Definitions for yellowthroatˈyɛl oʊˌθroʊt
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word yellowthroat
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
any of various New World wood warblers of the genus Geothlypis, typically nesting in dense undergrowth, esp. the common North American species G. trichas, with a yellow throat and breast, and, in the male, a black mask.
Origin of yellowthroat:
small olive-colored American warblers with yellow breast and throat
A mostly yellow-colored group of New World warblers in the genus Geothlypis
any one of several species of American ground warblers of the genus Geothlypis, esp. the Maryland yellowthroat (G. trichas), which is a very common species
The yellowthroats are New World warblers in the genus Geothlypis. Most members of the group have localised ranges in Mexico and Central America, but the Masked Yellowthroat has an extensive South American distribution, and Common Yellowthroat, the only migratory species in the group, breeds over much of North America. All the yellowthroats have similar plumage, with yellow-green upperparts, yellow breast, and a mainly black bill. The adult male has a black facemask of variable extent, usually bordered above with a grey band. The female is similar, but lacks the black mask, and may be duller in plumage. The breeding habitat of these warblers is typically marshes and other wet areas with dense low vegetation. The eggs, two in most species, but up to five for Common Yellowthroat, are laid in a lined cup nest low in grass or rank vegetation. Yellowthroat are usually seen in pairs, and do not associate with other species. They are often skulking, and feed on a range of insects. The taxonomy of these closely related species is complicated, and it is sometimes difficult to define which forms merit species status. For example Common Yellowthroat, Belding's Yellowthroat, Altamira Yellowthroat, and Bahama Yellowthroat are sometimes considered conspecific. Conversely Masked Yellowthroat can be split to three or even four species.
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1 - Where did a singularity come from?
Problem, you can't rely on any matter or energy because they didn't exist yet.
Good question. No-one knows. Where did a supernatural god come from? "It just is that way." Is a valid answer to both questions.
2 - A singularity is a black hole? all the matter of the universe is compressed into a theorized pinhead that means the atoms can not move, therefor the matter is in a thermodynamic dead end. it can not change state.
1. The big bang doesn't have to start from a singularity. It can start from a small, dense hot object that isn't a black hole.
2. Atoms not moving is against the rules of quantum mechanics. Stephen Hawking showed that black holes are not a thermodynamic
dead end in the 80s (or 90s.) He showed that black holes have a temperature and, over massive time scales will radiate their mass
away as energy.
3- How long in time was the singularity stayed the way it was?
Probably some infinitesimally short time. (Like .000000000000000000000000000001 seconds. Give or take 10 to 20 zeros.)
AFAIK there's no way the big bang could have been a stable object that had any kind of lifespan. It could only go boom.
(Does time stop in a black hole?, I dont know.)
It does. As you get pulled close to and over the event horizon you accelerate to almost the speed of light. So, yes,
time dilates massively for you.
4 - What mystical force caused the explosion / expansion of the singularity?
As I said above, the BB doesn't have to start from a singularity. It can start from a small, dense ball-o-really hot stuff.
5 - I might be wrong on the name here but the hubble's constant of the expanding universe combiend with the gravity of the matter of the universe force would have to match to a accuracy ratio of 1 to 1 million million million in relation to each other otherwise the universe will
A - collpase on itself.
B - explode.
That's right. But, when you add dark energy to the picture, it looks like we live in an open universe where everything flies apart,
the universe cools to absolute zero and becomes silent, empty and boring.
6 - With the BB I read you only get hydrogen / heiliem atoms. This means you should get a steady cloud of gas expanding at 10^70 the speed of light
Yes, hydrogen and helium were created in the BB. The expanding gas at 10^70 part is complete nonsense. No physicist would ever
say that as we all know the maximum speed is c (the speed of light.)
As the universe expands, the gas cools. Over a billion years or so it collapsed into galaxies, stars, clusters, etc...
A - What causes the cloud to condense into galixies at the gas is uniformed.
As the gas cooled, it wasn't uniform. Small instabilities in density are magnified over time, creating what we have today.
B - Why wouldn't the gas collapse back to the sigularity?
This one I'm not so sure on. I think the expansion of the universe (Hubble constant) and the outward energy of the
explosion ensure the gas won't collapse back in on itself.
Do you want me to go on about how gas clouds can't form galaxies because they require a working super nova / sun to compact them enough for gravity to hold them?
You don't need a supernova to seed these things. As I said above, the gas wasn't uniform from the beginning. Those mass fluctuations
are enough to start the process.
BTW, look at a picture of the cosmic microwave background. The variations in color are the fluctuations I'm referring to.
Anyway, People have to use the BigBang theory because they have no other way to explain the universe and how they exist. And the other explanation they refuse to accept. So funding goes mainly/only? to such "research" hindering science other possibilities.
Research is based on theorizing, observation and proof. Roughly put, an idea is accepted if the experimental evidence confirms the idea
being proposed. The (inflationary) BB is the best explanation we have that matches our observable universe - now and in the past. It
rests on firm foundations: Isaac Newton's mechanics, electromagnetism, Einstein's relativity and quantum mechanics.
(WRT refusing to accept other theories: I believe in the process of science: Bring the idea forward. Propose experiments that can be
done to verify your idea. Experiments is key. That's what makes or breaks a theory.
Note that saying, "I believe strongly that..." is not an experiment.
BUT, do your homework first: Review the literature in the field(s) in question. See why other ideas failed and why. Learn from them.
If the idea has merit, scientists will consider it.)
Therefor when I stick my fork into the power socket and see sparks flying, that must be something to do with how the early big bang worked. (I am now moderated up). I hope this brief posting enlightens some people but I gotta work now. I do recommended for anyone to read a book "Dismantling the Big Bang". It does a much better job at ripping to pieces then what I can remember. Cheers
You didn't do a good job at all. You demonstrated that you have no real knowledge of how science is done on a day to day basis. You've also demonstrated you don't know any physics or astronomy. It seems your "education" comes from an anti-science book. You're parroting ideas from it with no real understanding of what you're saying.


