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The Maori language faced extinction
The Maori language of New Zealand has a long and interesting history. It is a language that stood the test of time and threats of extinction. In fact, the survival of the language is a proof that for as long as people are willing to fight for their culture...
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A Sinkhole
What is a Sink hole A sinkhole is a depression in the ground that has no natural external surface drainage. Basically this means that when it rains, all of the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface. Sinkholes are most...
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Cinnamon ice cream
cinnamon can appear everywhere, but there many are other uses for cinnamon. Cinnamon ice cream is a prefect partner for apples and so this goes perfectly with any apple dessert, although it is also good to eat on its own. In the summer cinnamon ice cream...
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The Future
The Future No one knows what the future will look like. Humans like to tell themselves stories, be they in the form of religion or political ideologies, such as nationalism, communism and liberalism. But none of these can adequately prepare us for what...
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Singing to learn language
Song is central to our culture and integral to our learning processes. Key events in our lives are marked by music; from the familiar ‘Happy birthday’ to school songs, Christmas carols and wedding marches, singing and playing musical instruments are part...
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Lavender
Lavender is a bushy, strong-scented perennial plant from the Mediterranean. In most regions, its grey to green foliage stays evergreen throughout the year. Lavender is best planted in the spring as the soil is warming up. If planted in Autumn, use bigger...
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Scottish pearls
Scottish pearls are very rare freshwater pearls produced by a mussel (Margaritifera Margaritifera), found in the River Tay and other Scottish rivers. The Scottish pearls come in colours from rustic brown, grey, cream, white, lilac and pink with a subtlety...
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Freedom of speech in Old Testament
There is a widespread notion that the Bible, and especially the Old Testament, is and has historically been a force working against the freedom of man. This opinion is often stated not only by college students but also by distinguished scholars. They...
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The Troika Laundromat
the Troika Laundromat Billions of dollars moved from Russia to the west, mixing legitimate wealth with apparently fraudulent funds What is the ‘Troika Laundromat’? Essentially, it’s the name given to a collection of 70 offshore shell companies whose controllers...
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Walking in Rural Scotland
Walking in Rural Scotland It’s quite common for people, especially visitors, to see that Scotland has a ‘right to roam’ access code but not be entirely sure clear what this means exactly. When it first came to light I was the same, not entirely sure what...
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Countryside
The supposed 'culture war' There are many country folk who take a more ecologically sensitive view than they feel comfortable to admit in their home territory and as such, rural folk are not all of similar mindset though it may seem that way. There are...
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Trauma
Trauma The longer we live, the more inevitable it is that we will experience trauma. Trauma Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes...
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The Scots in Germany
The commercial intercourse of Scotland with Germany dates almost, if not quite, as far back as that with Flanders, where already in the commencement of the XIIlth Century a Scotch Settlement at Bruges was known under the name of "Scottendyk." The oldest...
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Fines should be appropriate
Types of fines that should be levied against companies should be meaningful -- i.e. like "all the profits from the year of the offense PLUS a 10% penalty on top." Regulators trying to do their job over multi-national companies are struggling. We need...
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Flowers have a marvellous effect on our lives
When you send a bouquet, you truly are sending happiness. This is really not new information; people have been giving flowers as gifts to each other since ancient times. As a florist, I witness this phenomenon every day. However, now, numerous scientific...
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Autumn time for Foraging Mushrooms
Autumn is a time of change in the woodlands. The vivid green hues of summer fade into the auburn shades of fall as plant life in the great outdoors prepares for a long winter's sleep. During this period of transition, many who enjoy harvesting Mother...
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Our air is so polluted
You can’t escape from it. Everybody has to breath, and when air isn’t clean you health is affected. Air pollution is problem of all of us. You might think that you are healthy because you eat, and do only healthy things, so you cannot be sick, or get...
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Birthplace of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick Fig 2. Earliest Image of Saint Patrick The basic key facts of Saint Patrick's life are well known and uncontested. This patron saint of Ireland was a Briton born some time in the late 4th to 5th century. His family home was in an unknown...
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Spring is beautiful
NOTHING is so beautiful as spring —When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrushThrough the echoing timber does so rinse and wringThe ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;The glassy...
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The Oxford Comma Controversy
Using or Not Using the Serial or Oxford Comma A serial or Oxford comma is the comma that appears immediately after the penultimate item in a series or list when a conjunction separates that item from the last item. In ‘she wrote reviews, essays, and articles,’...
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A Celtic alliance within the EU
If Scotland, Wales and a United Ireland were in the EU, we'd be grand. Even with Scotland and a United Ireland, we'd be grand Good trade routes. A Celtic alliance within the EU on issues of mutual interest. We'd be connected to the continent. England...
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Kylian Mbappé’s crucial against Belgium.
France v Belgium should be a good game, though semi finals tend to disappoint. Two evenly matched teams, with plenty of skill and top quality goalkeepers. Belgium with their physically imposing players will be a big threat. But unlike Brazil, France seems...
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A Happy Horse
Scientists haven't given too much attention to the significance of horse snorting before now. The expulsion of air through the equine nose has normally been connected with "clearing phlegm, flies or other irritants". But now researchers in France say...
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War food rations
Around 1939, when World War II began, the United Kingdom imported two-thirds of its food, all of which had to be shipped over oceans teeming with German U-boats. The Ministry of Food did not want to risk the lives of sailors for food that would be wasted,...
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Hands and the Brain
Many animals use their front paws like hands. A squirrel or a hamster will hold a nut in its front paws, and a dog holds down a bone while gnawing it, and so do lions and tigers. A kangaroo will use its dainty fore-feet to hold its leaves it its eating...