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The Korean Demilitarized Zone (Korean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language): 한반도 비무장지대) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Peninsula) that serves as a buffer zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_zone) between North (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea) and South (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea) Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea). The DMZ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demilitarized_zone) cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_parallel_north) on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it. It is 250 kilometres (160 miles) long,[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-0) approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) wide and is the most heavily militarized border in the world.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-1)[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-2) The Northern Limit Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Limit_Line), or NLL, is the de facto maritime boundary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_boundary) between North and South Korea in the Yellow Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Sea) and the coastline and islands on both sides of the NLL are also heavily militarized.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-3)[/URL]

History

Main article: Division of Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-3)
The 38th parallel north (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_parallel_north)—which cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half—was the original boundary between the US (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States)-occupied and Soviet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSR)-occupied areas of Korea at the end of World War II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II). Upon the creation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, informally North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK, informally South Korea) in 1948, it became a de facto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto) international border and one of the most tense fronts in the Cold War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War).
Both the North and the South remained heavily dependent on their sponsor states from 1948 to the outbreak of the Korean War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War). The conflict, which claimed over three million lives and divided the Korean Peninsula along ideological lines, commenced on June 25, 1950, with a Soviet-sponsored DPRK invasion across the 38th parallel, and ended in 1953 after international intervention pushed the front of the war back to near the 38th parallel. In the Armistice Agreement (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Korean_Armistice_Agreement) of July 27, 1953, the DMZ was created as each side agreed to move their troops back 2,000 m (2,200 yards) from the front line, creating a buffer zone 4 km (2.5 mi) wide. The Military Demarcation Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Demarcation_Line) (MDL) goes down the center of the DMZ and indicates exactly where the front was when the agreement was signed.
Owing to this theoretical stalemate, and genuine hostility between the North and the South, large numbers of troops are still stationed along both sides of the line, each side guarding against potential aggression from the other side. The armistice agreement explains exactly how many military personnel and what kind of weapons are allowed in the DMZ. Soldiers from both sides may patrol inside the DMZ, but they may not cross the MDL. Sporadic outbreaks of violence due to North Korean hostilities killed over 500 South Korean soldiers and 50 U.S. soldiers along the DMZ between 1953 and 1999.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-4)
Tae Sung Dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taeseong-dong) and Kijong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kijong-dong) were the only villages allowed by the armistice committee to remain within the boundaries of the DMZ.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Tae-5) Residents of Tae Sung Dong are governed and protected by the United Nations Command and are generally required to spend at least 240 nights per year in the village to maintain their residency.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Tae-5) In 2008, the village had a population of 218 people.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Tae-5) The villagers of Tae Sung Dong are direct descendants of people who owned the land before the 1950-53 Korean War.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-6)


Incidents and Incursions

A portion of the North Korean DMZ seen from the Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area) in January 1976

Since demarcation, the DMZ has had numerous cases of incidents and incursions by the North Koreans, although the North Korean government never acknowledges direct responsibility for any of these incidents.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-7) These include:


October 1966 - October 1969: Korean DMZ Conflict (1966-1969) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_DMZ_Conflict_%281966-1969%29), a series of skirmishes along the DMZ results in 43 U.S., 299 South Korean and 397 North Korean soldiers killed[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-8)
17 January 1968: 31 North Korean commandos crossed the border disguised as South Korean soldiers in an attempt to assassinate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Chung_Hee#The_Blue_House_Raid) President Park Chung Hee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Chung_Hee) at the Blue House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_House). The failed mission resulted in 29 commandos killed (one committed suicide) and the other two captured. Two South Korean policemen and five civilians were killed by the commandos. Other reports indicated as many as 68 South Koreans killed and 66 wounded, including about 24 civilians. Three Americans were killed and another three wounded in an attempt to prevent the commandos from escaping back via the DMZ.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-9)
October 1968: 130 North Korean commandos entered the Ulchin (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ulchin&action=edit&redlink=1) and Samcheok (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samcheok) areas in Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29). Eventually 110 of them were killed, 7 were captured and 13 escaped.
March 1969: Six North Korean infiltrators crossed the border near Chumunjin (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chumunjin&action=edit&redlink=1), Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29) and killed a South Korean policeman on guard duty.
April 1970: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed and five South Korean soldiers wounded at an encounter in Kumchon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumchon), Gyeonggi-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeonggi-do).
20 November 1974: The first of what would be a series of North Korean infiltration tunnels under the DMZ was discovered. The joint ROK-U.S. investigation team tripped a North Korean booby-trap killing one American and wounding 6 others.

Operation Paul Bunyan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Paul_Bunyan), to remove a tree in front of the Bridge of No Return (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_No_Return), takes place following the Axe Murder Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident)
in August 1976.




March 1975: The second North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered.
June 1976: Three North Korean infiltrators and six South Korean soldiers were killed in the eastern sector south of the DMZ. Another six South Korean soldiers were injured.
18 August 1976: The Axe Murder Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident) results in the death of two U.S. soldiers and injuries to another four U.S. soldiers and five South Korean soldiers. The incident may not be technically considered an "infiltration" however, as it took place in a neutral zone of the Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area).
14 July 1977: American CH-47 Chinook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-47_Chinook) helicopter is shot down after straying into the north over the DMZ. Three airmen are killed and one is briefly held prisoner (This is the sixth such incident since the Armistice was signed.)[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-10)
October 1978: The third North Korean infiltration tunnel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Tunnel_of_Aggression) was discovered.
October 1979: Three North Korean agents attempting to infiltrate the eastern sector of the DMZ were intercepted, killing one of the agents.
6 December 1979: US patrol in the DMZ accidentally crosses the MDL into a North Korean minefield. One US soldier is killed and four are injured.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-globalsecurity1-11)
March 1980: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed attempting to enter the south across the estuary of the Han River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_River_%28Korea%29).
March 1981: Three North Korean infiltrators spotted at Kumhwa (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kumhwa&action=edit&redlink=1), Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29), one was killed.
July 1981: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed in the upper stream of Imjin River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imjin_River).
May 1982: Two North Korean infiltrators were spotted on the east coast, one was killed.
March 1990: The fourth North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered, in what may be a total of 17 tunnels in all.
May 1992: Three North Korean infiltrators dressed in South Korean uniforms were killed at Cheorwon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheorwon), Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29). Three South Koreans were also wounded.
December 17, 1994: American OH-58A+ helicopter crosses 10 km into North Korean territory and is shot down.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-globalsecurity1-11)
October 1995: Two North Korean infiltrators were intercepted at Imjin River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imjin_River). One was killed, the other escaped.
April 1996: Several hundred North Korean armed troops entered the Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area) and elsewhere on three occasions in violation of the Korean armistice agreement.
May 1996: Seven North Korean soldiers crossed the DMZ but withdrew when fired upon by South Korean troops.
April 1997: Five North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line's Cheorwon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheorwon) sector and fired at South Korean positions.
July 1997: Fourteen North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL, causing a 23-minute exchange of heavy gunfire.
October 26, 2000: Two US aircraft observing a ROK army military exercise accidentally cross over the DMZ.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-globalsecurity1-11)
May 26, 2006: Two North Korean soldiers entered the DMZ and crossed into South Korea. They returned after South Korean soldiers fired warning shots.
October 7, 2006: South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed briefly into their side of the border.
October 27, 2009: A South Korean pig farmer, who was wanted for assault, cut a hole in the DMZ fence and defected to North Korea.[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-12)
October 29, 2010: Two shots were fired from North Korea towards a South Korean post near Hwacheon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwacheon) and South Korean troops fired three shots in return.[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-13)

Joint Security Area Main article: Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area)

Inside the DMZ, near the western coast of the peninsula, is a place called Panmunjeom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjeom), home of the Joint Security Area (JSA). Originally, it was the only connection between North and South Korea[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-14) but that changed in 2007 when a Korail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korail) train crossed the DMZ to the North on the new Donghae Bukbu Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donghae_Bukbu_Line) built on the east coast of Korea.
There are several buildings on both the north and the south side of the Military Demarcation Line, and a few are built right on top of the MDL. The Joint Security Area is the location where all negotiations since 1953 have been held, including statements of Korean solidarity, which have generally amounted to little except a slight decline of tensions. The MDL goes through the conference rooms and down the middle of the conference tables where the North Koreans and the United Nations Command (primarily South Koreans and Americans) meet face to face.
Though generally calm, the DMZ has been the scene of much saber-rattling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saber_noise) between the two Koreas over the years. Several small skirmishes have occurred within the Joint Security Area since 1953. The Axe Murder Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident) in August 1976 involved the attempted trimming of a poplar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poplar) tree which resulted in two deaths (CPT Arthur Bonifas and 1LT Mark Barrett) and Operation Paul Bunyan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident#Operation_Paul_Bunyan). Beforehand, the soldiers of both sides were permitted to go back and forth across the MDL inside of the JSA, a privilege since revoked as a result of this incident.
Another incident occurred on November 23, 1984, when a Soviet tourist, who was part of an official trip to the JSA (hosted by the North), ran across the Military Demarcation Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Demarcation_Line) (MDL) shouting that he wanted to defect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defection). North Korean troops immediately chased after him opening fire. Border guards on the South Korean side returned fire eventually surrounding the North Koreans as they pursued the Russian national. One South Korean and three North Korean soldiers were killed in the action. The defector was not captured.[16] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-15)
In late 2009, South Korean forces in conjunction with the United Nations Command (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Command_%28Korea%29) began renovation of its three guard posts and two checkpoint buildings within the JSA compound. Construction was designed to enlarge and modernise the structures. Work was undertaken a year after North Korea finished replacing four JSA guard posts on its side of the MDL.[17] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-16)


Incursion tunnels

[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg"]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg/220px-Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-16) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg)
U.S. Soldiers from the United Nations Command (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Command_%28Korea%29) on observational operations in South Korea (circa 1997).