Managing plant-soil-water systems for more sustainable landscapes
The ecosystem services that can be delivered through green infrastructure are now highly valued. Functions including outdoor recreation and amenity, public health and safety (microclimate modification), community networking, contact with nature, natural resource protection and food production, provided through green space, contribute to the liveability of urban areas. Storm water harvesting schemes are increasingly important in the provision and maintenance of urban green space but the success of these systems relies upon the selected plants being suited to the site and the growing environment, healthy soil/media environments, appropriate soil moisture regimes, fit-for-purpose water quality and secure water supplies. Healthy plant growth, and hence the provision of ecosystem services, is influenced by dynamic relationships between these functions, but in particular hydrological processes. Quantification of the hydrological processes is essential to providing a sound foundation for the design and management of green infrastructure. Adoption of tools, such as soil moisture sensing and daily ET data provide valuable insights into soil water extraction rates by plants, effectiveness of rainfall and irrigation, identification of tree root activity and soil root zone layers, estimation of deep soil water storage potential and determination of trigger points, based on plant stress levels, to inform irrigation scheduling. This paper outlines key factors in green infrastructure design and management to ensure that they provide valuable, effective and sustainable services, based on defined and measurable landscape outcomes, an understanding of each of the water cycle processes and examines strategies that maintain healthy soil environments, optimises storm water use and implements best management practices in irrigation and water management.
Connellan, G.J. (2016). Managing plant-soil-water systems for more sustainable landscapes. Acta Hortic. 1108, 151-158
ecosystem services, irrigation efficiency, landscape coefficient, microclimate modification, soil moisture monitoring, sustainable landscapes


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Fruit Trees in Phoenix
Arizona has distinct climate zones based on length of the growing season, average temperatures in the winter and elevation. Phoenix is in the low desert zone that enjoys warm winters—with very hot summers—and a long growing season. For gardeners, this long season is ideal, providing the opportunity for almost year-round harvesting. Phoenix is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9.
What to Avoid
Phoenix is not the ideal climate for all fruit trees, however. To grow successfully in Phoenix, trees require a certain number of cumulative hours in the winter when the temperature is below 45 degrees but above freezing. This allows the tree to emerge from its dormant state, bloom as it should in the spring, and produce fruit.
In Phoenix, trees with lower chilling requirements tend to have better fruit production because the winters are simply too warm. This is generally accepted to be 600 hours or less of chilly temperatures per winter season. Trees that meet this criteria include avocado—which does not require any chilly temperatures—fig trees, persimmon and pomegranate.
Citrus trees grow very well in Phoenix and surrounding desert areas. Citrus has been an important commercial crop for generations of Arizona farmers. The desert climate causes the fruit to have a wonderful mix of flavor. The hot weather helps make the fruit particularly sweet; the cool winter temperatures add a layer of tartness.
Lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines and oranges are all good choices for the backyard gardener. These definitely do not have chilling requirements, in fact some citrus trees are frost sensitive, such as lemon trees. Cover these on cold nights with burlap or sheets.
Plant citrus trees--and all fruit trees--in soil that drains well, so water can reach the entire root system of the tree. Drainage can be tested simply by digging a hole and filling it with water, then seeing how many hours it takes to drain out. Phoenix soil often has a hardened calcium carbonate called caliche that blocks the flow of water through the soil.
When choosing the tree to plant in your Phoenix backyard, take their chilling requirements into account to avoid being disappointed with the fruit production. Plum and apricot trees, depending on the variety, require between 400 and 1,000 hours of cool temperatures. Look for a variety at the lower end of this scale, and the trees may bear fruit successfully.
Golden Delicious apples require 850 chilly hours per winter season, so these trees are not the best choice for a Phoenix gardener. Pear trees are not either. The popular Bartlett pear has a requirement of 800 hours. The Red Haven variety of peach tree needs 950 chilly hours or more of chilly temperatures, whereas the Desert Gold only needs 250 hours.


This page details some of the most common electronic components and the symbols used to represent them in a circuit. The symbols used can vary between types and around the world so we are just showing you the most common ones. If you are new to this subject we recommend you read the previous page first as it explains some of the terminology used on this page.
A resistor is a simple component that is deliberately made to be a poor conductor of electricity. The amount of resistance the component has can be chosen when they are purchased and is measured in Ohms. They are used in a circuit to limit the current flowing in part of a circuit or to allow voltage to be controlled in a specific way. Resistors can be made from numerous materials.
This is similar to a standard resistor except it has an extra terminal. By twisting a dial or moving a slider the resistance can be varied. It is simply moving the point of contact on the resistive material which effectively changes the length of material between two contacts. They are often used for volume control in audio circuits by varying the voltage to another component.
A capacitor simply consists of two metal plates separated by an insulating material known as the dielectric. There are many types available such as ceramic, mylar or electrolytic. These terms all refer to they type of dielectric used as each has its own advantages and disadvantages. A capacitor is essentially anenergy storage device. The amount of energy that can be stored in a capacitor is related to its capacitance, measured in Farads, and the voltage across it. They can be used to store energy and then release it in a large burst of current. When a capacitor is connected to a DC source a current will begin to flow as electrons build up on one plate, and are removed from the opposite plate. The current quickly diminishes as the capacitor becomes 'charged'. This is because the voltage across the capacitor is now the same as that of the source. This effect is used in circuits to block DC.
This graph shows how the voltage rises across a capacitor as it is being charged. The amount of charge overall in the capacitor is always the same as it is simply moved from one plate to another.
The first electrical experiments often involved high voltage DC or static electricity. Electrical energy was stored in capacitor like devices known as Leyden Jars. Later capacitors were similar to what we use today but were known as Condensers.
Capacitors are not just used to store energy. They can perform several different functions when used in AC circuits. Capacitors were quite mysterious to scientists and engineers who were first experimenting with AC electricity. They could supply electrical power to a device such as a light bulb, even though there was a gap or an insulator (dielectric) in the circuit. This seemed strange as they had no knowledge of electrons and the way electrical current flowed.
