Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Firing squad

2008-08-31T22:57:53Z

RobK:

The '''firing squad''' is a type of [[death penalty]] that is used particularly by armies and remains an option in for the death row inmates convicted prior to March 15, 2004 in [[Utah]].<ref>Utah passed a law passed on March 15, 2004 that banned the use of the firing squad for future convicted defendants, and mandating [[lethal injection]] for future executions. However, it was not made retroactive to persons on death row. In other words, criminals who were placed on death row prior to this date still face death by firing squad.</ref>

The '''firing squad''', as its name suggests, consists of a row of soldiers or officers who shoot simultaneously at a victim tied to a post. In some implementations only one of the rifles has actual ammunition and other rifles are loaded with blanks, so that the participants do not know which man actually killed the victim. In some situations if the shooters fail to kill the victim; the victim may be pardoned from any further execution attempts.

It is customary in most cases to blindfold the person being shot, out of a common sense of decency.

== References ==

<references/>

[[category:crime]]

My Chemical Romance

2008-08-31T22:57:09Z

RobK:

'''My Chemical Romance''' is a popular [[Alternative Rock]] band. They have spawned hit singles such as "Helena" and "Welcome To The Black Parade."

[[Category:Alternative Rock Bands]]

Group theory

2008-08-31T21:55:08Z

RobK:

'''Group theory''' is the study of mathematical [[group]]s, including their symmetries and permutations. It has applications in science, and has become one of the most active branches in all of mathematics in the 20th century.

There are three main sources of group theory. The first source of group theory was number theory, beginning in the late 1700s. A second source was the theory of algebraic equations, leading to the study of permutations, also beginning in the late 1700s. A third source of group theory was geometry beginning around 1800.

==Origins of Group Theory==

It is generally recognized that Group Theory began with [[Evariste Galois]] in the early 19th century, who recognized some patterns in the roots of Quintics. The legend is that he invented Group Theory the night before he was killed in a duel.

Galois certainly fought a duel with Perscheux d'Herbinville on 30 May, 1832 (the reason for the duel not being clear but definitely linked with a female; many sources claim she was a prostitute.) Galois was wounded in the duel and was abandoned by d'Herbinville and his own seconds and found later by a peasant. He died in Cochin hospital on 31 May.

In his papers was found a note which reads:
<blockquote>
There is something to complete in this demonstration. I do not have the time.
</blockquote>
It is this which has led to the legend that he spent his last night writing out all he knew about group theory.

[[Category:Algebra]]

Latin

2008-08-31T21:54:36Z

RobK:

'''Latin''' is an [[Indo-European]] language of the [[Italic]] family; its closest relative was [[Umbric]], which is now extinct. Latin was the most widely spoken language in the [[Roman Empire]], and is the language from which all the [[Romance languages]] are derived. These languages include [[Spanish]], [[Romanian]], [[Portuguese]], [[Italian]], [[French]] and [[Catalan]], among others.

Latin [[grammar]] is marked by an extensive system of [[noun]] [[Grammatical case|cases]] and [[verb]]al inflection. Noun cases are organized along nominative-accusative lines, with several other oblique cases also used. Verbal morphology distinguishes [[voice]] (active and passive), tense (past, present, future), mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive), [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]] (perfect, imperfect, pluperfect), and person (first, second, and third person in singular and plural numbers). Much of the Latin read nowadays is based on [[literature]] written around the time of (Sanath.). The modern Romance languages are descended from Vulgar Latin,which has less literature than its older counterpart. Changes from Classical to Vulgar Latin included the merger of long /e:/ and /o:/ with short /i/ and /u/, respectively, the loss of /h/ and the accusative nasalisation, and the replacement of cases, tenses, and voices with periphrastic constructions (this change occurred across western Europe). Until 1962, Latin was the language in which all Roman [[Catholic]] masses were conducted. A number of Roman Catholics still conduct masses in Latin, and Latin is still the official language of the Roman Catholic Church. Phonologically, Latin is generally similar to other western languages of the Indo-European family.

== Contemporary Latin Use ==

Today Latin is used primarily by scientists of all kinds, from biologists to chemists, use Latin for all the important things --such as categorization of anything they see and catchphrases; '''Astronomers''' (Greek, Astron, lit. Star) too, all the planets and stars have Latin (or Greek) names such as "Sol" (solar, the Sun), Mars and "Earth's" proper scientific name is "Terra".

==Further reading==

* John F. Collins, ''A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin'', Catholic University of America Press (1985), ISBN 0-8132-0667-7 An introductory Latin text based mainly on medieval ecclesiastical sources.
* Nicholas Ostler, '' Ad Infinitum: a Biography of Latin'', Walker and Company, New York (2007) ISBN 0-8027-1515-X A history of the Latin language.
* Bob Moore and Maxine Moore, '' Dictionary of Latin and Greek Origins: a Comprehensive Guide to the Classical Origins of English Words'', Barnes and Noble, Inc, New York (2000) ISBN 0-7607-2082-7

[[Category:Romance languages]]
[[Category:Latin Terms/Phrases]]
[[Category:Terms]]

USS Chesapeake

2008-08-31T21:53:38Z

RobK:

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" style="float:right;width:300px; border-collapse:collapse;margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|colspan="2"|[[Image:USSChesapeake1.jpg|300px|USS ''Chesapeake'']]
|-
! style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy;"| Career
! style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy;"| [[Image:15 star Jack.PNG|48px|USN Jack]]
|-
| Launched:
| 2 December 1799
|-
| Commissioned:
| 1800
|-
| Fate:
| Captured by [[United Kingdom|British]], 1 June 1813
|-
!colspan="2" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy;"| General Characteristics
|-
| Displacement:
| 1,244 tons (1254 [[metric ton|t]])
|-
| Length:
| 152.7 ft (46.5 m)
|-
| Beam:
| 41.3 ft (12.6 m)
|-
| Depth:
| 20 ft (6.1 m)
|-
| Complement:
| 340 officers and enlisted
|-
| Armament:
| 28 × 18-pounder long guns <br>20 × 32-pounder carronades
|}
'''USS ''Chesapeake''''', a 36-gun sail frigate, was one of the original six frigates built for the [[United States Navy]] in the late 18th century. ''Chesapeake'' was notable for the forced removal of several members of her crew in the [[Chesapeake-Leopard Affair]] in 1807, as well as her loss to HMS ''Shannon'' during the [[War of 1812]].

