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American Highschoolers try REAL British food for the first time!

In today’s episode we visited an American High school to see what they think of British Comfort Food! — Josh & Ollie @JOLLY

Approximately 80–85% of the USA’s founding stock (the European-descended population that established the country by the late 18th century) originated from the nations of the United Kingdom/British Isles — primarily England, with significant contributions from Scotland (including Ulster Scots/Scots-Irish), Wales, and Ireland (then under British rule).

This figure is based on the 1790 U.S. Census and scholarly estimates. Among the roughly 3.2 million European Americans at that time:

  • English and Welsh: ~60–64%
  • Scottish (direct and Scots-Irish): ~15–16%
  • Irish (mostly Protestant): ~5–6%
  • Total from British Isles/UK nations: ~80–86%

When leaving the large coastal cities aside, the share becomes even higher — often 85–95%+ in rural, interior, and non-coastal regions (New England countryside, Appalachian backcountry, Southern Piedmont, etc.). These areas were overwhelmingly settled by English, Scots-Irish, and other British Isles groups, who shaped much of early American culture, law, and westward expansion.

The remainder of the white population was mainly German (~9%), Dutch (~3%), and smaller groups. The founding stock refers to the colonial-era core population (pre- and around 1790) and their descendants, not later immigration waves.

British High Schoolers Try American Fried Chicken, Biscuits & Sausage Gravy

By contrast, non-coastal, rural, and interior regions –Great Lakes Midwest, Mountain and High Plain Heartland, New England countryside, Appalachian backcountry, Southern Piedmont — were overwhelmingly British in founding stock:

  • New England states routinely showed 93–96% English ancestry (e.g., Connecticut ~96%).
  • Scots-Irish settlers dominated the Appalachian interior and backcountry South, forming a major cultural stream distinct from coastal planter elites.
  • Pennsylvania was an outlier with more Germans, but this was concentrated in certain counties rather than uniformly coastal.
  • Western Michigan was the destination for Dutch expats who were driven out of New York City boroughs.
  • Upper Peninsula Michigan drew Baltic/Hanseatic populations from Scandinavia

Excluding the large coastal cities therefore makes the UK-origin share even higher — often 85–95%+ in the rural/interior “heartland” founding population. These interior groups (English Puritans/Yankees, Scots-Irish borderers, etc.) were the primary expanders westward and shaped much of early American culture, law, and demographics outside the ports.

In the American experiment, race has proven to be the one constant that outlasts ideology, economics, and time itself.  Understanding our roots and our branches is made easier through food.

The Student Version of an English Breakfast

Rain & Lightning

The thunderbolt steers all things.
—Heraclitus, c. 500 BC

After the rain. Personal photograph taken by Mike Anthony biking with his niece in Wirdum, The Netherlands

Today at 15:00 UTC we examine the technical literature about rainwater management in schools, colleges and universities — underfoot and on the roof.  Lightning protection standards will also be reviewed; given the exposure of outdoor athletic activity and exterior luminaires.

We draw from previous standardization work in titles involving water, roofing systems and flood management — i.e. a cross-cutting view of the relevant standard developer catalogs.   Among them:

American Society of Civil Engineers

American Society of Plumbing Engineers

ASHRAE International

ASTM International

Construction Specifications Institute (Division 7 Thermal and Moisture Protection)

Environmental Protection Agency | Clean Water Act Section 402

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FM Global

Sustainable Sites Initiative

IAPMO Group (Mechanical and Plumbing codes)

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

Heat Tracing Standards

International Code Council

Chapter 15 Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures

Why, When, What and Where Lightning Protection is Required

National Fire Protection Association

National Electrical Code: Article 250.16 Lightning Protection Systems

Lightning Protection

Underwriters Laboratories: Lightning Protection

Underground Stormwater Detention Vaults

United States Department of Agriculture: Storm Rainfall Depth and Distribution

Risk Assessment of Rooftop-Mounted Solar PV Systems

Readings: The “30-30” Rule for Outdoor Athletic Events Lightning Hazard

As always, our daily colloquia are open to everyone.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

“Rainbow Connection”

Norman Rockwell Posters & Wall Art - Shop Norman Rockwell Prints, Canvas, Framed Artwork, & Wall Décor | Allposters

“Tough Call” | Norman Rockwell 1949

The “lightning effect” seen in carnival tricks typically relies on a scientific principle known as the Lichtenberg figure or Lichtenberg figure. This phenomenon occurs when a high-voltage electrical discharge passes through an insulating material, such as wood or acrylic, leaving behind branching patterns resembling lightning bolts.

The process involves the creation of a temporary electric field within the material, which polarizes its molecules. As the discharge propagates through the material, it causes localized breakdowns, creating branching paths along the way. These branching patterns are the characteristic Lichtenberg figures.

