Korsakoff’s syndrome is the most well-known form of alcohol-related brain damage. Many believe it is the only form or most common form of ARBD and indeed, Korsakoff’s syndrome is much more prevalent than other forms of ARBD, like alcoholic dementia, for example. Continue reading What is Korsakoff’s Syndrome? →

Talent development is an important part of any business, but it can be time-consuming and take people out of their comfort zone. Here is a look at how you can develop your employees in a sustainable and valuable way. Continue reading Single concept learning as an alternative to traditional training methods →

Sewing can be fun and a fantastic way to keep little hands busy. Projects can be aimed at both boys and girls, and they will all love to have a go at making something they can use. Continue reading Childrens sewing projects are great →

Ready to sign up for a gym membership? The next question is to find out which is the best gym for you. What are your reasons for joining? It is important to consider early in your search for the best fitness club how useful their facilities are to you.  Continue reading How to choose a gym →

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 →