A leprechaun is a type of fairy that appeared in the Irish folklore of the 8th century. These stories told of magical creatures known as the aos sí, which were a wide number of small supernatural beings that lived in the wild.

The story of the leprechaun

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The stories evolved from earlier Celtic myths and legends. In early Irish mythology and the fairy folklore that followed, the leprechaun generally had a small part in the tales; he was never the main character. For some reason, it is the leprechaun character that has stood the test of time. In older legends, leprechauns were represented as water sprites but later evolved into a type of fairy. Some say the name comes from the Irish term for shoe cobbler, ‘leath brogan’, which is the career of all leprechauns. Others say that the name comes from the term ‘luchorpán’, which means ‘small body’.

Forget your cute, wide-eyed Disney fairies and elves, as the fairies of Irish folklore are mischievous and sneaky. The leprechaun was always a sly and roguish character. He is also a solitary character who can be found either causing mischief, making shoes, or digging up gold coins and hiding them in piles at the bottom of the rainbow. Legend has long said that if a human can successfully capture one of these cunning little men, they will be granted three wishes in return for his freedom; today, they are represented as small, bearded, red-haired men who wear black shoes, a green hat and a green jacket.

St Patrick’s Day

Leprechauns, along with shamrocks, have come to symbolise Ireland more significantly in recent decades, especially around St Patrick’s Day (17 March). This is celebrated all over the world; in fact, some of the largest St Patrick’s Day celebrations are not celebrated in Ireland at all but in cities with a significant Irish diaspora, such as Chicago and New York.

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These cute little sprites are the perfect theme for St Patrick’s Day gifts, such as those found at https://www.shamrockgift.com/st-patricks-day. They are also a common theme or inspiration for Celtic wedding gifts and a great choice for a fancy dress party or children’s entertainer.

Despite his reputation, everyone loves a leprechaun – the mischievous little sprites that just might bring you luck.

Most people will be aware of the term ‘ultrasonic’, but less aware of its use in cleaning. Here are four interesting facts you might not know about this powerful yet practical technology.

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1. How they work

   Ultrasonic cleaners make use of ultrasonic waves in conjunction typically with water to clean at a microscopic level, though other solvents can be used. They’re highly efficient and capable of removing 99% of bacteria.

   Once switched on, the transducer changes size and generates ultrasonic energy by converting electrical energy. High-frequency sound waves cause cavitation bubbles to form and collapse at extremely fast rates, with the bubbles gradually growing larger and colliding with the any items in the tank/bowl. This impact then removes germs, dirt and similar contaminants.

   2. They use different frequencies

   The ultrasonic wave frequencies vary between cleaning machines. Machines creating low frequency ultrasonic waves produce bigger bubbles and are better suited to stronger, larger and more robust items. In contrast, high frequencies result in smaller bubbles suitable for gentle, delicate cleaning. Dual frequency cleaners are available if a variety of items are required to be cleaned.

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3. Different sizes for different uses

   There are smaller, more portable systems ideal for cleaning the likes of clothing, foods, baby toys and jewellery. Even contact lenses can be ultrasonically cleaned. In contrast, a large ultrasonic cleaner such as this large ultrasonic cleaneris typically employed for industrial, production cleaning. Furthermore, machines typically operate at around 50 to 100 watts per gallon; the more powerful the machine, the faster the cleaning action.

   Use of ultrasonic cleaning is gaining popularity as the technology evolves, and new uses are being discovered that show just how multipurpose and useful such cleaning machines have the potential to be. For instance, ultrasonic cleaning has even been found to be effective for safely removing plastic paint.

   4. Machine make-up and construction

   The machine make-up varies between models in terms of size and specifications. They’re typically constructed from stainless steel or aluminium, and will have a tank to house the solvent or water; those without tanks require a sink or bowl. They’ll have an on/off switch, piezoceramic transducers, and sometimes temperature and time controls. The machines use electrical energy, and many come with different operating modes to make them versatile and easily customisable to the task at hand.

No matter how much of an expert you consider yourself to be at using Excel, there’s always something new to learn. And here we present six of our favourite time-savers when using Excel. You’re welcome. Continue reading Six Ways in Which Excel Formulas Can Save Time →

Performance anxiety, sometimes known as stage fright, is an incredibly common condition that leads sufferers to feel intense fear when appearing in front of audiences. It can come with different forms and intensities, but there are also a range of ways it can be managed when you inevitably have to face the public. Continue reading What is performance anxiety, and how can you overcome it? →

Valves act to stop and regulate the flow of water in a variety of applications, and each type of valve has pros and cons for different applications. Most valves in the pipe system are part of the water supply system and used to control the flow of pressurized water from water utilities or private wells. Depending on the design of the valve, they may be most suitable for a simple ON-OFF control of the flow of water, or they can be designed not to adjust the volume of water flow. Most valves are available in a variety of materials, including bronze, brass, plastic and PVC. Be sure to choose the right material with the type of pipe used in the pipe system. Continue reading Selecting the right valve in plumbing →

Do your family members all hang out in separate rooms? The dining room table collecting dust while you eat in the kitchen? Don’t always think you need to move and find a new home to get the open-plan layout that will suit the way you want to live. Expanding can bring you all the great advantages of open-plan living but minus the stress and expense of moving. Continue reading How to extend your home to create an open layout →

Do you know who made the clothes you’re wearing? Do you even know the country they were made in? When it comes to ethics, more and more of us want to know where our clothes were made, what were the conditions like for the workers and was any exploitation involved. We also want to know that the fabric used in our clothing is sourced using sustainable and environmentally friendly methods. If you have bought your Mini Dresses from a business like Umay they will be happy to tell you where they are from and even have their own fashion designer on site.

Dressmaking is becoming a much more popular hobby again. It’s a massively rewarding activity and a skill that not many people can claim any more.

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If you’re new to dressmaking, here are some tips to help you get started:

There are a few essentials you’ll need including access to a sewing machine, thread, needles, seam ripper, tape measure, iron, fabric scissors and dressmakers chalk. You don’t have to buy a sewing machine, see if you have friends or family you can borrow from. If you do buy one, an entry level should suffice for beginners and second-hand is always an option.

Spend some time learning every feature of your machine, read the manual and practice on some fabric scraps before you start a project. You’ll find a wealth of video tutorials on YouTube which can be really useful. Knowing how to read patterns in another skill you’ll want to develop. Don’t rush, put the kettle on and read through everything step-by-step before you start sewing. You’ll find loads of definitions and helpful guides to patterns online.

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Start with a pattern that’s marked as ideal for beginners. At this stage you don’t want to feel confused, frustrated or stress-out. Consider investing in some sewing magazines which are perfect for beginners and often come with a free gift! The free patterns are often ideal for sewing newbies and the magazine team are on hand for any queries or questions.

You’ll get advice on what fabric to use from the pattern itself and also information of how much fabric is required, so you won’t need to make any guesses or estimations. If you need to convert any measurements from imperial to metric or vice versa, it’s easy just to Google it!

When you start out, it’s best to avoid patterns that require accurate matching, such as those that use highly patterned fabric or anything with stripes. This is a skill that you’ll pick up as you gain more experience.

Another essential piece of advice for those new to sewing is that before cutting into any fabric, especially expensive fabric, create a voile with cheap or spare fabric first. A voile is a practice test garment, so you can check you’re cutting the correct size before doing it on the real thing. This will give you more confidence when it comes to cutting up the expensive material.

If you are a model maker you will be well aware that one of the most essential bits of model making kit that you could ever need is that of polystyrene. This is one of the most versatile products that you can use as it can be a variety of things. If you need buildings it can privied that. In some cases the complete unit of packaging from a TV or washing machine can even make an entire structure.  However it is the gentle sloping and  scoping of the polystyrene sheet that can really help to bring the landscape to life.

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There are many uses for polystyrene and model making is one of the great ways to make the most of polystyrene recycling just as a company in the included link can also provide. This is on a much lower scale however the artistic merit that a good model can provide is a great use for polystyrene.

You only have to look at a fantastic model railway set, complete with nice foothills for the rambler to traverse, albeit model ones and for tunnels for the train to emerge from as it makes its way to the local village or small town station. The basis for most of these details are the humble bits of polystyrene that you find left over. They can be painted with a base coat and then the hill colour applied. However this can be difficult as the paint may seep into the gaps of the polystyrene. This is why many modellers cover the polystyrene with card or paper mache. The polystyrene provides a base,

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Only the few problems with using polystyrene is how to cut it and shape it. In some case a very sharp knife can be used but this can have the effect of splintering the small plastic pellets that make up the polystyrene. Whilst this is ok if you are going to cover it, it also can make for an excellent ruined building effect, The best way to cut the polystyrene is to use a hot wire cutter. This is a specialist modellers tool that can vary in size and shape. It is as the name describes a simple wire that is heated via an electrical current. This allows for the polystyrene to be cut cleanly and without causing any splintering of the polystyrene which makes it so difficult to  model with afterwards.

This is a brilliant material for modellers and it should be used as much as possible. It keeps it away from the environment as well.

A study into whether marijuana could be an effective treatment for war veterans afflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research commenced earlier this month, when the first veteran in the trial was administered cannabis.

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Potential benefits

This research is the first attempt to discover the worth of treating returned soldiers with marijuana. A growing body of evidence has suggested that cannabis can be helpful in alleviating PTSD. The clinical trial services are being conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a not-for-profit organisation that conducts research in California. The trial will examine the effects of cannabis on more than 70 returned soldiers who have experienced trauma, and it will provide data on the benefits of using marijuana, along with important data on side effects and dosages. The results will be studied by physicians and lawmakers.  You can even smoke marijuana through normal cigarettes or vape devices these days so veterans can have the medications while they are out and about. If they don’t want this type of flavour then you can get all kinds of choices these days of chocolate, donuts, puddings and even cotton candy.  To see the huge range on offer head over to a Vape Shop Gloucester website at links such as https://www.lazyjuice.co.uk/.
War veterans generally appear to be happy that this study is underway, as some have long felt that marijuana would help with the conditions that many soldiers face after being in a war zone. The largest combat veterans’ group in America, The American Legion, took an official stance on the issue last year, as detailed in this report from The Guardian. In the US, marijuana is classed by the Drug Enforcement Agency as a Schedule 1 substance, along with cocaine and heroin. Members of the Legion have expressed support for the use of medical marijuana. Scientists have found that there is a series of endocannabinoid structures in the brain that are activated by around 60 chemically active substances in marijuana.

Increasing options

A representative from the Marijuana Policy Project, which aims to change cannabis laws, said that medical marijuana was effective against PTSD and the long-term pain frequently seen in returned soldiers. The representative said that medical marijuana could help war veterans lead a more rewarding and healthier life and they deserved access to medical marijuana as a treatment option.

A survey that was conducted last year among members of one of the largest US veterans’ groups indicated that nearly 70 per cent of respondents were in favour of legalising marijuana for medical use.

The collar and cuffs of your shirt not only help with keeping the shirt’s structure but also make a statement. If you choose to go without a jacket, the collar and cuffs make all the difference.  You can literally wear these where ever you like like a ball, a wedding or even in a Nightclub Cheltenham way which you might be able to see some pictures of on the link latenightcoco.co.uk/. Here are some tips to help you stand out and look great on your night out. Continue reading Shirt collars and cuffs need an introduction →