We now call this effect Capacitive Coupling. This effect only works well when the AC frequency is high enough so that the capacitor is constantly being charged one way and then the other. This means that an AC current is able to flow throughout the circuit. Capacitive coupling can also occur between an AC circuit and other separate conductors. It occurs because of the way the electrons in the circuit will interact with the electrons on a nearby conductor. As the electrons in the circuit move around they will cause nearby electrons to move around due to the repulsive force between them. This can sometimes cause undesirable losses in a circuit as energy is transferred to the nearby conductor.
The resistance to the flow of an AC current of a set frequency is determined by the capacitance of the capacitor. This is also measured in ohms but is called Impendence. At very high frequencies a capacitor will put up only a small impendence, whereas at low frequency or DC the impedance is high. This effect is used in circuits to allow AC signals to pass through whilst blocking off DC current. It can also be used to filter out or tune into a specific frequency.
In an AC circuit capacitors can be used to alter the phase relationshipbetween the voltage and the current. When the capacitor is uncharged the voltage across it is zero. This means that the maximum current can flow from the power source. As the capacitor charges up the voltage across it increases, which 'pushes back' against the source therefore reducing the current flow. When the voltage across the capacitor is maximum, the current flow will be at minimum. We call this out of phase because if we plotted the current and voltage on a graph the current would be 90 degrees ahead of the voltage.
An inductor in its most simple form is a coil of wire similar to that of a solenoid. These components can be used in similar ways to the capacitor but with a few major difference. An inductor works in the opposite way to a capacitor for several reasons. It allows DC or low frequency current to pass through it more easily than high frequency. This occurs because an inductor resists changes in the current flow.
It can be useful to imagine the DC current flowing in an inductor is carrying lots of momentum, like water flowing in a pipe. A continuous (or DC) flow of water will not feel much resistance, but if we suddenly try to change direction, the momentum in the water will make it quite difficult as the water must be slowed down and stopped before it will reverse.
In AC circuits the phase relationship between voltage and current is opposite to that of a capacitor. When a voltage is first supplied to an inductor, it will resist the change. This means that the voltage measured across it would be maximum, but there would be minimal current flowing through it. As the current begins to flow, the voltage across the inductor will fall until it is very nearly zero, and at this point the current flow will be maximum. If we plotted the current and voltage on a graph, we would see that the current lagged the voltage by 90 degrees.
The flowing current in the coil or inductor creates a magnetic field around it. Potential energy is stored in this magnetic field, and is released if the power source is cut. Switching off the power source will cause the magnetic field to collapse as the 'momentum' of the electric current diminishes. When a magnetic field changes near a conductor a current flow is induced in it (see Electromagnetism). It is thisself inductance in the inductor that tries to keep the current flowing in the same direction.
Transformers come in several different forms. The simplest one consists of two inductors (coils) wound around the same iron coil. The coils are electrically insulated from each other, but the changing magnetic field in the iron core is used to transfer energy between them. The two coils are known as primary and secondary coils. The primary coil receives the AC input such as the mains, and the secondary coil outputs the altered current.
In a standard transformer (like used in most mains powered devices) the number of turns of wire in each of the two coils is different. The ratio between the number of turns determines how the current and voltage will be changed by it. Most electronic devices only require a low voltage to run so a transformer is used to step down the voltage from the mains supply. In this case the primary coil will have a large number of turns compared to the turns of the secondary coil. If we wanted a 12V output from a mains supply of 240 Volts then the turns ratio must be 240:12 = 20:1. This means for each turn on the secondary coil there must be 20 turns on the primary. The total number of turns only effects the efficiency of the transformer, as it is the ratio which determine the voltage and current change.
In this example the voltage is stepped down 20 times, which would mean that the current would be stepped up 20 times. In real transformers, lots of turns are used on each side so that the current available is limited to safe levels.
A diode is a device made from layers of semiconductors like silicon. It acts like a 'one way valve' for electric current. These are ideal for converting AC currents from transformers into DC for many things such as charging batteries. Special arrangements of diodes can be used to perform other useful functions when combined with other components such as capacitors, as seen in a typical Voltage Multiplier. The arrow like symbol indicates the direction which current can flow through the device.
There are many types of transistor type devices available. The most common ones are shown below. Transistors are used to control currents in a circuit. They are great for amplifiers as you can control a large current with a relatively small input signal.
This is the 'standard' transistor which is used for many different things. This type is usually used as a type of switch or for providing amplification in circuits. NPN just represents the layers of silicon in the device (Negative Positive Negative). The connecting pins on this transistor are Base (b) Collector (c), and Emitter (e). The path between the collector and emitter is very similar to the diode except it only conducts when there is a current entering the base terminal.
The emitter is usually connected to -ve or ground while the collector is often connected to +ve via a component such as a speaker. If a small voltage is applied to the base terminal a current will flow through the transistor and out at the emitter. This small flow of current 'activates' the transistor and allows a larger current to flow from the collector. If the small input signal on the base pin is oscillated the current through the collector/emitter will oscillate in the exact same way. In this example it would cause the speaker to make a sound with the same frequency as the small input signal.
This transistor is very similar to the NPN type except this new configuration of the silicon makes it work a little differently. This is often used as a type of 'inverting amplifier' because the response of the transistor to the base current is the opposite to that of a NPN type. This type of transistor will allow the main current to flow from the collector to emitter when a small current flows out of the base pin. Grounding the base pin switches it on whereas applying a +ve voltage will switch it off.
FET stands for 'Field Effect Transistor'. The function of this type of transistor is the same as the NPN type except that the way it provides this function is slightly different. Instead of responding to the flow of current in the base (like in the NPN or PNP types), this device responds directly to the applied voltage. The terminals in this device are labeled as Gate (g), Source (s), and Drain (d) and are equivalent of the c,b,e terminals described above. It is the electric field at the silicon junction in the device which changes the main current flow. This gives it the advantage of being able to respond to voltage sources without the need to draw a current from them. The gate in a FET is not part of the rest of the circuit so it can also serve to provide some isolation between parts.
MOSFET stands for 'Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor'. The 'Metal Oxide' part is actually a little out of date as they are more commonly made using polycrystalline silicon, but the term MOSFET is used to describe both types. This is the most common type of FET found in many electronic devices today. It works just like the FET but has more capacitance due to the extra MOS insulation.
