Tag Archives: United Kingdom
The Eternal Music
“Heard melodies are sweet,
but those unheard are sweeter…”
John Keates (Ode on a Grecian Urn)
Click image
Fish and Chips and the British Working Class
“Fish and Chips” | Fred Laidler (1918–1988)
Fish and Chips and the British Working Class, 1870-1930
“Fish and chips was in many ways the pioneer fast-food industry. It became an essential component of working-class diet and popular culture in parts of London, and over wide areas of industrial midland and northern England and southern Scotland, in the early decades of the twentieth century…I propose to argue that the fish and chip trade was not only important enough in itself to justify sustained historical analysis, but also that it provides a useful vantage point for examining important changes in British society more generally.”
— John Walken, 1998, Journal of Social History
LIVE: Trinity FM
“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign,
that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”
– Jonathan Swifit, Trinity College graduate
Click image to start livestream
Maths and Sport
The use of “maths” instead of “math” is a difference in British English compared to American English. In British English, the word “mathematics” is often referred to as “maths,” with the added “s” signifying the plural form. This is consistent with how British English commonly shortens many words by adding an “s” to the end. For example, “physics” becomes “phys, “economics” becomes “econs,” and so on.
In contrast, American English typically shortens “mathematics” to “math” without the additional “s,” following a different pattern of abbreviation.
The reason for these linguistic differences is rooted in the historical development of the English language and regional linguistic variations that have evolved over time. British English and American English have diverged in certain aspects of vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar, resulting in variations like “maths” and “math.” It’s important to note that neither is inherently correct or incorrect; they are just regional preferences.
|
Gresham College is a higher education institution located in London, UK. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, a financier and merchant who left funds for the establishment of a college in the heart of the city. The college’s original aim was to provide free public lectures in a range of subjects, including law, astronomy, geometry, and music. The lectures were intended to be accessible to anyone who was interested in learning, regardless of their background or social status. Over the centuries, Gresham College has remained true to this mission, and today it continues to offer a range of free public lectures and events that are open to all. |
Wild Swimming
INTERVIEW: Student Ellie Ford on founding the University’s first cold water swimming group
| “Port Meadow is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful place to swim. We often swim in a different spot from other open water swimming groups in order to create a more relaxed environment – especially for our beginners. We do special beginners swims on Saturdays, to ease new members into the practise slowly and very carefully.
Safety is paramount, so I’ll walk them in to the water and they can immerse themselves as much as they want. We never allow anyone to jump or dive into cold water – the shock can cause a swimmer to gulp for air and subsequently ingest water; it’s always a gentle process.” — Ellie |
Sex Difference in Female and Male Ice Swimmers
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |