us." Verses 111–112: "Those burdened with evil deeds will despair, but whoever has done righteous deeds and believed need have no fear of injustice or deprivation." Verse 113: "We have sent the Qur'an down in the Arabic tongue and given all kinds of warnings in it, so that they may beware or it may make them take heed."

114–123 The story of Adam
This section begins with a proclamation of God's greatness, and then another address from God to Muhammad. Then, God relates the story of Adam. When God created Adam and asked the angels to bow before him, all but Iblis did bow. Iblis (Satan) was punished and made the enemy of man. Satan tempted Adam, and Adam gave in, straying from God. But, Adam repented for his mistake and asked for God's forgiveness quite devotedly, for which God finally forgave him.

Verse 114: "Exalted be God, the one who is truly in control. [Prophet], do not rush to recite before the revelation is fully complete…" Verse 116: "When We said to the angels, 'Bow down before Adam,' they did. But Iblis refused." Verse 121–122: "…Adam disobeyed his Lord and was led astray—later his lord brought him close, accepted his repentance, and guided him."

123–127 Judgment day and the disbelievers' punishment
This section restates what was said before: Those who follow God will be rewarded, and those who do not will be punished on the Day of Judgment.

Verse 126: "…You ignored Our revelations when they came to you, so today you will be ignored." Verse 127: "…The greatest and most enduring punishment is in the Hereafter."

128–132 Instructions to the believers
This section contains another of the patterns discussed by Neuwirth, the signs of God's existence. It references the ruins of old cities as signs that God exists and can easily destroy people. Also, this section instructs believers to pray, and not to long for others' possessions. Verse 131 is the second verse of the sura that is mentioned in Asbab al-Nuzul. Wahidi says that this was sent down because Muhammad once desired food to entertain a guest, but could not afford it. The Jewish man selling the food refused to sell it without a security, and Muhammad was furious with this. To appease his prophet, God sent down this verse.

Verse 131: "And do not gaze longingly at what We have given some of them to enjoy, the finery of this present life: We test them through this, but the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting." Verse 132: "Order your people to pray, and pray steadfastly yourself."

133–135 Conclusion
The conclusion includes another of the elements Neuwirth discusses: debate. In the conclusion, there is a debate between the disbelievers and Muhammad. The disbelievers wonder why God does not bring them a sign, and in the final verse God instructs Muhammad what to reply to them.

Verse 135: "[Prophet], say, 'We are all waiting, so you carry on waiting: you will come to learn who has followed the even path, and been rightly guided. '"

title: Ta-Ha


text:
Al-Anbiya

Al-Anbiyaʼ (الأنبياء, ’al-’anbiyā’; meaning: "The Prophets") is the 21st chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with 112 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina. Its principal subject matter is prophets of the past, who also preached the same faith as Muhammad.

Summary

 * 1-4 The judgment of careless and mocking Quraysh near
 * 5 The Meccan people regard Muhammad as “a forger”
 * 6 Former nations did not heed the miracles
 * 7-8 The former prophets were but mortal men
 * 9 God favors His prophets but judges infidels
 * 10 The Quraysh mentioned in the Quran
 * 11-15 The unbelieving cities and scoffers destroyed
 * 16-17 The heavens and the earth not created in play
 * 18 The truth must triumph
 * 19-22 Angels serve God, therefore not to be worshipped
 * 23 God is sovereign
 * 24 The great sin of idolatry
 * 25 All apostles testified to God’s unity
 * 26 Angels are not the daughters of God but only 'His' honored servants
 * 27-28 Angelic intercession only by divine permission
 * 29 The doom of angels who usurp divine honors
 * 30-33 God’s works the proof of His divinity
 * 34-35 No human is immortal, all souls will taste death and be returned to God
 * 36-37 Muhammad regarded by the Makkans as a scoffer
 * 38-39 Men hasty to call down divine wrath on themselves
 * 40 Threatened vengeance will descend suddenly
 * 41-42 The doom of those who mocked former prophets
 * 43-44 The gods of the idolaters unable to deliver their votaries, God will triumph over the infidels
 * 45-46 Muhammad only a warner, the deaf will not hear the warnings of God
 * 47 God will judge righteously
 * 48-50 Moses and Aaron, like Muhammad, received a revelation
 *  The Story of Abraham
 * 51 He receives a revelation 52-56 Reproaches his father and people with idolatry 57 He devises a plot to destroy the idols 58 He destroys the idols of the Chaldeans 59-61 He is accused before the people 62-63 He lays the blame on the largest idol
 * 64-65 The Chaldeans at first disposed to repent, but they draw back 66-67 Abraham reproaches them for their idolatry 68 They command him to be burned alive 69-70 God miraculously delivers him
 * 71-73 He receives the promise of Isaac and Jacob
 * 74-75 Lot delivered from Sodom
 * 76 Noah delivered from the Flood
 * 77 The rejecters of Noah drowned for being evil
 * 78-80 The wisdom of David and Solomon, the hills and birds sang with David
 * 81-82 Winds and demons subject to Solomon
 * 83-84 Job is delivered from his affliction
 * 85-86 Other prophets receive mercy from God
 * 87-88 Jonah repents to God and is saved from affliction
 * 89-90 Zachariah’s prayer answered
 * 91 The miraculous conception of Jesus through the virgin Mary
 * 92-93 The true religion is one, but Jews and Christians have sects
 * 94 The faithful certain to be rewarded
 * 95-97 Infidels to be judged at the resurrection
 * 98-100 Idolaters with their gods to be cast into hell
 * 101-103 The reward of the righteous
 * 104 The heavens to be rolled away at the judgment
 * 105-106 The righteous shall inherit the earth
 * 107-109 Muhammad is a mercy to mankind and an informer
 * 110-111 God knows the secret thoughts of the infidels
 * 112 God will judge the infidels and show mercy to His prophet

Historical context
Muslims believe this surah was revealed in the Second Meccan Period and is listed as Number 65 according to the Nöldeke Chronology. Within its verses are found numerous evocations of earlier Judeo-Christian prophets. These examples help to emphasize and define Muhammad's role as a messenger within the Quranic context. Additionally, the incorporation of pre-existing Biblical and Judaic scriptures integrate Muhammad's prophetic mission into a larger religious framework, thus broadening the horizons of both the Quran as a text and Islam as a religious movement. The surah is thematically and stylistically characteristic of the Second Meccan Period. The verses identify the religious agency of Muhammad by relating him to preexisting Judeo-Christian figures, and from there illustrate common notional doctrines, such as: Islamic eschatology embodied in the Day of Judgment, the fates of the disbelievers and the believers, and the mercy of God. In terms of ordering and delivery, surah 21 contains a tripartite composition and traceable "ring structure", in which the path of revelation comes full circle through the sequence of three distinct parts. Consisting of 112 verses in total, The Prophets maintains the Quran's distinctive voice, in which the verses seem conscious of their own revelation and also depend on other Surahs to illustrate particular messages. This clear self-reference, or "self-declaration", and intertextuality are perceptibly unique to the Quran and possess the book with a consciousness distinct from other religious texts.