IGBT stands for 'Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor'. This type of device combines the properties of the MOSFET with those of the bipolar transistor. This allows it to have the advantage of the simple MOSFET gate whilst being able to handle large currents bipolar types. Very large IGBT's are often used for high power switching as they can be used to control kilovolts delivering kiloamps of surge current.
A thyristor is related to the diode but this device needs to be triggered before any current will flow. When a voltage is applied to the gate (g) terminal the device is activated, and a current can flow. The current will continue to flow even when the voltage is removed from the gate terminal. The device is only reset when the main current flow stops or drops below a threshold value.
DIAC stands for 'DIode for Alternating Current'. This device is a bidirectional trigger diode which will allow current to flow when the applied voltage exceeds its threshold value. Once the Diac is conducting it will remain that way until the current drops below another threshold value.
TRIAC stands for 'TRIode for Alternating Current'. This device is equivalent to two thyristors connected in anti-parralel. It works exactly like a Thyristor except that it allows an alternating current (AC) to flow when triggered. It can also be triggered by a positive or negative voltage.


Hugh Pickens writes "When the wind is blowing, it is usually the cheapest peaking power available. However utilities need consistent always-on power from large, cheap coal and nuclear power plants that are the backbone of the electric grid. Wired reports that operators are looking at Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) using abandoned mines and sandstones of the Midwest to store compressed-air. This converts the intermittent motions of the air into a steady power source by using it to run air compressors to pump air into an underground cave where it's stored under pressure. The first CAES plant in the United States actually went online in McIntosh, Alabama in 1991 where engineers created a geological pocket 900 feet long and up to 238 feet wide in a dome by pumping water into it to dissolve the rock salt. When the (briny) water was pumped back out, the salt resealed itself and they had an air-tight container."


Ayahuasca: Key Component of Spiritual Rituals in Indigenous Cultures of South America
Ayahuasca Ceremonies: Spiritual Practice for Personal Growth and Knowledge
Ayahuasca (or "spirit vine") is a key component of the rituals practiced by indigenous cultures of South America. These rituals have been described in ancient texts and continue to be popular in various cultures. Shamans who use ayahuasca believe that master plants can help people achieve spiritual enlightenment and understanding of themselves and the world.
Ayahuasca ceremonies are conducted in groups or individually in solitude and have their own unique symbolism and rituals. Participants drink a brew made from ayahuasca and enter a meditative state where they come to know themselves and the surrounding world.
Ayahuasca and Health: Positive Effects on Physical and Emotional Well-BeingThe culture of Amazonian tribes that practice ayahuasca rituals has been studied for many years. Research has shown that ayahuasca can have a positive impact on the health, physical, and emotional well-being of people. The plant helps people find their purpose in life and gain a deep understanding of themselves and the world.
Ayahuasca ceremonies represent a serious spiritual practice aimed at personal growth and knowledge. They are not intended for obtaining narcotic effects or entertainment. Ceremonies are conducted by qualified people with adherence to rules and safety.
It is important to note that ayahuasca and other master plants are not universal medicines and cannot solve all problems at once. However, with proper use, ayahuasca can help people overcome personal crises and achieve spiritual development.
If you are interested in participating in ayahuasca rituals, be sure to choose experienced and qualified individuals who have experience and knowledge in this area. Ayahuasca rituals can be intense and have a strong emotional effect on participants, so it is important to choose reliable guides.
In addition, it is important to understand that ayahuasca rituals are not suitable for everyone. People who suffer from certain conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure, or those who take certain medications may be unable to participate in ayahuasca rituals.
It is also important to remember that ayahuasca can have a negative effect on people with certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Therefore, it is important to discuss this with a specialist before participating in ayahuasca rituals.
Overall, ayahuasca rituals can be a unique experience of spiritual path and self-discovery. But in order to get the maximum benefit from this experience, it is necessary to choose experienced guides and follow safety rules and recommendations.


September – October 1942
North Africa: Training and Replacements
Dundee and Glasgow
After months of training at Achnacarry and an experience with live combat for a few of the Rangers in the Dieppe Raid, the entire 1st Ranger Battalion was moved to Dundee on the east coast of Scotland on 3 September 1942. Here they took part in a three-week training program that stressed attacks on coastal defenses, pillboxes, and antiaircraft positions with emphasis on planning, control, and individual initiative. This program, like the one that had just been completed, involved the use of live ammunition.
On 24 September, the battalion moved to the vicinity of Glasgow where it became attached to the 1st Infantry Division, in preparation for Operation Torch, the Allied landing in French North Africa. Four days later, the 1st Ranger Battalion took the form it would keep throughout the fighting in North Africa as a single independent fighting unit, with the exception of a few minor changes.
In Dundee they enjoyed a respite from the relentless nights in tents and actually had their first taste of home since leaving the States. They stayed with local families where they enjoyed all the comforts of home, gratefully sharing their rations with these kind people, both soldier and host ate plentiful home cooked meals in Dundee. Although training continued everyday, the Rangers were also able to enjoy some social activities during their brief evenings off. For the Rangers who never returned home, their families are grateful to the kindness shown by the civilians of Dundee for showing those Rangers later KIA in World War II, their last taste of home.
They were still Rangers in training as they moved out early each day to train with the British Commandos. They were taken by boat and landed on the rocky coastline near Dundee. The location was ideal for training in amphibious landings and also scaling the rocky cliffs off the shoreline. Although the Rangers never knew when, or where their next mission might be (and for the majority who had not been involved in the Dieppe Raid, their first mission), they felt certain it would involve an amphibious landing with cliffs to climb.
Their stay in Dundee lasted only a few short weeks. While they were there they enjoyed their stays with the local families, the entertainment offered in the pubs, and of course, the ladies. One Ranger lost his life, and another was seriously injured while in Dundee due to a freak explosion during a training exercise, but outside of this tragic event, their stay in Dundee was one many remember to this day. The town was devastated when the Rangers moved out to their next assignment. The entire population turned out to bid them farewell at the Railroad Station.