==Early service==
USS ''Chesapeake'' was built at the Gosport Navy Yard, at Portsmouth, [[Virginia]]. Commissioned during the first part of 1800, she operated off the southern United States and in the West Indies during the [[Quasi-War]] with France, capturing a French privateer on 1 January 1800. During much of 1802 and 1803 she was deployed to the Mediterranean as flagship during hostilities with Tripoli, then was laid up at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C.

In June 1807 ''Chesapeake'', which had been refitted for further active service, sailed from [[Hampton Roads]], Virginia, as flagship of Commodore [[James Barron]]. Bound for the [[Mediterranean]] after taking on stores and ammunition, she was as yet unprepared for action when the British frigate HMS ''Leopard'' stopped her and demanded that she be searched for [[Royal Navy]] deserters. When this was refused, ''Leopard'' fired on ''Chesapeake'', killing and wounding several of her crew. The essentially defenseless American warship then surrendered, some alleged deserters were taken from her, and she was allowed to return to Gosport for repairs. This affair, which enraged the nation, was one of the incidents that led, some five years later, to war between the United States and Great Britain.

==War of 1812==
Following repairs, ''Chesapeake'' operated off New England under the command of Captain [[Stephen Decatur]]. During the last weeks of December and the first months of 1813, the frigate, which had been refitted for War of 1812 service, cruised in the Atlantic, taking as prizes a number of British commercial vessels. On 9 April 1813 she returned to [[Boston]] after a cruise against British commercial shipping. Over the next several weeks she was refitted and received a new commanding officer, the recently promoted Captain [[James Lawrence]]. Many of her officers were replaced and a large percentage of her crew was newly enlisted. Though the ship was a good one, with a well-seasoned captain, time would be necessary to work her men into a capable and disciplined combat team.

==Battle with HMS ''Shannon''==
[[Image:USSChesapeake.jpg|thumb|200px|right|USS ''Chesapeake'' led into Halifax Harbor by HMS ''Shannon'', June, 1813.]]
However, the time was not available. Blockading off Boston was HMS ''Shannon'', commanded for the past seven years by Captain Philip Broke, whose attention to gunnery practice and other elements of combat readiness was extraordinary. ''Shannon'' and ''Chesapeake'' were of virtually identical strength, though the American ship's crew was rather larger, and a duel between the two was attractive to both captains. Broke even issued a formal challenge, though it did not reach ''Lawrence'', whose previous experience with British warships had convinced him that they were not likely to be formidable opponents.

''Chesapeake'' left Boston Harbor in the early afternoon of 1 June 1813. The two ships sailed several miles offshore, where ''Shannon'' slowed to await her opponent, who approached flying a special flag proclaiming "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights" in recognition of America's prewar grievances against British policies. Though ''Lawrence'' had a brief opportunity to rake, he did not do so, but closed to place his port broadside against ''Shannon's'' starboard battery. Somewhat before 6 PM the ships opened fire, both hitting, but the British guns did more damage and produced crippling casualties on ''Chesapeake's'' quarterdeck. Captain Lawrence was mortally wounded by small arms fire and had to be taken below, giving his final order "Fight her till she sinks, and don't give up the ship!"

The American ship was soon out of control. The two frigates came together. Captain Broke led his boarding party onto ''Chesapeake's'' quarterdeck, where they met fierce but disorganized resistance. Assisted by cannon and small arms fire from on board ''Shannon'', they soon gained control above decks, though Captain Broke was badly wounded in the process. Some fifteen minutes after the battle began, ''Chesapeake'' was in British hands.

Casulaties were heavy: more than sixty killed on ''Chesapeake''; about half that many on ''Shannon''. The latter's cannon had made more than twice as many hits, and her boarding party demonstrated decisive superiority in hand-to-hand fighting. The action, which greatly boosted British morale, provided another of the War of 1812's many convincing examples of the vital importance of superior training and discipline in combat on sea and land.

On 10 September 1813 Commodore [[Oliver Hazard Perry]] would engage a British flotilla in the [[Battle of Lake Erie]]. Flying from his masthead on his flagship USS ''Lawrence'' was a large blue flag bearing his friend's dying order: "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP".

''Chesapeake'' was taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where her presence provided a major boost to British Navy morale. She later sailed to England and was sold there in 1820 for breaking up. Much of her material was subsequently used for building the Chesapeake Mill in Hampshire, England.

==Links==
*[http://www.chesapeakemill.co.uk/ The Chesapeake Mill]

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/chesapke.htm][http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/war1812/atsea/ches-sn.htm]}}

[[category:United States Navy]][[Category: War of 1812]][[Category:United States History]]

Doritos

2008-08-31T21:53:05Z

RobK:

'''Doritos''' are a type of flavored tortilla chip sold by the [[Frito-Lay]] company. They are distributed in many nations worldwide.

[[Category:Snack Foods]]