1-40 the oneness of God
''Affirm the revelation and commits Muhammad to his role as the chosen prophet. It declares the oneness of God in his creation''.

41-49 the narratives of earlier prophets
''Seek to draw examples of faith and righteousness through the narratives of earlier prophets. This method of revelation simultaneously thrusts the Quran upward and integrates the religious identity of Islam into a broader existing context''.

73 doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah
In a letter to his companions, Ja'far al-Sadiq describes the importance of obedience to the prophets of Allah and cites the following in support of this: "And We made them Imams guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us."(21:73)

92-112 divergent fates of believers and non-believers
''Work to conclude the surah with another affirmation of revelation, this time through identification of the divergent fates of the believers and non-believers on the Day of Judgment. The chapter ends with a final exaltation of Allah's merciful nature.''

title: Al-Anbiya


text:
Talk:Kudzu

Kudzu as compost
In the book How to Grow World Record Tomatoes by Charles H. Wilber, he states that kudzu is rich in minerals with a 26% protein content. He also goes on to say that it improves the harshest clay soils by making them into "rich crumbly, brown soil." It also helps a soil breathe by carrying nitrogen and oxygen down into the soil and thus bringing the lime complex of the soil up. (pg. 26) He uses both shredded green kudzu and hay consisting of kudzu in great quantities in his compost. (pg. 27) His results have been amazing, i.e. world record tomatoes (27 foot tall cherry tomato plants and in 1987 1,368 lb tomatoes on 4 plants.). I find this information very interesting and would like to add at least some of it to the page. What do you all think?Saritamackita 21:55, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

 * The upside of kudzu is that if you use it as compost, you keep getting more and more compost without having to do anything. Wahkeenah 19:48, 26 January 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I think that is true. So, should I put it in the article?Saritamackita 21:55, 26 January 2007 (UTC)
 * Do what you think is best. Just don't use my comment as a citation. :) Wahkeenah 00:25, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

Units of measurement
IP: I see what you mean about the metric units (Manual of Style (dates and numbers)) so I won't revert your changes, it's just I don't like it that you call it euro imperialism when I'm American. Wikiacc 14:36, 4 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Kudzu as a pest
Is kudzu a pest in Japan? A paragraph of analysis would be a good addition to the article.

Another good addition to the article would be a photo of kudzu gone wild, with a human in the picture, or a car or something else that demonstrates scale. The current picture would be good if something were in it that would let us judge the size of what we're looking at. Tempshill 23:15, 17 May 2005 (UTC)
 * I take it you've never been down South before.
 * 128.6.175.77, First off, please sign your comments by placing four tildes in a row, second, please don't make such offensive comments, whether he has been south or not is irrelevant, what matters is whether or not wikipedia should contain a photo as he says. Pidey 01:06, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

Kudzu is less of a "pest" in Japan because of the cold weather. This helps hamper the growth. In addition, there are several insects and fungus native to Japan that keep them under control (these are non-native to the US). For the most part, Japan is closer to the climate of Pennsylvania then Alabama. And for the person that asked for a photograph showing scale, I will try and take one this next week. I know of some large construction equipment (as well as 2 travel trailers) that are covered in the stuff just a few miles from where I live. Mushrom 20:16, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

 * Kudzu is not a pest in Japan. It is a welcome seasonal plant much treasured by the Japanese for it's beauty. As mentioned above, there are native pests that act as controls, and it dies off during the winter. The Japanese have long made a ramie like cloth from Kudzu. Kuzu fabric is highly resistant to moisture and pests. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.215.115.31 (talk) 16:44, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps this is apocryphal, but I heard on an episode of Good Eats, as told by the Nutritional Anthropologist, I believe, that Kudzu was introduced at an early 20th century Worlds Fair at the Japan pavillion, and that people liked it so much they took snippets for their gardens, and thats where the infestation began. It seems more likely than it being imported to use as camoflage, when there have been foliage looking camo nets in use to cover equipment for a long time. --X 0 (talk) 03:24, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

Potential ambiguity problem
Since an article about the Kudzu comic strip already exists here, a disambiguation page might be useful. ISNorden 23:17, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Ambiguity redux
On the talk page for the "Disambig" template, I have asked permission to move this article to "Kudzu (plant)". The "What links here" list, though, looks so long that a new location would disrupt the whole Wiki. Would an "other uses" note be enough to clarify the situation without breaking links? --Ingeborg S. Nordén 15:54, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

 * Okay, for one thing, Template talk:Disambig was the wrong place to ask this question. That page is for discussing the Disambig template. For another thing, it doesn't matter that a lot of pages link here, it can still be moved, that's what redirect pages are for. But finally, why do you think it should be moved in the first place? The only other meaning I can find is Kudzu (comic strip), and the plant definitely gets priority because it's the original and most common meaning. —Keenan Pepper 16:45, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

 * Yeah, that's the only other use of the word that I know of. ··· 日本穣 ? · Talk to Nihonjo e  17:36, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Thank you, Nihonjoe; you beat me to that edit. Sorry to ask on the wrong page to begin with; I'm relatively new here and sometimes get confused about which template to use when. :-) --Ingeborg S. Nordén 22:28, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * No problem. If you have any other questions, feel free to post them on my Talk page. ··· 日本穣 ? · Talk to Nihonjo e  22:33, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

 * I just reread my comment and now it seems really harsh. I need to remember not to bite the newbies. Sorry! —Keenan Pepper 22:39, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

KUDZU question/use
I have a question about KUDZU. What is the sugar/carbohydrate content? How does that compare with corn? The reason for this question is simple if the sugar content is high enough it can be used for ethanol production! Could it be that I have stumbled on a viable use for this pest at last?65.4.163.122 23:23, 24 December 2006 (UTC) Alan Radford alanlradford@gmail.com

I had heard years ago that a scientist somewhere had figured out how to make a fuel out of kudzu. However, this was somewhere on the order of 10-15 years ago and I can't remember who. I'm wondering why there's so little attention to its viability, though, considering its growth-rate.