From Dundee, they were moved to Corker Hill near Glasgow. It was here in Glasgow, that they met Father Basil, a Roman Catholic Chaplain. Father Basil was attached to the British Commandos, but was assigned for a brief time to the 1st Ranger Battalion. The Rangers established a bond with Father Basil that lasted many, many years to come.
The European Theater Command assigned two photographers to the 1st Ranger Battalion at Glasgow, Phil Stern and Henry Paluch. Phil Stern had worked for Life and Look magazines, and Henry Paluch was a movie producer. Paluch was eventually reassigned to another unit, while Phil Stern remained with the Rangers until he was wounded in North Africa.
Stern took many photos of the 1st Ranger Battalion that are treasures today. These photos have been shared in recent years at the Ranger Reunions and offered for sale at their Silent and Live Auction events. Stern's photos and reports won great recognition for the Rangers as an elite force conducting Special Operations at the onset of United State’s involvement of World War II.
Training continued for the 1st Ranger Battalion in pre-invasion exercises throughout the month of October. They trained and prepared for Operation Torch, to be executed in North Africa in November of 1942.
Ranger Favorite, Father Basil highlighted:
The Initial meeting with Father Basil in Dundee resulted in a mutual love between Rangers and priest that lasted a lifetime. Father Bail was originally attached to the British Commandos. He was a tall slender fellow who was a British Army Captain, and also a priest.
Colonel Darby first met Father Basil when the Rangers were training at Dundee. He made a request to Brigadier Laycock to allow the Father to accompany the Rangers on their first invasion, that in North Africa. His request was granted, and Father Basil was there with the Rangers prior to the invasion.
At the assault landing on Arzew, Father Basil complained to Darby that he wished to be included in the actual landing. He eventually persuaded Darby to allow him to land with Headquarters and was there afterwards to bury the first Ranger killed on the continent of North Africa, as a result of this assault.
Remarkably, during the conflict of El Guetar, Father Basil used his Italian to convince the Italian soldiers to surrender, and was awarded the Silver Star for this deed. During this campaign in North Africa, the British located Father Basil and demanded he return to the UK, he ignored this order. The British then cut his pay to force his return, but still he remained with his beloved Rangers. It wasn’t until he was threatened with a Court Martial that he finally broke down and returned as requested. It caused him great anguish to leave his beloved Rangers. The Rangers, in turn, were equally saddened over his departure.
Father Basil collected an offering among the Rangers several times, the Rangers were always very generous. With a portion of this offering, he had a chalice made and engraved First Ranger Battalion. After his sad departure from them, he did return to see the Rangers one last time somewhere in Italy before they entered Cisterna. He brought the chalice with him to use for communion. He carried this chalice with him and used it in mass for years after war’s end, some 50 years after war’s end. The search for the whereabouts of this chalice continues to this day.
(If you know the whereabouts of this chalice, please contact us!)
The Ranger language mortified Father Basil, especially when they used the Lord’s name in vain. The Rangers loved this man and made every effort to clean up their combat seasoned language. There were several methods employed by the Rangers to accomplish this, usually it came in the form of a fine.
Outside of a short stint in Naples, Father Basil was involved in other areas of the war. No matter where his assignments took him, he stayed in touch with his Rangers through letters. In 1961, when the Ranger Battalions Association of World War II held it’s biennial Reunion in Baltimore, MD, Father Basil and the Rangers met once more. He was located at Loughborough University, teaching philosophy. The Rangers immediately invited him to attend their Reunion. Father Basil wrote his superiors requesting a leave and an opportunity to reunite with his Rangers. Permission was granted and thereafter, he attended many biennial Reunions in the United States. Father Basil was the primary speaker at his initial Reunion with the Rangers in Baltimore.
Father Basil was eventually inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, an unusual honor for even a Ranger. His induction was not as an honorary member, but as an actual Ranger. Father Basil passed away in the early 1990’s and is greatly missed by many of the Rangers of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ranger Battalions to this day.
References: Rangers in World War II, by Robert W. Black, article by Ranger Carl Lehmann, Leavenworth Papers,
Photo courtesy US Army and Ranger Donald S. Frederick, 1st and 4th Ranger Battalion


While parts of the economy have rebounded since the Great Recession of 2008, the effects have been much worse for the poor, and especially the less-educated young Americans, and those not fortunate enough to graduate from college.
Since 2008, the housing market has started to bounce back.
The stock market, for those fortunate enough to have net savings rather than a negative net worth has more than recovered its recessionary losses (pictured is the S&P500 index).
The economy has created 6.15 million jobs from March 2010 through April 2013 (based on provisional numbers for March/April 2013), enough to lower unemployment but only through many people giving up on finding jobs. The percentage of Americans employed in the population hasn’t budged over the last 3.5 years and remains fixed at between 58% and 59%. Larry Summers thinks that the numbers of long-term unemployed is the biggest problem facing this country and is at historically unprecedented in the period since the Great Recession of the 1920s and 1930s.
Put this together with the data that David Leonardt released (“The Idled Young Americans“) showing that the impact has disproportionately fallen on young folks. Moreover, levels of employment among 16-24 year olds, even as recent as May 2013 remain stubbornly at 45%, at levels not seen in the US since the early 1960s.
Our own research on the fact that children born to less educated families are facing a growing opportunity gap. American young adults from the bottom socioeconomic quarter are graduating from high school or dropping out with less of the hard academic skills or soft non-cognitive skills necessary for life success. [We find significantly growing gaps between children from the top third or quarter of socioeconomic families and the bottom third or quarter on measures as diverse as involvement in extra-curriculars, involvement in sports, K-12 test scores, obesity, social trust, involvement with religion, social connectedness, volunteering, college attendance, and college completion.]
And the intersection of these two trends — consequences of the current lackluster economy being borne by the young adults and the growing opportunity gap — means that these gaps are borne disproportionately by less educated young adults.
For example, if one looks at employment to population ratios for 25-34 year olds in 2012, it was only 69.8% for those with a high-school degree (but no college), whereas it was 84.4% for those with 4-year college degrees or more. Another way of putting this is that only 16% of college-educated 25-34 year olds were out of the labor market versus 30% of those with only a high school degree.
