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Bart Sells His Soul

"Bart Sells His Soul" is the fourth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on Fox in the United States on October 8, 1995. In the episode, Bart scornfully dismisses the concept of the soul, and to show he is serious in his skepticism he agrees to sell his soul to Milhouse. However, after several strange events make him think he really has lost his soul, he desperately tries to regain it.

"Bart Sells His Soul" was written by Greg Daniels, who was inspired by an experience from his youth where he had purchased a bully's soul. Director Wes Archer and his team of animators visited Chili's for examples to use in Moe's family restaurant. The episode includes cultural references to the 1968 song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly, which is played during the show, and Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, as well as a parody of Judy Blume's 1970 book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Writers from the fields of religion, philosophy, popular culture, and psychology cited the episode in books discussing The Simpsons and the show's approach to the nature of the soul.

The episode was critically acclaimed and is regarded as one of the series' best. The creative team of The Simpsons puts the episode among the top five best episodes of the series, and series creator Matt Groening cited "Bart Sells His Soul" as one of his favorite episodes. It has been used by secondary schools in religious education courses as a teaching tool.

Plot
As punishment for changing the church's opening hymn as a prank to "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly, Reverend Lovejoy makes Bart clean the organ pipes; Milhouse also receives the same punishment for snitching on Bart. Bart is furious with Milhouse, who defends himself by saying he did not want his soul to go to hell. Bart declares that there is no such thing as a soul, prompting him to sell to Milhouse for $5 a piece of paper which reads "Bart Simpson's Soul". Lisa warns Bart that he will regret selling his soul, but he dismisses her fears.

Bart experiences several unusual phenomena, such as automatic doors refusing to open for him and no longer finding any humor in Itchy and Scratchy. He begins to fear that he really has lost his soul and tries to get it back from Milhouse, who refuses to return it for less than $50. After having a nightmare and being taunted by Lisa, Bart again desperately tries to persuade Milhouse to return his soul, going so far as to travel across town after the Van Houten family moved out of their house due to fumigation. Milhouse informs Bart that he traded the paper to Comic Book Guy at the Android's Dungeon.

The next morning, Comic Book Guy tells Bart that he sold the piece of paper, but refuses to reveal its new owner. Saddened, Bart walks home in the rain and prays to God for his soul in his bedroom. When a piece of paper with the words "Bart Simpson's soul" floats down from above, Bart discovers that Lisa bought his soul to return it to him. While she explains philosophers' views on the human soul, Bart eats the piece of paper, overjoyed at getting his soul back.

In the subplot, Moe tries to expand his customer base by turning his bar into a family theme restaurant with the name Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag. However, Moe's surly personality proves to be unfitting for him running a family restaurant; that, along with the stress of running the business by himself, ultimately unnerves him, and he soon snaps at a little girl. The horrified customers abandon the restaurant, forcing Moe's to revert to a run-down tavern.

Production
"Bart Sells His Soul" was the second episode to have Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein as executive producers. Oakley and Weinstein wanted to start the season with episodes that had an emotional bias in an effort to center the Simpson family. The episode was written by Greg Daniels, who originally had an idea for a plot that dealt with racism in Springfield. The writers did not think The Simpsons was the right forum for it, so Daniels suggested the idea of selling someone's soul, which originated in his childhood. In high school, Daniels encouraged a bully to sell him his soul for 50 cents, and then convinced classmates to frighten the bully into buying his soul back for an inflated price. Daniels repeated this ploy, but stopped when he realized that the only other person in history who has profited off others' souls was Satan, and that "scared" him. In the opening scene of the episode, the congregation of the First Church of Springfield are tricked into singing "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly. Daniels had originally intended for the song to be "Jesus He Knows Me" by British rock band Genesis, but the producers were unable to obtain the rights for it to be featured in the episode.

The episode was directed by Wes Archer. Archer and his team of animators went to the restaurant chain Chili's to get inspiration for the background designs of Moe's family restaurant. He said it was "quite a task" to transform Moe's Tavern into a family-oriented establishment. Archer added that he was not "quite happy" with the result, and that they could have designed it "a little better". Weinstein recalled that there was contention between the animators about the way Moe looked in the episode. Moe's original design includes a missing tooth, but Weinstein and Oakley felt that it did not "look right" because Moe was such a prominent character in the episode. Archer showed the original design of Moe from the first season to the show runners, and said: "Here, look. He's got a missing tooth!", but the scenes that had Moe with a missing tooth in them were still reanimated. Archer was disappointed with the dream sequence in which Bart sees his friends playing with their souls. Archer said that he had forgotten to tell the animators to make the souls transparent, so they were painted blue instead. George Meyer pitched the joke restaurant title "The Texas Cheesecake Depository."

Themes
Kurt M. Koenigsberger comments in his 2003 book Leaving Springfield that "a good deal of enjoyment" is to be had from the episode, due to "the exposure of the hypocrisy behind 'the finance of salvation' and the ambivalent operations of the commercial world". Don Cupitt, a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, believes that when Lisa lectures Bart about the soul, she "shows a degree of theological sophistication which is simply not tolerated in Britain." Paul Bloom and David Pizarro wrote in the 2006 book The Psychology of The Simpsons that although Lisa does show "healthy religious skepticism", she still believes in an eternal soul. However, Lisa tells Bart at the end of the episode, "some philosophers believe that no one is born with a soul; you have to earn one through suffering, and thought, and prayer". Bloom and Pizarro acknowledge: "Indeed, some philosophers and theologians say that without belief in a soul, one cannot make sense of the social concepts on which we rely, such as personal responsibility and freedom of the will."

M. Keith Booker cites the episode in his 2006 book Drawn to Television, while discussing The Simpsons' treatment of religion. Booker cites a scene from the episode where Milhouse asks Bart what religions have to gain by lying about concepts such as the existence of a soul – and then the scene cuts to Reverend Lovejoy counting his money; Booker believes that this implies that religions create mythologies so that they can gain money from followers. He juxtaposes this with Bart's realization later in the episode that "life suddenly feels empty and incomplete" without a soul, which suggests "either that the soul is real or it is at least a useful fiction". Mark I. Pinsky and Samuel F. Parvin discuss the episode in their book The Gospel According to the Simpsons: Leader's Guide for Group Study, and use examples from it to stimulate discussion among youth about the nature of the soul. Pinsky and Parvin note Bart's statement to Milhouse from the beginning of the episode: "Soul – come on, Milhouse, there's no such thing as a soul. It's just something they made up to scare kids, like the Boogie Man or Michael Jackson", and then suggest questions to ask students, including whether they know individuals that agree with Bart, and their views on the existence of a soul.

In the 2004 book Planet Simpson, Chris Turner quotes Bart's revelation to Lisa that he sold his soul to Milhouse for five dollars and used the money to buy sponges shaped like dinosaurs. After Lisa criticizes Bart for selling his soul, Bart responds: "Poor gullible Lisa. I'll keep my crappy sponges, thanks." Turner comments: "Here Bart is the epitome of the world-weary hipster, using the degraded language of modern marketing to sell off the most sacred parts of himself because he knows that some cheap sponge is more real, hence more valuable, than even the loftiest of abstract principles."

Cultural references
On the DVD audio commentary for the episode, writer Greg Daniels cited Martin Scorsese's 1985 film After Hours as an influence on Bart's night-time trek to retrieve his soul from Milhouse, only to experience a series of unusual encounters. Reverend Lovejoy leads his congregation in a hymnal version of the song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", by Iron Butterfly, titled "In the Garden of Eden", by "I. Ron Butterfly".

During an argument between Lisa and Bart, while discussing the relationship between laughter and the soul, Lisa quotes Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and Bart responds "I am familiar with the works of Pablo Neruda." Kurt M. Koenigsberger comments in Leaving Springfield: "While Bart may be familiar with the canon of Chilean poetry, the joke takes its force in part from the probability that The Simpsons ' viewers are not." Bart begins a prayer to God with "Are you there, God? It's me, Bart Simpson". This is an allusion to the 1970 book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret., by Judy Blume. During a piggyback fight with Dolph Starbeam, Jimbo Jones exclaims, "I'm Master Blaster," referencing the fearsome Thunderdome athlete from the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The chalkboard gag is a reference to the advertising slogan of the lean mean grilling machine by George Foreman. The title of The Itchy & Scratchy Show episode "Skinless in Seattle" is a reference to the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle. When Ned Flanders says, "Well, I expect that type of language at Denny's, but not here!", it is a reference to Denny's racial discrimination lawsuit in the early 1990s, in which African-American customers were refused service, forced to wait longer, and/or charged more for their meals than white customers.

Reception
In its original broadcast, "Bart Sells His Soul" finished 43rd in the ratings for the week of October 2–8, 1995, with a Nielsen rating of 8.8, equivalent to approximately 8.4 million viewing households. It was the fourth highest-rated show on the Fox network that week after The X-Files, Melrose Place, and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Since airing, "Bart Sells His Soul" has received critical acclaim. In July 2007, an article in the San Mateo County Times notes that "Bart Sells His Soul" is seen as one of "the most popular episodes in Simpsons history". Noel Holston of the Star Tribune highlighted the episode in the paper's "Critic's choice" section. The Intelligencer Journal described "Bart Sells His Soul" as "a particularly good episode" of The Simpsons. The Lansing State Journal highlighted the episode in the season seven DVD release, along with the conclusion of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" and "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular". The Sunday Herald Sun called it one of the "show's most memorable episodes", as did The Courier Mail.

The Aberdeen Press & Journal described the episode as "one of the darkest episodes of the Simpsons".