Since November 15, 1974, the South has discovered that four tunnels crossing the DMZ have been dug by North Korea. This is indicated by the orientation of the blasting lines within each tunnel. Upon their discovery, North Korea claimed that the tunnels were for coal mining (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining); however, no coal has been found in the tunnels, which are dug through granite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite), but some of the tunnel walls have been painted black to give the appearance of anthracite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthracite).[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-17)
The tunnels are believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. Each shaft is large enough to permit the passage of an entire infantry division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_%28military%29) in one hour, though the tunnels are not wide enough for tanks or vehicles. All the tunnels run in a north-south direction and do not have branches. Following each discovery, engineering within the tunnels has become progressively more advanced. For example, the third tunnel sloped slightly upwards as it progressed southward, to prevent water stagnation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_stagnation). Today, visitors may visit the second, third and fourth tunnels through guided tours.[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-18)
First tunnel

The first of the tunnels was discovered by a South Korean Army patrol, noticing steam rising from the ground. The initial discovery was met with machine gun fire from North Korean soldiers. Five days later, during a subsequent exploration of this tunnel, U.S. Navy Commander Robert M. Ballinger and ROK Marine Corps Major Kim Hah Chul were killed in the tunnel by a North Korean explosive device. The blast also wounded five Americans and one South Korean from the United Nations Command.
The tunnel, which was about 1.2 m (4 ft) high by 0.9 m (3 ft) wide, extended more than 1,000 m (1,100 yd) beyond the MDL into South Korea. The tunnel was reinforced with concrete slabs and had electric power and lighting. There were weapons storage and sleeping areas. A narrow gauge railway with carts had also been installed. Estimates based on the tunnel's size, suggest it would have allowed approximately 2,000 KPA soldiers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army) (one regiment) to pass through it per hour.[20] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-bermudez_js-19)
Second tunnel

The second tunnel was discovered on March 19, 1975. It is of similar length to the first tunnel. It is located between 50 and 160 m (160 and 520 ft) below ground, but is larger than the first, approximately 2 by 2 m (7 by 7 feet).
Third tunnel

Main article: Third Tunnel of Aggression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Tunnel_of_Aggression)
The third tunnel was discovered on October 17, 1978. Unlike the previous two, the third tunnel was discovered following a tip from a North Korean defector. This tunnel is about 1,600 m (1,700 yd) long and about 150 m (490 ft) below ground. Foreign visitors touring the South Korean DMZ may view inside this tunnel using a sloped access shaft.
Fourth tunnel


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_to_the_4th_Infiltration_Tunnel,_Kore an_DMZ.jpg)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_to_the_4th_Infiltration_Tunnel,_Kore an_DMZ.jpg)
Entrance to the 4th Infiltration Tunnel, Korean DMZ


A fourth tunnel was discovered on March 3, 1990 north of Haen (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Haen,_South_Korea&action=edit&redlink=1) town in the former Punchbowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Punchbowl,_South_Korea&action=edit&redlink=1) battlefield. The tunnel's dimensions are 2m x 2m and it is 145m underground, the method of construction is almost identical in structure to the second and the third tunnels[21] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-20).
Propaganda

Buildings

The empty shells of Kijong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kijong-dong) seen from South Korea.


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gijeong-ri_Flag.jpg)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gijeong-ri_Flag.jpg)
The world's second-tallest flagpole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagpole) flying a North Korean flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_North_Korea) over Kijŏng-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kij%C5%8Fng-dong) near Panmunjom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjom).


Both North and South Korea maintain peace villages in sight of each other's side of the DMZ. In the South, Daeseong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daeseong-dong) is administered under the terms of the DMZ. Villagers are classed as Republic of Korea citizens, however they are exempt from paying tax and other civic requirements such as military service.
In the North, Kijong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kijong-dong) features a number of brightly painted, poured-concrete multi-story buildings and apartments with electric lighting. These features represented an unheard of level of luxury for rural Koreans, north or south, in the 1950s. The town was oriented so that the bright blue roofs and white sides of the buildings would be the most distinguishing features when viewed from the border. However scrutiny with modern telescopic lenses reveals that the buildings are mere concrete shells lacking window glass or even interior rooms,[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-potts-21)[23] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-22) with the building lights turned on and off at set times and the empty sidewalks swept by a skeleton crew of caretakers in an effort to preserve the illusion of activity.[24] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-23)
Until 2004, massive loudspeakers mounted on several of the buildings continuously delivered DPRK propaganda broadcasts directed towards the south as well as propaganda radio broadcasts across the border.[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-potts-21)
Within the JSA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area) are a number of U.N. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) buildings called Conference Row. These are used for direct talks between the two Koreas. Facing the UN buildings is DPRK's Panmungak (English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language): Panmun Hall) and ROK's Freedom House. In 1994, North Korea enlarged Panmungak by adding a third floor. In 1998, South Korea built a new Freedom House for its Red Cross staff and to possibly host reunions of families separated by the Korean War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War). The new building incorporated the old Freedom House Pagoda within its design.
In 1980s, the South Korean government built a 98.4 m (323 ft) tall flagpole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagpole) with a 130 kg (287 lb) South Korean flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_South_Korea) in Daeseong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daeseong-dong). The North Korean government responded by building what was then the tallest flagpole in the world at 160 m (525 ft) with a 270 kg (595 lb) North Korean flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_North_Korea) in Kijŏng-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kij%C5%8Fng-dong) near Panmunjom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjom), in what some have called the "flagpole war." The flagpole is the second tallest in the world, after the flagpole in Baku (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku)'s National Flag Square (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Flag_Square) at 162 m (531 ft).[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-potts-21)[25] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-24)[26] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-25)[27] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-26)
Korean wall


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Korean_Wall_in_the_DMZ.JPG)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Korean_Wall_in_the_DMZ.JPG)
The alleged Korean Wall in the Demilitarized Zone seen through binoculars from the North Korean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea) side.


The Korean wall is a concrete barrier that was allegedly built along the length of the DMZ in South Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea) between 1977 and 1979. Dutch journalist and filmmaker Peter Tetteroo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tetteroo) shows footage of what he believes (at the prompting of his North Korean guides) to be the Korean Wall.[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-tetteroo-27) North Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea) contends:

In the area south of the Military Demarcation Line, which cuts across our country at its waist, there is a concrete wall which [...] stretches more than 240 km (149 mi) from east to west, is 5–8 m (16–26 ft) high, 10–19 m (33–62 ft) thick at the bottom, and 3–7 m (10–23 ft) wide in the upper part. It is set with wire entanglements and dotted with gun embrasures, look-outs and varieties of military establishments [...] the South Korean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea) rulers built this wall over a period of many years from 1977.[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-tetteroo-27)
In December 1999, Chu Chang Jun, North Korea's longtime ambassador to China (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China), repeated claims that a "wall" divided Korea. He said the south side of the wall is packed with soil, which permits access to the top of the wall and makes it effectively invisible from the south side. He also claimed that it served as a bridgehead for any northward invasion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion).[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Wall-28)[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-29)
According to the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), the wall does not exist, although there are anti-tank barriers along some sections of the DMZ.[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Wall-28)
Transportation

Main article: Panmunjeom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjeom)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MilitaryDemarcationLine.jpg)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MilitaryDemarcationLine.jpg)
Military Demarcation Line marker on the South Korean side of the Bridge of No Return.


Panmunjeom is the site of the negotiations that ended the Korean War and is the main centre of human activity in the DMZ. The village is located on the main highway and near a railroad connecting the two Koreas.
The railway, which connects Seoul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul) and Pyongyang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongyang), was called the Gyeongui Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeongui_Line) before division in the 1940s. Currently the South uses the original name, but the North refers to the route as the P'yŏngbu Line. The railway line has been mainly used to carry materials and South Korean workers to the industrial complexes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaesong_Industrial_Region) at Kaesong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaesong). Its reconnection has been seen as part of the general thawing in the relations between North and South in the early part of this century. However in November 2008 North Korean authorities closed the railway amid growing tensions with the South.[31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-30) Following the death of former South Korean President (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korean_President) Kim Dae-jung (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Dae-jung), conciliatory talks were held between South Korean officials and a North Korean delegation who attended Kim's funeral. In September 2009, the Kaesong rail and road crossing was reopened.[32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-31)
The road at Panmunjeom, which was known historically as Highway One in the South, was originally the only access point between the two countries on the Korean Peninsula. Passage is comparable to the strict movements that occurred at Checkpoint Charlie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie) in Berlin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin) at the height of the Cold War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War). Both North and South Korea's roads end in the Joint Security Area; neither highway meets because there is a 20-centimetre (8 in) concrete line that divides the entire site. People given the rare permission to cross this border must do so on foot before continuing their journey by road.
In 2007, on the east coast of Korea, the first train crossed the DMZ on the new Donghae Bukbu (Tonghae Pukpu) Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donghae_Bukbu_Line). The new rail crossing was built adjacent to the road which took South Koreans to Kŭmgangsan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%ADmgangsan_Tourist_Region), a region that has significant cultural importance for all Koreans. More than one million civilian visitors crossed the DMZ until the route was closed following the shooting of a 53-year-old South Korean tourist in July 2008.[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-32) After a joint investigation was rebuffed by the North, the Republic of Korean government suspended tours to the resort. Since then the resort and the Donghae Bukbu Line have effectively been closed by the North.[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-33)[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-34)
Nature reserve

The endangered Amur Leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_Leopard) that may have found unlikely protection within the Korean DMZ.

In the past half century, the Korean DMZ has been a deadly place for humans, making habitation impossible. Only around the village of Panmunjeom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjeom) and more recently the Dong Bukbu Line on Korea's east coast have there been regular incursions by people.
This natural isolation along the 155 miles (249 km) length of the DMZ has created an involuntary park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involuntary_park) which is now recognised as one of the most well-preserved areas of temperate habitat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat) in the world.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Green-35)
Several endangered animal and plant species now exist among the heavily fortified fences, landmines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmines) and listening posts. These include the extremely rare Red-crowned Crane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-crowned_Crane) (a staple of Asian art), and the White-naped Crane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-naped_Crane) as well as, potentially, the extremely rare Korean Tiger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_tiger),[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Green-35) Amur leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_leopard) and Asiatic black bear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_black_bear). Ecologists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecologist) have identified some 2,900 plant species, 70 types of mammals and 320 kinds of birds within the narrow buffer zone.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Green-35) Additional surveys are now being conducted throughout the region.[37] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-36)
The DMZ owes its varied biodiversity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity) to its geography which crosses mountains, prairies, swamps, lakes and tidal marshes. Environmentalists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalists) hope that the DMZ will be conserved as a wildlife refuge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_reserve), with a well-developed set of objective and management plans vetted and in place. In 2005, CNN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN) founder and media mogul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_mogul), Ted Turner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Turner), on a visit to North Korea, said that he would financially support any plans to turn the DMZ into a peace park and a UN-protected (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) World Heritage Site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site).[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-37)

[BlackSwordsMan]

Gotta agree with venti.

[hater]

+1
the Korean demil zone is a motherfucker

[BlackSwordsMan]

14000 american soldiers are there to basically be a pawn on a chess board.