 * There are occasional reports of people investigating the conversion of kudzu into ethanol. An NPR report aired on February 2007 about a high school student who did this as a science fair project. An audio report and photographs are available. However, although kudzu grows fast, the amount of biomass per acre is not all that great: On flat ground, there isn't much plant material under all that green foliage. Kudzu is all surface area (to collect sunlight), but not much volume (compared with corn). Lou 18:31, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Kudzu Control and Elimination
I've revised the kudzu article to remove the statement that it has rhizomes (underground stems), because it does not. All kudzu vines grow from crowns located above ground. I've also made clear that it is not necessary to dig up kudzu roots to kill the plant. It is only necessary to remove the crown, which is done very easily by hand with a pruning saw. A photograph illustrates this method. More details on this and other methods for controling or eliminating kudzu without using chemicals can be found at KOKudzu.com, where I am webmaster. This is the website of the all-volunteer organization The Coalition to Control Kudzu Without Chemicals located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Lou 18:50, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Very nice to see someone knowledgeable paying attention to this part of the page. Do include references to the Fire Effects Information System, journal articles, and other sources, rather than just your own website, as feasible. That's especially true if other (uninformed) sources say something to the contrary, like about the rhizomes. But like I said, thanks for improving this article. Kingdon 12:44, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

. Also in the control section under herbicide, there is some questionable advice suggesting grazing kudzu might be combined with herbicide application. This is troubling since it also specifies multiple applications of herbicide are often necessary, giving the impression it might be okay to graze animals on herbicide sprayed areas. The section is concluded with a eyebrow raising quote "...Herbicides which have been proven to be effective to control kudzu are claimed to be "rather safe to humans, but generally lethal on most plants."..." The link does not bring up any article or research that contains or supports the quoted claim. Herbicide producers have been trying to push the idea that herbicides are only dangerous to targeted plants for a long time. It is absolutely not generally true and is certainly not specifically true in most cases. Wikipedia should not be furthering this type of propaganda. 70.171.47.39 (talk) 04:51, 23 June 2014 (UTC)BGriffin
 * Yes, "rather safe to humans" isn't good enough, but in any case the citation was a broken link and I've removed it. I suspect the "combined with" other methods such as grazing was simply bad writing, when "used after" is what the text should have said. Sminthopsis84 (talk) 10:54, 23 June 2014 (UTC)

Conversions
Regarding this edit. Per Google's calculator -
 * 20–30 m = 66-98
 * 20m=65.6167979 feet approx 66
 * 30 meters = 98.4251969 feet approx 98
 * 10–20 cm = 4-8 in
 * 10 centimeters = 3.93700787 inches approx 4
 * 20 centimeters = 7.87401575 inches approx 8
 * 10–25 cm = 4-10 in
 * 10 centimeters = 3.93700787 inches approx 4
 * 25 centimeters = 9.84251969 inches approx 10
 * 30 cm = 12 in (not 1 ft, we must maintain consistency throughout the article)
 * 30 centimeters = 11.8110236 inches approx 12 in
 * 12 ft = 3.7 m
 * 12 feet = 3.6576 meters approx 3.7
 * 180 kg = 400 lb
 * 180 kilograms = 396.832072 pounds approx 397 approx 400
 * 27 degrees celsius = 81 degrees fahrenheit (This is in fact the only correction to be made on the page regarding the numerical values)
 * 27 degrees Celsius = 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit approx 81

To me, what this means is pretty clear. The well meaning anon IP who tried to correct the numbers deserves an apology, not the rebuke put on zir talk page - User talk:72.24.189.30. I am only commenting about the changes in the numerical values, not anything else done by said IP. Whatever other changes the IP has removed, by all means fix em back (if they have to be), however I still find it a little hard to believe per this that the The strong fragrance is very similar to grape soda pop. If indeed this is true, it should have a reference in tow as well the neccessary description of what exactly grape soda pop smells like.

Regards, xC | ☎  14:31, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Precision of numbers (and reverts)
The correct conversion of 20-30m to feet is "70-100 ft" per significant figure. In this article, it was changed here (along with many similar numbers). There have been a number of reverts since then, but I don't know whether they are aimed at this changed, since a lot of other stuff was reverted as well. If the number precision is the issue, we should discuss it here. But it could be some totally unrelated thing. Let's try to figure out what the issue is. Kingdon 15:14, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

 * If you believe that it should be 70-100 ft, and not 66-98 ft, then keep it as is. I am still of the belief that in excess rounding off we are losing out on the actual data. Rounding a decimal is one thing, adding an excess four feet to a figure seems a little shaky to me.
 * I have nothing to comment about the content, since I haven't worked on this article. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about the topic could have a look, I have nothing to add there. xC | ☎  15:35, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Kudzu cures hangovers or doesn't?
I was looking at the Hangover article in Wikipedia, and it listed cures and "ineffective" cures. Kudzu was listed as being ineffective, with references. However, it noted the Kudzu had other uses so I navigated to this article.

Lo and behold, this article states, contrary to the hangover article, that studies have shown Kudzu as effective against hangovers. It also has references. Which one is right? 99.240.217.191 (talk) 19:56, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

 * I think kudzu is used more for curbing cravings by alcoholics (preventative use) as opposed to relieving hangovers (corrective use). I don't know enough about studies (even if any were done) to conclusively state that the hangover part of this article should be removed and just refer to preventative uses. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.67.28.35 (talk) 14:34, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

 * I just did a search in both the American Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Epidemiology, and the word "kudzu" does not appear even once in either journal. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.215.115.31 (talk) 16:40, 10 April 2008 (UTC)
 * If as referred to in this section, Kudzu contains the isoflavones daidzein, daidzin, its value as a hangover cure would be related to its upregulation of superoxide dismutase via estrogen receptor site beta. Phytochemistry. 2014 Feb;98:164-73. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.11.019. Epub 2013 Dec 19.PMID: 24361291 ;Robb EL, Stuart JA.