In their section on the episode in the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood comment: "Undoubtedly the most disturbing episode of the series, with Bart's nightmare of losing his soul – illustrated by a macabre playground where all the souls of his playmates are visible, and his is tagging along with Milhouse – more frightening than funny. ... An illustration of just how far the series could go by this point."

In April 2003, the episode was listed by The Simpsons creative team as among the top five best episodes of the series, including "Last Exit to Springfield", "Cape Feare", "22 Short Films About Springfield", and "Homer at the Bat".

In a 2005 interview The Simpsons creator Matt Groening commented "I don't have a single favorite. There's a bunch I really like", but cited "Bart Sells His Soul" and "Homer's Enemy" as among episodes he loves.

Bart's voice actress Nancy Cartwright stated "Bart Sells His Soul" is one of her top three episodes together with "Lisa's Substitute" and "Bart the Mother". Lisa's voice actress Yeardley Smith stated in an interview that "Bart Sells His Soul" is one of her favorite episodes along with "Girly Edition".

Commenting on the episode's themes in The A.V. Club, Erik Adams writes that "If 'Bart Sells His Soul' has anything to say about the value of the human spirit, it's glimpsed in those final moments of Bart and his see-through Buddy ramming into Martin's rowboat. Obeying an authority figure like Lovejoy only does so much for the soul. Being true to yourself is much more spiritually nourishing." He adds that "I often think I quote 'The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show' more than any other episode, until I rewatch 'Bart Sells His Soul.'"

The episode has been used in church courses in Connecticut and in the United Kingdom about the nature of a soul, and was shown by a minister in Scotland in one of his sermons. A 2005 report on religious education in secondary schools, by the United Kingdom education regulator Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted), noted that the episode was being used as a teaching tool.

title: Bart Sells His Soul


text:
Talk:Architect (The Matrix)

Deleted POV
Saying the dialogue was convoluted was POV. IMO that was the only thing that saved this otherwise wretched movie.--Unopeneddoor 23:58, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

I think the fact that there are so many dichotomies that are examined and expressed in the movie, coupled with what the Brothers have said, means that they meant us to be having debates like this.

Also, they have said the reason they avoid interviews regarding "what they meant" by this or that, is that they don't want to "ruin" what their movies might mean for other people. They apparently consider what we think to be so important that they aren't going to tell us what we should think of their movies.

So boiling it down to "there is no choice", is kind of missing the point. Neo and Trinity had other goals and they met them, at cost. If there was no choice, then Neo leaving would have also meant the end of the human race. He did say that, "The door to your left leads back to the Matrix, to her and to the end of your species." Not exactly what happened, so Neo's choice did affect some of the outcome.

And as for POV, we keep picking at it. Why not edit something or suggest something in particular that should be addressed? A lot of head-way has already been made over the last few months but none of us have stopped.....

p.s. Sign in and leave your signature next time..... ;)

Sign your posts on talk pages

--Antelope In Search Of Truth 05:42, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

 * I would say pretty much the whole article is very POV. There are far too many different interpretations for this film, and as the creators have not made anything absolutely clear, this kind of article should only contain the known facts.
 * Oh, and by the way:

 * ''"Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed, and the anomaly revealed as both beginning and end. There are two doors. The door to your right leads to the Source, and the salvation of Zion. The door to your left leads back to the Matrix, to her and to the end of your species. As you adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know what you are going to do, don't we? Already, I can see the chain reaction - the chemical precursors that signal the onset of an emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic and reason - an emotion that is already blinding you from the simple and obvious truth. She is going to die, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
 * Architect: Hope. It is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness."

 * (all said by the architect) wouldn't this imply that there is indeed no choice in the matrix. I mean, look at it - Everything the Architect predicted was true. There was no real choice - Despite chosing the door that lead to her, she died. It didn't happen until revolutions, but I don't think that matters.
 * With the Architect and other important characters (Merovingian) pointing out that there is no choice, it seems to me it was indeed the intention of the film to promote that view.

 * But hey, its just a theory, as based on fact as others.
 * By,
 * Ben
 * —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.73.212.241 18:33, July 24, 2006

 * I agree that the majority of the article is POV. Unless the Wachowski Brothers themselves or someone working very closely with them say pretty explicitly that, for example, the lack of instant crashing of the Matrix when Neo chose to go back to it was simply an attempt at persuasion, I really think it should be taken out.

 * That's just one contention; the article as a whole lists some reasoning that lacks citation. As such, it smacks heavily of theorizing, or original research.  I'd much rather have the article be about simply what he says to Neo, and such, without really going into what he "means."

 * -- Last Thylacine 16:00, 3 September 2006 (UTC)

The Architect and the Gnostic Demiurge
Given all of the references to various gnostic beliefs in the Matrix films, do you think it would be fitting to add a section that highlights the parallels between the Architect and the Demiurge?

I for one think that the similarities are fairly obvious, but since there's no rush (after all, I don't imagine that wikipedia's going to up and run away any time soon) I thought I'd run it by the rest of wiki first. RebelTLF 1:07, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Do we need a source for relating stuff like this? I mean, where are you going to add this stuff to? A new "gnostic demiurge" section or something where more people can relate the character to whatever they find it makes sense? VdSV9• ♫ 16:37, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Plot corrections
I just made some intensive changes to this page, and I wanted to share some important points to it.

Please rewatch the last two movies. The Architect is the master control program for the Matrix, but he is NOT the Source. Neither is the Deus Ex Machina, although it has more power than the Architect (otherwise the Architect would have dispensed with Smith a long time before he became a problem). Deus is a representative for the Source as the Architect is the primary representative for the Matrix (Neo never talks directly to the Source throughout the movies, although Deus is probably pretty close). The Architect has always been a middleman. For change to truly happen, it had to come from the Machine City itself. Neo returns to the Source of the Machine's power, the Machine City, and, unlike his predecessors, skips over the management of the Matrix's power, the Architect. It all came down to choices, and, in the end, Neo's different choice from his predecessors led him to a new path and its end. Spencerian 15:43, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

plot reasoning unclear
So the oracle's task is to give hope to the population of Zion while enlisting them to seek The One ,so she can tell him he needs to return to the source so the cycle can continue. yet this cycling is unclear to me. Neo's choice: -- Procrastinating@ talk2me 00:35, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
 * Reintegrade(killing him?) with the source (so the source can build a safer from The One program?) and choosing a group of people to repopulate Zion (why are the machines helping to rebuilt recently destroyed Zion?)
 * Not comply(try to save his girl) and thus cause ther destruction of man kind.(WHY would the Architact destroy all of the inhabitants of the matrix..?)
 * Would'nt it be a simple solution for the exssessive 1% of free minds(due to choice) to be killed upon release from the matrix..??

 * Basically it seems the Matrix has to be reloaded every so often (about every hundred years); otherwise it will crash, killing everyone connected to it. For some reason, the only way the crash can be prevented is for the One to transfer the "Prime Program" to the Source (whatever the "Prime Program" is, and it's not made clear how a human could "carry" its "code" anywhere). Whether this means that the next iteration of the Matrix will be more reliable or will last longer is speculation.

 * It's a bit of a roundabout way of doing things, and it doesn't really make that much sense if you think about it (so the next inhabitants of Zion wouldn't notice that there just happens to be a huge underground cavern just the right size for a settlement?). I'm one of those people who was quite disappointed and unsatisfied with the revelations in Reloaded and Revolutions. But that's the explanation provided in the film, anything else is just speculation. -- Nick RTalk 15:13, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

 * Indeed. The firl given rational is contradictory and not complete ,yet the presented form is very entertaining. Was just checking to see if there is something I missed. Maybe these internal contradictions should be incorporated in the article. -- Procrastinating@ talk2me 17:23, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

1% of ALL HUMANS?
If the current Matrix is modeled after the human civilization of the late 20th century, then that world would have around 6 billion humans. If this is true, then 0.01*1 billion = 6 MILLION HUMANS! How is this possible if Zion is a city of 500,000, many of whom are native born? I-- Procrastinating@ talk2me 15:43, 19 March 2006 (UTC)'m assuming that 1) the Matrix does not actually have 6 billion inhabitants, 2) or the Machines, through their many control mechanisms, eliminate the vast majority of the 6 million that become conscious of the Matrix.

(Above was unsigned)

--Jack (Cuervo) 10:08, 18 March 2006 (UTC)
 * 1) Suspension of disbelief. :-)
 * 2) A scale model? :-)
 * 3) They are nearing the end of the war, after all, and the Matrix was becoming increasingly unstable, especially since the One showed up.
 * 4) Where are you getting 500,000 from, anyway? I don't see it in the article, or in Zion, and I don't remember it from the movies (had to delete them to free up some disk space :P).

My mistake, the population is actually 250,000, as seen here: http://www.killermovies.com/forums/f42/t21042.html and in Reloaded and Revolutions. I have no idea what you're talking about...the only thing I understand is that the Matrix is growing unstable. So if the Matrix is growing unstable, that suddenly reduces the world's population? Blusafe 07:24, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

 * Makes sense that the general health of the population of the Matrix would be linked to the Matrix, doesn't it? I mean, considering the effect the mind could have on the environment, couldn't the environment have a similar effect on the mind (think: jump program)? *shrug* That was my reasoning, anyway. To look at it another way, the life support systems for the pods could be hooked in somehow. Either way, I'm just throwing out guesses. :-) --Johnny (Cuervo) 12:23, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

dont you think it is better to ask why dont the machines simply kill the one upon creation? This futile attempt to further rationalize a non rational film is a waste of time ,even it's writers said that..(:-- Procrastinating@ talk2me 15:43, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

Maybe, the one percent of people who are released from the matrix die soon after leaving it. After all, if someone wakes up naked in a pod with muscles so weak that they can barely move, I doubt they are going to survive very long on their own. Also, when Neo first wakes up in the pod, the machines don't seem worried and simply flush him down a drain into a big sewer like area. This implies that whenever people wake up, the machines just flush them down the drain. I think the only humans who survive and make it back to Zion are the ones who are rescued by people like Morpheus.
 * Can't they grow as many people as they like? Kausill 13:30, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

EXTREMELY COMPLICATED
Hard to follow!!!!!!!!!!!

