“That Thing You Do”

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“That Thing You Do”

January 1, 2025
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Ice Swimming

January 1, 2025
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January 1st is Polar Bear Plunge Day in the Great Lakes.  It is also popular among the young in other “watery” universities around the world.

2023 St. Clair College Polar Bear Plunge

Polar Plunge at the University of Michigan

Pleasures and Hazards

Pleasures:

  1. Increased adrenaline rush: Cold water swimming can produce a surge of adrenaline in the body, which can make you feel more energized and alert.
  2. Improved mood: Cold water swimming has been associated with an increased release of endorphins, which can elevate your mood and reduce stress levels.
  3. Improved immune function: Cold water swimming has been shown to improve immune function, possibly due to the stress response induced by the cold water.
  4. Sense of accomplishment: Many people find ice swimming to be a challenging and rewarding experience, providing a sense of accomplishment and pride.
  5. Social bonding: Ice swimming can be a social activity, with groups of people coming together to share the experience and support each other.

Hazards:

  1. Hypothermia: Prolonged exposure to cold water can cause hypothermia, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
  2. Cold shock response: Entering cold water can cause an involuntary gasp reflex, which can lead to drowning if it occurs while the head is underwater.
  3. Heart problems: Cold water swimming can put a strain on the heart and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with underlying cardiovascular disease.
  4. Frostbite: Exposed skin can become frostbitten in cold water, particularly in extremities such as the fingers and toes.
  5. Injury from slipping or falling: Ice swimming can be hazardous if proper safety precautions are not taken, such as wearing appropriate footwear and using a rope or ladder to enter and exit the water.

 

College Polar Bear Plunges

2023 St. Clair College Polar Bear Plunge

Polar Plunge at the University of Michigan

Potato Latkes & Orange Juice

January 1, 2025
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Traditional Hanukkah foods (Spoon University) are often fried or cooked in oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days in the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Latkes (Potato Pancakes): Grated potatoes mixed with onions, eggs, and flour, then fried until crispy. They are often served with applesauce or sour cream.

Sufganiyot (Jelly-filled Doughnuts): Deep-fried doughnuts filled with jelly or custard and dusted with powdered sugar. They represent the oil that miraculously burned for eight days.

Brisket: Slow-cooked beef brisket is a popular main course for Hanukkah dinners.

Applesauce: Often served as a topping for latkes or as a side dish.

Matzo Ball Soup: While traditionally associated with Passover, some families also serve matzo ball soup during Hanukkah. It consists of light, fluffy dumplings made from matzo meal in a chicken broth.

Kugel: A baked casserole dish that can be sweet or savory, made with noodles, potatoes, or other ingredients.

Chocolate Gelt: Chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil, often used in the game of dreidel.

Dreidel Cookies: Cookies shaped like the spinning top used in the traditional Hanukkah game of dreidel.

Cheese: In reference to the story of Judith, who is said to have fed cheese to an enemy general to make him thirsty and then gave him wine to make him drunk.


Florida

Squeezed

Café Crème

January 1, 2025
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Switzerland has some unique ways of making and serving coffee. One notable tradition is the “Schümli-Pflümli,” a Swiss coffee drink that combines coffee with plum schnapps and whipped cream.

Here are a few other Swiss coffee specialties:

Café Crème: A popular Swiss coffee, it’s a large coffee similar to an Americano but typically served with a layer of crema on top.

Kaffee fertig: This is a coffee with added Schnaps or Kirsch (a type of cherry brandy), served hot and often enjoyed in the winter.

Luzerner Kafi: A regional specialty from Lucerne, this is a coffee with Schnaps and sugar, sometimes with a bit of whipped cream.

Zuger Kirschtorte Coffee: Inspired by the famous cherry cake from Zug, this coffee includes cherry liqueur and is often served with a small piece of the cake or similar dessert.

These coffee traditions highlight Switzerland’s blend of coffee culture with local flavors and ingredients.


Ghana’s Rabbit Industry

Bread Pudding

January 1, 2025
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Bread and butter pudding

January 1, 2025
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Mas-fhìor do: Goireasan Spòrs

January 1, 2025
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“The only true sport is that which arises spontaneously

from the heart and the blood.”

— Alistair MacLean

The University of Stirling has produced several famous athletes over the years. Here are a few examples:

Duncan Scott: Duncan Scott is a Scottish swimmer who graduated from the University of Stirling in 2018. He has won numerous medals at major international competitions, including the Olympics, the World Championships, and the Commonwealth Games.

Andy Murray: While Andy Murray did not technically graduate from the University of Stirling, he did attend the university for a brief period in the early 2000s. Murray is a famous Scottish tennis player who has won multiple Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Ross Murdoch: Ross Murdoch is a Scottish swimmer who graduated from the University of Stirling in 2016. He has won multiple medals at major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games.

Robbie Renwick: Robbie Renwick is a Scottish swimmer who graduated from the University of Stirling in 2009. He has won multiple medals at major international competitions, including the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

 

University of Stirling

Sports, Recreational Facilities & Equipment

Maths and Sport

 

First Footing

January 1, 2025
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First Footing Dance Residency

The Scotsman: Where the Scottish Hogmanay tradition comes from and common first footing gifts

Standards Scotland

Public Law 98-144: Martin Luther King Day

January 1, 2025
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Public Law 98-144:

The federal law that established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday was Public Law 98-144, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983. The legislation designated the third Monday of January each year as a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s contributions to civil rights and social justice.  The first official observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday took place on January 20, 1986. However, it was not immediately observed by all states, and some states adopted it gradually over time, with all 50 states recognizing it by the year 2000.
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