Phytother Res. 2014 Jan;28(1):120-31. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4970. Epub 2013 Mar 21. 108.38.82.175 (talk) 07:18, 1 April 2014 (UTC)

Another photo
Seeing that there is already a photo showing the flower (the one with the butterfly), perhaps another can be used in the info box that depicts the actual plant? Also, to better demonstrate the invasive nature, perhaps one showing it overtaking a house, bridge, telephone pole would be helpful. SteveCoppock (talk) 17:53, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

Outdated/Incorrect Information
The information on this page is really outdated. I live on Long Island, in New York, and there's Kudzu here too. The article states the northmost it's been found is in New Jersey. Obviously, that source and the graph provided are incorrect. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Forest guy (talk • contribs) 04:34, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

On a recent trip from Charlotte, NC to Southern NH I observed that Kudzu can be found along the entire NE interstate corridor. Growth seems to be at least several years old throughout Massachusetts and Southern NH. Growth also extended into central NH but seems to be relatively new. According to this page the temperature from central NH and north should be too cold for it to be able to sustain itself. Ispad1 (talk) 23:08, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject Food and drink Tagging
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Grow Kudzu
How can you grow it on purpose? It's illegal to sell it or buy it, i think, but How can you grow it on purpose? --24.181.200.178 (talk) 22:44, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

Missing info suggestions
Here's somethings that I think the article should cover that I don't know enough about kudzu to add myself Lot  49a talk 06:02, 6 September 2009 (UTC)
 * What Kudzu is like in Japan/China. It's native to that area but the entire article talks almost exclusively about the US.
 * Where does it grow?
 * How successful is it?
 * What eats it?
 * Is it used in farming there?
 * The effects of Kudzu - Why is it a problem? Does it kill other plants? Trees? Drive out wildlife? All of the above?
 * Better lead - the introduction doesn't really reflect the article contents.

Destructive How?
Okay, the article doesn't really mention this, and it should. If the plant is destructive, then how is it destructive? I grew up in North Carolina, so I know it grows on telephone poles, and of course it obviously outcompetes the native flora for resources. Do the roots cause damage to roads? How exactly is it destructive? Thanks. --66.188.84.217 (talk) 02:15, 10 October 2009 (UTC)

It chokes plants of sunlight by eventually covering them completely. 138.26.8.109 (talk) 16:15, 5 February 2010 (UTC)

Re-vamp needed
As many of you noted above; this article is some-what sparse in information, it needs to be updated, and is missing a bunch of references. Check out my page on Kudz improvements here. Please stop by and take a look - I need input; I want to make this a really good article! It's a great subject! NoFlyingCars (talk) 07:09, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

 * Thanks for looking over these things; great to see someone with time/interest to work on this article. The dead-link references to websites can probably be replaced with better references (see WP:DEADREF for more discussion; in this case I suspect there was nothing particularly special about citing those websites rather than the many other sources which are presumably out there). Probably where I'd start, especially for medical issues, is a google search on "kudzu site:nih.gov" (seems to show a lot of pubmed and pubmedcentral hits). Something like "Pueraria -mirifica site:nih.gov" might also be helpful (although searching on the scientific name is somewhat complicated by the taxonomic issues with this species, mentioned in the article). FEIS is good for some of the ecology. PIER is good for its introduced range in the Pacific. Does that help you get started? If you have more questions, feel free to ask (here, or my talk page, or WT:PLANTS). Kingdon (talk) 15:15, 22 November 2009 (UTC)

Needs info on exact nature of environmental damage
this article lacks actual information on how the plant is damaging to ecosystems. It obviously implies it, but it doesn't explain the exact nature of this damage. --86.155.162.26 (talk) 01:25, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

I aggreed with this i added the following to its information "Kudzu's environmental and ecological damage results from acting through "Interference Competition", meaning that it out competes other species for a resource. Kudzu competes with native flora for light, and acts to block their access to this vital resource by growing over them and shading them with their leaves. Plants may then die as a result from this, resulting in the soil or substrate nutrients being used the original plant to become more freely available to Kudzu." - This information was from my Ecology Textbook, Ecology 2nd edition authors Cain, Bowman and Hacker.2011 ISbn 978-0-87893-445-4 It is not plagiarized in anyway, but is a summary of sorts of information found on page 246 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.146.2.144 (talk) 23:44, 21 May 2012 (UTC)

needs addition in uses section
The article does not mention traditional uses by the Khmu, the indigenous people of Northern Laos. These uses are significant because they have been fundamental to the survival of Khmu culture for thousands of years. The thin white ribbon inside the stem of Puerana lobata (commonly called "tropical kudzu"} today continues to be used to tie the umbilical cord of village-born babies and to make rugged carry bags that have many applications, the most important of which has been to gather subsistence food, medicine and fiber essentials in remote mountainside forests. Until recent years the cord also was used to make fish nets. Images of Khmu opening the stem, removing the fiber, drying it in the sun and then transforming it into strong durable cord are included in several videos available on YouTube (search "Khmu bag"). Other than from my personal observations and experiences and those communicated to me by Professor Damrong Tayanin (Khmu name Kam Raw) of the Department of Linguistics and Phonetics of Lund University in Sweden, who grew up in a Khmu village (see http://person.sol.lu.se/DamrongTayanin/kammu.html), there appears to be very little written reference material. I am the principal sponsor of a poverty reduction project targeting the Khmu, and that is why I know of these uses. It also is why I cannot edit the article (COA). NatureBag (talk) 00:07, 20 January 2010 (UTC)

The Chinese translation of the plant is based on the following....
--222.64.18.248 (talk) 06:15, 29 January 2010 (UTC)
 * http://www.tzagri.gov.cn/pindao/zhongzhi/yaocai/article/zhongyaogegen.htm
 * http://branch.gdpu.edu.cn/xuebao/xb075PDF/06%E6%9D%8E%E5%9D%B7%E5%B9%B3.pdf

Info about T&N...any more official info for verification...in addition to the following...???
--222.64.18.248 (talk) 06:28, 29 January 2010 (UTC) --222.67.211.222 (talk) 05:19, 30 January 2010 (UTC)
 * http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=Scientific_Name&search_kingdom=every&search_span=exactly_for&categories=All&source=html&search_credRating=All&search_value=Pueraria%20lobata
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_q=Pueraria+lobata+thunbergiana&num=10&btnG=Search+Scholar&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_occt=title&as_sauthors=&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&as_sdt=1.&as_sdtp=on&as_sdts=5&hl=en
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A+lobata+thunbergiana&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A+Pueraria+var.&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0

and --222.67.211.222 (talk) 05:48, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

Redundancy
I've noticed a handful of redundant information that seems like a waste of time and space.