While i have not seen the movie yet, i have read over the script. It seemed a bit easier to follow than everyone said.

But thats just me. --J Assassin 07:10, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Very nice article
This article makes a lot more sense, because the Architect's polysyllabic babblings (while all english), are too esoteric.

 * ) Piepants 06:18, 15 July 2006 (UTC)Piepants

True, but his prose adds depth to the level of control he exacts upon his world. The concept is perhaps akin to creating a character of insurmountable ability so as to posit that defying him would mean certain death. Kind of like spitting on God. --206.40.119.252 10:21, 19 July 2006 (UTC) Thanks Aaron 7.18.2006

Was The Architect in the First Movie?
In the first Matrix film Neo, at the police station, is seen in a bank of monitors, but no police station would have so many unlabelled color monitors for a single camera, implying that it was The Architect watching Neo from his room of monitors. (The Wachowski's probably hadn't yet pinned down the look of the room and its monitors yet.) And was Neo talking to The Architect on the phone at the end of the first movie? If not, then who? This article also needs to make it clear that The Architect is not Deus Ex Machina in physical form, as explained here

 * I recognised the bank of monitors being of likeness to the Architect's room too (although, on a flat wall in the first film). There must be some significance to it worth noting. Exactly what it is, I haven't the foggiest! Bob f it 16:39, 22 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Exactly what I thought, too. Kausill 13:30, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

Regarding edits
AntelopeInSearchOfTruth, the reason I edited the text is because it's ripped right from the movie's script, in the Architect's complex choice of words. Better to keep it in layman's terms so that it's easier to understand rather than it to sound like someone sat down and wrote the article while they were listening to the movie's audio or read a script online and copied it. --Snake Liquid 04:29, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

 * I am actually, quite happy with bringing it to layman's terms. Sometimes I personally favor direct quoting but regarding the actual reporting or wikipedia language, if you will, that surrounds such quotes.....  I have had a hell of a time trying to sift through and make it simple.  So I content myself with binge cleaning every now and again.

 * I definitely appreciate your assistance! However, the reason I changed your edit (and did so again), is that "avoided and ignored until the last minute," can carry the connotation that the Machines were ignorant of Zion or were dismissing Zion.  This is not the case.  Their plans even take Zion into account, as the article already states; their plans called for "allowing" the humans the (unconscious) choice to leave the Matrix or stay a part of it and when those who chose to leave grew too numerous, "the One" would be born, and he would reset the Matrix while the machines killed off Zion.

 * --Antelope In Search Of Truth 21:02, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Overhaul of page
This article has long been sidetracked; If it is about the Architect, it should not be dwelling so much on things not directly related to him or his actions. For instance, I just cut out a lot of material that should be in The Oracle's article.

There was also a lot of content pertaining to the movies and Neo, in particular, which could go under their respective pages.

--Antelope In Search Of Truth 00:57, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

His description vs. that of the Oracle
I changed the parenthetical comparison of the Architects appearance to those respective to a number of other, relatively well-known characters or figures in the fourth sentence of the first, introductory paragraph of this entry from:

"[…]he appears as a white-bearded old man (bearing a vague similarity to some Christian depictions of God, Sigmund Freud, Uncle Sam, Colonel Sanders, Norbert Wiener (inventor of cybernetics), and Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, plus diametrically opposed to the preferred shell of the Oracle, that of a black woman)"

…to:

"[…]God; Sigmund Freud; Uncle Sam; Colonel Sanders; Norbert Wiener, inventor of cybernetics; and Internet pioneer Vint Cerf—virtually diametrically opposed to the preferred shell of the Oracle, that of a black woman"

…the obvious differences being:

1) The elements of the list are now separated by semicolons and not commas.

Admittedly, my undrestanding and use of English's standard dialects and their rules of punctuation aren't perfect, but I found the phrase "[…]bearing a vague similarity to some Christian depictions of God, [etc.]" confusing. Cursorily, the original version of the sentence could seem to be saying that there were some Christian depictions of the other figures.

2) The replacement of the list's end-comma and the word plus at the end of that list and the beginning of the comparison of the Architect's appearance to the Oracle's.

With all due respect to the original writer, plus seems colloquial. Others, obviously, may disagree.

3) The introduction of the qualifier "virtually" to the description of his appearance to the Oracles being "diametrically opposed."

This is a more philosophical point than a grammatical one: with respect to the original writer, I strongly contend "blacks" and "whites" aren't diametically opposed, except in the usual mindset of many Euro- and, probably, Afrocentric societies, and neither are "men" and "women," except in the context of reproductive roles. It's not that these differences aren't currently important sociologically, and I don't necessarily disagree with the implication that the writers intended to present this contrast; I'm just think that language guides thought, so we should be very careful with our language sometimes.

Also, they're both old, both bipedal, it's not that one's skinny and one's fat, and so on, so they're not actually diametrically opposed in appearance. :P Again, I don't necessarily disagree that their appearances are in intentional contrast, just that they're not literally diametrically opposed. -Dan 05:58, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

 * In case anyone wonders while looking at the history of this page, I accidentally marked my addition of this section as a minor edit; not to sound grandiose, but as the apparent current largest single addition to the page, it might not be a minor edit. (Yes, I realize how incongrous the scope of the change in the article is with the size of my entry here describing it. DX)

 * Anyway, just FYI.-Dan 06:09, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

Vint Cerf
Why are the comparisions to real life people gone? The Architect looks far too much like Vint Cerf for it to be a coincidence. He may not look like Louis Pastuer, but many wikipedians agree that he resembles Colonel Sanders. -Buttle 04:32, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

Agreed. The Vint Cerf stuff has been mentioned in media and belongs in this article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.235.164.147 (talk) 06:52, 30 November 2014 (UTC)

I enjoyed the Colonel Sanders comparison (unsigned; originally from the "Plot corrections" section above)

I just removed that comment. It's not sourced and it speculation. It was interesting....but....still speculation. KoshVorlon. We are all Kosh ... 23:40, 28 October 2012 (UTC)

Did the Architect Create Neo?
This page says that the Architect designed Neo so that he could reboot the system. But, I thought that Neo was an anomally that arises every hundred years or so, and that the Architect, unable to create an equation in which the anomally wouldn't apear, simply designed the Matrix around the anomally. Also, I thought that in giving the anomally the choice of either saving a few people or killing everyone, the architect was simply ensuring that the anomally would be too busy trying to rebuild Zion to bother him, while he is rebooting the Matrix. Am I right or did I just misunderstand the movie? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 141.157.60.160 (talk) 02:06, 5 March 2007 (UTC).

Even today, this article is ambiguous about this aspect of the movie. Whereas one section of the article mentions:

''One significant anomaly appeared two-thirds into the Matrix first cycle. A man was born with control of additional Matrix programming that actually belonged with the Source. The Architect tried to remove this anomaly, to no avail. However, he would find a way to work with this human and return the critical Source code he carried for the eventual reloading of the Matrix.''

Another section of the same article gives a different viewpoint:

'' it was the Architect who programmed The One that would fulfill these prophecies. The One was made carrying not only the source code of the Matrix "Prime Program", which gave him his outstanding powers over the Matrix, but also with a profound attachment to humanity that would later motivate him to fulfill the prophecies being spread by the Oracle.''

So the question is still unanswered by the article: did the Architect create "The One" to tackle the Zion problem, or was the Oracle and the Prophecy of "The One" created to tackle the human being that would eventually appear, having powers to control the Matrix? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.57.38.52 (talk) 06:49, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

The Architect did not create Neo
It is stated quite clearly that Neo is the result of an anomaly inherent to the programming of the Matrix. He is the result of the subconscious choice whether to accept the program or not that was granted to all humans. The prophecy of the One was created as a means to control an otherwise uncontrollable anomaly, thus safeguarding the system. He was not 'created' by the Architect. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mentasm (talk • contribs) 11:15, 14 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Right, and I think his lack of control over them is well-symbolized by him sitting instead of standing or looming over them. Neo looks down to him instead of the other way around. 58.7.106.12 (talk) 17:00, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

THE ARCHITECT IN THE MXO GAME

Hi guys, could someone link to the Matrix Online game here (I don't know how to do it) and create a small sub-paragraph explaining how the Architect does occasionally turn up in this game too, as it is supposed to be a continution of the Movie series. The Architect is the Machine organization Boss in the game, just as implied in the movies, and sometimes he talks to Machinist redpill operatives. Thanks.Oposie (talk) 21:03, 14 April 2008 (UTC)Oposie

Vint Cerf?
I don't quite understand why Vint Cerf is related to this, other than the fact that the Architect somewhat resembles him. If someone could explain to me why he is under see also, it would be appreciated. 226Trident talkU.S. Navy SEALs Special Warfare insignia.png 12:25, 12 August 2011 (UTC)

The Sixth One redundancy in language.
I just fixed a serious issue with pronouns. I actually got confused and thought it was suggesting that Neo could not see past the equations.