And if that were not enough, there is growing body of literature suggesting that experiences of unemployment or involuntarily being terminated from jobs create long-term scarring effects both on the lifetime earnings of these young people, but also their civic and social connectedness throughout their lives. [See for example Davis/von Wachter or Gregg/Tominey or Brand/Burgard.]
[There is also unpublished data on this scarring effect in: Laurence, James, and Chaeyoon Lim. “The Long-Term and Deepening Scars of Job Displacement on Civic Participation over the Life-course: A Cross-National Comparative Study between the UK and the US.”]
We are brewing a recipe for long-term adverse consequences for these young Americans, especially the less educated ones, and our government ought to be POUND-wise, even if it is “PENNY-foolish” in the eyes of others and invest in jobs for these young 16-25 year olds to avoid the much longer long-term adverse effects.


WHY IDI AMIN WAS RIGHT ABOUT UGANDA BORDER REACHING NAIVASHA
AND WHY EAST AFRICA IS ACTUALLY GREAT UGANDA LIKE GREAT BRITAIN CONSISTING OF SCOTLAND , WALES AND IRELAND
History is an annoying shadow that one cannot destroy especially when there are written records of events and places . Migingo Island is being claimed by both Kenya and Uganda .Despite the past ugly confrontations , from President Museveni’s infamous slur against Luos , to Kenyan Land Minister James Orengo counter slur, the two, Kenya and Uganda have decided to sit down and use history to decied the fate of Migingo.That is tricky.
This is because before 1926 , Western Kenya and Rift Valley was Uganda and NOT Kenya.This is not hard to believe.Evidence is rife .
Practically all the languages that exist in Western Kenya and parts of Rift Valley are present in Eastern Uganda . The Teso, Luo, Luhya and Karamoja of Kenya have their brothers and sisters in Uganda.
The recent Daegu Athletics in South Korea showed many “Kips” running for Uganda .Some may say that these are Kenyans running for Uganda when in actual sense there are some Ugandans who have names like Kip Chir CHir, Kiplangat .You will find these names in KapChorwa in Uganda Mt Elgon.
Already the name Kapchorwa in Uganda rhymes with Kapsabet in Kenya and Lamogi in Northern Uganda rhymes with Got Ramogi in Kenya .
The Great Lake Victoria feeds the River Nile which is firmly flowing in Uganda .Kill the lake and you kill the Nile in Uganda.In fact the White Nile is called the Victoria Nile and it flows into Jinja .
Last time we learnt that jinja means rock Well in Lanuages J morphs to g so Jinja is also ginga and when you look at Migingo it is an island which is just like a tiny rock.
Actually being a central Landlocked country has made Uganda have many territorial claims in Congo, Sudan, Kenya and Rwanda .
A look at the practices of the tribes in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda and one will find similarity between Luhyas of Kenya and Bagisu of Uganda , who circumcise their males in elaborate ceremonies.
The name Uganda is actually the Luo word, Oganda meaning a people, a nation.This shows that the Luo Babito dynasty ‘s foundation of the Buganda Kingdom.The Bu- on the word Uganda is Bantusiation of the word as ba is wa that is plural of a people.
Moreover, this part of Kenya had chiefdoms and kingdoms such as the Wanga very similar to the Buganda and Bunyoro Kingdom.Eastern Kenya did not have such structures , hence the inclusion of Western Kenya to Uganda.
Meanwhile the practice of pastoralism is just the same in Uganda as it is in Kenya with the Karamojong from both countries who kill each other over cows.
SOCIO ECONOMIC EVIDENCE
A talk with old folk will inform you to be aware the East African Nature of Uganda and Kenya. Most Kenyans lived in Jinja and some deep in Tororo . A gentle research of the birth place of Kenyans from Western Kenya will show you most of them are Ugandans by birth.Many had jobs in Uganda thanks to the railway line that brought in labourers in their thousands.
The British colonized both Uganda and Kenya .Yet there was one major difference .Kenya was a Colony and UGanda a protectorate.
This meant that the office of the Colonialists was Kenya .This due to the headache the British had with the Buganda Kingdom that was ruling under their supervision.
In fact by 1926 , the British finally decided to withdraw Western Kenya and Rift Valley from Uganda just because Rift Valley ” looked like England with its cool climate and had fertile soils “.Hence ,Rift Valley was called the White Highlands after the Whites or British.
Actually Uganda is also fertile but its climate was not so suitable for the foreigners , with mosquitoes being more prevalent in humid areas than cool areas like Rift Valley and Central in Kenya.
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE ..WILL KENYA GIVE BACK THE TERRITORY TO UGANDA ?
Well there are two scenarios that may come to play on this is issue of territory
1. THE REALIZATION OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
If the East African Community is establsihed fully and officially this will solve the issues of Migingo.
Actually I think Migingo Island was a stepping stone to deciding whether Kenya and Uganda should lose their sovereignty and become one or keep their sovereignty.
If they choose to keep, the history will continue to haunt Kenya and will cause wars to ensue .If they lose it , it will subsidize the tensions but it will not kill them as brothers can still fight each other under one roof.
Thus it is an issue that will be used to justify the East African Union.
2. WARS OF CONQUEST AND SECESSION
For Kenya’s case I see secession of Western Kenya to Uganda or South Sudan when the elections do not go the way Western Kenya and parts of Rift Valley want.
This is because Majority off Western Kenya and Rift Valley tribes , voted against President Kibaki who comes from Central which is just Eastern Kenya.
Western Kenya has been marginalized by the Eastern side due to the capitalistic nature of governement , a government without devolution or central government.
Thigs have not changed and this is how many will still voted come 2012.
If the vote turns against them, secession will be a second thought.
For South Sudan , will it accept to lose its osvereignity for the East african Community because that is waht EAC is about .Of course South Sudan remains as it is but it will be demoted to sub state status.
IN fact the truth is South Sudan can linguistically claim Northern Uganda and Northern and parts of Western Kenya .
Yet South Sudan is filled with clan feuds and tribal feuds that East african Community means nothing to many of the conflicting tribes.
