President James Madison recommended a series of coastal defenses in a message to Congress on December 5, 1815. This began a system of forts known as the "Third Coastal Defense System". Congress agreed and construction began on these forts in 1816. One of the locations selected was in Charleston harbor. In 1829 construction began on a shoal in the harbor about west of Fort Moultrie. Over the next 16 years a artificial island was created using of rock and stone. When completed it was designed to house 650 officers and soldiers with 135 guns mounted on three rows, one above the next. All the guns would point towards the harbor. It was named for Brigadier General Thomas Sumter, a Revolutionary War hero.
In 1860 the fort was about 90% complete when work stopped after South Carolina seceded from the Union. In the early hours of April 12, 1861, a mortar shell exploded over the fort starting the Civil War. During the war, Fort Sumter remained in Confederate hands. From 1863 to 1865 Union forces laid siege to the fort. For 587 days Confederate soldiers held onto the fort, although by 1865 the fort had been completely destroyed by Union bombardments.
In 1870, the work of clearing the rubble started. The rebuilding of the fort was directed by General Quincy A. Gillmore. He had commanded the Union guns during the siege of the fort in 1861. But in 1876, the work stopped and the fort began to slowly deteriorate again. From 1876 to 1898, the fort served as a lighthouse.
In 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, Army engineers began rebuilding again with a massive concrete battery in the center of the fort. It mounted two 12-inch gun M1895 costal guns. The construction was not completed until after the war. During World War I the two-gun battery (called "Battery Huger") was manned by the U.S. Army. By World War II the guns were obsolete. They were finally removed in 1943. Later in the war it became an Anti-aircraft battery. In 1948 the National Park Service took possession of the fort.
Today, the restored Fort Sumpter, along with the Visitor center and Education Center (both in Charleston) and Fort Moultrie are popular tourist attractions. The fort is accessible only by special ferries that depart from Liberty Square. The ride to the island takes about 30 minutes. There is also a ferry service from Patriots Point which has parking for recreational and taller vehicles. The monument is open to visitors 362 days a year. The restored fort is one level instead of the former three levels. Several of the brick walls still have artillery projectiles stuck in the masonry. The park museum has a scale model of the original fort. It houses the original 33-star U.S. flag that flew during the first bombardment. Also on display is the original flag of the South Carolina militia (called the Palmetto Guard) who took possession of the fort after the Union surrender.
Arrondissement of Briançon
The arrondissement of Briançon is a French arrondissement in the Hautes-Alpes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Its capital is the city of Briançon.
When the Hautes-Alpes department was created on 1800, the "arrondissement" of Briançon was part of that original department.
The "arrondissement" of Briançon is the most northern of the Hautes-Alpes department. It is bordered to the east by the Piedmont region (Italy), to the southeast by the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, to the south by the Gap "arrondissement", to the west by the Drôme department and to the north by the Savoie department.
The "arrondissement" of Briançon is the smallest of the two "arrondissements" of the department both in area, , and population (35,752 inhabitants).
After the reorganisation of the cantons in France, cantons are not subdivisions of the "arrondissements" so they could have "communes" that belong to different "arrondissements".
There are four cantons in the "arrondissement" of Briançon and all have their communes in the "arrondissement":
The "arrondissement" of Briançon has 37 "communes"; they are (with their INSEE codes)ː
The "communes" with more inhabitants in the "arrondissement" are:
Prerogative
A prerogative is an exclusive power or privilege possessed by an official of a government or state as a part of his or her office. Under English law it is right of a sovereign, which in theory, has no restrictions. For example, the British monarch holds Royal prerogatives which have never been fully listed. In practice, they are usually used by ministers on behalf of the monarch. In the United States, the Constitution is written in such a way to allow executive prerogatives. Presidents use these powers to manage crises or to resolve disputes. Although nothing in the Constitution specifically gave him the power to do it, George Washington used executive prerogative to declare neutrality in the 1790s dispute between Great Britain and France. Thomas Jefferson used it to make the Louisiana Purchase. Abraham Lincoln used it many times during the American Civil War.
Arrondissement of Gap
The arrondissement of Gap is an arrondissement of France, in the Hautes-Alpes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Its capital, and prefecture, is the city of Gap, the largest city in the department.
When the Hautes-Alpes department was created on 1800, the "arrondissement" of Gap was part of that original department.
The "arrondissement" of Gap is in the southern half of the Hautes-Alpes department. It is bordered to the east and south by the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, to the west by the Drôme department, to the north by the Isère department and to the northeast by the Briançon "arrondissement".
The "arrondissement" of Gap is the largest of the two "arrondissements" of the department both in area, , and population (104,131 inhabitants).
After the reorganisation of the cantons in France, cantons are not subdivisions of the "arrondissements" so they could have "communes" that belong to different "arrondissements".
There are 11 cantons in the "arrondissement" of Gap and all have their communes in the "arrondissement":
The "arrondissement" of Gap has 130 "communes"; they are (with their INSEE codes)ː
The "communes" with more inhabitants in the "arrondissement" are:
Cosgrove Hall Films
Cosgrove Hall Films (also known as Cosgrove Hall Productions) is a Manchester, UK production company begun by Brian Cosgrove. Cosgrove Hall Films produced various series and productions to 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The company was formed in 1976. They stopped creating shows in 2012.
T2 phage
T2 phage is more properly called Enterobacteria phage T2. It is a virulent bacteriophage which infects "Escherichia coli" bacteria.
It contains linear double-stranded DNA, and is covered by a protective protein coat. T2 is a 'tailed phage', one of a group known as the 'T4-like viruses'.
The DNA of the phage is injected into "E. coli" cells. It quickly turns the "E. coli" cell into a T2-producing factory. New phages are released when the cell ruptures.
The Hershey–Chase experiments, done by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase, showed how the DNA of viruses is injected into the bacterial cells, while most of the viral proteins stay outside. The injected DNA molecules cause the bacterial cells to produce more viral DNA and proteins. These discoveries showed that DNA, rather than proteins, is the hereditary material.
Rhyme royal
Rhyme royal is a seven-line stanza with rhyme scheme a-b-a-b-b-c-c. It is also spelled Rime royal.
It is unknown who invented this scheme. Geoffrey Chaucer introduced the stanza into English poetry in 14th century. It may have been borrowed from Italian or French poetry, but the form became typically English. Chaucer used the form in "Troilus and Criseyde". Rhyme royal was popular in the 15th and 16th centuries.