The government of Singapore has been insisting that everyone in the nation speak English for a long time. English is used in schools, at work, and in government. But many locals speak – Singlish – a hybrid language which mixes English with local dialects and languages. Singlish was first developed when Singapore gained independence 50 years ago, and the government decided that English should be the common language amongst all the different ethnic groups. Each group brought in their own words and grammar. So while English became the official language, Singlish became the street language. It is efficient and colourful: you don’t have a coffee – you “lim kopi”. And if someone asks you to join them for a meal but you’ve already had dinner, you simply say: “Eat already.” Continue Reading…
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Adapted from an interview by Ryan Lash, The Long, Scary Journey from A ‘Terrorist’s Son’ To A Peace Activist.
In 1990, when Zak Ebrahim was seven years old his father, El Sayyid Nosair, killed the founder of the Jewish Defence League. The man, Meir Kahane, was a rabbi who was a conservative, anti-Arab extremist. His father was imprisoned, but even from prison, he helped plot the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing — and was later convicted as one of the conspirators. Continue Reading…
Mass animal deaths are not uncommon within the animal kingdom. Experts have been questioning the range of causes over the last five-years, and wondering how much influence humans have had on these events. For example, have the deaths of ocean life been caused by the Fukushima disaster and increasing acidity of oceans? But, what experts do know is that the mixture of different causes is leading to an alarming change in the aquatic world and steps need to be taken quickly – before it’s too late. Continue Reading…
3D printing has grown in sophistication since the late 1970s. In the last few years, 3D printing has blasted onto the mainstream scene. It has gone from a technology primarily known only among techies and investors in such companies as 3D Systems and Stratasys to one that’s making headlines in just about every corner of life and industry, from healthcare, education, and entertainment to aerospace and auto.