This section also has a lot of redundancy in its language. She says, she tells him, she also says. This happens four times in a row. Someone needs to sit through and fix it. I don't have the time right now. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.246.235.173 (talk) 11:50, 16 January 2012 (UTC)

"with affluent vocabulary" stricken
"Affluent" means wealthy. A rich vocabulary means a large vocabulary. In this case, adding the phrase "with affluent vocabulary" not only uses the wrong word (a vocabulary does not possess money, therefore it cannot be affluent; perhaps the writer meant the vocabulary of an affluent person, but that makes no sense either, as someone might be affluent and have an objectively smaller vocabulary than average). Even using a more appropriate word (a rich vocabulary, for instance) adds nothing to the sentence except extra time required to read it. Less is more, as they say. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.109.15.55 (talk) 14:31, 28 April 2018 (UTC)

Redundancies
This article has a lot of duplicated info. 2 sections, "character" and "character history," are basically the same content. Someone in SoCal Area (talk) 04:30, 9 May 2019 (UTC)
 * I addressed some issues in the article but still needs work. A good copy editor could be of use here. Someone in SoCal Area (talk) 00:41, 24 January 2020 (UTC)

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

title: Talk:Architect (The Matrix)


text:
Seberang Perai

Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south. The city spans an area of 748 km2 and had a population of 946,092, making it the third largest city in Malaysia.

Originally a part of Kedah, the territory containing the city was ceded to the British East India Company in 1800. It was named Province Wellesley and has been administered as part of Penang ever since. The territory became a centre for cash crop agriculture, while the development of new towns such as Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam followed with the advent of roads and railways towards the end of the 19th century.

After Malaya's independence, Seberang Perai benefitted from the development spillover from George Town. The Port of Penang, the third busiest seaport in the country, was relocated to the municipality in 1974, bolstering its burgeoning industrial-based economy that has attracted numerous multinational companies. Two road bridges were constructed to physically connect Seberang Perai with George Town, complementing an existing ferry service between the two cities. Penang Sentral, a new transit-oriented development, has strengthened Seberang Perai's role as the logistics hub of northwestern Malaysia. Following decades of rapid urbanisation and infrastructural developments, Seberang Perai was conferred city status in 2019.

Etymology
Seberang Perai was originally named Province Wellesley after Richard Wellesley, who was the Governor-General of India when the territory was acquired by the British East India Company (EIC) in 1800. The term 'Seberang Perai' is believed to have emerged from a local expression used to refer to the northern banks of the Perai River. After the acquisition of Province Wellesley, the river became the boundary between British-held territory to the south and Kedah to the north. The Thai word plāi (ปลาย), meaning "the end", referred to the southern limits of Kedah, which were formed by the river.

The Hokkiens referred to the northern banks of the river as koay kang, which means "to cross the river." At the time, passengers from George Town would land at Perai and cross the river to get to Butterworth and the hinterland beyond. The term koay kang coincides with the Malay name Seberang Perai.

Early history
Seberang Perai bears evidence of human habitation during the Neolithic era. The site of Guar Kepah, located on the southern banks of the Muda River, is home to human remains found in shell middens that indicate the settlement of the area in that period. Guar Kepah remains the only known example of coastal adaptation among Neolithic humans in Malaysia.

Seberang Perai was once a part of the Bujang Valley civilisation. The Mahanavika Buddhagupta plaque and the Cherok Tok Kun megalith, found at Bukit Mertajam, both indicate significant Hindu influence at the area between the 5th and 6th centuries.

British rule
In 1786, Francis Light acquired Penang Island from Kedah in exchange of British military protection. However, when Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah of Kedah attempted to retake the island by force in response to the EIC's reneging on military protection, British forces launched a preemptive assault on Perai. The Kedahan forces were routed and the Sultan was forced to sue for peace.

In 1800, the EIC annexed a strip of the mainland from Kedah for a sum of 4,000 Spanish dollars. This acquisition, negotiated by George Caunter on behalf of Lieutenant-Governor George Leith, gave the EIC permanent sovereignty over both Penang Island and the newly-acquired territory, which was named Province Wellesley after Governor-General of India Richard Wellesley. The Perai River became the international border between British and Kedah territories.

The EIC had sought to turn the island into an agricultural outpost. The annexation of Province Wellesley allowed for the expansion of the cash crop industry from the island to the mainland. This led to the harvesting of spices and sugar, which attracted migrants from China, India, Myanmar and the Middle East, as well as Malay refugees from Kedah fleeing the Siamese conquest of their homeland. In 1831, the EIC expanded Province Wellesley northwards, moving the international border between British and Siamese territories from the Perai River to the Muda River. The territory's boundaries were further expanded in 1868 and in the Pangkor Treaty of 1874, effectively enlarging the British-held territory from the Muda River in the north to the Kerian River in the south.

The development of roads and railways in the early 20th century promoted the growth of Province Wellesley's rubber industry. Malaya's new rail lines, which ran from the Siamese border to the north to Singapore to the south, cut through Province Wellesley, allowing the Port of Penang to become a major tin exporter. This led to the emergence of new towns, such as Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam, as logistics hubs. The Municipal Ordinance of 1913 resulted in the creation of three local governments within Province Wellesley – the Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam town boards, and the Province Wellesley Rural Board. The creation of local governments further accelerated infrastructural developments within the territory.

World War II
RAF Butterworth was opened just a few months prior to the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and Japan in December 1941. As Japanese troops landed in Kota Bharu and Songkhla, Allied squadrons defending northern Malaya were decimated and had to retreat to RAF Butterworth by 8 December. The air base was subsequently attacked by Japanese bombers on the following day. The Royal Air Force eventually abandoned it on 15 December. Penang fell to the Japanese four days later.

During the Japanese occupation, Province Wellesley, like George Town, underwent significant social upheaval. Civilians suffered harsh treatment from the Japanese, who attempted to enforce order, while living conditions worsened along with the economic situation. Rice farmers in Province Wellesley were encouraged to increase their yields, but the shortfall in rice supply proved too great to be substituted. Despite the establishment of "pioneer farms" in the territory by Japanese administrators in 1944, food shortages persisted until the end of the war when British forces liberated Penang. Following the war's end, British authorities swiftly undertook to restore order in Province Wellesley, which was plagued by elements of the Chinese underworld and communist infiltrations.

Post-independence
In 1953, the British reorganised the local governments within the territory. Five local governments – one each for the municipalities of Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam, and three rural district councils – were instituted. After Malaya's independence in 1957, the ruling Alliance coalition moved to amalgamate the local governments within Seberang Perai. In 1961, the Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam municipalities were consolidated with the North and Central Seberang Perai rural district councils, respectively. The three remaining local governments were subsequently merged into a single municipality in 1974. Two years later, Seberang Perai was conferred municipal status and the local government was renamed the Seberang Perai Municipal Council.

In the early 1960s, the Penang state government began industrialising Seberang Perai through the establishment of the first industrial estates at Mak Mandin and Perai. In 1974, the Port of Penang was relocated from George Town to the municipality and in 1980, the adjacent Perai Free Industrial Zone in 1980 was created to leverage on the available maritime and rail infrastructure. These were accompanied by a significant increase in the municipality's population, which was largely due to the spillover of development from George Town.

Decades of economic growth and the availability of industrial land have led to substantial investments in infrastructure, including the completion of the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge that connect the municipality with George Town. The industrial sector has also spurred the development of newer townships within the municipality such as Seberang Jaya and Batu Kawan. Seberang Perai was granted city status in 2019.

Geography
Seberang Perai spans the entire mainland portion of Penang. With a total land mass of 747.8 km2, Seberang Perai is slightly larger than Singapore. The terrain of the city is mostly flat and alluvial, except for the hilly region along its eastern border with Kedah. Standing at a height of 1787 ft, Mertajam Hill is the tallest point within Seberang Perai. The city's coast is divided into a northern sandy shoreline and a muddy, mangrove-covered southern coastline. The southern coast is geographically sheltered by Penang Island, while the northern shoreline is more exposed to the forces of the Malacca Strait.

Seberang Perai's jurisdiction also includes two offshore islets – Aman and Gedung islands. These islets feature mudflats that connect with the mainland due to sedimentation that occurred during the construction of the Penang Bridge.

The city is demarcated by the Muda River to the north, which serves as the border between Seberang Perai and Kedah. To the south, the tripoint between Seberang Perai, Kedah and Perak lies within the Kerian River. Several riverine systems flow through the city, including Perai, Juru, Jejawi and Tengah rivers. River pollution caused by industrial waste has been a persistent issue for decades, with the Juru, Jawi and Perai rivers classified as having average water quality (Class III) by Malaysia's Department of Environment since 2016.

Local government
Throughout the 19th century, Province Wellesley was administered from George Town without any local governance structure in place. This changed in 1913 when the Municipal Ordinance came into effect, mandating the establishment of local governments in Province Wellesley. Three local governments were created, namely the town boards for Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam, and the Province Wellesley Rural Board which administered the rest of the territory.

The Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) was formed following several reorganisations throughout the 20th century. In 1953, the Province Wellesley Rural Board was split into three rural district councils for the Northern, Central and Southern districts. After Malaya's independence, the local governments were gradually amalgamated by the then Alliance-controlled state government. The Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam municipal governments were merged with the North and Central Seberang Perai rural district councils, respectively, in 1961. The three remaining district councils were consolidated into a single municipality in 1974. As a municipality, Seberang Perai was conferred municipal status in 1976 and city status in 2019.