[Leetonidas]

What the hell was that? At least pick a Wiki article that's more than a few paragraphs long. :lol

[Venti Quattro]

wseXYjBgo4o

TJUkfExXqpU

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (Korean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language): 한반도 비무장지대) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Peninsula) that serves as a buffer zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_zone) between North (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea) and South (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea) Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea). The DMZ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demilitarized_zone) cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_parallel_north) on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it. It is 250 kilometres (160 miles) long,[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-0) approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) wide and is the most heavily militarized border in the world.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-1)[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-2) The Northern Limit Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Limit_Line), or NLL, is the de facto maritime boundary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_boundary) between North and South Korea in the Yellow Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Sea) and the coastline and islands on both sides of the NLL are also heavily militarized.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-3)

History

Main article: Division of Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_Korea)
The 38th parallel north (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_parallel_north)—which cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half—was the original boundary between the US (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States)-occupied and Soviet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSR)-occupied areas of Korea at the end of World War II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II). Upon the creation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, informally North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK, informally South Korea) in 1948, it became a de facto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto) international border and one of the most tense fronts in the Cold War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War).
Both the North and the South remained heavily dependent on their sponsor states from 1948 to the outbreak of the Korean War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War). The conflict, which claimed over three million lives and divided the Korean Peninsula along ideological lines, commenced on June 25, 1950, with a Soviet-sponsored DPRK invasion across the 38th parallel, and ended in 1953 after international intervention pushed the front of the war back to near the 38th parallel. In the Armistice Agreement (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Korean_Armistice_Agreement) of July 27, 1953, the DMZ was created as each side agreed to move their troops back 2,000 m (2,200 yards) from the front line, creating a buffer zone 4 km (2.5 mi) wide. The Military Demarcation Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Demarcation_Line) (MDL) goes down the center of the DMZ and indicates exactly where the front was when the agreement was signed.
Owing to this theoretical stalemate, and genuine hostility between the North and the South, large numbers of troops are still stationed along both sides of the line, each side guarding against potential aggression from the other side. The armistice agreement explains exactly how many military personnel and what kind of weapons are allowed in the DMZ. Soldiers from both sides may patrol inside the DMZ, but they may not cross the MDL. Sporadic outbreaks of violence due to North Korean hostilities killed over 500 South Korean soldiers and 50 U.S. soldiers along the DMZ between 1953 and 1999.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-4)
Tae Sung Dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taeseong-dong) and Kijong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kijong-dong) were the only villages allowed by the armistice committee to remain within the boundaries of the DMZ.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Tae-5) Residents of Tae Sung Dong are governed and protected by the United Nations Command and are generally required to spend at least 240 nights per year in the village to maintain their residency.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Tae-5) In 2008, the village had a population of 218 people.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Tae-5) The villagers of Tae Sung Dong are direct descendants of people who owned the land before the 1950-53 Korean War.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-6)


Incidents and Incursions

A portion of the North Korean DMZ seen from the Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area) in January 1976

Since demarcation, the DMZ has had numerous cases of incidents and incursions by the North Koreans, although the North Korean government never acknowledges direct responsibility for any of these incidents.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-7) These include:


October 1966 - October 1969: Korean DMZ Conflict (1966-1969) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_DMZ_Conflict_%281966-1969%29), a series of skirmishes along the DMZ results in 43 U.S., 299 South Korean and 397 North Korean soldiers killed[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-8)
17 January 1968: 31 North Korean commandos crossed the border disguised as South Korean soldiers in an attempt to assassinate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Chung_Hee#The_Blue_House_Raid) President Park Chung Hee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Chung_Hee) at the Blue House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_House). The failed mission resulted in 29 commandos killed (one committed suicide) and the other two captured. Two South Korean policemen and five civilians were killed by the commandos. Other reports indicated as many as 68 South Koreans killed and 66 wounded, including about 24 civilians. Three Americans were killed and another three wounded in an attempt to prevent the commandos from escaping back via the DMZ.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-9)
October 1968: 130 North Korean commandos entered the Ulchin (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ulchin&action=edit&redlink=1) and Samcheok (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samcheok) areas in Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29). Eventually 110 of them were killed, 7 were captured and 13 escaped.
March 1969: Six North Korean infiltrators crossed the border near Chumunjin (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chumunjin&action=edit&redlink=1), Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29) and killed a South Korean policeman on guard duty.
April 1970: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed and five South Korean soldiers wounded at an encounter in Kumchon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumchon), Gyeonggi-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeonggi-do).
20 November 1974: The first of what would be a series of North Korean infiltration tunnels under the DMZ was discovered. The joint ROK-U.S. investigation team tripped a North Korean booby-trap killing one American and wounding 6 others.

Operation Paul Bunyan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Paul_Bunyan), to remove a tree in front of the Bridge of No Return (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_No_Return), takes place following the Axe Murder Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident)
in August 1976.




March 1975: The second North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered.
June 1976: Three North Korean infiltrators and six South Korean soldiers were killed in the eastern sector south of the DMZ. Another six South Korean soldiers were injured.
18 August 1976: The Axe Murder Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident) results in the death of two U.S. soldiers and injuries to another four U.S. soldiers and five South Korean soldiers. The incident may not be technically considered an "infiltration" however, as it took place in a neutral zone of the Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area).
14 July 1977: American CH-47 Chinook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-47_Chinook) helicopter is shot down after straying into the north over the DMZ. Three airmen are killed and one is briefly held prisoner (This is the sixth such incident since the Armistice was signed.)[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-10)
October 1978: The third North Korean infiltration tunnel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Tunnel_of_Aggression) was discovered.
October 1979: Three North Korean agents attempting to infiltrate the eastern sector of the DMZ were intercepted, killing one of the agents.
6 December 1979: US patrol in the DMZ accidentally crosses the MDL into a North Korean minefield. One US soldier is killed and four are injured.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-globalsecurity1-11)
March 1980: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed attempting to enter the south across the estuary of the Han River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_River_%28Korea%29).
March 1981: Three North Korean infiltrators spotted at Kumhwa (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kumhwa&action=edit&redlink=1), Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29), one was killed.
July 1981: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed in the upper stream of Imjin River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imjin_River).
May 1982: Two North Korean infiltrators were spotted on the east coast, one was killed.
March 1990: The fourth North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered, in what may be a total of 17 tunnels in all.
May 1992: Three North Korean infiltrators dressed in South Korean uniforms were killed at Cheorwon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheorwon), Gangwon-do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangwon-do_%28South_Korea%29). Three South Koreans were also wounded.
December 17, 1994: American OH-58A+ helicopter crosses 10 km into North Korean territory and is shot down.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-globalsecurity1-11)
October 1995: Two North Korean infiltrators were intercepted at Imjin River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imjin_River). One was killed, the other escaped.
April 1996: Several hundred North Korean armed troops entered the Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area) and elsewhere on three occasions in violation of the Korean armistice agreement.
May 1996: Seven North Korean soldiers crossed the DMZ but withdrew when fired upon by South Korean troops.
April 1997: Five North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line's Cheorwon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheorwon) sector and fired at South Korean positions.
July 1997: Fourteen North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL, causing a 23-minute exchange of heavy gunfire.
October 26, 2000: Two US aircraft observing a ROK army military exercise accidentally cross over the DMZ.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-globalsecurity1-11)
May 26, 2006: Two North Korean soldiers entered the DMZ and crossed into South Korea. They returned after South Korean soldiers fired warning shots.
October 7, 2006: South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed briefly into their side of the border.
October 27, 2009: A South Korean pig farmer, who was wanted for assault, cut a hole in the DMZ fence and defected to North Korea.[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-12)
October 29, 2010: Two shots were fired from North Korea towards a South Korean post near Hwacheon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwacheon) and South Korean troops fired three shots in return.[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-13)

Joint Security Area Main article: Joint Security Area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area)

Inside the DMZ, near the western coast of the peninsula, is a place called Panmunjeom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjeom), home of the Joint Security Area (JSA). Originally, it was the only connection between North and South Korea[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-14) but that changed in 2007 when a Korail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korail) train crossed the DMZ to the North on the new Donghae Bukbu Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donghae_Bukbu_Line) built on the east coast of Korea.
There are several buildings on both the north and the south side of the Military Demarcation Line, and a few are built right on top of the MDL. The Joint Security Area is the location where all negotiations since 1953 have been held, including statements of Korean solidarity, which have generally amounted to little except a slight decline of tensions. The MDL goes through the conference rooms and down the middle of the conference tables where the North Koreans and the United Nations Command (primarily South Koreans and Americans) meet face to face.
Though generally calm, the DMZ has been the scene of much saber-rattling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saber_noise) between the two Koreas over the years. Several small skirmishes have occurred within the Joint Security Area since 1953. The Axe Murder Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident) in August 1976 involved the attempted trimming of a poplar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poplar) tree which resulted in two deaths (CPT Arthur Bonifas and 1LT Mark Barrett) and Operation Paul Bunyan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident#Operation_Paul_Bunyan). Beforehand, the soldiers of both sides were permitted to go back and forth across the MDL inside of the JSA, a privilege since revoked as a result of this incident.
Another incident occurred on November 23, 1984, when a Soviet tourist, who was part of an official trip to the JSA (hosted by the North), ran across the Military Demarcation Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Demarcation_Line) (MDL) shouting that he wanted to defect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defection). North Korean troops immediately chased after him opening fire. Border guards on the South Korean side returned fire eventually surrounding the North Koreans as they pursued the Russian national. One South Korean and three North Korean soldiers were killed in the action. The defector was not captured.[16] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-15)
In late 2009, South Korean forces in conjunction with the United Nations Command (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Command_%28Korea%29) began renovation of its three guard posts and two checkpoint buildings within the JSA compound. Construction was designed to enlarge and modernise the structures. Work was undertaken a year after North Korea finished replacing four JSA guard posts on its side of the MDL.[17] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-16)


Incursion tunnels

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg/220px-Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joint_Security_Area_observation_tower.jpg)
U.S. Soldiers from the United Nations Command (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Command_%28Korea%29) on observational operations in South Korea (circa 1997).


Since November 15, 1974, the South has discovered that four tunnels crossing the DMZ have been dug by North Korea. This is indicated by the orientation of the blasting lines within each tunnel. Upon their discovery, North Korea claimed that the tunnels were for coal mining (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining); however, no coal has been found in the tunnels, which are dug through granite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite), but some of the tunnel walls have been painted black to give the appearance of anthracite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthracite).[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-17)
The tunnels are believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. Each shaft is large enough to permit the passage of an entire infantry division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_%28military%29) in one hour, though the tunnels are not wide enough for tanks or vehicles. All the tunnels run in a north-south direction and do not have branches. Following each discovery, engineering within the tunnels has become progressively more advanced. For example, the third tunnel sloped slightly upwards as it progressed southward, to prevent water stagnation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_stagnation). Today, visitors may visit the second, third and fourth tunnels through guided tours.[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-18)
First tunnel

The first of the tunnels was discovered by a South Korean Army patrol, noticing steam rising from the ground. The initial discovery was met with machine gun fire from North Korean soldiers. Five days later, during a subsequent exploration of this tunnel, U.S. Navy Commander Robert M. Ballinger and ROK Marine Corps Major Kim Hah Chul were killed in the tunnel by a North Korean explosive device. The blast also wounded five Americans and one South Korean from the United Nations Command.
The tunnel, which was about 1.2 m (4 ft) high by 0.9 m (3 ft) wide, extended more than 1,000 m (1,100 yd) beyond the MDL into South Korea. The tunnel was reinforced with concrete slabs and had electric power and lighting. There were weapons storage and sleeping areas. A narrow gauge railway with carts had also been installed. Estimates based on the tunnel's size, suggest it would have allowed approximately 2,000 KPA soldiers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army) (one regiment) to pass through it per hour.[20] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-bermudez_js-19)
Second tunnel

The second tunnel was discovered on March 19, 1975. It is of similar length to the first tunnel. It is located between 50 and 160 m (160 and 520 ft) below ground, but is larger than the first, approximately 2 by 2 m (7 by 7 feet).
Third tunnel

Main article: Third Tunnel of Aggression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Tunnel_of_Aggression)
The third tunnel was discovered on October 17, 1978. Unlike the previous two, the third tunnel was discovered following a tip from a North Korean defector. This tunnel is about 1,600 m (1,700 yd) long and about 150 m (490 ft) below ground. Foreign visitors touring the South Korean DMZ may view inside this tunnel using a sloped access shaft.
Fourth tunnel


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_to_the_4th_Infiltration_Tunnel,_Kore an_DMZ.jpg)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_to_the_4th_Infiltration_Tunnel,_Kore an_DMZ.jpg)
Entrance to the 4th Infiltration Tunnel, Korean DMZ


A fourth tunnel was discovered on March 3, 1990 north of Haen (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Haen,_South_Korea&action=edit&redlink=1) town in the former Punchbowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Punchbowl,_South_Korea&action=edit&redlink=1) battlefield. The tunnel's dimensions are 2m x 2m and it is 145m underground, the method of construction is almost identical in structure to the second and the third tunnels[21] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-20).
Propaganda

Buildings

The empty shells of Kijong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kijong-dong) seen from South Korea.