In the carnival trick, a high-voltage generator is used to create an electrical discharge on a piece of insulating material, such as acrylic. When a person touches the material or a conductive object placed on it, the discharge follows the path of least resistance, leaving behind the branching patterns. This effect is often used for entertainment purposes due to its visually striking appearance, resembling miniature lightning bolts frozen in the material. However, it’s crucial to handle such demonstrations with caution due to the potential hazards associated with high-voltage electricity.

 

“Poliakoffee”

Knighted by His Royal Highness Prince Charles in 2019 for his contributions in the field of supercritical fluids, the the International Year of the Periodic Table  — Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff – explains how to pair frozen carbon dioxide with hot green tea.

Castle Meadow Campus History

The University of Nottingham recorded an adjusted deficit of £85.3 million in 2024/25, largely due to falling international student numbers and major asset impairments. To survive financially without relying on imported international students, the university must focus on domestic growth, cost control, and revenue diversification.

Key measures include expanding home student recruitment through more accessible programmes, online and distance learning, and partnerships with colleges — all within current tuition fee caps. It should grow research income via grants, industry collaborations, and commercial spin-offs. Its international campuses in China and Malaysia can continue generating transnational education revenue without bringing students to the UK.

Significant cost savings are essential through staff restructuring, course rationalisation, estate consolidation (including potential campus sales), and administrative efficiencies. These steps form part of the university’s “Future Nottingham” programme. Longer-term strategies involve increasing philanthropy, alumni donations, and executive education offerings.

While government reforms to domestic fees would help, true self-reliance demands leaner operations and stronger non-tuition income streams.

Relata: Is Europe Committing Suicide? Douglas Murray on the Great Derangement of the West

Tea Water & Scones

 

Malzkaffee

Chicory, surrogate and roasted coffee provide new insights into mechanisms of taste perception

Dr. Gisela Olias, Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, TUM

In some Christian traditions, especially among Catholics who observe dietary restrictions during Lent, chicory root has been used as a caffeine-free substitute for coffee. It’s commonly consumed in Louisiana and parts of Europe.

The term “Muckefuck” (pronounced “Mook-eh-fook”) is a traditional German word for coffee substitutes, particularly those made from roasted chicory root, barley, or other grains.  No joke! “Muckefuck” is a real historical term in Germany, and while it may sound funny to English speakers, it has nothing to do with profanity.

  • The word likely comes from a mix of French and German dialects. One theory is that it originates from the French phrase “mocca faux”, meaning “fake coffee” (literally, “false mocha”).
  • Over time, German pronunciation altered it into “Muckefuck”, referring to coffee substitutes made from chicory, barley, or other roasted grains.
  • It was commonly used in Prussia, Bavaria, and other German-speaking areas, especially during times of war or economic hardship when real coffee was unavailable.

While the word may raise eyebrows for English speakers, it’s completely innocent in German! If you prefer, you can simply ask for “Chicorée Kaffee” or “Malzkaffee” in Munich to avoid any awkward moments.

Coffee

Was it Normung?

Related:

Development of suitable formula for ready-to-drink healthy mixture of chicory and coffee

 

New Faculty Aptitude Test

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Date & Time: Representations For Information Interchange

“A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery” | Joseph Wright (1766)

Most nations follow the day/month/year format (07/01/19 for January 7, 2019, for example), but the United States adheres to its own format of month/day/year (1/7/19 or 1/7/2019).   The potential for misinterpreting dates across national boundaries is the logic for ISO 8601:2019 – Data Elements And Interchange Formats – Information Interchange – Representation Of Dates And Times, the ISO format for dates represents year, month, and day from the largest unit to the smallest, most specific unit of time.  The ISO date format is the date format used in SQL and is the default date setting on many computers.

ISO 8601-1:2019 Date And Time – Representations For Information Interchange – Part 1: Basic Rules

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Time and Date

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ISO Date Format

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Making Greenwich the centre of the world

Time & Frequency Services

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is responsible for maintaining and disseminating official time in the United States. While NIST does not have a direct role in implementing clock changes for daylight saving time, it does play an important role in ensuring that timekeeping systems across the country are accurate and consistent.

Prior to the implementation of daylight saving time, NIST issues public announcements reminding individuals and organizations to adjust their clocks accordingly. NIST also provides resources to help people synchronize their clocks, such as the time.gov website and the NIST radio station WWV.

In addition, NIST is responsible for developing and maintaining the atomic clocks that are used to define Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the international standard for timekeeping. UTC is used as the basis for all civil time in the United States, and it is the reference time used by many systems, including the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the internet.

Overall, while NIST does not have a direct role in implementing clock changes for daylight saving time, it plays an important role in ensuring that timekeeping systems across the country are accurate and consistent, which is essential for the smooth implementation of any changes to the system.

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Time Realization and Distribution

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