Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum), properly garden rhubarb, is a perennial plant cultivated for its leaf-stalks, which are used in the making of tarts, jam and wine. Research Rhubarb
Jam Sahib Ranjitsinhji was an English cricketer. He was born in 1872 and died in 1933. He played for Cambridge University, Sussex - whom he captained from 1899 to 1903 and England, and is known as one of the greatest stylists and a keen bowler. As a batsman he broke numerous records during the 1890s and in 1899 was the first to score 3000 runs in a single season. Research J S Ranjitsinhji
The chain gun was created to address the problem of traditional auto-cannons that if a round misfires or is defective, there isn't sufficient recoil to clear the shell and reload the gun and the gun jams. Chain guns use a separate motor to pull the ammunitionbelt through the gun breech. If a shell doesn't fire, the motor pulls the round out and loads a new one as though it had fired, preventing the jam which would occur otherwise. Jamming can still occur with chain guns, but is less frequent than with recoil loading automatic weapons, however the rate of fire is lower. Research Chain Gun
A revolver is a gun, usually a handgun, with a multi-chambered cylinder that rotates to successively align each chamber with a single barrel and firing pin. Revolvers have several noticeable differences over a self-loading pistol (automatic):
The advantages of a revolver may be summised as:
Revolvers have a simple mechanism.
Revolvers do not require an applied safety mechanism.
Revolvers do not have misfire problems, and can not jam.
The single action firing of a revolver produces an extremely smooth trigger action which leads to much greater accuracy.
However, there are also disadvantages to a revolver over a self-loading pistol:
Ammunition in a revolver's chamber is visible
Revolvers are bulky and fifficult to conceal.
Revolvers are limited in their ammunition capacity, typically to six rounds.
Pectin is the name given to any of a group of complex carbohydrate derivatives produced in plants.
Pectins are white amorphous substances that yield a viscous solution with water; when combined in the proper proportions with sugar and acids, they form a gelatinous substance that is the thickening agent in fruit jams. Commercial pectin, obtained from apples or lemons, is used in preparing jam from fruits deficient in pectin. Research Pectin
PostScript was a groundbreaking Page Description Language (PDL), based on work originally done by John Gaffney at Evans and Sutherland in 1976, evolving through 'JaM' ('John and Martin', Martin Newell) at XEROX PARC, and finally implemented in its current form by John Warnock et al. after he and Chuck Geschke founded Adobe Systems Incorporated in 1982. PostScript gets its leverage by using a full programming language, rather than a series of low-level escape sequences, to describe an image to be printed on a laser printer or other output device (in this it parallels EMACS, which exploited a similar insight about editing tasks). It is also noteworthy for implementing on-the fly rasterisation, from Bezier curve descriptions, of high-quality fonts at low (e.g. 300 dpi) resolution (it was formerly believed that hand-tuned bitmap fonts were required for this task). Research Postscript
The E-3 Sentry is an American airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications needed by commanders of U.S. and NATO air defence forces. The E-3 Sentry is a modified Boeing 707/320 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome. The dome is 9.1 metres in diameter, 1.8 metres thick, and is held 3.3 metres above the fuselage by two struts. It contains a radar subsystem that permits surveillance from the Earth's surface up into the stratosphere, over land or water. The radar has a range of more than 200 miles for low-flying targets and farther for aerospace vehicles flying at medium to high altitudes. The radar combined with an identification friend or foe subsystem can look down to detect, identify and track enemy and friendly low-flying aircraft by eliminating ground clutter returns that confuse other radar systems. Other major subsystems in the E-3 are navigation, communications and computers (data processing). Consoles display computer-processed data in graphic and tabular format on video screens. Console operators perform surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions.
The radar and computer subsystems on the E-3 Sentry can gather and present broad and detailed battlefield information. Data is collected as events occur. This includes position and tracking information on enemy aircraft and ships, and location and status of friendly aircraft and naval vessels. The information can be sent to major command and control centres in rear areas or aboard ships. In time of crisis, this data can be forwarded to the National Command Authorities in the United States. In support of air-to-ground operations, the Sentry can provide direct information needed for interdiction, reconnaissance, airlift and close-air support for friendly ground forces. It can also provide information for commanders of air operations to gain and maintain control of the air battle. As an air defence system, E-3s can detect, identify and track airborne enemy forces far from the boundaries of the United States or NATO countries. It can direct fighter-interceptor aircraft to these enemy targets.
Experience has proven that the E-3 Sentry can respond quickly and effectively to a crisis and support worldwide military deployment operations. It is a jam-resistant system that has performed missions while experiencing heavy electronic countermeasures. With its mobility as an airborne warning and control system, the Sentry has an excellent chance of surviving in war. Among other things, the flight path can quickly be changed according to mission and survival requirements. The E- 3 can fly a mission profile for more than eight hours without refuelling. Its range and on-station time can be increased through in-flight refuelling. The aircraft can be used as a surveillance asset in support of other government agencies during counter drug operations. U.S. Customs Service officers may fly aboard the E-3 Sentry on pre-coordinated missions to detect smuggling activities. It is powered by four Pratt and Whitney TF33-PW-100A turbofan engines giving a speed of 350 mph and a range of 8 hours flying time before refuelling. It is crewed by a flight crew of four plus a mission crew of 13-19 specialists (mission crew size varies according to mission). Research E-3 Sentry
Space Jam is a part animated comedy adventure starring Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, the voice of Billy West, Theresa Randle and Manner Washington in a story about Looney Tunes cartoon characters being forced to play a game of basketball against evil aliens from outer space. Space Jam was directed by Joe Pytka in 1997. Research Space Jam
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Bullace