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gijeong-ri_Flag.jpg)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gijeong-ri_Flag.jpg)
The world's second-tallest flagpole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagpole) flying a North Korean flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_North_Korea) over Kijŏng-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kij%C5%8Fng-dong) near Panmunjom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjom).


Both North and South Korea maintain peace villages in sight of each other's side of the DMZ. In the South, Daeseong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daeseong-dong) is administered under the terms of the DMZ. Villagers are classed as Republic of Korea citizens, however they are exempt from paying tax and other civic requirements such as military service.
In the North, Kijong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kijong-dong) features a number of brightly painted, poured-concrete multi-story buildings and apartments with electric lighting. These features represented an unheard of level of luxury for rural Koreans, north or south, in the 1950s. The town was oriented so that the bright blue roofs and white sides of the buildings would be the most distinguishing features when viewed from the border. However scrutiny with modern telescopic lenses reveals that the buildings are mere concrete shells lacking window glass or even interior rooms,[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-potts-21)[23] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-22) with the building lights turned on and off at set times and the empty sidewalks swept by a skeleton crew of caretakers in an effort to preserve the illusion of activity.[24] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-23)
Until 2004, massive loudspeakers mounted on several of the buildings continuously delivered DPRK propaganda broadcasts directed towards the south as well as propaganda radio broadcasts across the border.[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-potts-21)
Within the JSA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area) are a number of U.N. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) buildings called Conference Row. These are used for direct talks between the two Koreas. Facing the UN buildings is DPRK's Panmungak (English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language): Panmun Hall) and ROK's Freedom House. In 1994, North Korea enlarged Panmungak by adding a third floor. In 1998, South Korea built a new Freedom House for its Red Cross staff and to possibly host reunions of families separated by the Korean War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War). The new building incorporated the old Freedom House Pagoda within its design.
In 1980s, the South Korean government built a 98.4 m (323 ft) tall flagpole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagpole) with a 130 kg (287 lb) South Korean flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_South_Korea) in Daeseong-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daeseong-dong). The North Korean government responded by building what was then the tallest flagpole in the world at 160 m (525 ft) with a 270 kg (595 lb) North Korean flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_North_Korea) in Kijŏng-dong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kij%C5%8Fng-dong) near Panmunjom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjom), in what some have called the "flagpole war." The flagpole is the second tallest in the world, after the flagpole in Baku (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku)'s National Flag Square (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Flag_Square) at 162 m (531 ft).[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-potts-21)[25] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-24)[26] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-25)[27] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-26)
Korean wall


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Korean_Wall_in_the_DMZ.JPG)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Korean_Wall_in_the_DMZ.JPG)
The alleged Korean Wall in the Demilitarized Zone seen through binoculars from the North Korean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea) side.


The Korean wall is a concrete barrier that was allegedly built along the length of the DMZ in South Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea) between 1977 and 1979. Dutch journalist and filmmaker Peter Tetteroo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tetteroo) shows footage of what he believes (at the prompting of his North Korean guides) to be the Korean Wall.[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-tetteroo-27) North Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea) contends:
In the area south of the Military Demarcation Line, which cuts across our country at its waist, there is a concrete wall which [...] stretches more than 240 km (149 mi) from east to west, is 5–8 m (16–26 ft) high, 10–19 m (33–62 ft) thick at the bottom, and 3–7 m (10–23 ft) wide in the upper part. It is set with wire entanglements and dotted with gun embrasures, look-outs and varieties of military establishments [...] the South Korean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea) rulers built this wall over a period of many years from 1977.[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-tetteroo-27)
In December 1999, Chu Chang Jun, North Korea's longtime ambassador to China (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China), repeated claims that a "wall" divided Korea. He said the south side of the wall is packed with soil, which permits access to the top of the wall and makes it effectively invisible from the south side. He also claimed that it served as a bridgehead for any northward invasion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion).[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Wall-28)[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-29)
According to the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), the wall does not exist, although there are anti-tank barriers along some sections of the DMZ.[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Wall-28)
Transportation

Main article: Panmunjeom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjeom)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MilitaryDemarcationLine.jpg)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MilitaryDemarcationLine.jpg)
Military Demarcation Line marker on the South Korean side of the Bridge of No Return.


Panmunjeom is the site of the negotiations that ended the Korean War and is the main centre of human activity in the DMZ. The village is located on the main highway and near a railroad connecting the two Koreas.
The railway, which connects Seoul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul) and Pyongyang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongyang), was called the Gyeongui Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeongui_Line) before division in the 1940s. Currently the South uses the original name, but the North refers to the route as the P'yŏngbu Line. The railway line has been mainly used to carry materials and South Korean workers to the industrial complexes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaesong_Industrial_Region) at Kaesong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaesong). Its reconnection has been seen as part of the general thawing in the relations between North and South in the early part of this century. However in November 2008 North Korean authorities closed the railway amid growing tensions with the South.[31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-30) Following the death of former South Korean President (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korean_President) Kim Dae-jung (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Dae-jung), conciliatory talks were held between South Korean officials and a North Korean delegation who attended Kim's funeral. In September 2009, the Kaesong rail and road crossing was reopened.[32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-31)
The road at Panmunjeom, which was known historically as Highway One in the South, was originally the only access point between the two countries on the Korean Peninsula. Passage is comparable to the strict movements that occurred at Checkpoint Charlie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie) in Berlin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin) at the height of the Cold War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War). Both North and South Korea's roads end in the Joint Security Area; neither highway meets because there is a 20-centimetre (8 in) concrete line that divides the entire site. People given the rare permission to cross this border must do so on foot before continuing their journey by road.
In 2007, on the east coast of Korea, the first train crossed the DMZ on the new Donghae Bukbu (Tonghae Pukpu) Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donghae_Bukbu_Line). The new rail crossing was built adjacent to the road which took South Koreans to Kŭmgangsan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%ADmgangsan_Tourist_Region), a region that has significant cultural importance for all Koreans. More than one million civilian visitors crossed the DMZ until the route was closed following the shooting of a 53-year-old South Korean tourist in July 2008.[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-32) After a joint investigation was rebuffed by the North, the Republic of Korean government suspended tours to the resort. Since then the resort and the Donghae Bukbu Line have effectively been closed by the North.[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-33)[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-34)
Nature reserve

The endangered Amur Leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_Leopard) that may have found unlikely protection within the Korean DMZ.

In the past half century, the Korean DMZ has been a deadly place for humans, making habitation impossible. Only around the village of Panmunjeom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjeom) and more recently the Dong Bukbu Line on Korea's east coast have there been regular incursions by people.
This natural isolation along the 155 miles (249 km) length of the DMZ has created an involuntary park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involuntary_park) which is now recognised as one of the most well-preserved areas of temperate habitat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat) in the world.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Green-35)
Several endangered animal and plant species now exist among the heavily fortified fences, landmines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmines) and listening posts. These include the extremely rare Red-crowned Crane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-crowned_Crane) (a staple of Asian art), and the White-naped Crane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-naped_Crane) as well as, potentially, the extremely rare Korean Tiger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_tiger),[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Green-35) Amur leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_leopard) and Asiatic black bear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_black_bear). Ecologists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecologist) have identified some 2,900 plant species, 70 types of mammals and 320 kinds of birds within the narrow buffer zone.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-Green-35) Additional surveys are now being conducted throughout the region.[37] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-36)
The DMZ owes its varied biodiversity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity) to its geography which crosses mountains, prairies, swamps, lakes and tidal marshes. Environmentalists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalists) hope that the DMZ will be conserved as a wildlife refuge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_reserve), with a well-developed set of objective and management plans vetted and in place. In 2005, CNN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN) founder and media mogul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_mogul), Ted Turner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Turner), on a visit to North Korea, said that he would financially support any plans to turn the DMZ into a peace park and a UN-protected (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) World Heritage Site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site).[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korean_Demilitarized_Zone&printable=yes#cite_note-37)

I agree.

[Venti Quattro]

-O-s1WhYOWs

[WeNeedLength]

-O-s1WhYOWs

Right on brutha. Gotta vent somehow after the antlers took yo team to the woodshed and left with your virginity. Amirite?

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

What games should I gamble on tonight?? Any suggestions??

[JamStone]

Robert Horry, game 5

[WeNeedLength]

I would have to say either Ime Udoka or Matt Bonner. Ime always sucks dick but when Bonner sucks dick, it is usually much worse. Very tough to decide.

[Venti Quattro]

What games should I gamble on tonight?? Any suggestions??

Gambling is the wagering (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wager#Verb) of money (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money) or something of material value (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_%28economics%29) (referred to as "the stakes") on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods. Typically, the outcome of the wager is evident within a short period.
The term gaming[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-0) in this context typically refers to instances in which the activity has been specifically permitted by law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law). The two words are not mutually exclusive; i.e., a “gaming” company offers (legal) “gambling” activities to the public[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-1) and may be regulated by one of many gaming control boards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaming_control_board), for example, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Gaming_Control_Board). However, this distinction is not universally observed in the English-speaking world. For instance, in the UK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK), the regulator of gambling activities is called the Gambling Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_Commission) (not the Gaming Commission).[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-2) Also, the word gaming (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gaming) is frequently used to describe activities that do not involve wagering, especially online (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_game).
Gambling is also a major international commercial activity, with the legal gambling market totaling an estimated $335 billion in 2009.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-3) In other forms, gambling can be conducted with materials which have a value, but aren't real money; for example, games like Pogs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogs) or Magic: The Gathering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering#Gambling).