"In Vietnam, it is called sắn dây." - is a perfect example of this. What viable purpose does this sentence serve? Should there be any particular individual who would be interested in knowing the name of the plant in Vietnamese (what are the odds of there being such a person? One in 99k?) he would be wise to consult a dictionary.

I suppose I could just as easily be in the dark and my reasoning could be fallacious, which is why I'm not taking an initiative in deleting the said sentence, if this is the case please tell me.

Regards, Agon (talk) 18:46, 27 July 2010 (UTC).

Hang-overs
In Korea (as well as in China), it is used as a remedy for hang-overs. Unfortunately, I only know this by observation, so it can't be added unless some-one else has a viable source for this common-place in Korea. Kdammers (talk) 06:11, 22 July 2011 (UTC) The article claims that kudzu is commonly used in the Southeastern US as a hangover cure. I've lived my entire life in the Southeast (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina) and have never heard of it being used as such. I know my experience is anecdotal and can't be used merely on its own, but there is also a lack of citation note for this claim; I would argue that the claim should be removed until a citation is found. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 160.10.98.198 (talk) 18:59, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

 * If as referred to in this section, Kudzu contains the isoflavones daidzein, daidzin, its value as a hangover cure would be related to its upregulation of superoxide dismutase via estrogen receptor site beta. Phytochemistry. 2014 Feb;98:164-73. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.11.019. Epub 2013 Dec 19.PMID: 24361291 ;Robb EL, Stuart JA.; Phytother Res. 2014 Jan;28(1):120-31. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4970. Epub 2013 Mar 21. 108.38.82.175 (talk) 07:26, 1 April 2014 (UTC)

Harm section
The article doesn't give any explanation as to what harm kudzu can cause to other plants. Reading this article, which tells of efforts to get rid of it, one has no idea why one would want to get rid of it. 74.178.230.234 (talk) 06:06, 28 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Changes made. See what you think. Nadiatalent (talk) 13:18, 28 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks! That was well done! 74.178.230.234 (talk) 05:06, 30 November 2011 (UTC)

Edit war over Kudzu basket
An edit war is documented at User talk:Mikeblas concerning this image. It has been removed from this article with the claim that it is unreferenced and self-promotional material, and that there's no way to substantiate that the basket was made from kudzu. Nadiatalent (talk) 17:43, 27 December 2011 (UTC)

Confusing Introductory Paragraph
The first sentence of the article states that “Kudzu is misunderstood.” While this may or may not be the case, it seems odd that the reader would be told that the plant has problems with its PR before even being told what it is.

Also, if a weed is a plant in an undesired place, and so refers to human sentiment, as opposed to some more official classification, then to simply refer to Kudzu everywhere as a weed would be inaccurate. I'm suppose that saying that Kudzu is thought of as a weed in many countries in which it problematic would be better. But then, that's my opinion! Tomásdearg92 (talk) 01:53, 4 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Modified the weed bit -- hopefully for the better... Vsmith (talk) 14:07, 8 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I'm new-ish so the last thing I'd want is to be seen to be nitpicking! Tomásdearg92 (talk) 03:32, 30 April 2012 (UTC)

Kudzu and the greenhouse effect
I found an interesting study, might be valuable to use the information in this article: —  Ark25  (talk) 23:54, 17 July 2014 (UTC)
 * Invasive kudzu drives carbon out of the soil, into the atmosphere, 16 July 2014, Malcolm Campbell, Ars Technica

 * Yes it is interesting, but I'd be cautious about regarding arstechnica as a reliable source for the subject matter - this page shows that it's a publication primarily concerned with writing about technology, not plants or ecology. An example of what could be called unreliability are the sentences in the article that, after stating that kudzu invasion causes the release of carbon equivalent to "the annual carbon footprint for a city of 1 million", go on to state that "The release of this amount of carbon into the atmosphere could itself contribute to global warming. This could create a feedback effect, as elevated temperature would enable kudzu to extend its range to more northern latitudes." This appears to be somewhat careless editorialising - I personally wouldn't consider that the additional carbon footprint of the equivalent of just 1 million people would in any way be sufficient to be responsible for creating a feedback effect on sufficient scale to allow an extension of kudzu's range, which is what those sentences state. Looking at the abstract of the original paper on which the article is based, it doesn't appear to make such a claim. PaleCloudedWhite (talk) 07:33, 18 July 2014 (UTC)

attribution
Correct WP attribution requires the specific attribution of all material taken fro man outside source, including public domain sources. The matte from the US govt. sources must therefore be indicated, buy quotation marks or otherwise.  DGG ( talk ) 21:55, 28 December 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
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Kudzu, Kudzu in the US, Pueraria, and P. var. lobata
These four articles overlap with one another to some degree and it confuses readers. • Kudzu

• Kudzu in the US

• Pueraria

• P. var. lobata I have some suggestions:
 * 1) East Asian food and traditional medicine-related content should be located at Pueraria montana var. lobata.
 * 2) Botanical information should be located at Pueraria.
 * 3) Content on kudzu as a group of invasive plants in the United states should be moved to Kudzu in the United States.
 * 4) Kudzu as a group of invasive plants in general should be dealt at Pueraria article's "Invasive species" subsection. A section hatnote like "Further information: Kudzu in the United States" may be appropriate.

--Comedora (talk) 06:37, 19 May 2018 (UTC)

 * It has been a while since I edited any of these articles, but the above seems to be well thought out. Pueraria isn't a very big genus, so it would be practical to put some of the material in that article, as suggested. Kingdon (talk) 01:07, 18 January 2021 (UTC)

 * I hope this article is merged with P. var. lobata. --Now wiki (talk) 22:45, 22 January 2023 (UTC)

"'葛' redirects here"
Per WP:RFFL - do we need a redirect for a foreign language translation of kudzu? --Ineffablebookkeeper (talk) 17:46, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

 * I guess the redirect should be deleted. For one thing, its existence seems to just further complicate questions such as what should be on this page and what should be on pages like Pueraria_montana_var._lobata Kingdon (talk) 03:58, 12 June 2021 (UTC)
 * The redirect still exists - have we reached a consensus on this issue? HaapsaluYT (talk) 17:45, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2024
— Assignment last updated by Warmedforbs (talk) 01:26, 18 April 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Kudzu


text:
Joe Alaskey

Joseph Francis Alaskey III (April 17, 1952 – February 3, 2016) was an American actor and comedian. He was one of Mel Blanc's successors at the Warner Bros. Animation studio until his death. He alternated with Jeff Bergman, Greg Burson, Jim Cummings, Bob Bergen, Maurice LaMarche and Billy West in voicing Warner Bros. cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and Taz, among many others. He also voiced Plucky Duck on Tiny Toon Adventures from 1990 to 1995. Alaskey was the second actor to voice Grandpa Lou Pickles on the Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats (taking over after David Doyle's death in 1997). He voiced Lou again in the Rugrats spin-off series All Grown Up!.

Early life
Alaskey was born in Troy, New York, on April 17, 1952, to Joseph Francis Alaskey Jr. and Domenica "Dorothy" De Sorrento De Luca Alaskey. He had an older sister, Joanne, and a younger brother, John. At age three, he was looking for a pair of sunglasses or people's cigar butts so that he could portray different characters. Alaskey was interested in archeology at the age of ten. After archeology, he was interested in becoming a priest and an English teacher. Alaskey moved to New York City in the 1970s, where he worked in insurance while preparing to become an actor.

Career
After moving to New York City, Alaskey began his show business career as a stand-up comedian and broadcaster. He was occasionally seen onscreen impersonating Jackie Gleason, with whom he shared a physical resemblance. In the 1980s, Gleason personally chose Alaskey to re-record selected dialogue from the "lost episodes" of The Honeymooners found in Gleason's private collection. After Gleason died in 1987, the project was shelved. In 1985, Alaskey provided various voices for Galtar and the Golden Lance. Alaskey was in several television shows including Night Court, Head of the Class, Back to the Future, and . His first major film was Who Framed Roger Rabbit as Yosemite Sam. Alaskey provided a vocal Gleason impersonation in the "Mighty's Wedlock Whimsy" episode of Bakshi-Hyde Ventures' Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures in 1988, and a Cary Grant impersonation in "The Bride of Mighty Mouse" episode from the same season.

Although best known for his ability to successfully impersonate Looney Tunes characters, Alaskey did voice work for non-Warner Bros. characters as well. He has voiced Grandpa Lou Pickles on Rugrats (inheriting the role after David Doyle's death in 1997). He voiced Lou again in the Rugrats spin-off series, All Grown Up!. He also created the voice of Thomas Timberwolf for the internet series TimberWolf, created by animation legend Chuck Jones. He was heard briefly as a voice-over announcer for the Toon Disney channel (and sometimes Dcom extras on Disney Channel). He was the voice of Curt Connors in the Spider-Man 2 video game and Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe. Alaskey was in the independent film The Legend of Sasquatch and voiced Mermaid Man in the video games SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants! and SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab. He voiced Stinkie in Casper as well as that film's 1996 animated spin-off, The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper. Alaskey played Beano Froelich in Out of This World but left the show early in its final season, making only infrequent appearances in a few episodes. In the 1980s, he worked as the original announcer on the short-lived game show Couch Potatoes, hosted by Marc Summers. Alaskey made several onscreen appearances, portraying the show's "next door neighbor". For the show's final weeks, he was replaced by Jim McKrell and the "next door neighbor" concept was dropped. During this time, he was also a panelist on The New Hollywood Squares, hosted by John Davidson.

In 2003, he took over the roles of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action. He also, at times, provided the voices for Sylvester, Tweety, and other Looney Tunes characters. Alaskey was the primary voice for Plucky Duck on Tiny Toon Adventures.

In 2008, Alaskey participated in a unique interview conducted by Logan Leistikow and released by TheYellowMic.com. He answered questions and told his story, then went out onto Hollywood Boulevard and talked to people on the street who wanted to hear his famous voices. This was the first time Alaskey had performed in public in this manner.

In 2014, Alaskey started narrating the television documentary series Murder Comes to Town, which airs on the Investigation Discovery Network.

Alaskey's only leading role in a live-action film was as lovable loser Ron Douglas in the black comedy Lucky Stiff, directed by Anthony Perkins and co-starring Donna Dixon and Jeff Kober.

Death
Alaskey died in his apartment in Green Island, New York, from cancer with his brother by his side on February 3, 2016, at the age of 63. Five days later, his wake was held at St Patrick's Cemetery in Watervliet.

title: Joe Alaskey


text:
Cloak and Dagger

The phrase cloak and dagger describes situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery.

Cloak and Dagger may also refer to:

Music

 * Cloak & Dagger (The Upsetters album) (1973)
 * Cloak & Dagger (Wet Wet Wet album) (1992)
 * Cloak and Dagger, a 1983 album by Witchfynde
 * "Cloak and Dagger", a 1981 song a song by Daniel Amos from ¡Alarma! (album)
 * "Cloak and Dagger", a 1989 song a song by Black Sabbath from Headless Cross
 * "Cloak and Dagger", a 1984 song a song by Nik Kershaw from Human Racing

Other uses

 * Cloak and Dagger (comics), a Marvel Comics superhero duo
 * Cloak & Dagger (TV series)
 * Cloak and Dagger (1946 film), an espionage film
 * Cloak & Dagger (1984 film), a thriller film
 * Cloak & Dagger (video game), an Atari video game
 * Cloak and Dagger (radio series), an NBC radio series

title: Cloak and Dagger


text:
User talk:CGorman~enwiki/Archive 1

Bristol International Airport
Well done on Bristol International Airport. Edward 11:09, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC)

REDIRECT
Hi there,

Just wondering why you redirected Ballymahon to Ballymahon, Ireland. As far as I know there are no other Ballymahons, and if there are, it is most likely the Irish article that has claim to the main article location. See Disambiguation

Also, use the move tab to move a page, not cut and paste. The article history is stuck at the old location if that is done. A sysop can help if you can perform the page move for some reason.

zoney ♣ talk 19:00, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)

comma Ireland
Hello again!

It's customary to use the format placename and not placename, countryname for places where it's unambiguous as to where is in question (e.g. Kinnegad). Even if there's another place of the same name, often one location is more important and gets the main article title, with just a link to a disambiguation page. It's only in situations like Limerick and Ardmore that nowhere gets the main title. zoney ♣ talk 19:13, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)

 * Ok, thanks - its just I noticed a lot of the English town pages are 'XYZ, England' - even if there are no other articles - eg. Ashbourne. I'll stick to 'XYZ' on its own from now on. As for incorrectly moving the page - sorry --CGorman 19:20, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)
 * We may always end up having to move them later of course! I hope you don't mind my disruption of your work! I've been changing  Irish  to  Irish  as well, because the former goes to a disambiguation page or Ireland, but not directly to the language page. Also I've started putting   instead of   , apparently there's a drive to use categorised stub templates. Finally, when the article is a stub, or there's only one external link or see also, it's customary to put it on one line with the following syntax -  :''External link: XYZ .
 * I hope you don't mind my disruption of your work! - thats the beauty of Wikipedia - its not my work - its everyones. Anyways thanks for all your help - I may be here several months, but I hav'nt done much until now. --CGorman 22:14, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)

 * Well, is this article right? --CGorman 19:47, 16 Sep 2004 (UTC)

 * I've just indented the see also, as that is more usual. I switched the A on "also" to lowercase as well, another convention that's generally used on Wikipedia. I usually use the format (Irish: áit) myself, but that's personal preference. Yeah, I know, it probably seems I'm acting overboard! :-)
 * As regards "your work", it is actually your work, you even own the copyright. It's just that you've granted an irrevocable GFDL (Gnu Free Documentation Licence) to those who wish to use it. (It can be copied, edited mercilessly, etc.) But any original content you create is your work!
 * zoney ♣ talk 22:52, 16 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Junior Cert
Thats some pretty rockin' expanding you're doing on the Junior Cert article! KIU. What I noticed though is that on the list of subjects, the links go to the general article, rather than the article on the JC subject - eg. Science links to the article about Science in general rather than an article about the school subject science. So, I think we should make pages for all the subjects eg Maths (school subject) etc. Man, I must be confusing you. J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 21:46, 29 Sep 2004 (UTC)

 * Yeah I was thinking the same, only thing thought - this could be overdoing it, do we really need an article for Irish (as taught at JC level)?, I think the general one is ok for that - however in the case of Art, Tech Drawing, Technology etc., then articles should be made. So it seems some require articles, others don't.--CGorman 17:27, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

User page box design
Hope you don't mind me copying your user page box design! J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 23:47, 2 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * O course you can use it - sure everything on Wikipedias Opensource! --CGorman 17:56, 3 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Irish in Junior Cert
Just after editing the Junior Cert article, I noticed Irish is said to be mandatory. Is it? I know people in my class who aren't doing it because they lived abroad for several years etc., whereas I would have thought subjects such as history and science would be mandatory. J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 17:12, 3 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Well it is mandatory for natives or people present for the last 7 years in Ireland.
 * Ah right. Thanks. J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 19:25, 3 Oct 2004 (UTC)

WP:LCOTW
Interested? J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 21:13, 7 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Well I can't really offer much knowledge - but I'll drop by now and then to help with external links, references, see also's, pictures (if possible) and structural designs - but don't expect much! --CGorman 18:52, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Irish town stubs
Hi there,

I think the time has come to stop adding Irish town stubs, until some of the existing ones are expanded. I am thinking particularly of the Dublin towns and suburbs. Any deletionist would have a field-day with those! Some only have the Irish placename, and a rough location (north of X, south of Y). That's a bit too little info, even for a stub. I suggest red links are better - letting us know what still needs attention.

zoney ♣ talk 17:16, 10 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * I was beginning to think the same myself zoney - i'll start work right away on the stubs - probably on the A's first. --CGorman 17:57, 10 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Ryanair Photo

 * 200px|Ryanair website

Can you add a licence to that photo. There's an ongoing project ATM to tag all images on wikipedia. IMO it would be fair use, but as you uploaded it it's your call. Thanks J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 18:00, 10 Oct 2004 (UTC)  (PS I believe the preferred format for non-photo images is .PNG - doesn't really matter but just something to keep in mind.)

 * Done --CGorman 18:03, 10 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Nice one, thanks. J OHN C OLLISON | (Ludraman) 17:12, 14 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Map of Westmeath
Hi there,

I recently uploaded Image:Ireland westmeath towns.png to replace Image:Westmeath.jpg. Diagrams should not be saved as jpegs, and the latter hence has much artifacts. I redid the diagram with smoother lines and text (though admittedly, the text could be clearer - I may change it). Do I have your permission to delete your image?

zoney ♣ talk 12:36, 14 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Sure CGorman 18:03, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Adding more town articles to main list
Hello again.

I'm going to add some more towns to the master list, can the red links be left this time until we have more than one/two lines for them?

I want to go through all the existing town articles first, but also the county articles, adding all the towns, red link or not, to the master list.

Good work on your recent expansions of some of the towns. I think what we have so far is fairly impressive, and it will encourage random Irish (or other) viewers/editors to add to any town they know about.

zoney ♣ talk 19:48, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Ok --CGorman 18:56, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

When to use or not use piped links
Hello again!

Can I ask you not to use piped links like County Westmeath. This makes the link load whatever page is at "Westmeath", but in the case of the county pages, all are at "County Blah". "Blah" may (should) bring you to the city or town named "Blah" (e.g. in the case of Limerick, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Waterford, Kilkenny, Kildare, etc.)

Always use links such as County Westmeath to link to the county. If you really want to link to the city or town by the same name as the county, use links like Donegal (to make sure you are going to the town article, not the county). Links such as Donegal should bring you to the town (not the county) but this behaviour is not guaranteed.

On another note, I've finished categorising all articles that were formerly just Towns in the Republic of Ireland. They are all now "Towns in CountyX". I've also imported the lists from the county pages into the master list, and expanded some (e.g. Donegal).