Thus we conclude by saying that Kenyans and Ugandans are brothers and sisters in very many aspects .It is a shame that borders were used to define people of one blood and one family.
The day Idi Amin wanted to annex western Kenya
Posted Saturday, September 10 2011 at 18:42
The dispute between Uganda and Kenya regarding the ownership of Migingo Island in Lake Victoria rekindles memories of another dramatic flare-up in 1976, when Ugandan President Al-Haji Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada attempted to redraw the boundaries of the two countries.
Amin wanted back all Kenyan districts that were part of Uganda before the colonial re-demarcation of the territorial boundaries. These included Turkana, part of Lake Rudolf (now Lake Turkana), West Pokot, Tranz-Nzioa, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Central Nyanza, South Nyanza, Narok, Kisii, Kericho, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo, Marakwet, Nyandarua, Nandi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Tambach, Maji Moto, Maji Mazuri, Gilgil, Nakuru, Lake Baringo and Naivasha.
He claimed that these areas were very fertile and produced nearly all the wealth in Kenya.
He backed down only when President Jomo Kenyatta threatened to block Uganda’s imports through the port of Mombasa.
While opening the Lotuturu Self-help Mobilisation Scheme, 83 kilometres north of Kitgum in East Acholi District of northern Uganda on February 14, 1976, president Amin issued a statement in which he claimed he was informing the people of Uganda about their past geography.
The Voice of Uganda newspaper edition of February 16, 1976, reported that Amin directed that every Ugandan should buy a pamphlet, that was being published, detailing the boundaries of the country.
He said Uganda’s borders were beyond Juba and Torit in the Sudan and all areas of western Kenya, up to about 30 km from Nairobi.
Following the scramble and partition of Africa by imperial powers in 1884, Uganda fell into the British sphere of influence. Uganda was later divided into six provinces in 1902.
These were: Rudolf Province, which included the Turkana and Karasuk; Eastern Province, which included Nandi, Kavirondo, Eldoret, Naivasha, Maasai, up to the border with Tanzania; Central Province, which included Karamoja, Sebei, Mumias, Busoga and Bukedi; Buganda Province, which included Entebbe, Masaka, Kampala, Bugangaizi and Buruli; Nile Province, which included the whole of the present Nile Province, Lango, Acholi, Juba, and Baragazalo which is about 600 miles away from Kampala; Western Province, which included Rwenzori, Boga, Hoima and Masindi.
“In order to educate the public mind of all the sections of Uganda, I also promised that I will be providing geographical and historical facts as documented by the British colonial administration on the transfer of Uganda’s lands thereby affecting its boundary,” Amin wrote in his book titled, The Shaping of Modern Uganda And Administrative Divisions, published in 1976.
“In stating this, I had in my possession a document indicating that with the appointment of Sir Harry Johnson, the British government gave a clear mandate for this Special Commissioner to arrange and reorganise the internal administration of Uganda including its external boundary, particularly in the British sphere of influences which Johnson did from 1st July, 1899 to December, 1901,” Amin added in the book published by the defunct Government Printer in Entebbe.
“Uganda’s boundary outside the British sphere of influence was still a matter being debated in European capitals. However, Britain knew that certain land-marks such as the watershed of River Nile and the Congo in the northwest and the whole floor of Western Rift Valley including Mufumbiro Mountains lay in the British sphere and it only required actual survey on the ground,” Amin argued.
Assuring his neighbours, Amin added: “There was no intention of Uganda claiming an inch of any territory of her neighbours, whether Kenya, Sudan, Zaire (Congo), etc. As a firm believer in OAU [now AU] and as its Chairman, I know of the OAU July Resolution of 1964 which ‘solemnly declares that all member states pledge themselves to respect the borders existing on their achievement of national independence.”
“In order to make Ugandans understand the noble objectives, I consider it necessary to explain to them their past recorded geographical and historical connections as before the partition of Africa by imperial powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884, the African nations knew of no national boundaries although after the attainment of independence, through blood and sweat, Africans knew of their boundaries. All of them had blood relations across their borders,” Amin wrote.
Stressing that he was informing people without any intentions for war nor advocating any changes, Amin said he had a written agreement signed by the then British colonial secretary of state Herbert Asquith, transferring some parts of Uganda to Sudan in 1914 and to Kenya in 1926.
Had the colonial British administrators not given away some of Uganda’s soil, Juba and Torit in South Sudan, the whole of the Rift Valley Province and northwestern Kenya would today be Uganda.
Insisting that the British would have to answer for transferring certain areas of Uganda to Sudan and Kenya, Amin said nearly the whole of South Sudan from Nimule, Juba, Gondokoro and the area around Torit, which extends right up to the present-day border with Ethiopia, was under the administration of Uganda until 1914 when it was transferred by the British colonialists by the order of secretary of state under 1902 Uganda Order in Council.
The area just north of Kitgum after the Uganda/Sudan border was Uganda’s territory until 1927. Nile Province had been transferred to Sudan in 1910 by the British and it was not until 1914 that Nile Province was transferred back to Uganda.
Amin argued that the British colonialists made several mistakes when they were making territorial demarcations.
Amin said that God was not a fool to have allocated this land to Uganda and wondered why the British did not transfer other areas that were not fertile.
He said the fact that the area the British transferred to Kenya from Uganda was one of the most fertile areas in East Africa would be enough to provoke him to go to war to reclaim the land but he would not do that because he was a leader who wanted peace to prevail in the world, Voice of Uganda reported.
If, however, the people in these areas, which were transferred to Kenya, were not happy with the administration, they should be allowed to have their own government.
Amin said that his duty as the supreme commander of the Uganda Armed Forces was to liberate all Uganda’s territories. He said this was also part of Field Marshal Amin Operation to Correct Mistakes Made by the Britons.
Amin stated that he had no intention of going to war with any country, warned that Uganda being a land-locked country, if any country interfered with the transportation of her imports and exports to and from the sea, that would provoke him to go to war.
Amin said he would always speak the truth and feared nobody except God, Voice of Uganda reported on February 21, 1976.
Amin said when he declared the Economic War in 1972, he promised that he would correct all the mistakes made by the British. He added that the British knew he was telling the truth.