History

Religious

Religious perspectives on gambling have been mixed. Both the Catholic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church) and Jewish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism) traditions have even set aside days for gambling,[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-Barlow-4) (for Jews Hanukkah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah)), although religious (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious) authorities generally disapprove of gambling. Ancient Jewish authorities frowned on gambling, even disqualifying professional gamblers from testifying in court.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-5) Gambling has often been seen as having social consequences (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_cost). For these social and religious reasons, most legal jurisdictions limit gambling.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] Some Islamic nations prohibit gambling; most other countries regulate it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaming_regulation).[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-6)
Regulation

Many jurisdictions, local as well as national, either ban or heavily control (by licensing) gambling. Such regulation generally leads to gambling tourism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism#Special_forms_of_tourism) and illegal gambling in the areas where it is not allowed. The involvement of governments, through regulation and taxation, has led to a close connection between many governments and gaming organizations, where legal gambling provides significant government revenue, such as in Monaco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco) or Macau (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau).
United States

Under US federal law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_United_States), gambling is legal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_the_United_States) in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), and states are free to regulate or prohibit the practice. Gambling has been legal in Nevada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada) since 1931, forming the backbone of the state's economy, and the city of Las Vegas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_metropolitan_area) is perhaps the best known gambling destination in the world. In 1976, gambling was legalized in Atlantic City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City), New Jersey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey), and in 1990, it was legalized in Tunica, Mississippi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunica,_Mississippi); both of those cities have developed extensive casino and resort areas since then. Since a favorable U.S. Supreme Court (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States) decision in 1987, many Native American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States) tribes have built their own casinos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_casinos) on tribal lands as a way to provide revenue for the tribe. Because the tribes are considered sovereign nations, they are often exempt from state laws restricting gambling, and are instead regulated (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gaming_Regulatory_Act) under federal law. Additionally, almost all states have legalized gambling in the form of a state-run lottery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottery) and most states allow for limited non-profit organizations to host Bingo nights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingo_%28U.S.%29).
Insurance

Because contracts of insurance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance) have many features in common with wagers, insurance contracts are often distinguished under law as agreements in which either party has an interest in the "bet-upon" outcome beyond the specific financial terms. E.g.: a “bet” with an insurer on whether one's house will burn down is not gambling, but rather insurance — as the homeowner has an obvious interest in the continued existence of his/her home independent of the purely financial aspects of the "bet" (i.e., the insurance policy). Nonetheless, both insurance and gambling contracts are typically considered aleatory contracts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleatory_contract) under most legal systems, though they are subject to different types of regulation.
There is generally legislation requiring that the odds in gaming devices are statistically random (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_randomness), to prevent manufacturers from making some high-payoff results impossible. Since these high-payoffs have very low probability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probability), a house bias can quite easily be missed unless checking the odds carefully.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#cite_note-7)


Types of gambling
Casino games

While almost any game can be played for money, and any game typically played for money can also be played just for fun, some games are generally offered in a casino setting.
Table games
Main article: Table game
The Caesars Palace main fountain. The statue is a copy of the ancient Winged Victory of Samothrace.
A pachinko parlor in Tokyo, Japan
Electronic gaming

* Pachinko
* Slot machine
* Video poker

Other gambling

* Bingo
* Keno

Non-casino gambling games
Mahjong tiles.

Gambling games that take place outside of casinos include Bingo (as played in the US and UK), dead pool, lotteries, pull-tab games and scratchcards, and Mahjong.

Other non-casino gambling games include:

* Card games, such as Liar's poker, Bridge, Basset, Lansquenet, Piquet, Put, Teen patti
* Carnival Games such as The Razzle or Hanky Pank
* Coin-tossing games such as Head and Tail, Two-up*
* Confidence tricks such as Three-card Monte or the Shell game
* Dice-based games, such as Backgammon, Liar's dice, Passe-dix, Hazard, Threes, Pig, or Mexico

*Although coin tossing isn't usually played in a casino, it has been known to be an official gambling game in some Australian casinos[9]
Fixed-odds betting
Main article: Fixed-odds betting

Fixed-odds betting and Parimutuel betting frequently occur at many types of sporting events, and political elections. In addition many bookmakers offer fixed odds on a number of non-sports related outcomes, for example the direction and extent of movement of various financial indices, the winner of television competitions such as Big Brother, and election results.[10] Interactive prediction markets also offer trading on these outcomes, with "shares" of results trading on an open market.
Parimutuel betting
Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo, Japan.
Main article: Parimutuel betting

One of the most widespread forms of gambling involves betting on horse or greyhound racing. Wagering may take place through parimutuel pools, or bookmakers may take bets personally. Parimutuel wagers pay off at prices determined by support in the wagering pools, while bookmakers pay off either at the odds offered at the time of accepting the bet; or at the median odds offered by track bookmakers at the time the race started.
Sports betting
Main article: Sports betting

Betting on team sports has become an important service industry in many countries. For example, millions of Britons play the football pools every week. In addition to organized sports betting, both legal and illegal, there are many side-betting games played by casual groups of spectators, such as NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket Pools, Super Bowl Squares, Fantasy Sports Leagues with monetary entry fees and winnings, and in-person spectator games like Moundball.
Arbitrage betting
Main article: Arbitrage betting

Arbitrage betting is a theoretically risk-free betting system in which every outcome of an event is bet upon so that a known profit will be made by the bettor upon completion of the event, regardless of the outcome. Arbitrage betting is a combination of the ancient art of arbitrage trading and gambling, which has been made possible by the large numbers of bookmakers in the marketplace, creating occasional opportunities for arbitrage.
Other types of betting

One can also bet with another person that a statement is true or false, or that a specified event will happen (a "back bet") or will not happen (a "lay bet") within a specified time. This occurs in particular when two people have opposing but strongly held views on truth or events. Not only do the parties hope to gain from the bet, they place the bet also to demonstrate their certainty about the issue. Some means of determining the issue at stake must exist. Sometimes the amount bet remains nominal, demonstrating the outcome as one of principle rather than of financial importance.

Betting exchanges allow consumers to both back and lay at odds of their choice. Similar in some ways to a stock exchange, a bettor may want to back a horse (hoping it will win) or lay a horse (hoping it will lose, effectively acting as bookmaker)
Staking systems
Main article: Betting strategy

Many betting systems have been created in an attempt to "beat the bookie" but most still accept that no system can make an unprofitable bet profitable over time. Widely used systems include:

* Card counting - Many systems exist for Blackjack to keep track of the ratio of ten values to all others; when this ratio is high the player has an advantage and should increase the amount of their bets. Keeping track of cards dealt confers an advantage in other games as well.
* Due-column betting – A variation on fixed profits betting in which the bettor sets a target profit and then calculates a bet size that will make this profit, adding any losses to the target.
* Fixed profits – the stakes vary based on the odds to ensure the same profit from each winning selection.
* Fixed stakes – a traditional system of staking the same amount on each selection.
* Kelly – the optimum level to bet to maximize your future median bank level.
* Martingale – A system based on staking enough each time to recover losses from previous bet(s) until one wins.



Other uses of the term "gambling"
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2010)
This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (August 2010)

Many risk-return choices are sometimes referred to colloquially as "gambling." Whether this terminology is acceptable is a matter of debate:

* Emotional or physical risk-taking, where the risk-return ratio is not quantifiable (e.g., skydiving, campaigning for political office, asking someone for a date, etc.)
* Insurance is a method of shifting risk from one party to another. Insurers use actuarial methods to calculate appropriate premiums, which is similar to calculating gambling odds. Insurers set their premiums to obtain a long term positive expected return in the same manner that professional gamblers select which bets to make. While insurance is sometimes distinguished from gambling by the requirement of an insurable interest, the equivalent in gambling is simply betting against one's own best interests (e.g., a sports coach betting against his own team to mitigate the financial repercussions of a losing season).
* Situations where the possible return is a secondary reason for the wager/purchase (e.g. buying a raffle ticket to support a charitable cause)

Investments are also usually not considered gambling, although some investments can involve significant risk. Examples of investments include stocks, bonds and real estate. Starting a business can also be considered a form of investment. Investments are generally not considered gambling when they meet the following criteria:

* Economic utility
* Positive expected returns (at least in the long term)
* Underlying value independent of the risk being undertaken

Some speculative investment activities are particularly risky, but are sometimes perceived to be different from gambling:

* Foreign currency exchange (forex) transactions
* Prediction markets
* Securities derivatives, such as options or futures, where the value of the derivative is dependent on the value of the underlying asset at a specific point in time (typically the derivative's associated expiration date)

Psychological aspects
Main article: Problem gambling

Studies show that though many people participate in gambling as a form of recreation or even as a means to gain an income, gambling, like any behavior which involves variation in brain chemistry, can become a psychologically addictive and harmful behavior in some people. Reinforcement schedules may also make gamblers persist in gambling even after repeated losses.

The Russian writer Dostoevsky (himself a problem gambler) portrays in his novella The Gambler the psychological implications of gambling and how gambling can affect gamblers. He also associates gambling and the idea of "getting rich quick", suggesting that Russians may have a particular affinity for gambling. Dostoevsky shows the effect of betting money for the chance of gaining more in 19th-century Europe. The association between Russians and gambling has fed legends of the origins of Russian roulette.
By country

* Gambling in Australia
* Gambling in France
* Gambling in Japan
* Gambling in Macau
* Gambling in Russia
* Gambling in South Africa
* Gambling in the United Kingdom
* Gambling in the United States
* Gambling in post-Soviet states

See also

* Casino
* Gambling and the Law
* Comps (casino)
* Gambler's conceit
* Gambler's fallacy
* Gambler's ruin
* Gaming mathematics
* Mobile gambling
* Online gambling

References

1. ^ United Kingdom Office of Public Sector Information: Definition as Gaming

2. ^ Gambling Law US

3. ^ UK Gambling Commission

4. ^ "You bet"

. The Economist. 8 July 2010. http://www.economist.com/node/16539402

.
5. ^ Barlow, Rich (2007-12-02). "Gambling had role in religious history"

. The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/01/gambling_had_role_in_religious_history/

.
6. ^ Berel Wein. "Gambling"

. torah.org. http://www.torah.org/features/secondlook/gambling.html

. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
7. ^ International Association of Gaming Regulators: Members

8. ^ Nevada State Gaming Control Board: Technical Standards (Adopted)

9. ^ Gambling Info - The Game of Two up

10. ^ ABC.net: US election betting backs Bush


External links
Look up gambling in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Gambling
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gambling

* Gambling

at the Yahoo! Directory

* Gambling sites

at the Open Directory Project
* Center for Gaming Research

- at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
* Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming

at the University of Nevada, Reno

[hater]

9L22ZoKnEwg

[WeNeedLength]

Venti is turning every thread into a shit show. WTF quit being a butthurt bitch about your Lakers. Let's talk it out. Or we can walk it out....
http://www.gifsoup.com/view/42034/walk-it-out-o.gif

[lefty]

Reptilians

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For other reptilian humanoids, see List of reptilian humanoids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reptilian_humanoids). For other uses, see reptilian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilian). "Chitauri" redirects here; for the aliens in The Ultimates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ultimates), see Skrull (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrull#Ultimate_Skrulls). For the star, see Chi Tauri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Tauri)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Dinosauroid_Reptoid.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dinosauroid_Reptoid.gif) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dinosauroid_Reptoid.gif)
Artist's depiction of a reptilian


Reptilians (also called Reptiloids, Reptoids, or Draconians) are purported reptilian humanoids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilian_humanoid) that play a prominent role in modern ufology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufology) and conspiracy theories (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theories).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-0)[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-Frel_2010-1)
Contents

[hide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#)]


1 Alien abduction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#Alien_abduction)
2 David Icke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#David_Icke)
3 Politics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#Politics)
4 Skeptics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#Skeptics)
5 See also (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#See_also)
6 References (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#References)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reptilians&action=edit&section=1)] Alien abduction

Alien abduction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction) narratives sometimes allege contact with reptilian creatures.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-2) One of the earliest reports was that of Ashland, Nebraska (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashland,_Nebraska) police officer Herbert Schirmer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schirmer_Abduction), who claims to have been taken aboard a UFO in 1967 by humanoid beings with a slightly reptilian appearance, who bore a "winged serpent" emblem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem) on the left side of their chests. [4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-3)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reptilians&action=edit&section=2)] David Icke

According to British writer David Icke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Icke), 5 to 12-foot (1.5 - 3.7 m) tall, blood-drinking, shape-shifting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape-shifting) reptilian humanoids from the Alpha Draconis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Draconis) star system, now hiding in underground bases in Hollow Earth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Earth), are the force behind a worldwide conspiracy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory#Extraterrestrials) directed at humanity.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-ronson-4) He claims that the reptilians maintain their control through the generation of fear and negative emotion, which is food to these entities, by manufacturing conflicts, primarily wars.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] He contends that most of the world's leaders are in fact related to these reptilians.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-5) Icke's theories now have supporters in 47 countries and he frequently gives lectures to crowds of 2,500 or more.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-6) American writer Vicki Santillano ranked the notion that "Reptilian humanoids control all of us" as the 10th most popular conspiracy theory.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-7) Some have suggested that Icke's ideas are code for anti-Semitic views, an interpretation he vehemently denounces as a systematic approach to discredit anyone speaking against the conspiracist agenda.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reptilians&action=edit&section=3)] Politics

In the closely fought 2008 US Senate election (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota,_2008) between comedian and commentator Al Franken (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Franken) and incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Coleman), one of the ballots challenged by Coleman included a vote for Franken with "Lizard People" written in the space provided for write-in candidates.[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-8) Lucas Davenport, who later claimed to have written the gag ballot, said, "I don't know if you've heard the conspiracy theory about the Lizard Men; a friend of mine, we didn't like the candidates, so we were at first going to write in revolution, because we thought that was good and to the point. And then, we thought the Lizard People would be even funnier."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-9)
Evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_reptilian_kitten-eater_from_another_planet) was a pejorative (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pejorative) used to refer to then Ontario Liberal Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Liberal_Party) opposition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Opposition_%28Canada%29) leader Dalton McGuinty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalton_McGuinty) in a press release (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_release) disseminated by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Conservative_Party_of_Ontario) on September 12, 2003, during the provincial election (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_general_election,_2003) campaign in Ontario (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario), Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada).
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reptilians&action=edit&section=4)] Skeptics

Skeptics who adhere to the psychosocial hypothesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosocial_hypothesis) for unidentified flying objects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unidentified_flying_object) argue the popularity of V (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_%28science_fiction%29), a science fiction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction) television show, which debuted in 1983 and restarted in 2009, about an invading alien race (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_invasion) of reptilian humanoids disguised as human beings trying to take over Earth, may have significantly contributed to ufologists and conspiracy theorists adopting beliefs in the existence of reptilians, as well as making the wider public more receptive to embracing them.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-Barkun_2003-10) Brian Dunning (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Dunning_%28skeptic%29) suggests that a 1934 Los Angeles Times (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times) article may have been the origin of such beliefs: it reported that a geophysical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophysics) mining engineer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_engineering) claimed to have discovered subterranean labyrinths beneath Los Angeles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles) to an underground city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_city) built by an advanced race of “Lizard People” to escape surface catastrophes some 5,000 years ago.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_note-11)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reptilians&action=edit&section=5)] See also



Ancient astronauts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_astronauts)
Bug-eyed monster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug-eyed_monster)
Greys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greys)
List of alleged UFO-related extraterrestrials (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alleged_UFO-related_extraterrestrials)
List of conspiracy theories (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conspiracy_theories)
Little green men (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_green_men)
Nordic aliens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_aliens)
V (science fiction) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_%28science_fiction%29)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reptilians&action=edit&section=6)] References



^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-0) Lewis, Tyson; Richard Kahn (Wntr 2005). "The Reptoid Hypothesis: Utopian and Dystopian Representational Motifs in David Icke's Alien Conspiracy Theory". Utopian Studies 16 (1): 45–75.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-Frel_2010_1-0) Frel, Jan (1 September 2010). Inside the Great Reptilian Conspiracy: From Queen Elizabeth to Barack Obama -- They Live! (http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/147967). http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/147967. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-2) The Shadowlands Mysterious Creatures page (http://theshadowlands.net/creature2.htm#lizard)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-3) Police Officer Herbert Schirmer Abduction - Ashland, Nebraska, United States - December 3, 1967 - UFO Evidence (http://www.ufoevidence.org/cases/case659.htm)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-ronson_4-0) Ronson, Jon. Beset by lizards (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/mar/17/features.weekend), The Guardian, March 17, 200O1; Offley 2000a; Honigsbaum 1995.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-5) David Icke Interview: Aliens among us (http://www.metatech.org/david_icke_and_reptilians.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-6) Lauren Cox (Dec. 12, 2008). "What's Behind Internet Conspiracy Empires?" (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=6443988&page=1). ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=6443988&page=1. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-7) The Ten Most Popular Conspiracy Theories (http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/140296)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-8) "Minnesota Senate Recount: Challenged ballots: You be the judge" (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/). Minnesota Public Radio. 2008. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-9) "Why would someone vote for the Lizard People?" (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/11/23/so_why_would_someone_for_the_lizard_people/). 2008. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/11/23/so_why_would_someone_for_the_lizard_people/. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-Barkun_2003_10-0) Barkun, Michael (2003). A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Culture_of_Conspiracy:_Apocalyptic_Visions_in_Co ntemporary_America). University of California Press (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California_Press); 1 edition. ISBN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number) 0520238052 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0520238052).
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians#cite_ref-11) Support Your Local Reptoid (http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4046) (2007-05-21)

[WeNeedLength]

Ron Artest

Artest in October 2009 No. 15 Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) Small forward (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_forward) Personal information Date of birth November 13, 1979 (1979-11-13) (age 31) Place of birth Queensbridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensbridge,_Queens), New York City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City), New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York) Nationality American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) High school La Salle Academy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Salle_Academy) Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Listed weight 260 lb (118 kg) Career information College St. John's University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_University_%28New_York_City%29) NBA Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Draft) 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Draft) / Round: 1 / Pick: 16 Selected by the Chicago Bulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls) Pro career 1999–present Career history

Chicago Bulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls) (1999–2002)
Indiana Pacers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pacers) (2002–2006)
Sacramento Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings) (2006–2008)
Houston Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Rockets) (2008–2009)
Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) (2009–present)

Career highlights and awards

NBA Champion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_champions) (2010 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_NBA_Finals))
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Defensive_Player_of_the_Year_Award) (2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_NBA_season))
NBA All-Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Star_Game) (2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_NBA_season))
All-NBA Third Team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-NBA_Team) (2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_NBA_season))
2× All-Defensive First Team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Defensive_Team) (2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_NBA_season), 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_NBA_season))
2× All-Defensive Second Team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Defensive_Team) (2003 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%9303_NBA_season), 2009 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_NBA_season))
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Rookie_Team) (2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999%E2%80%932000_NBA_season))

Ron Artest (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ron_artest) at NBA.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA.com) Ronald William "Ron" Artest, Jr. (born November 13, 1979) is an American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) professional basketball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball) player who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) in the NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association). Artest gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Defensive_Player_of_the_Year_Award) in 2004. He was a major participant in the Pacers–Pistons brawl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacers%E2%80%93Pistons_brawl) and is known for his sometimes eccentric, outspoken behavior. He is also a rapper, known for his single "Champions".
Contents

[hide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#)]


1 Biography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Biography)

1.1 Chicago Bulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Chicago_Bulls)
1.2 Indiana Pacers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Indiana_Pacers)

1.2.1 Pacers–Pistons brawl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Pacers.E2.80.93Pistons_brawl)
1.2.2 Aftermath and trade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Aftermath_and_trade)


1.3 Sacramento Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Sacramento_Kings)
1.4 Houston Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Houston_Rockets)
1.5 Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Los_Angeles_Lakers)
1.6 Career transactions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Career_transactions)


2 Endorsements (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Endorsements)
3 Discography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Discography)
4 NBA career statistics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#NBA_career_statistics)

4.1 Regular season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Regular_season)
4.2 Playoffs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Playoffs)


5 Controversy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Controversy)

5.1 Legal troubles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#Legal_troubles)


6 See also (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#See_also)
7 References (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#References)
8 External links (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#External_links)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=1)] Biography

Artest was born and raised in the Queensbridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensbridge,_Queens) projects in Queens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens), New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York). Artest has two younger brothers, Isaiah and Daniel.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-0) He played high school basketball at La Salle Academy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Salle_Academy) and college basketball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_basketball) at St. John's University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_University_%28New_York%29) from 1997–1999.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-1)[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-2) In 1999, he helped the Red Storm to the Elite Eight, losing to Ohio State in a classic game. He gained fame playing in some of New York City's high profile summer basketball tournaments at Nike (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.) Pro City, Hoops in the Sun at Orchard Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchard_Beach,_New_York), Bronx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronx), New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York) and Dyckman Park at Washington Heights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Heights,_Manhattan), earning himself nicknames such as Tru Warier[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-3) and The New World Order, a name he received from Randy Cruz (one of the co-founders of the Hoops In The Sun basketball league at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, New York).
As a teenager, he was teamed with Elton Brand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Brand) of the Philadelphia 76ers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_76ers) and current teammate Lamar Odom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_Odom) of the Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) on the same AAU (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_Athletic_Union) team.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-4)
Growing up in a rough neighborhood Artest claims he witnessed the murder of a fellow player on a basketball court. "It was so competitive, they broke a leg from a table and they threw it, it went right through his heart and he died right on the court. So I'm accustomed to playing basketball really rough."[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-5) The player Artest was speaking of was 19-year-old Lloyd Newton, who was stabbed in the back with a broken-off table leg during an altercation at a 1991 YMCA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA)-sanctioned basketball tournament.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-6)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=2)] Chicago Bulls

Artest was selected by the Chicago Bulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls) with the 16th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Draft).[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-7)[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-8)
Artest played a total of 175 games for the Bulls over 2-1/2 years, the bulk as a starter, during which time he averaged about 12.5 points and just over 4 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in the 1999–2000 season.
Midway through the 2001-02 season, Artest was traded by Chicago to the Indiana Pacers along with Ron Mercer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mercer), Brad Miller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Miller_%28basketball%29), and Kevin Ollie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Ollie), in exchange for Jalen Rose (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalen_Rose), Travis Best (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Best), Norman Richardson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Richardson), and a 2nd round draft pick.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-9)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=3)] Indiana Pacers

Following his trade to the Pacers, Ron Artest had the best season of his professional career. During the 2003–04 season, he averaged 18.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. Ron made the 2004 All-Star Game as a reserve and was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He wore three jersey numbers for the Pacers: 15, 23 and 91.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=4)] Pacers–Pistons brawl

Main article: Pacers–Pistons brawl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacers%E2%80%93Pistons_brawl)
On November 19, 2004, Artest was at the center of an altercation among players and fans during a game in Auburn Hills, Michigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_Hills,_Michigan) between Artest's Pacers and the home team Detroit Pistons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Pistons).
The brawl began when Artest fouled (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_foul_%28basketball%29) Pistons center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_%28basketball%29) Ben Wallace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Wallace) as Wallace was putting up a shot. Wallace, upset at being fouled hard when the game was effectively over (the Pacers led 97–82), responded by shoving Artest, leading to an altercation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_in_sports) near the scorer's table. Artest walked to the sideline and lay down on the scorer's table. Reacting to Wallace throwing something at Artest, Pistons fan John Green threw a cup of Diet Coke[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-John_Green-10) at Artest, hitting him. Artest jumped into the front-row seats and confronted a man he incorrectly believed to be responsible, which in turn erupted into a brawl between Pistons fans and several of the Pacers. Artest returned to the basketball court, and punched Pistons fan A.J. Shackleford, who was apparently taunting Artest verbally.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-firstreport-11) This fight resulted in the game being stopped with less than a minute remaining. Artest's teammates Jermaine O'Neal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_O%27Neal) and Stephen Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Jackson) were suspended indefinitely the day after the game, along with Wallace.
On November 21, the NBA announced that Artest would be suspended for the remainder of the season (73 games and playoffs), the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history. Eight other players (four Pacers and four Pistons) received suspensions, without pay, which ranged from one to thirty games in length. Each of the Pacers players involved were levied fines and ordered to do community service. Several fans were also charged and were banned from attending Pistons games for life. Artest lost approximately $7 million in salary due to the suspension.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=5)] Aftermath and trade

Early in the 2005–06 season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_NBA_season), Artest requested a trade from the Indiana Pacers and was put on the team's inactive roster. Artest's call for a trade created a rift between him and his teammates. "We felt betrayed, a little disrespected," teammate Jermaine O'Neal said. As for their basketball relationship, O'Neal said: "The business relationship is over. That's fact." Pacers president Larry Bird (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Bird) said he also felt "betrayed" and "disappointed."[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-msnbc-12)
On January 24, 2006, reports from NBA sources confirmed that the Sacramento Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings) had agreed to trade Peja Stojaković (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predrag_Stojakovi%C4%87) to the Pacers for Artest. However, before the trade could be completed, many press outlets reported that Artest had informed team management that he did not want to go to Sacramento. According to Artest's agent, his original trade request was only made because he was upset when he heard rumors that the Pacers were going to trade him to Sacramento for Stojaković early in the season. While not denying his agent's story, Artest did deny that he had rejected the trade to Sacramento, saying that he would play anywhere; hence, contradicting earlier press accounts stating Artest was holding up the trade. Given conflicting accounts, it is unclear why the trade was delayed, but it was nevertheless completed on January 25 and Artest was officially sent to the Kings for Stojaković.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=6)] Sacramento Kings

http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ron_Artest.jpg)
Artest during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings.


Though traded midseason to the Kings franchise, Artest quickly found his place on the team by providing some much needed defense.[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-foxsports1-13) Though many feared his abrasive personality would be a problem, he worked well with his teammates and then-coach Rick Adelman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Adelman). Artest wore #93 for his jersey number with the Kings. After acquiring Artest in late January 2006, the team immediately went on a 14–5 run, the team's best run of the season. The Kings broke .500 and landed the eighth spot in the Western Conference. This prompted ESPN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN) to declare that "Ron Artest has breathed new life in the Sacramento Kings and enhanced their chances of reaching the playoffs for the ninth straight year."[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-espn3-14) Fox Sports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Sports_%28USA%29) proclaimed, "Artest has Kings back in playoff hunt."[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-foxsports1-13)
He was suspended for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Spurs) following a flagrant foul (elbow to the head) on Manu Ginóbili (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Gin%C3%B3bili). The Kings eventually were eliminated from the playoffs in six games.
After the playoffs, Artest offered to donate his entire salary to keep teammate Bonzi Wells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonzi_Wells) with the team, who became a free agent after the 2005–06 NBA season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_NBA_season). He even jokingly threatened to kill Wells if he did not re-sign with the Kings.[16] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-hardwood-15) Wells was later picked up by the Houston Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Rockets) and then traded to the New Orleans Hornets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Hornets) for former Sacramento Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings) player Bobby Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jackson_%28basketball%29). Artest also offered to donate his salary to retain the services of head coach Rick Adelman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Adelman), whose contract expired after the same season. Adelman and the Kings did not agree on a contract extension so the two parted ways.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=7)] Houston Rockets

http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ron_Artest_Rockets_Wizards.jpg)
Artest playing for the Houston Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Rockets) in the 2008–09 NBA season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_NBA_season).


On July 29, 2008, it was reported that Artest was to be traded to the Houston Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Rockets) along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Ewing,_Jr.) and Sean Singletary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Singletary) for Bobby Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jackson_%28basketball%29), recently drafted forward Donté Greene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dont%C3%A9_Greene), a 2009 first-round draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_Draft) pick, and cash considerations.[17] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-16) The deal was made official on August 14, due to Greene's rookie contract signing on July 14.[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-17) In response to the trade, Yao Ming (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yao_Ming) was generally positive, but jokingly said that "hopefully he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands." In response, Artest said, "This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao's team, you know. I'm not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture."[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-18)
Since then, Artest and Yao have exchanged extensive phone calls. Artest has also said, "Whatever Adelman needs me to do, whether that's come off the bench, sixth, seventh man, start, I don't even care. Whatever he needs me to do, I'm 100 percent sure it's going to work out."[20] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-19)
On October 30, 2008, Artest received his first technical as a Houston Rocket, as he raced towards a group of Dallas Mavericks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Mavericks) players and then quickly went to Yao Ming (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yao_Ming) who bumped Josh Howard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Howard) after play stopped. Artest was trying to pull Ming away from the play and to the foul line, but contact was made with Maverick players. The TNT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TNT_%28TV_channel%29) broadcast crew felt this technical was not warranted, and was based upon Artest's prior reputation as a feisty player in the league. In the playoffs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_playoffs), Artest helped the Rockets advance past the first round for the first time in 11 seasons.[21] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-CBSsports-Ron_Artest-20) In Game 2 of the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers), Artest, who was battling for rebounding position with Kobe Bryant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant), was elbowed in the neck by Bryant, which was later ruled to be a Type 1 flagrant foul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagrant_foul). After being called for an offensive foul, Artest was indignant and proceeded to antagonize Bryant after the play, which eventually led to an ejection (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection) by Joe Crawford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Crawford).[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-21) In Game 3, Artest was again ejected in the fourth quarter after a hard foul on Pau Gasol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pau_Gasol), who was attempting to dunk on a fast-break. It was determined the next day that the foul was not serious enough to warrant an ejection, and the flagrant foul was downgraded. [23] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-22)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=8)] Los Angeles Lakers

http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ron_Artest_Ryan_Gomes.jpg)
Artest shoots over defender Ryan Gomes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Gomes).


In July 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) signed Ron Artest to a five-year deal worth about $33 million.[24] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-23)[25] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-24)[26] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-sports.espn.go.com-25) Artest chose the number 37 jersey, which he said was in honor of Michael Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson). Jackson's Thriller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28album%29) album was at No. 1 on the charts for 37 straight weeks.[27] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-26)
In Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_NBA_Playoffs), Artest hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer after grabbing a last second offensive rebound. He scored 25 points against the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 and went to the NBA Finals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_NBA_Finals) for the first time in his career. In the finals, the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics, four games to three. Artest scored 20 points in the clincher and sank the team's last field goal - a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter - to virtually seal the victory. He won his first championship ring with the Lakers.[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-27)
For the 2010-2011 season, Artest switched back to number 15, his college number at St. John’s and the first number he wore in his NBA career.[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-28)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=9)] Career transactions



June 30, 1999: Drafted 16th overall by Chicago Bulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls) in 1999 NBA Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Draft).
February 19, 2002: Traded by Chicago along with Ron Mercer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mercer), Brad Miller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Miller_%28basketball%29) and Kevin Ollie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Ollie) to the Indiana Pacers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pacers) for Jalen Rose (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalen_Rose), Travis Best (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Best), Norman Richardson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Richardson) and a future second-round draft pick.[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-29)
January 25, 2006: Traded by Indiana to the Sacramento Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings) for Peja Stojaković (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predrag_Stojakovi%C4%87).[31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-30)
August 21, 2008: Traded by Sacramento along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Ewing,_Jr.) and Sean Singletary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Singletary) to the Houston Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Rockets) for Bobby Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jackson_%28basketball%29), Donté Greene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dont%C3%A9_Greene) and a future first-round draft pick.[32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-31)
July 8, 2009: Signed by the Los Angeles Lakers for a 5-year deal worth 33 million dollars [26] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-sports.espn.go.com-25)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=10)] Endorsements

http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ron_Artest_Celebrates.jpg)
Artest celebrates at the 2010 Lakers Championship parade.


Artest is currently endorsed by Chinese athletics brand Peak Sport Products (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_Sport_Products) along with former teammate Sasha Vujačić (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasha_Vuja%C4%8Di%C4%87).
In 2008, Artest appeared in a video (http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/04/ron_artest_have.php) promoting companion animal spaying and neutering for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_for_the_Ethical_Treatment_of_Animals) entitled "Have the balls to spay or neuter your dog."[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-32)
In April 2010, it was announced that Artest would help develop and produce his own reality show, They Call Me Crazy, in conjunction with E1 Entertainment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E1_Entertainment) and Tijuana Entertainment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tijuana_Entertainment).[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-33)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=11)] Discography

Album Information My World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_World_%28Ron_Artest_album%29)

Released: October 31, 2006
Label: Lightyear Records
Chart Positions: N/A
Last RIAA certification (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification): N/A
Singles: N/A

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=12)] NBA career statistics

Legend GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game FG% Field-goal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal_%28basketball%29) percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_field_goal) percentage FT% Free-throw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_throw) percentage RPG Rebounds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebound_%28basketball%29) per game APG Assists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assist_%28basketball%29) per game SPG Steals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steal_%28basketball%29) per game BPG Blocks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_%28basketball%29) per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high [edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=13)] Regular season

Yearhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) Teamhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) GPhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) GShttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) MPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) FG%http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) 3P%http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) FT%http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) RPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) APGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) SPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) BPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) PPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) 1999–00 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999%E2%80%932000_NBA_season) Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls) 72 63 31.1 .407 .314 .674 4.3 2.8 1.6 .5 12.0 2000–01 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000%E2%80%9301_NBA_season) Chicago 76 74 31.1 .401 .291 .750 3.9 3.0 2.0 .6 11.9 2001–02 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001%E2%80%9302_NBA_season) Chicago 27 26 30.5 .433 .396 .628 4.9 2.9 2.8 .9 15.6 2001–02 Indiana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pacers) 28 24 29.3 .411 .215 .733 5.0 1.8 2.4 .6 10.9 2002–03 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%9303_NBA_season) Indiana 69 67 33.6 .428 .336 .736 5.2 2.9 2.3 .7 15.5 2003–04 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_NBA_season) Indiana 73 71 37.2 .421 .310 .733 5.3 3.7 2.1 .7 18.3 2004–05 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E2%80%9305_NBA_season) Indiana 7 7 41.6 .496 .412 .922 6.4 3.1 1.7 .9 24.6 2005–06 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_NBA_season) Indiana 16 16 37.7 .460 .333 .612 4.9 2.2 2.6 .7 19.4 2005–06 Sacramento (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings) 40 40 40.1 .383 .302 .717 5.2 4.2 2.0 .8 16.9 2006–07 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_NBA_season) Sacramento 70 65 37.7 .440 .358 .740 6.5 3.4 2.1 .6 18.8 2007–08 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%9308_NBA_season) Sacramento 57 54 38.1 .453 .380 .719 5.8 3.5 2.3 .7 20.5 2008–09 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_NBA_season) Houston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_Houston_Rockets_season) 69 55 35.5 .401 .399 .748 5.2 3.3 1.5 .3 17.1 2009–10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_NBA_season) L.A. Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) 77 77 33.8 .414 .355 .688 4.3 3.0 1.4 .3 11.0 Career
681 639 34.7 .421 .344 .721 5.0 3.2 2.0 .6 15.5 All-Star
1 0 17.0 .600 .000 .500 3.0 3.0 1.0 .0 7.0 [edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=14)] Playoffs

Yearhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) Teamhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) GPhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) GShttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) MPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) FG%http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) 3P%http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) FT%http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) RPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) APGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) SPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) BPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) PPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#) 2001–02 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_NBA_Playoffs) Indiana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pacers) 5 5 33.4 .407 .462 .692 6.0 3.2 2.6 .6 11.8 2002–03 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_NBA_Playoffs) Indiana 6 6 42.0 .389 .387 .800 5.8 2.2 2.5 1.0 19.0 2003–04 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_NBA_Playoffs) Indiana 15 15 38.9 .378 .288 .718 6.5 3.2 1.4 1.1 18.4 2005–06 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_NBA_Playoffs) Sacramento (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings) 5 5 39.6 .383 .333 .696 5.0 3.0 1.6 .8 17.4 2008–09 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_Playoffs) Houston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Rockets) 13 13 37.5 .394 .277 .714 4.3 4.2 1.1 .2 15.6 2009–10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_NBA_Playoffs) L.A. Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers) 23 23 36.5 .398 .291 .579 4.0 2.1 1.5 .5 11.2 Career
67 67 37.7 .390 .306 .705 5.0 2.9 1.6 .7 14.9 [edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=15)] Controversy

Artest has been a subject of frequent controversy. In a December 2009 Sporting News (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_News) interview, Artest admitted that he had led a "wild" lifestyle as a young player, and that he drank Hennessy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hennessy) cognac (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognac_%28drink%29) in the locker room at halftime when he was playing for the Chicago Bulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls) at the beginning of his NBA career.[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-34) During his rookie season in Chicago, he was criticized for applying for a job at Circuit City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_City_%281949_company%29) in order to get an employee discount.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-nuisance-35)[37] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-autogenerated1-36) He once attended a practice with the Indiana Pacers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pacers) in a bath robe.[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-37) He was suspended for two games in the early 2004–05 season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E2%80%9305_NBA_season) by Pacers coach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_coach) Rick Carlisle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Carlisle) after he allegedly asked for a month off because he was tired from promoting an R&B album for the group Allure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allure_%28group%29) on his production label.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-nuisance-35) Artest had also been suspended for three games in 2003 for destroying a television camera at Madison Square Garden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_Square_Garden), and for four games for a confrontation with Miami Heat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Heat) coach Pat Riley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Riley) in 2003.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-nuisance-35) He has also been suspended several times for flagrant fouls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagrant_foul).[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-nuisance-35) Artest was also involved in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacers%E2%80%93Pistons_brawl) in 2004.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=16)] Legal troubles

According to a Placer County (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placer_County) report obtained by the Sacramento Bee, on January 30, 2007, Animal Services officers issued a "pre-seizure" notice to Artest, on the suspicion that a dog at his home in Loomis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loomis,_California) was not getting adequate food. On February 5, officers returned and seized Socks, a female Great Dane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Dane), removing her into protective custody with a local veterinarian. The seizure cited a law that requires animal caretakers to "provide proper sustenance." Artest later sent an email to the Bee, writing "I'm glad to say all problems are solved now, and I'm looking forward to getting my dog back."[39] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-38) In March 2007, his dog was released under a foster care agreement after being treated for more than a month.[40] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-39) In April 2007, the Placer County District Attorney's Office announced that it would not file charges against Artest for the incident.[41] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-library-40) It also was reported by Placer County Animal Services and by Artest that he agreed to allow Socks to be adopted by a new owner.[41] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-library-40)
On March 5, 2007, Artest was arrested for domestic abuse, and excused from Sacramento Kings indefinitely by GM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Manager) Geoff Petrie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Petrie).[42] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-41) On March 10, Kings announced that Artest would return to the team, while his case was being reviewed by the Placer County District Attorney.[43] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-42) On May 3, he was sentenced to 20 days in jail and community service. Artest spent only 10 days in the jail, as the judge stayed 10 days of the sentence, and served the remainder in a work release program.[44] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-43) On July 14, 2007, the NBA suspended Artest for seven games at the beginning of the 2007–08 NBA season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%9308_NBA_season) for his legal problems.[45] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_note-44)
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=17)] See also



List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_career_ste als_leaders)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Artest&action=edit&section=18)] References



^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-0) Aasen, Adam (February 10, 2005). "The man behind the melee" (http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=39502&search=ron%20artest&section=search). Indiana Daily Student (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Daily_Student). http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=39502&search=ron%20artest&section=search. Retrieved 11 Apr 2010.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-1) Ron Artest Pro and College Stats (http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ArtesRo01)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-2) [1] (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ron_artest/bio.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-3) http://www.truwarier.com (http://www.truwarier.com/)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-4) NBA.com : Ron Artest Bio Page (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ron_artest/bio.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-5) A wild and crazy night: Kobe gets tough, Artest gets angry and the NBA has some decisions to make (http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2009/05/a_wild_and_crazy_night_kobe_ge.html). Retrieved on May 7, 2009.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-6) Player Dies in Stabbing at Basketball Game (http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/15/nyregion/player-dies-in-stabbing-at-basketball-game.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-7) http://www.nbadraft.net/nba_draft_history/1999.html - 1999 NBA Draft| NBADraft.net
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-8) http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1999.html - 1999 NBA Draft | Basketball-Reference.com
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-9) Tim Davenport, "A Ron Artest Review: The Soap Opera So Far," Silver Screen and Roll, July 4, 2009. http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2009/7/4/937998/a-ron-artest-review-the-soap-opera
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-John_Green_10-0) "Fan details strides made since brawl" (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4670842). ESPN.com. November 19, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4670842. Retrieved November 19, 2009. ""I remember throwing the cup, actually a cup of Diet Coke, not a beer, but I had been drinking and I've had issues with alcohol in the past""
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-firstreport_11-0) "Artest, Jackson charge Palace stands" (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1927380). ESPN.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN.com). November 21, 2004. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1927380. "Later, a man in a Pistons jersey approached Artest on the court, shouting at him. Artest punched him in the face, knocking the man to the floor before leaving the court. Artest was pulled away, and the fan charged back. Teammate Jermaine O'Neal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_O%27Neal) stepped in and punched another man who joined the scrum."
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-msnbc_12-0) 'Betrayed' Bird says Artest must go - December 27, 2005 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10612285/)
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-espn3_14-0) NBA Preview - Lakers At Kings - March 14, 2006 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=260314023)
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-17) "It's official: Rockets acquire Ron Artest in blockbuster trade" (http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Itrsquos_official_Ron_Artes-280197-34.html). NBA.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA.com). http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Itrsquos_official_Ron_Artes-280197-34.html. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-CBSsports-Ron_Artest_20-0) "Rockets down Blazers, advance to second round for first time in 12 years" (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20090430_POR@HOU). CBS Sports. 2009-05-01. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20090430_POR@HOU. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-23) "Lakers officially sign Ron Artest" (http://cbs2.com/sports/ron.artest.lakers.2.1076378.html). 2009-07-07. http://cbs2.com/sports/ron.artest.lakers.2.1076378.html. Retrieved 2009-07-07. [dead link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)]
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-27) "Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers - Box Score - June 17, 2010 - ESPN" (http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=300617013). ESPN. 2010-06-17. http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=300617013. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-29) Bulls Acquire Rose, Best in Seven-Player Trade (http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/rose_020219.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-30) Kings Acquire Ron Artest for Peja Stojakovic (http://www.nba.com/kings/news/Artest_Stojakovic_Trade.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-31) It's official: Rockets acquire Ron Artest in blockbuster trade (http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Itrsquos_official_Ron_Artes-280197-34.html)
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-32) NBA Star Ron Artest's Spay and Neuter PETA Ad (http://www.helpinganimals.com/f_ron_artest.asp)
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-34) Greenberg, Steve (December 2, 2009). "SN Conversation with Ron Artest: 'I used to drink Hennessy at halftime'" (http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-12-02/sn-conversation-ron-artest-i-was-head-case). sportingnews.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_News). http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-12-02/sn-conversation-ron-artest-i-was-head-case. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-autogenerated1_36-0) Artest Timeline: Ron-Ron's troubled past (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2281289)
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-39) "Artest's Dog Released Under Foster Care Agreement" (http://www.kcra.com/news/11216277/detail.html). KCRA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCRA-TV). March 9, 2007. http://www.kcra.com/news/11216277/detail.html.
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-41) "Kings suspend Artest after domestic violence arrest" (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2788871). ESPN.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN.com). March 6, 2007. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2788871.
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^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-43) Watson, Matt (May 3, 2007). "Ron Artest Sentenced to 20 Days (He'll Likely Never Serve)" (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/05/03/ron-artest-sentenced-to-20-days-hell-likely-never-serve/) (FanHouse). AOL Sports Blog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL). http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/05/03/ron-artest-sentenced-to-20-days-hell-likely-never-serve/.
^ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest#cite_ref-44) Associated Press (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press) (2007-07-15). "Jackson, Artest suspended following court pleas" (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2936623). ESPN.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN.com). http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2936623. Retrieved 2007-07-15.