Now to start on Northern Ireland towns!!!

zoney ♣ talk 19:59, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

IRC chat re meetup
Heya, the meetup chats on now on IRC channel #meetup.wikimedia if you want to join. J OHN C OLLISON [ Ludraman] 20:07, 17 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Celtic Tiger
I voted, maybe you'd consider George Moore (novelist)? Not that I'd want to see a Cabal, mind you. Filiocht 10:30, Oct 26, 2004 (UTC)

 * Well I'll have a little read of the George Moore (novelist) article and see what I can do... ;), thanks! CGorman 10:34, 26 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * (Pompous 'voice of experience' message warning) Don't be discouraged if the votes are slow in coming, they often are if the topic is not American or mass-media related. And objections are ways to further improve an already great article. Filiocht 10:40, Oct 26, 2004 (UTC)

Thanks for the George Moore vote, glad you liked the Manet picture! It made it to FA, which is great. Filiocht 08:24, Oct 27, 2004 (UTC)

I don't see any objection from me to Celtic Tiger on WP:FAC, just a comment. Gdr 00:05, 2004 Oct 29 (UTC)

Barrys
Hi,

I've just noticed that we've both got articles on Barry's Tea - mine is here Barry's Tea, and yours is here Barrys.

Would you mind if yours became a redirect to mine? Just asking, 'cause I've got a bit more detail in mine..

AndrewH 16:07, 26 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Ec of Ire for FAC
Was reading Economy of Ireland - IMO it will be shot down of FAC unless you put in a lead section. I know the overview works but there is still superstition regarding FACers about lead sections. Maybe move some of the overview? J OHN C OLLISON [ Ludraman] 20:23, 31 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * It's lookin pretty good now - when'r you putting it on FAC? J OHN C OLLISON [ Ludraman] 17:56, 2 Nov 2004 (UTC)

 * I've added a bit about the health service which may be controversial / not be NPOV. Please see the talk page comments. I hope it doesn't screw up the FAC nomination, but I had to a) fix the "free healthcare" misinformation, and b) explain in full the actual situation. zoney ♣ talk 21:21, 7 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Nice work dealing with the objections. Looking good, I think. Filiocht 11:08, Nov 11, 2004 (UTC)

I split the article, as the Republic didn't exist prior to 1922. Have a look at what I have done at Economy of Ireland and Economy of the Republic of Ireland, also see comments at Talk:Economy of Ireland. Hopefully my work increases the prospects of getting the latter article featured, while we have our work cut out for us at the former. zoney ♣ talk 12:20, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

 * I've opened a bit of a can of worms, and horribly muddied the waters. My apologies. See Talk:Economy of the Republic of Ireland and User talk:Filiocht. I think the current title is not suitable, but it probably can't yet be featured under the title Economy of Ireland. zoney ♣ talk 13:43, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Celtic Tiger is now a featured article!
Congrats: really good work. Filiocht 08:42, Nov 4, 2004 (UTC)

Yes, it's nice that we've got a good few Irish FAs recently, but no thanks is due to me. Credit, as always, to the author for all the hard work involved. Do you plan on posting Economy of Ireland on WP:FAC any time soon? Filiocht 08:51, Nov 5, 2004 (UTC)

WP:LCOTW
Filiocht 10:45, Nov 10, 2004 (UTC)

Economy of Republic of Ireland FA candidacy
I think you are doing excellent work on Economy of Republic of Ireland. Hope my comments haven't been "bugging" you ;-) FAC can be a grueling process ;-) I just went through the "gauntlet" myself recently on Attalus I. Paul August 19:49, Nov 11, 2004 (UTC)

 * I went through with Celtic Tiger earlier in the month - they picked on everything! - even my cute little tiger image! Anyways I suppose the criticism will benifit wikipedia in the long run. As for the time changeable nature of the article - I don't see any way around it, all those figures are relevent and necessary to fully describe an economy. Thanks for your constructive criticism. CGorman 19:58, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I agree that the article has to have this time dependent content in it. I'm just concerned about the problems inherent in this, and in ways to ameliorate it, Did you look at Avoid statements that will date quickly? It contains some suggestions for this problem. Also some of the words phrase which contain words like "now" and "recently" and "past decade" could be dated? Anyway I'm not objecting to this article on this (or any) basis. I think it's great! My only concern is to make the article as good as it can be ;-) By the way did you see my comment about the newer intro in the CIA factbook? Paul August 20:26, Nov 11, 2004 (UTC)

Wikinews demo up and running
Hi!

I'm writing to let you know that the Wikimedia Board of Trustees has approved the first stage of the Wikinews project. There's now a fully operational English demo site at demo.wikinews.org. This will be used for experimenting with various review models and basic policies before the site is launched officially in about a week. demo.wikinews.org will become the English version later. You voted for the Wikinews project, so I'm asking for your participation now. Everything is open, nothing is final. What Wikinews will and can be depends in large part on you. There already is a global Wikinews mailing list for discussing the project. If you are interested at all, please subscribe -- coordination is of key importance. There's also an IRC channel #wikinews on irc.freenode.net. Realtime discussion can help to polish up articles. If you're looking for something to do, check out the articles in development and articles in review. Or start a new story in the Wikinews workspace, or ignore the proposed review system - it's up to you. I hope you'll join us soon in this exciting experiment.--Eloquence* 02:00, Nov 17, 2004 (UTC)

Congratulations
Economy of Ireland made it to WP:FA! Filiocht 08:38, Nov 19, 2004 (UTC)
 * Great! CGorman 16:11, 19 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Economy of Europe
Hi, I noticed you'd got this new article on you 'to do' list, so was wondering if you would add your support to it's nomination for Collaboration of the Week. Simply add your support here. Obviously such a big project needs as many users with relevant knowledge as possible, so hopefully this will promote it a little. Thanks, Grunners 00:45, 21 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Celtic tiger cartoon.jpg
Could you please add copyright license info (and an image tag) to image:Celtic tiger cartoon.jpg - I plan to have it on the main page soon. →Raul654 18:19, Nov 26, 2004 (UTC)

Junior Cert
I'm wondering - what do you think needs to be done to Junior Cert before nomination for WP:FAC. It seems to be in reasonably good shape, but maybe you can see something I have missed. J OHN C OLLISON [ Ludraman] 21:11, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Junior Cert
Hey everyone, check me out at - User:CGorman

title: User talk:CGorman~enwiki/Archive 1