Dispute with Sudan
Uganda has had other boundary disputes with its neighbours.
In 2005, Sudan claimed a five-kilometre stretch of customary boundary from the Madi and Aringa people in northwestern Uganda.
The Sudanese accused the Madi of Moyo and Yumbe districts in Uganda of extending their administrative structures inside their land.
In 2009, tensions rose when the Congolese began building a police post in a contested area near the Ugandan Customs point at Goli, along the Uganda-DR Congo border in Nebbi District of West Nile.
The police post was being built within 50 metres of Goli, which Uganda considered a buffer zone. This caused unnecessary anxiety since the area is among those the two countries agreed to verify the location of through a Joint Permanent Commission.
Earlier in 2008 the Congolese had caused another controversy when they shifted their border point from five kilometres to within 200 metres of the Ugandan crossing point at Vurra in Arua District of West Nile. This was one of those areas to be decided upon by the Joint Permanent Commission.
Uganda and Congo also have a dispute over the ownership of Rukwanzi Island, a “floating island” in Lake Albert. The recent discovery of oil under Lake Albert exacerbated the territorial dispute over the ownership of the island. The 12 square kilometre area is home to about 3,000 people, mostly fishermen.
Troops from Uganda and the DR Congo exchanged gunfire near Rukwanzi Island in August 2007, leaving several people dead, including a British contractor who worked for an oil company.


Many people have heard about smart contracts. Created from the Ethereum blockchain, what do they really bring and how do they work? Coinhouse explains this concept and the innovations it brings to life through a concrete example.
The most important feature of Ethereum is the ability to use smart contracts. In this article, we will detail how this technology works, its uses and limitations, in order to make it understandable to as many people as possible.
The Bitcoin blockchain for simple transactions
The Bitcoin blockchain is most of the time used for simple transactions: sending bitcoins from one address to another. It is also possible to use more complex mechanisms, such as multi-signature. But these functionalities remain limited and do not allow the execution of complex algorithms.
The conditional execution of an action
A concept formulated in 1996 by the developer Nick Szabo, a smart contract is a computer program recorded on a Blockchain, most of the time Ethereum. It allows conditional transactions to be triggered, depending on factors defined in advance via an algorithm. Smart contracts are executed using ethers you can buy and sell on our Coinhouse platform, as are most tokens backed by projects created from smart contracts. These ethers are used as fuel consumed during the execution of the program.
Let’s take an example: we want to carry out a crowdfunding project, with the best security guarantees, and with a minimum amount below which the project will be cancelled. Subscribers are asked to send money over a one-month period. If the project raises more than €1000, the money is paid to the project managers, otherwise the subscribers will be fully pay back.
Investors confidence in question
The issues usually raised by this type of project then appear: during the month when the project is open for subscription, who keeps the funds? The project manager? A centralised platform? What guarantee do subscribers have to recover their initial investment if the project does not reach the defined minimum amount? What monitoring of funds can be done, and by whom? It will eventually be possible to set up contracts, targeted by lawyers in a legal framework, but it will never be possible to achieve an absolute level of security against fraud.
The smart contract schedules rules in advance
By using Ethereum, all these questions are solved. A developer writes a computer program called smart contract, most of the time in Solidity language. This program defines all the rules as they were defined at the beginning of the project: one month of subscription, to whom the funds will be sent, what minimum amount will be collected, etc.
Transparency and immutability
The creator of the smart contract then writes it on the Blockchain Ethereum, in the form of a transaction, just as if he were simply sending ethers from one address to another. Engraved on the Blockchain, the smart contract becomes impossible to modify, and its content can be consulted by anyone, in complete transparency.
A security that generates trust
The smart contract has a public Ethereum address, to which it is possible to send ethers. So subscribers have one month from this point on to do so. Who keeps the funds? The smart contracts store it during the subscription period. To whom will they be delivered? The rules, as transparently defined in the contract, specify the address to which the funds will be delivered if the minimum requested is exceeded, otherwise the funds will automatically be returned to each subscriber.
Who can cheat? Nobody, because it is impossible to change the rules once the smart contract has been sent to the Blockchain. We can therefore see the particularly interesting potential in terms of transparency and security for this type of application.
In addition, via smart contracts, it is possible to process many activities that previously required intermediaries, trusted third parties, managers, and which can now be processed automatically and in a perfectly secure way.
What are the limits smart contracts?
Of course Smart contracts do not solve all problems, and have a number of limitations detailed below.
First of all, what makes smart contracts strong, i.e. their immutability, can also be their worst weakness. If the programmer who created the smart contract has introduced bugs, it is impossible to repair them once the contract is present on the Blockchain. And if malicious hackers succeed in exploiting it, the worst can happen, as in the hacking of the”The DAO” project.
The volatility problem
Then, as we have seen, the funds are stored in the smart contract. If the funds are some ethers, the price can vary quite significantly during the execution of the contract. In the case of insurance, for example, it is not desirable if it changes over time. It is possible to overcome this type of problem by using stablecoins – cryptocurrencies whose price does not vary because they are backed by a fiat currency such as the Euro – such as the DAI from MakerDAO.
The oracle principle
Finally, if it is possible to check what a smart contract or an Ethereum address contains fairly easily in terms of transactions, it is much more difficult to check information or an event that took place outside the Blockchain: has an accident occurred on a particular vehicle? Who won this particular election? In these cases, it will be necessary to use an “oracle” that will make it possible to affirm that the condition triggering payment of the contract has been fulfilled.
However, since this oracle is located outside Blockchain, it once again poses a problem that existed before the smart contract was created: can we trust this intermediary completely, and by what means? Trusted third parties such as notaries or well-established audit firms would probably be the most appropriate to fulfil this role. Decentralised oracle projects are also developing, providing information that can be easily verified by different parties and read directly on the Blockchain.
Smart contracts have the potential to revolutionise countless economic activities, by decentralising trust, formalising the logic of executing a complex payment via a computer language, and securely storing funds for the duration of the contract. It is not surprising that many companies, and even government officials, are taking a keen interest in them, although it is necessary to remain aware of the framework in which they can best be used.