One of the two city governments in Penang, MBSP is led by a mayor, assisted by a secretary and 24 councillors who perform oversight responsibilities over 18 departments. The Penang state government appoints the mayor and councillors, with the councillors serving under an extendable one-year term. Local government elections, which had been in place from 1961, were suspended following the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation and have not been reinstated since. The mayor of Seberang Perai since 2022 is Azhar Arshad.

MBSP's current urban planning strategy is outlined in the Seberang Perai Local Plan 2030, first published in 2021. In 2023, MBSP projected its estimated revenue at RM314.6 million and an estimated expenditure of RM357.13 million, which included allocations for infrastructure, economic growth, heritage conservation and community engagement.

The city council's headquarters is Menara Bandaraya, located near Bukit Mertajam. Administrative offices were relocated to the building in 2006 from the previous headquarters at Butterworth. However, upon completion, Menara Bandaraya was mired in controversy. MBSP's reserves shrank by RM230 million between 2000 and 2007, allegedly due in part to the financing of the new headquarters. Cost overruns forced the developer, with links to the then-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, to scale down construction to the present-day building. In total, the city government spent nearly RM85 million on the building.

State and national representation

Seberang Perai is represented by seven Members of Parliament and 21 state constituencies. Prior to 2023, state elections had been conducted simultaneously with nationwide general elections every five years. , ethnic Malays formed the majority in 11 of the 21 state constituencies, especially in the city's north. On the other hand, non-Malays were largely clustered in urban constituencies such as at Butterworth, Perai, Bukit Mertajam and Batu Kawan, as well as much of the coastal areas in the south. In the 2023 state election, the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance retained 12 of Seberang Perai's constituencies, whereas the far-right Perikatan Nasional opposition bloc won nine Malay-majority seats across swathes of the north and southeast.

Parliamentary constituencies

 * Kepala Batas
 * Tasek Gelugor
 * Bagan
 * Permatang Pauh
 * Bukit Mertajam
 * Batu Kawan
 * Nibong Tebal

State constituencies

 * Penaga
 * Bertam
 * Pinang Tunggal
 * Permatang Berangan
 * Sungai Dua
 * Telok Ayer Tawar
 * Sungai Puyu
 * Bagan Jermal
 * Bagan Dalam
 * Seberang Jaya
 * Permatang Pasir
 * Penanti
 * Berapit
 * Machang Bubuk
 * Padang Lalang
 * Perai
 * Bukit Tengah
 * Bukit Tambun
 * Jawi
 * Sungai Bakap
 * Sungai Acheh

Judiciary
Seberang Perai has a judicial system that consists of the magistrate and sessions courts. Each of the city's three districts is served by these courts. The north district cases are under the jurisdiction of the Butterworth Magistrates Court, while the central district cases are presided over by the Bukit Mertajam Magistrates Court. The south district cases are handled by the Jawi Magistrates Court. The Royal Malaysia Police is responsible for law enforcement within Seberang Perai, establishing a total of 20 police stations throughout the city.

Demographics
According to the 2020 Malaysian census, Seberang Perai had a population of 946,092 within its jurisdiction of 748 km2, giving it a population density of 1264.8 /km2. This also makes Seberang Perai the third largest city by population in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and Kajang. Seberang Perai is also the most populous settlement within the George Town Conurbation, containing over 54.3% of Penang's population. The city centre of Butterworth recorded a population of 80,378, or approximately 8.5% of the total population of Seberang Perai.

In the decades since Malaya's independence, Seberang Perai's population grew rapidly due to the spillover of development from George Town. Between 1975 and 1990, suburban sprawl became more pronounced within the northern and central districts of the city. By 1991, Seberang Perai's population outstripped that of Penang Island for the first time in the state's history.

Ethnicities
, Malays accounted for 49% of Seberang Perai's population and was the majority ethnic group in the northern part of the city. Ethnic Chinese constituted a significant proportion of the city's population at nearly 33%, followed by the Indians at almost 10%. During the British colonial era, agriculture had promoted significant immigration from China and India, resulting in sizable non-Malay populations within the central and southern districts of the city. In particular, Chinese comprised the majority at areas like Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam and Nibong Tebal.

Economy
Formerly regarded as a "poor cousin" to George Town, Seberang Perai has undergone significant transformation in the decades following Malaya's independence. The Penang state government has been actively promoting a policy of balanced development between the two cities, and Seberang Perai has been positioned as the "future of Penang". In 2021, 'Penang Bay', an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable development, urban regeneration and creative economy between downtown George Town and Butterworth, was officially announced.

With significant industrialisation since the 1970s, the city has been designated a "growth centre" within the George Town Conurbation. Nine of Penang's industrial clusters are located in the city, which has emerged as a significant recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the seventh largest exporter in Malaysia. The development of newer townships has also driven economic diversification, with a growing services sector concentrated around retail and tourism.

Manufacturing
The first industrial estates in Penang were established in the 1960s at Mak Mandin and Perai during the tenure of the state's first Chief Minister Wong Pow Nee. However, these early efforts at industrialisation were limited to import substitution. After the revocation of George Town's free port status and the fall of the Alliance-led state government in 1969, newly-elected Chief Minister Lim Chong Eu sought to restructure Penang's economy. The Nathan Report of 1970, produced by Robert R. Nathan Associates, proposed an export-led growth strategy and the strengthening of linkages with the global economy. In 1980, the Perai Free Industrial Zone was created with the aim of becoming a significant manufacturing hub for bulk items, taking advantage of its proximity to the Port of Penang and the railway line that connects it to the rest of western Peninsular Malaysia.

Seberang Perai is now home to nine of Penang's industrial clusters – namely at Mak Mandin, Perai, Seberang Jaya, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Minyak, Simpang Ampat and Batu Kawan. The availability of industrial land has attracted several local and multinational companies (MNCs), such as Mattel, Flex, Sanmina, JinkoSolar, Honeywell and Lam Research. In 2022, Seberang Perai received investments worth nearly RM10.9 billion, which accounted for 79% of Penang's total inbound investments that year. Within the same year, RM65.7 billion worth of exports passed through the Port of Penang, making Seberang Perai the seventh largest exporter among Malaysian cities.

Services
The development of newer townships, namely Seberang Jaya and Batu Kawan, has given rise to a thriving retail sector, attracting major players such as Sunway Group and IKEA, respectively. In 2016, Design Village, Penang's first premium outlet mall, was launched, further enhancing Batu Kawan as a retail destination.

The Penang state government has undertaken initiatives to promote agritourism and ecotourism in Seberang Perai. The Penang Tourism Master Plan, formulated in 2021, identified the city's agricultural sector, as well as natural features like mangroves, mudflats and waterways, as having untapped tourism potential.

Seberang Perai has historically been the logistical hub of Penang, serving as a termini for rail and ferry services. The relocation of the Port of Penang to the city in 1974 facilitated the development of new container services. In 2022, the seaport handled close to 1.32 million TEUs of cargo, the third highest in Malaysia. The logistical role of Seberang Perai is further complemented by Penang Sentral, a transit-oriented development (TOD) at Butterworth that integrates land logistical and commercial components.

Agriculture
Known as the "rice bowl" of Penang, Seberang Perai has a long history of agriculture. During British rule, spice, sugar and rubber were some of the major produces in the territory. Post-independence, the focus has shifted to rice, palm oil and coconut cultivation. , agriculture made up nearly 44% of Seberang Perai's land use. The city had approximately 12472 acre of paddy fields, mainly located in the north. Despite limited land availability, Penang has consistently recorded the highest average rice yield in Malaysia since 2018, with a total yield of RM190.8 million in 2022.

Culture
Seberang Perai's ethnic diversity has given rise to a variety of cultural celebrations throughout the year. Chinese New Year is celebrated at Chinese-majority areas such as Butterworth, where public events and decorated streets are a common sight during the annual festivities. The Minor Basilica of St. Anne at Bukit Mertajam plays host to the annual Novena feast which draws thousands of pilgrims from abroad. The 'Street of Harmony' at Seberang Jaya has nine places of worship, each representing a different faith, and is a tribute to religious diversity within the township.

As part of urban renewal efforts, several locations at Butterworth have been adorned with street art. Additionally, container art pieces showcasing the identities of Penang's local communities have also been installed at Butterworth and Batu Kawan. In recent years, Seberang Perai has emerged as a venue for newly-introduced events that celebrate the city's culture and nascent arts scene, such as the Butterworth Fringe Festival and the Penang International Paddy Festival.

Sports
The 40,000-seater Penang State Stadium at Batu Kawan is the main stadium of Penang. Constructed in 2000 for the Sukma Games held that year, the multi-purpose stadium has a FIFA-certified football field, and is also used for hosting motorsports events and concerts. In addition to the stadium, newer sports facilities have been planned at areas like Nibong Tebal and Seberang Jaya.

Education
In the late 19th century, Islamic education, taught in huts called pondoks in Malay, was common in the rural areas of Province Wellesley. These pondoks served as the precursors to the madrasa system and modern religious schools that are still prevalent across the city.

, Seberang Perai is home to a total of 159 primary schools and 79 secondary schools, in addition to one international school located in the city's south. In 2001, Universiti Sains Malaysia relocated its engineering campus to Nibong Tebal, and it is now one of the two public universities in the city, the other being a Universiti Teknologi MARA campus at Permatang Pauh. Several private institutions have also been established throughout the city, including at Batu Kawan where local colleges have formed partnerships with foreign universities such as University of Wollongong and University of Plymouth. Following the success of the Penang Digital Library in George Town, the Penang state government has initiated the construction of similar digital libraries at Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam.

Healthcare
Healthcare in Penang is provided by a two-tier system consisting of public and private hospitals. The Malaysian Ministry of Health administers four public hospitals in Seberang Perai – namely at Kepala Batas, Seberang Jaya, Bukit Mertajam and Sungai Bakap. In addition, six private hospitals are scattered throughout the city.

In recent years, private hospitals such as Bagan Specialist Centre, Sunway Medical Centre and KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital have contributed significantly in making Penang the top destination for medical tourism in Malaysia. The Seberang Perai City Council has also installed three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the city as part of a state-wide initiative to enhance survival rates of cardiac arrest cases.

Land
Seberang Perai is connected to George Town by two road bridges. The 13.5 km Penang Bridge connects the suburb of Perai with Gelugor in the island city. Opened in 2014, the Second Penang Bridge spans 24 km between Batu Kawan and Batu Maung on the island.

The North-South Expressway, a 966 km expressway along western Peninsular Malaysia, passes through the length of the city along with the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) West Coast Line. The Butterworth railway station serves as the principal terminal of northwestern Malaysia. Apart from the regular KTM services, Butterworth is one of the main stops of the Eastern and Oriental Express service between Bangkok and Singapore. Major toll routes in Seberang Perai include the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) and the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway.

Opened in 2018, Penang Sentral is a transit-oriented development (TOD) located adjacent to the Butterworth railway station and the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. It serves as an integrated hub for bus, rail and ferry services, and also includes office and retail components. The commercial components of Penang Sentral were under construction.

Rapid Penang is the primary public transport operator in Seberang Perai, with a total of 14 public bus routes within the city, along with two cross-strait routes connecting the city and George Town, as well as five interstate routes that run to southern Kedah and northern Perak. In recent years, the Penang state government has proposed the introduction of urban rail across the state as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan. The plan includes the cross-strait Mutiara LRT line linking the city with George Town, and a monorail line between Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam.

Sea
In 1974, the Port of Penang was relocated from George Town to Seberang Perai in order to facilitate new container services. The seaport now consists of seven terminals and berths located across Butterworth and Perai, including the North Butterworth Container Port (NBCT) which has been designated a Free Commercial Zone (FCZ) since 2021. It serves as a crucial export hub for northwestern Malaysia and southern Thailand. The Port of Penang is the third busiest in Malaysia, handling nearly 1.32 million TEUs and RM65.7 billion worth of exports in 2022.

Prior to the completion of the Penang Bridge in 1985, the Penang ferry service was the only transportation link between the city and George Town. Since 2023, three ferries have been operating daily between both cities across the Penang Strait. The introduction of newer ferries that year has significantly improved service frequencies to 20 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours.

Utilities
In 1968, the Asian Development Bank approved a loan of US$7.2 million for Penang to extract water from the Muda River, which forms the boundary between Seberang Perai and Kedah. The Muda River Water Scheme was inaugurated in 1973 by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdul Razak Hussein, which also included Kedah's assurance to Penang of the latter's riparian rights to retrieve water from the river. Since then, Seberang Perai has been heavily dependent on the river as its main source of water. Raw water is channeled from the river to a water treatment facility at Sungai Dua before being distributed to the rest of the city. The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is also responsible for overseeing the six reservoirs in the city, including the Mengkuang Dam, the largest dam in the state with a capacity of 86.4 billion litres.

Electricity in Seberang Perai is supplied by Tenaga Nasional (TNB), the national power company. The city's electrical infrastructure is powered by two Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plants at Perai. As part of ongoing efforts to minimise energy consumption, TNB and the Seberang Perai City Council have replaced 27,908 out of 77,359 street lights in the city with LED street lighting by 2023.

In 2020, Penang became the first Malaysian state to require the installation of fibre-optic communication infrastructure for all development projects. 2023 marked the implementation of 5G technology in Seberang Perai, with the installation of the supporting spectrum infrastructure at 235 sites across the city.

International relations
, four countries have appointed honorary consuls within the city. This list is based on information from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unless otherwise cited.

Sister and friendship cities
Seberang Perai is also twinned with the following sister and friendship cities.

Sister cities

Friendship cities

Notable people
Seberang Perai was the birthplace of prominent Malaysian public officials and personalities including:

 * Wong Pow Nee (1911 – 2002), first Chief Minister of Penang
 * Mohamed Salleh Ismael (1917 – 1973), first ethnic Malay Inspector-General of Police
 * Abdul Hamid Mohamad (born 1942), former Chief Justice of Malaysia
 * Anwar Ibrahim (born 1947), tenth (and incumbent) Prime Minister of Malaysia
 * Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak (born 1949), incumbent Governor of Penang
 * Mohamad Sabu (born 1954), incumbent president of Amanah and Member of Parliament for Kota Raja
 * Steven Sim Chee Keong (born 1982), incumbent Minister of Human Resources and Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam
 * Cheam June Wei (born 1997), Malaysian badminton player
 * Goh Jin Wei (born 2000), Malaysian badminton player

title: Seberang Perai


text:
Cairn Toul

Cairn Toul (Càrn an t-Sabhail, 'hill of the barn') is the fourth-highest mountain in Scotland and all of the British Isles, after Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui and Braeriach. The summit is 1,291 metres (4,236 feet) above sea level. It is in the western massif of the Cairngorms, linked by a bealach at about 1125 m to Braeriach. The mountain towers above the Lairig Ghru pass.

Cairn Toul is often climbed together with other peaks. From the south, it may be climbed with The Devil's Point, which lies about 2.5 kilometres south-southeast. Alternatively, it may be climbed from the north, including Braeriach and Sgor an Lochain Uaine. Both routes are long days by Scottish standards: around 15 km (plus return) regardless of whether one starts from Coire Cas above Speyside, or Linn of Dee to the south. The mountain may also be climbed from the west, starting from Achlean in Glen Feshie. This provides for a slighter shorter route (around 27 km for the round trip), though the walker must negotiate a large expanse of undulating boggy plateau in order to reach the Braeriach-Cairn Toul massif.

There is a bothy, Corrour, at the point below Cairn Toul in the defile of the Lairig Ghru.

title: Cairn Toul


text:
User talk:Wap

Welcome!

Hello,, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers: I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your name on talk pages using four tildes (~~); this will automatically produce your name and the date. If you need help, check out Where to ask a question, ask me on my talk page, or place  on your talk page and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions. Again, welcome! --Irishpunktom\talk 15:47, July 25, 2005 (UTC)
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Please help-Lao language request
Hello! The Graphic Lab is working on artwork related to Laos, and we need some help to get the proper Lao language text into the artwork. As Thai and Lao are closely-related languages, I ask you to please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Graphic_Lab/Images_to_improve#Scouting_in_Laos and see if you can help! Thanking you in advance, Chris 06:23, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

ธ and TH
Hello, MITian. Yes, it is true that ธ doesn't sound like TH in English, but IPA gives the phonetic spelling of ท as [tʰ] and [t] for ต. TH in English is represented by [ θ ] as you've known. Furthermore, in Sanskrit romanisation, T is used for ต and TH for ถ (which gives the same pronunciation as Thai ฐ,ฑ,ฒ,ถ,ท,ธ). English T is normally [tʰ] and [t] in most case of clusters. However, Thais with ธ in their name just spell in that way conventionally without knowing the deep reason. You can learn more about phonology of Thai consonants (which I love to edit). Best regards! -- Suasysar (talk) 04:32, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

title: User talk:Wap


text:
Olivia Ong

Olivia Ong (born 2 October 1985) is a Singaporean singer and actress. Most of her works are in English, but she has recorded songs in Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese and Japanese. In her early career, she focused on singing jazz. Now she has moved on to Mandarin pop.

Early life
Upon her completion of O-Level examinations at Damai Secondary School in Singapore, Ong moved to Japan to further her studies as well as her career as a solo artist. Ong, by then likened to Seiko Matsuda, had won a singing contest and was signed to Japanese recording company S2S Pte Ltd at the age of 15. Her music influences include Nat King Cole and Nina Simone.

Career
Ong formed the J-pop group Mirai in Singapore at the age of 15 and with two other Singaporean girls. Their first single, "Open Up Your Mind", was one of the theme songs in the Japanese anime Gensoumaden Saiyuki.

Her début A Girl Meets Bossa Nova was released when she was 19. Tracks include a reinterpretation Frank Sinatra's hits such as Antônio Carlos Jobim's "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars", among other jazz and pop numbers.

On 17 November 2004, Olivia sang Majulah Singapura at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying rounds (Japan vs Singapore) at Saitama Stadium 2002 before the kick-off.

In 2009, Ong was signed to Taiwanese record company HIM Music and became a big hit back in Singapore after she sang the theme song of the Peranakan-themed drama serial, The Little Nyonya. Her first record under HIM Music was released on 5 March 2010, entitled Olivia. In 2011, Ong recorded a duet, "最後一眼" (Just One Look), with label mate Aaron Yan of Fahrenheit, which was released in his debut EP The Next Me.

In 2011, Ong also appeared in the film It's a Great, Great World (大世界) as Ah Min, a young fashion photographer who stumbled across a set of old photographs taken by her late grandmother (Yvonne Lim). She took the photographs to her grandmother's old friend, Ah Meng (Chew Chor Meng) who might have had connections to the people in the photographs. Ah Meng then proceeds to tell 4 different stories based on each photograph, each telling a story from different generations.

In 2012, Ong has been appointed Music Ambassador of the Global Chinese Music Awards, the second Singaporean artiste to be appointed the role after Joi Chua. In the same year, she also sang the 2012 National Day Parade theme song, "Love at First Light".

Ong appeared on the Mediacorp drama Crescendo in 2015 where she was cast as a singer Alixia. She may also be releasing a new album.

In 2023, Ong performed the 2023 National Day Parade theme song, "Shine Your Light", alongside 53A and ShiggaShay.

title: Olivia Ong


text:
User talk:Brianreddy

Hello Brian, and welcome to Wikipedia! Could you please indicate your source for Image:PFCamogie.jpg? Thanks, dbenbenn | talk 15:50, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

Brian Reddy
A proposed deletion template has been added to the article Brian Reddy, suggesting that it be deleted according to the proposed deletion process. All contributions are appreciated, but this article may not satisfy Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion, and the deletion notice should explain why (see also "What Wikipedia is not" and Wikipedia's deletion policy). You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the  notice, but please explain why you disagree with the proposed deletion in your edit summary or on its talk page. Also, please consider improving the article to address the issues raised. Even though removing the deletion notice will prevent deletion through the proposed deletion process, the article may still be deleted if it matches any of the speedy deletion criteria or it can be sent to Articles for Deletion, where it may be deleted if consensus to delete is reached. If you agree with the deletion of the article, and you are the only person who has made substantial edits to the page, please add  to the top of Brian Reddy. Cirt (talk) 22:51, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:Brianreddy


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Kavalam

Kavalam is a village in Kuttanadu, Kerala state, Alappuzha District. India.

Location
Kavalam is located on the borders of Alapuzha and Kottayam districts, on the banks of Vembanad Lake.

Environment
The Pampa river flows through the village to merge into Vembanad Lake. The natural environment has been used as a location by many filmmakers.

The area is interspersed with the kayals (canals) and lakes. The lakes and kayals are filled with flocks of ducks, and in summer the rice paddies of Kuttanad turn golden. With a longtime history behind it, Kavalam is part of Kerala's cultural folklore.

History
A decade back, this village was accessible only by the lake boats provided by the government of Kerala. As in many other remote parts of Kerala, this non-accessibility gave Kavalam a laidback atmosphere. The place is now accessible from Alleppey, Kottayam and Changanacherry by road. What makes Kavalam unique is its vast "watery junction" that joins five canals at one place unlike other road junctions.

Snake Boat race
The village has a snake boat named Kavalam Chundan, which is a regular participant in the snakeboat Vallamkali races. Kavalam Chundan is the subject of the legendary film song of the 1960s "Kuttanadan Punchayile Kochu penne, Kuyilaale."

Notable people

 * Kavalam Madhava Panikkar - Diplomat, administrator, historian
 * Kavalam Narayana Panicker - Poet, dramatist
 * Kavalam Sreekumar - Poet
 * Joseph Murickan

title: Kavalam


text: Talk:Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski"


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Masyu

Masyu (ましゅ) is a type of logic puzzle designed and published by Nikoli. The purpose of its creation was to present a puzzle that uses no numbers or letters and yet retains depth and aesthetics.

Rules
Masyu is played on a rectangular grid of squares, some of which contain circles; each circle is either "white" (empty) or "black" (filled). The goal is to draw a single continuous non-intersecting loop that properly passes through all circled cells. The loop must "enter" each cell it passes through from the center of one of its four sides and "exit" from a different side; all turns are therefore 90 degrees.

The two varieties of circle have differing requirements for how the loop must pass through them:

 * White circles must be traveled straight through, but the loop must turn in the previous and/or next cell in its path.
 * Black circles must be turned upon, but the loop must travel straight through the next and previous cells in its path.

Variants

 * There are additionally or solely gray circles. The solver has to find out which of these gray circles are white and which are black.
 * The diagram is a Toroid; i.e. the left and the right edge of the diagram as well as the top and the bottom edge of the diagram are glued together.
 * The diagram is divided into regions; the loop must turn in every region at least once.
 * The diagram is played on a hexagonal grid, with grey circles indicating 60-degree turns where the loop turns both before and after the turn, and black circles indicating 120-degree turns where the loop goes straight on the cells before and after the turn.

History
The early version of Masyu first appeared in Puzzle Communication Nikoli #84 under the title of Shinju no Kubikazari (真珠の首飾り, meaning "pearl necklace"). That puzzle contains only white circles. Black circles were introduced in Puzzle Communication Nikoli #90, and the puzzle was renamed Shiroshinju Kuroshinju (白真珠黒真珠, meaning "white pearls and black pearls"). This improvement deepened the puzzle and made it gain popularity. Masyu, which is originally a misreading by Nikoli's president of kanji 真珠 (shinju), and apparently became an inside joke at the Nikoli office, was adopted in Puzzle Communication Nikoli #103 to replace the old lengthy name.

Solution methods
Understanding the nuances of the circles and how they interact with each other is the key to solving a Masyu puzzle. Generally speaking, it is easiest to start along the outside border of the grid and work inwards. Here are some basic scenarios where portions of the loop can be determined:

 * Any segment travelling from a black circle must travel two cells in that direction without intersecting another part of the loop or the outer border; each black cell must have two such segments at a right angle. The logical combination of those two statements is that if a segment from a black cell cannot be drawn in some orthogonal direction, a segment in the opposite direction must be drawn.  For example, if one cannot legally travel up two cells from a black circle, then the loop must travel down from that black circle for two cells.  This has two common results:
 * Any black circle along the outer border or one cell from the outer border must have a segment leading away from the border (and those sufficiently near a corner must lead from both walls, defining the loop's path through the circle);
 * Orthogonally adjacent black circles must have segments travelling away from each other.
 * Black circles that are orthogonally next to the end of the loop that does not travel towards it must have the loop heading away from the other loop segment.
 * White circles along the outer border obviously need the loop to travel through them parallel to the border; if two white circles along a border are adjacent or are one cell apart, then the loop will need to turn away from the border just beyond the circles.
 * If three or more white circles are orthogonally contiguous and collinear, then the loop will need to pass through each of those circles perpendicular to the line of circles.
 * If two white circles are orthogonally contiguous and a cell on either end has a loop segment entering parallel to the line of the circles, then the loop will need to pass through each of those circles perpendicular to their line. (Otherwise, the line through them would connect to the adjacent segment and one of the white cells would not be next to a turn in the loop.)
 * A black circle with two white circles diagonally adjacent on the same side must have the loop heading away from that side. If not, and it went between the white circles instead, then the white circles would be parallel to that section of the loop, and make it impossible to complete the black circle.
 * Black circles with three white circles diagonally adjacent can be fully completed by this rule.
 * If the diagram is cut virtually into two pieces, the loop must cross the cutting line an even number of times. This is due to the Jordan Curve Theorem.

As in other loop-construction puzzles, "short circuits" also need to be avoided: as the solution must consist of a single loop, any segment that would close a loop is forbidden unless it immediately yields the solution to the entire puzzle.

Like many other combinatory and logic puzzles, Masyu can be very difficult to solve; solving Masyu on arbitrarily large grids is an NP-complete problem. However, published instances of puzzles have generally been constructed in such a way that they can be solved in a reasonable amount of time.

title: Masyu


text:
Catherine Baker Knoll

Catherine Baker Knoll (September 3, 1930 – November 12, 2008) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She was the 30th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, serving under Governor Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2008, when she died in office. Prior to that, she served as the 72nd Pennsylvania treasurer from 1989 to 1997. She was the first, and to date, the only woman to be lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

Background
Catherine Baker was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks, the daughter of Nick Baker, a successful man who later served as mayor of McKees Rocks and Teresa May (one of eleven children). She was one of nine children, one of five girls and four boys. While a graduate at Duquesne University in 1952, she met and married Charles A. Knoll, a restaurateur and hotel owner 17 years her senior, who became the Postmaster of the Stowe, Kennedy, and McKees Rocks area. Charles Knoll and Catherine had three sons and one daughter. Their names are Charles A. Knoll Jr., Mina Baker Knoll, Albert Baker Knoll, and Kim Eric Knoll.

Knoll began her political career as a campaign worker for local and statewide Democratic candidates, first for her father, Nick, and later for Governor Milton Shapp. When Shapp was elected governor in 1970, he awarded Knoll a job with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

State Treasurer
In 1976, she ran for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer but lost to Robert E. Casey, who was unrelated to, but often confused with Bob Casey who went on to become Governor of Pennsylvania. She ran again in 1984 but lost a close primary in which her opponent, Auditor General Al Benedict, originally conceded on election night but later withdrew his concession. In 1988, one year after her husband's death, she ran a third time and was elected state treasurer of Pennsylvania.

She streamlined and modernized the treasurer's office during her eight-year tenure and started the Pennsylvania TAP program (Tuition Account Program), built the PA Treasury Investment Center, and started a partnership with PA Home Builders, PA Community Banks, to build PA Affordable Housing in 67 counties of Pennsylvania) according to the population of each county.

In 1994, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched an investigation into Knoll and her staff after four state consultants reaped improper fees from a prison bond issue. Knoll claimed that the official paperwork had been altered after she signed off on the plan. Knoll was never charged with a crime but the well-publicized inquiry hurt her politically. However, the four state consultants were found guilty and served prison time.

Catherine Baker Knoll ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1994, having surprised Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel, by first withdrawing from the race and then hinting that she would consider running if the Democratic State Committee did not endorse anyone for the race. The State Committee voted to endorse no candidate and Knoll re-entered the race only to finish third in a seven-way primary.

