Hirta Island is the largest island in the St Kilda archipelago, located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, about 40 miles west of the mainland in the North Atlantic. It’s a rugged, remote place, known for its dramatic cliffs, seabird colonies, and unique history.
Hirta spans about 1,575 acres, with steep cliffs rising to 1,400 feet at places like Conachair, the highest sea cliffs in the UK. Its landscape is shaped by harsh winds and waves, creating a stark, treeless terrain with grassy slopes and rocky outcrops.
Hirta was inhabited for possibly 2,000 years, with a small population (never more than 180) living off fishing, seabirds, and sheep. The islanders developed a unique, communal lifestyle, relying heavily on the millions of gannets, fulmars, and puffins for food and oil. By 1930, the remaining 36 residents were evacuated at their own request due to disease, isolation, and unsustainable living conditions. The last native, Rachel Johnson, died in 2016 at 93.
Now uninhabited except for seasonal visitors, Hirta is managed by the National Trust for Scotland. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated 1986) for both its cultural significance and natural environment. The island hosts a small military radar station, and conservation workers and researchers visit regularly. Ruins of stone houses, cleits (unique drystone storage huts), and the old village at Village Bay remain.
Hirta is a haven for seabirds, with the world’s largest colony of northern gannets and significant populations of puffins and fulmars. It’s also home to the endemic St Kilda wren and a primitive breed of Soay sheep, which roam wild.
Getting to Hirta is tough — boat trips from the Outer Hebrides take several hours and depend on weather. No public airstrip exists, though a helicopter pad serves the military base. Visitors need permission from the National Trust, and tourism is tightly controlled to protect the ecosystem.
The island’s isolation shaped a distinct Gaelic culture, with traditions like the “Parliament” (a daily meeting of men to organize tasks). St Kilda’s story has inspired novels, films, and music, romanticizing its solitude and resilience.
sources–
https://www.goingthewholehogg.com/visit-st-kilda-scotland/
https://www.travelawaits.com/2479225/visit-hirta-the-remote-scottish-ghost-island/
President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14224
President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14224, signed on March 1, 2025, designates English as the official language of the United States and rescinds a Clinton-era mandate (Executive Order No. 13166) that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
There’s been quite a lot of talk about this executive order out there on the interwebs of late, what with most of the conversations revolving around the elimination of having to press 1 for English.
I, like most out there, can’t stand having to press 1 for English every single time we call for support or customer service. Often times upon after pressing 1 for English we get folks that can barely speak it anyhow so what’s the point?
President Trump’s Executive Order allows agencies to decide whether to continue offering services in languages other than English, emphasizing flexibility to prioritize English while not explicitly prohibiting multilingual services.
Regarding the specific phrase press 1 for English, commonly associated with automated phone systems, the executive order does not directly address private sector practices or mandate changes to such systems.
It focuses on federal government operations and agencies, encouraging English use to promote unity and efficiency.
Private companies, such as those operating customer service lines, are not obligated by this order to alter their language options, so whether or not you encounter press 1 for English depends on individual company policies, which remain unaffected by the order.
Since the order applies to federal agencies, not private businesses, you may still encounter press 1 for English in private systems unless companies voluntarily align with the order’s emphasis on English. Executive Orders only apply to the Federal Government and it’s agencies.
With regard to interactions with federal agencies (e.g., Social Security or immigration services), the order’s implementation could reduce multilingual options in some cases, but agencies can still choose to offer them. The practical impact remains unclear, as it depends on how agencies interpret and apply the flexibility granted by the order.
The White House stated that the order aims to “promote unity, establish efficiency in government operations, and create a pathway for civic engagement,” arguing that a shared language strengthens national cohesion and empowers legal immigrants to achieve the American Dream.
Supporters, including conservative activists like Charlie Kirk, celebrated the move as a step toward national unity, while critics, such as United We Dream and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, argued it could create barriers for non-English speakers, particularly in accessing healthcare, legal aid, voting, and education.
President Trump’s order has raised concerns among immigrant advocacy groups, who fear it may disproportionately affect the estimated 68 million U.S. residents who speak a language other than English at home, including 42 million Spanish speakers and 3 million Chinese speakers.
More than 30 states already designate English as their official language, and while the order does not ban multilingual services outright, its implementation could lead to reduced language access in some regions, depending on agency decisions.
Critics, including Puerto Rico’s resident commissioner, have voiced opposition, citing potential cultural exclusion, while supporters argue it reflects the reality of English as the dominant language in the U.S., where 78.3% of people speak only English at home, according to 2018-2022 Census data.
The long-term impact of Executive Order No. 14224 remains uncertain, as agencies have discretion to maintain existing language services, and future administrations could always reverse the policy since it’s just an Executive Order and hasn’t been codified via the Congress.