Month: December 2015
Book review: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Website Culture Editor Julia Mitchell reviews Jenny Lawson’s newest book Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things. Furiously Happy is the second book written by Jenny Lawson, also known on the internet as The Bloggess, following her number one bestseller Let’s Pretend This Never Happened back in 2012. While her first memoir also included many anecdotes from her childhood, this new book solely discusses Lawson’s adult life and extensive experience with mental illness. It manages to be an absolutely hilarious and enjoyable read while also relaying some serious messages about the severe impact that mental illness has had…
Benedict Cumberbatch leads the Letters Live Christmas Event
Holly Chapman reports on Letters Live, whose Christmas event saw Benedict Cumberbatch lead the bill with his letter to Santa. Most of us are familiar with the Christmas ritual growing up: write your letter to Santa, leave the milk and cookies or mince pies out – not forgetting the carrots for the reindeer. Now Benedict Cumberbatch leads as celebrities reveal their letters to Saint Nick for the Christmas Letters Live event. Letters Live, which first launched in December 2013, is a live celebration of the enduring power of literary correspondence. It features an ensemble of great performers, who read remarkable…
Venice through the wi-fi looking glass
Traveling is one of the greatest ways to open your mind to the fact that the world is bigger than you and everyone put together. It’s a self-medication of experience. By ‘traveling’ I don’t mean the back packing gap year type of deal, but just traveling anywhere, going on holiday/vacation. But with all the technology and assistance available to us through smart phones and wifi everywhere, Lydia Rugg investigates if the wifi obsession of the 21st century is actually preventing us from experiencing the world first hand. Transportation has come so far that it’s so easy for us to…
Is 20% sugar tax the best we can do to tackle childhood obesity?
By Sibhekile Magagula Childhood obesity, according to the World Health Organisation, is one of the most serious global public health challenges of the 21st century. With that given, it is very commendable that the government is well aware of this issue, as suggested by the efforts to try and tackle it by imposing a 20% tax on sugar. This measure seems to be popular, having been backed by the House of Commons Health Committee and over 50% of the public. But can we really lie back confidently arms folded and say a 20% tax on sugar is the ultimate…
How STEM grads are choosing their career paths
Milkround, ‘the UK’s leading school leaver, student and graduate website’ have conducted research identifying key trends in graduate career paths. Uzochi Ejimofor reports. 42% of graduates said money was the main influence when deciding which industry to work in. The survey consisted of 2,597 candidates who graduated in 2014 and 2015. 64% were females and 36% were males. Over half of those surveyed were under the age of 24, whilst 45% were aged 24 or over. It ran from 17 September 2023 to the 30 September 2015. The survey aimed to understand why those who have studied a certain degree…