In 1996, Knoll, who was term limited, endorsed her daughter Mina Baker Knoll as her successor. Mina Knoll's opponent, Republican Barbara Hafer questioned her residency status because she had lived in New York City and the Knoll campaign attacked Hafer's leadership as auditor general. The race, which Hafer won, opened a rift between the two women that culminated in 2000 when Knoll herself ran against Hafer for treasurer. The race featuring arguably the two highest-profile women in Pennsylvania politics, was noted for its bitterness between the two; Hafer cited a fraud scandal investigation by the SEC into Knoll's office while she was treasurer, and Knoll attacked Hafer for questionable expenses paid by the state. In the end, Hafer won the election by less than 100,000 votes.

Lieutenant governor
In 2002, Knoll sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. She faced nine candidates in the primary, including state Senators Allen Kukovich, John Lawless, Thaddeus Kirkland, and Jack Wagner, the latter of which was endorsed by the state party. Maintaining her base of support among women and senior citizens, Knoll won the primary with 25% of the vote, winning 54 of the state's 67 counties.

She was paired with Democratic nominee for governor Ed Rendell, who also defeated the establishment favorite in his primary (Bob Casey Jr.). Her campaign was memorable for her traveling from small town to small town (logging over 40,000 miles on her car), and her meeting thousands of voters, by visiting church basements, PTA meetings, fashion shows and construction sites. The Rendell/ Knoll ticket won the general election 53% to 44% over Republicans Mike Fisher and his running mate Jane Earll. Knoll was sworn in as Pennsylvania's first-ever female Lieutenant Governor on January 21, 2003.

Knoll's old rival Barbara Hafer, after failing to secure the Republican nomination for governor, actually endorsed Rendell and later switched to the Democratic party. This led to speculation that she was maneuvering to challenge Knoll for the lieutenant governor spot in the 2006 primary. Hafer, however, stated that she and Knoll had buried the hatchet long ago, and did not enter the race.

Congressman Joe Hoeffel announced that he would challenge Knoll in the primary, but dropped out of the race a day later, after Ed Rendell reiterated his support for Knoll as his running-mate. This left only token opposition against Knoll, and she won the Democratic nomination by a large margin. She and Governor Rendell defeated Republican challengers Lynn Swann and Jim Matthews to win reelection.

Knoll endorsed and campaigned with Hillary Clinton in the lead-up to the 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic primary for president. Along with several other prominent Pennsylvania Democrats, Knoll's endorsement was seen as a key to Clinton's win.

As lieutenant governor, she presided over every Pennsylvania Senate session. Governor Rendell noted that she was "instrumental in issues such as emergency management, domestic preparedness and economic development."

Death
In August 2008, Knoll revealed that she had been diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer and was in treatment for the disease. She was treated in Hershey, Pennsylvania at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and attempted a return to her duties in September 2008 but fatigue forced her to return home. In October 2008, she entered Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for treatment of a viral infection. On November 12, 2008, Knoll died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Upon her death, Pennsylvania State Senate President pro tempore Joe Scarnati became the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

title: Catherine Baker Knoll


text:
Don Tapscott

Don Tapscott (born June 1, 1947) is a Canadian business executive, author, consultant and speaker, who specializes in business strategy, organizational transformation and the role of technology in business and society. He is the CEO of the Tapscott Group and the co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Blockchain Research Institute.

Career
Tapscott has authored or co-authored sixteen books on the application of technology in business and society. His 2006 book, Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything (2006), co-authored by Anthony D. Williams, was an international bestseller, was number one on the 2007 management book charts and has been translated into 20 different languages.

Tapscott lives in Toronto. He is the former Chancellor of his alma mater Trent University, and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Technology and Operations Management at INSEAD.

Early life and education
Tapscott was born in Toronto and lived as a teen in Orillia, Ontario, where he was a part of the first graduating class of Park Street Collegiate Institute.

Tapscott holds a B.Sc. in psychology and statistics and an M. Ed. specializing in research methodology. While earning this degree at the University of Alberta, he ran for mayor of Edmonton in the 1977 municipal election on behalf of the Revolutionary Workers' League.

Awards and recognition
Tapscott holds three honorary degrees—Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)—granted by the University of Alberta in 2001, Trent University in 2006, and McMaster University in 2010.

He was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015.

title: Don Tapscott


text:
Crobots

Crobots is a programming game released for the first time by Tom Poindexter in December, 1985 as Shareware. It is an MS-DOS program for IBM PC and compatibles and was developed on x86-based Unix systems.

The robots are controlled by a program written in a stripped-down version of C. The robot's mission is to seek out and destroy other robots, each running different programs. The robots can be controlled in order to move around the battlefield, scan the environment to find enemies and fire at enemies using a cannon.

Crobots borrows the concept used from the game RobotWar that ran on the original Apple II computer. Robots were programmed in a proprietary programming language that was interpreted and included a real-time view of the game as it was played.

In October, 2013, Poindexter released the source code of Crobots under the GPLv2 free software license.

Clones
There have been many Crobots clones made. However, very few of them are compiler and virtual machine at the same time; for example there are Java clones that use JVM and C++ clones that use a standard Microsoft compiler.

Proper clones have the same intrinsic functions as the original Tom Poindexter version; sometimes however the direction of angles is changed to match the standard C library's trigonometric functions. The most recent clones are Crobots64 and Netrobots.

Crobots64 by Marco Zora has a C++-subset compiler and a virtual machine with a graphical interface. New capabilities in this clone are cooperation between robots of the same species, the unlimited number of concurrent robots, the floating point math functions and the speed of the virtual CPU.

In contrast, Netrobots can run over a network with each robot running in a separate process, and each robot can be written in a different programming language.

title: Crobots


text:
Agrarian Union

'Agrarian Union may refer to:

 * Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski", a political party in Bulgaria
 * Agrarian Union (Poland)

title: Agrarian Union


text:
Gardenstown

Gardenstown (Gamrie) is a small coastal village, 8.7 mi by road east of Banff in Aberdeenshire, northeastern Scotland.

The village's main economic base is fishing. Gardenstown is served by Gardenstown New Church. The hamlet of Dubford is to the south, and a footpath along the shore to the east leads to the village of Crovie.

History
There is evidence of Neolithic or Bronze Age peoples having settled in the vicinity of Gardenstown; notably at Longman Hill and Cairn Lee. Nearby are the remains of the Church of St John the Evangelist which was built in 1513, and celebrates the defeat of the Danes at this site in 1004 in the Battle of the Bloody Pits.

Gardenstown and its harbour were founded in 1720 by Alexander Garden. Fishing began in 1812. Two substantial stone-built piers enclosing a triangular basin were reconstructed in 1868. A four-storey rubble net store stands nearby.

A church was built in 1830, the work of William Robertson, replacing the old church of St John, and the parish of Gardenstown was separated from Gamrie on 16 March 1885. In 1953, heavy flooding washed away two houses in the village.

Greenskairs House dates to 1846, the work of A & W Reid.

In May 2007, a TV series titled The Baron was filmed in and around the village. The series featured three celebrities — Malcolm McLaren, Mike Reid and Suzanne Shaw — competing to be elected "Baron of Troup". During the filming, McLaren was thrown out of the village for unruly behaviour, leaving Reid and Shaw to contest the final election, which was won by Reid.

Between 2008 and 2010, an ethnographic study of the social, religious and economic life of the village was conducted by anthropologist Joseph Webster. This was published by Palgrave in 2013 as a book entitled The Anthropology of Protestantism: Faith and Crisis among Scottish Fishermen.

In January and February 2008, the village again made headlines when Aberdeenshire Council refused funding to restore the road which runs along the seafront and is a key part of the village's sea defences. The refusal was based upon the status of the road as a private road, thus not the responsibility of the council. This has been seen as controversial since the road runs along the top of the seawall, and the council is responsible for the wall. Residents expressed grave concern that their houses might be washed away and appealed.

Landmarks and local economy
The village's main economic base is fishing. A permanent meteorological station is situated at Gardenstown. The village is served by Gardenstown New Church and has a pub, an osteopathy clinic and a whale and dolphin rescue centre. Until recently there was a bakery and a butcher's shop.

Notable people

 * Joseph Watt, recipient of the Victoria Cross

title: Gardenstown


text:
Muktar Said Ibrahim

Muktar Said Ibrahim (born 24 January 1978), also known as Muktar Mohammed Said, is an Eritrean-British terrorist, who was found guilty of involvement in the attempted 21 July attacks on London's public transport system in 2005. He attempted to detonate a device on a London bus in Haggerston and was arrested sharing an apartment with Ramzi Mohammed on 29 July 2005. During the arrest, which culminated in Ramzi and Ibrahim standing near-naked on their balcony to avoid tear gas that police had used.

He was originally from Asmara, Eritrea, and arrived in the UK as a child dependent of asylum seekers in 1990, and was granted residency in 1992. It has been reported that he applied for naturalisation as a British citizen in November 2003 and was issued with a British passport in September 2004. He had been living in Stoke Newington, London. Ibrahim was convicted of robbery and jailed for five years in 1996 for committing the crime and also carrying a knife. His family were apparently unaware of any involvement in terrorist activities and have publicly distanced themselves from him since the bombing attempts.

Early life
Ibrahim was educated at Canons High School in Edgware.

Arrest and trial
On 29 July 2005, Ibrahim was arrested and in February 2007 tried alongside five other suspects for his part in the attempted bombings.

On 9 July 2007, Ibrahim was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of forty years before being considered for release.

Appeal
In April 2008, Court of Appeal judges dismissed a challenge by Ibrahim, Omar, Mohammed and Osman to their convictions.

In December 2014, an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights lodged in 2008 by the bombers, claiming that their rights were breached in the 'safety interviews' after their arrests, was rejected.

title: Muktar Said Ibrahim