Great things have been happening overseas for some of our most talented Kiwis. A couple of weeks ago I discussed the awesome achievements of some of our Kiwi motor racing fraternity and this week it is time for some of our young snow-sports aficionados to take the limelight. Nico
The word for today is… devious (adjective) – 1 (a) wandering, roundabout, (b) moving without a fixed course : errant 2 out-of-the-way, remote 3 (a) deviating from a right, accepted, or common course, (b) not straightforward : cunning Source : Mirriam – Webster Etymology : If you think someone devious has lost their
Hannah Cox fee.org Hannah Cox is a libertarian-conservative writer, commentator, and activist. She’s a Newsmax Insider and a Contributor to The Washington Examiner. Reconciliation has become a major theme in our political discourse, and rightfully so. For those who love our country and its foundations, bringing down
Emile Phaneuf fee.org Emile holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala, an MA in Political Science and BA in International Relations from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He is from the USA but resides in New Zealand and is a member of the
The word for today is… virus (noun) – 1. (a) Any of various submicroscopic agents that infect living organisms, often causing disease, and that consist of a single or double strand of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not
Margaret Hickey mercatornet.com Margaret Hickey writes on faith and social issues and has been published in The Irish Examiner, Human Life Review(US), Position Papers, The Furrow, The Iona Blog and The Irish Times. The Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has opened
The word for today is… vilify (verb) – To attack the reputation of (a person or thing) with strong or abusive criticism. See Synonyms at malign. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Vilify came to English by way of the Middle English vilifien and the Late Latin vilificare, from the Latin adjective
Gerry A Bridge Too Far This phrase is commonly used to indicate something that is out of reach or unattainable – perhaps over-ambitious or simply too dangerous physically or reputationally. It appears to date from the Second World War and is attributed to the British Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning who
The word for today is… victual (noun) – 1. Food fit for human consumption. 2. victuals Food supplies; provisions. (verb) – 1. To lay in food supplies. 2. To eat. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : If you’re hungry for the story behind victual, get ready to dig into a rich and
The word for today is… verdigris (noun) – 1. A blue or green powder consisting of basic cupric acetate used as a paint pigment and fungicide. 2. A green patina or crust of copper sulfate or copper chloride formed on copper, brass, and bronze exposed to air or seawater for long
The word for today is… spontaneous (adj) – 1. Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated. 2. Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from forethought or prompting. 3. Unconstrained and unstudied in manner or behaviour. 4. Growing without cultivation or human labour. Source : The Free Dictionary
Gerry Useful Idiot The coining of this term seems to swing between Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx and it is hard to find a definitive etymology. Nevertheless, whoever of the two who used the phrase first, the meaning is quite clear. Lenin used the term to describe communist sympathisers in
David Wojick cfact.org Future energy mixes should show a growing contribution from modern nuclear power plants. That is the core finding of the new “No Regrets Energy Policy” proposed by the Climate Intelligence Foundation (CLINTEL). CLINTEL finds current governmental energy-transitions to be “scientifically unfounded and economically suicidal” because
The word for today is… seditious (adj) – 1. Of, relating to, or having the nature of sedition. 2. Given to, engaging in, or promoting sedition. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Mid-15th century, sedicious, “tending to incite treason,” from Old French sedicios (Modern French séditieux), from Latin seditiosus “full of
The word for today is… rescind (verb) – Countermand, repeal, veto; nullify, retract. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Rescind and the lesser-known words exscind and prescind all come from the Latin verb scindere, which means “to cut” or “to split.” Rescind was adapted from its Latin predecessor rescindere in the
Rezwan globalvoices.org Muslin, the fine handwoven cotton fabric that originated in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is now set for a revival. The fabric, produced from a variant of the cotton plant grown only in the area south of Dhaka, has a long history. Produced since pre-colonial times
